Stranded

Chapter 4

I brace myself for what he's about to tell me. All these years I've been wondering why he left me and now that he's telling me, I'm not so sure I want to know. Becahse sometimes, it's better just being clueless.

Take a baby for example. They don't know anything so they're sheilded from all the horrors this forsaken world has to offer.

"Lilli, I left you because I wanted to protect you." he starts off and I scoff. Sure. He was 'protecting me'. Yeah right.

"Niall. Enough of this bull shit. Tell me the truth." I interrupt him.

"Lilli I'm serious. Let me just tell you everything, and if you still don't believe me, then I'll leave you alone. I promise." he says.

"Fine. But you better talk fast."

*Niall's POV*

~Flashback~

"Lilli, it's not right of them to make fun of you like that." I say. She looks at me with those beautiful big brown eyes of hers.

"I know. But we can't do anything. So we may as well not talk about it." she says, trying to get off the subject. I won't let this go though. There has to be something I can do.

"Lil, I just wish there was something I can do. Is there ANYTHING I can do to help?" I ask softly. I hate seeing my best friend hurting. She smiles slightly at me.

"No. But thanks Nialler." she says and then kisses my cheek. I smile back at her and we go back to playing our guitars. She's really much better than I am.

There has to be something I can do. And then I get it. This idea scares the shit out of me, but maybe it'll help.

For weeks, this guy named Harry Styles, a curly haired Cheshire boy has been asking me to join this 'posse' of his. There was one problem though, they didn't like Lilli. Which meant if I joined them, Lilli would have to get out the picture. Maybe if...maybe if I bribe them. I join their group in exchange for them to stop bullying Lilli.

She was hurt so much, she resorted to cutting. And every cut that I saw on her arms was like a blade slicing mine. I'd come over to her house, go up into her room and all over her bathroom floor there would be blood, a blade, and a crying Lilli. I'd have to help her clean up all the blood, clean her up, and then tuck her into bed. The only thing that could really get her calm though would be my singing. She loved it. For some reason, my voice singing her to sleep would soothe her.

Harry's group consisted of fiveother people. Louis Tomlinson, a loud, sometimes obnoxious boy who moved from Doncaster that was definitely Harry's right hand man. Eleanor Calder, Louis' really pretty girlfriend that moved from Manchester. Liam Payne, a boy who moved from Wolverhampton, and by what I can tell, he's like the 'daddy' of the group. The responsible one. Zayn Malik, a dark haired, dark eyed, tanned skin boy who moved from Bradford. He smeend really quiet and mysterious and I've never heard him say a word. He mostly sits and observes the things around him. I do, however, see him keep this dairy-looking thing. I think it's more of a drawing journal. He's top of the class in art. Cecilia Cummings, a snotty, bottle-blond that hangs on Harry like clothes hang on a hanger.

I know that this will hurt both Lilli and I, but will it be worth it in order for her to stop self-harming? I can't stand to see her shed another tear, to drip another drop of blood. I have to do this. Even though it means leaving the girl I love.

~The Next Day in Flashback~

"Niall, stop being such a dumb arse. Just go talk to them. You're doing this for Lilli. You love her. You have to do this. It's the only thing you can do." I say to myself as I observe Harry and his crew talking to each other. I take a deep breath.

"Hey, uh, Harry, can I talk to you guys for a second?" I ask. He gets an evil smirk on his face before he leaves his spot next to Cecilia and comes over to me.

"Did you think about it some more?" he asks.

"I did. And I'll do it. I'll join your group-"

"I knew you'd come around. Now-" he interrupts me but I interrupt him back.

"I will only do this if you leave Lilli alone. You can't bully her anymore or anything. I'll leave her alone too." I say, swallowing back my tears.

"Fine. Welcome to the group." he says and sticks out his hand I shake it and then go over to the group, staying quiet.

For the rest of the year, I ignored her. And they kept bullying her. But I couldn't get out of it due to a threat Harry made. If I didn't stay with them, they'd hurt Lilli. Physically. And with the big group Harry has, not to mention the whole school in the palm of his hand, he could easily get people to hurt or even...kill Lilli. And I couldn't let that happen.

She's already been hurt too much. And even though she's in a living hell right now, I can't live without her, even if she does hate me with a burning passion.

~End Of Flashback~

*Lilli's POV*

"And that's why I did it. And I'm so, so sorry Lilli. I knew Harry was a douchebag who didn't keep his promises but I did it anyway. I'm so sorry." he says. Even in the dim light being provided by the flickering street lights, I can see tears starting to build up in his blue eyes.

I don't know what it is, but something's telling me that what he's saying is true. A few tears escape my eyes and I try quickly to wipe them away but Niall stops me. He gently wipes them away with his thumbs.

He slolwy leans in to kiss me.

"Niall." I say simply and he chuckles, his face incredibly close.

"Don't worry. I won't kiss you until you ask." he says and then averts to kissing my cheek. "I want to show you how much I mean that I'm sorry." he says and then smiles.