Priceless: A Niall Fanfiction

Chapter 2

“I’m—I’m sorry.” 

            I didn’t know what to say to him. I couldn’t forgive him, what he did hurt me so much. I continued to look at his flushed cheeks, I saw his lips twitch and a slight whisper came out, barely audible, “say something.”

            And with that I laughed, a rumble that came up my throat and out my mouth in the most unladylike way possible. I didn’t even know I could make that sound, and was that even a sound? Niall’s eyebrows creased together and he sat up straight. He looked confused, and with that image I closed my eyes and full heartedly laughed.        

            I laughed as if I just heard the funniest thing, my eyes began to water and I opened my eyes to look at Niall. He was smiling slightly. Not that big, full smile I see on posters and commercials. A sad smile doused his face.     

            Though once my eyes met his, my laughs turned into mournful cries. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I continued to look at him.

            “You fucking left!” I screamed. I screamed so loud I would have thought a nurse would come in, but they didn’t. “I hate you so much, you left me when I needed you most.” My eyes were squinted, tears rolling over the edges, unable to see him fully as he was just a pale blur. My lips were pulled to the sides in a frown, mouth agape trying to force air into my lungs. I cried so hard I could barely breathe and he just watched me. His thumb was rubbing the back of my hand; I didn’t pull away.

            I couldn’t talk right, the only thing that would come out were whispers, so I settled for that. I repeated my hatred for him. I blinked my eyes tight and let tears fall, looked him straight in the eyes and barely making a sound, I whispered, “I hate that I still care about you so much.”

            I could barely finish the sentence before he was by my side, smoothing my hair, kissing the top of my head, rubbing my shoulder. I didn’t know what to do, so I let myself be vulnerable in front of him.

            He came back to check on me everyday that I was in the hospital. We’d talk about important things and he’d try to make me smile but it never worked. Everyday he’d rub his thumb across the back of my hand, and I never pulled away because I liked it.

            The day came when I was finally released from the hospital. Niall wasn’t there because he had to be at a promotion for the band. He apparently “couldn’t miss it.” I couldn’t say that I was happy about him not being here because I wasn’t.

            I wasn’t looking forward to the day much without him being there to be quite honest. He was there with me everyday for a week: Watching me, talking to me, touching my hand, holding me, and trying to make me smile. I loved it, but I didn’t tell him, and I never smiled.

            I finally got home and I had forgotten how sweet it smelled and how safe I felt. I walked in the door and my Mum turned around and smiled at me like it was a whole new house. I walked towards her and kissed her cheek.

            I shimmied over to the couch and went to sit down to watch TV with the family when my Mum cleared her throat and held one hand in the other in front of her body. She was standing by the door still. I turned my head and looked at her, “yes, Mum?”

            “Wouldn’t you like to take a quick nap up in your own bed?” She looked guilty and I was confused. Her face was flushed and I could tell that she was hiding something from me.