This Love (Niall fanfiction)

chapter 16

After Niall was finished crying into me. I thought it was time to come clean about my tattoo, it's only fair. We sat there in silence until I said something.

"Niall," I start, but my mind stares at the wood in the fireplace that isn't lit. I get distracted by the smallest things, I swear.

"Cleo, you called my name and you aren't saying anything." He says after five minutes.

"Oh right," I said. Niall raises his eyebrows with a small smile and looks at me waiting to continue.

"My tattoo, it um, it stands for my parents." I fidget with my fingers.

"They drowned too." He states, finishing my sentence.

I quickly look up at Niall confused.

"How did you know that? I never told you." I snap. That just shows how well I can't trust anyone enough to keep secrets to themselves.

"Your friend told me at the beach that day you fainted in the ocean."

"I'm sorry about your parents." He told me.

"It's fine. My dad is the large bird and my mom is the small bird. The cage is my life.. they're flying out of the cage, yet there are some of their feathers left behind because they're still apart of my life." I don't cry because whenever I start, I don't finish, but that only happens whenever I talk about my parents. He compliments the permanent ink on my body and I thank him, then we both just sit on the couch, staring ahead.

"Niall?"

"Yes?"

"Why are you a lifeguard? I'm surprised you don't despise the beach."

"Well, after what happened to my sister, I want to save as many lives as I can at the beach."

I keep quiet because I don't know how to respond to what he said.