Like Before (Niall Horan)

Chapter Twenty-One: Graduation Speeches and Valedictorians

(A/N Sooo I don't know how it happened really but I either posted the wrong chapter last time or I ended up changing it after I posted it, either way, the last chapter has been changed, Chapter Nineteen, so you might want to go back and read that because the one I actually posted is Chapter Twenty-Two but I changed it so if you read one titled "Just Let It Go" thats wrong and hasn't actually happened yet. If you read "But You Love Me Anyway" that ones right and you can ignore this. Just so everyone is clear, Alix and Niall are still together for this chapter. I made a mistake and I'm sorry its confusing.)

I just had to make it these last eight days and then I'd have Niall by my side, reassuring me everything would be okay. I had to do this for him. I had to be okay with everything until he got here. If that meant avoiding any social networking sites and locking myself in my room, I'd do it. I would because Niall means a lot to me and I wasn't ready to let him go. I didn't think I'd ever be ready to let him go, which meant I had to be strong, even when people were attacking me and my family. I had to be strong because that was the best thing for us.

"Alix! There's only eight days until the boys come back!" Steph called through the halls to me. We weren't trying to hide our friendships with them anymore because people had caught on even before Steph and Harry went public. There were pictures and stories all around us so it was kind of hard to deny anyway.

"I know. I'm so excited for them to come back." I told her, putting my book away to grab the ones for my classes after lunch. "I really need Niall here."

"Hey, how are you doing with everything? I saw them talking about your mom visiting you." I shrugged at her and she narrowed her eyes at me. "Alix, seriously, talk to me."

"I'm just trying to make it these last days. His fans are getting to me." I told her honestly. Her eyes softened to me. "I really don't know how you do it."

"Have you told Niall about it?"

"Theres nothing he can do. I mean, he can call them out on twitter, but then thats acknowledging them and thats all they'll care about. He can make a public statement and have management get mad and lose fans. Or he can ignore it and burden himself about it and start to hate his fans. Its better if he just doesn't know its getting to me."

"You can't take that all on, at least not by yourself." Steph told me as we walked toward the cafeteria. 

"Steph its not a big deal. Its just a few more days." We each got a sandwich and went to sit at our seat where we saw Jaesin. 

"Tell her she's crazy." Steph sat beside Jaesin.

"Why? Whats going on?" Jaesin asked warily.

"She's not talking to Niall about things."

"Like what?"

"His fans." I answered. "But its not up to him to protect me."

"Didn't he ask you to talk to him if you needed to? If things his fans are saying are getting to you?" Jaesin asked and turned his eyes on me. 

"He did, but its not his job." I told them. They weren't winning this one. Its not Niall's job to make sure I'm okay. He already does enough for me and I don't want him to resent his fans because of what they are saying to me. They are just jealous and upset and I understand that. No need to bring Niall down for this.

"Alix." Steph started.

"Just drop it Steph. Its not a big deal. Really." Both Jaesin and Steph looked at me with disbelieving looks on their faces so I focused my attention on my sandwich. I could feel their eyes boring into my head. "So how's it going with Harry?" I asked trying to change the subject.