Behind the Tattoos: Uncontrollable Desires Sequel

Chapter Twenty: Sleep Talking

Chapter Twenty: Sleep Talking

**Ashlyn's POV**

I wake up in a different bed than the one I fell asleep in last night. Louis and Liam aren't in the room either, but instead I spot Zayn sprawled across the other bed in the room and the one I'm on is bare. Niall walks into the room with a box in his hands.

"You're awake! Oh, good. I, uh, brought some breakfast," he says flustered. He puts the box on the table and wipes his hands on the sides of his jeans. He looks awkward.

Niall's eyes are cast downwards. There's a slight blush on his face as he realizes what he's done. I can still feel the tingle of pressure where his lips were seconds before. My fingers trace my lips, remembering his against mine.

My heart drums in my chest at the dream I can practically visualize. I involuntarily raise my hand to my lips.

It's funny what a dream can make you feel. It can make you swear it happened. That your feelings are real. That a kiss actually happened when you know it didn't.

"Ashlyn, I think we need to talk," Niall says.

I bite my bottom lip. Something feels off. "What's wrong?" I ask, pulling myself to sit up on the bed. Across the room Zayn snores lightly.

Niall runs a hand through his hair and then down his face. He's really worrying me. He went out to find Harry last night. Did something wrong happen? Is Harry okay?!

"Niall, you're scaring me."

Niall groans and grabs the box. He walks over to the bed and sits down on it. "Here. Eat something so you can take your medicine," he says, placing the box in my lap.

"Niall, I don't think eating is going to answer my question. What's wrong?"

"It's Harry," Niall sighs.

My heart drops. "What about Harry?" I ask quietly. "Did something happen to him?"

"In a sense, I guess you could say that." Niall frowns and opens the box. "Please eat at least one," he says.

I stare down at the box of donuts. Chocolate covered, sprinkled, glazed. You name it, it's probably in the box. I take a chocolate twist to make Niall happy.

"I'm eating, now talk," I say and nibble off a corner. It tastes good but I have no appetite.

Niall crosses his legs to sit Indian style and takes the box. He bites into an apple donut and chews slowly deliberately. His blue eyes are focused on mine and I resist the urge to look away. The dream kiss floating to the very edge of my mind.

"I think you should take the operation," he states.

"Niall, I-"

"Wait! Hear me out. I think you should take the operation because you can have your life back. You could get up and walk and just be you again. You could be that annoying brunette that we have to chase down because she takes our hats without asking or sticks their finger in someone else's ice cream." I giggle at this and Niall smiles. "You'd be you again."

I smile at him and take his hand. "Niall, I've already decided to take the surgery." I decided last night after the boys talked to me. "I agree with everyone saying that it's something that should be done."

"You did?"

"Yup. So don't worry about that factor. Now tell me what's going on with Harry!" I bite into the donut to maybe drive him to talking faster.

Niall breathes out loudly and puts the donut back in the box. Bad sign. If he doesn't want to eat...it's a bad sign.

"He, uh, he...is shee ang Luseena," Niall spits out quickly in a garbled mush.