The Help - (Zach Aplin and Niall Horan)

Chapter 2

*BUZZ* *BUZZ* I groaned loudly as I tried to figure out where that annoying sound was coming from, trying hitting my snooze button but remembering it’s a Saturday. Who the hell calls me on Saturday, let alone who calls me anyway? Where the hell is that sound coming from I thought to myself again *BUZZ*. I finally found out where the sound was coming from and picked up my phone 'MADDIE' showed up on the bright screen that made my eyes squint a bit as  I glance at the clock '3:46 AM" I groaned once more and pressed the 'answer' button, "What that fuck do you want Maddie?! Its 3 am for goodness sakes!" I semi-screamed into the phone, not wanting to wake up Richard and get a beating this early in the morning. "Sorry! Sorry! I just needed to tell you something important!" She said overly excitedly through the phone, "Okay, okay.." I sighed softly and ran my hand through my hair "Okay! So I know what you're going through and I want to help" she said as her voice being softer and less exited. Maddie was one of my best friends, to be honest, my only friend. I trust her more than anyone but I’m still shocked she hasn't left me yet but she'll never know what I’m going through; no one ever will. "Uh.. Yeah, what is it?" I asked raising my eyebrow, "A therapist" she quickly said, "T-Therapist?" my voice uneasy at her response. I didn't like the thought of telling a random stranger all my problems and inner thoughts, In my opinion they'd just look at me like I’m a freak and send me to a mental hospital! "Yeah! A therapist, I don't know if it'll make a difference but it’s a start." "A start?! A start where? You know I don't like this idea Maddie.." I scratched the back of my head a bit, furrowing my eyebrows. "I know, I know.. But, for me? Just one session, that's all I ask for." she said almost pleading, I sighed once more and thought for a moment, "One session, okay?" I said, Maddie is the only person that hasn't hurt me physically and emotionally, it’s the best I could do for her. "Really?! Thank you Zach! I love you, stay strong, okay sweetie" "Yeah, yeah, love you too. Now I need my sleep! Night!" I said chuckling a bit and pressing the 'end' button and throwing my phone to the night stand and falling sound asleep. 

"Oh look what we have here.." He said with a smirk on his face as I was trying to close the door behind me as quite as possible. "Look, Dad, I’m sorry! I thought it was only 10 and-" "SHUT UP!" he screamed in my face and slapped me hard across the face, I whimpered in pain and tried to keep the tears from falling but they were no use, tears where falling down my face as soon as he hit me. I covering my cheek trying to stop the pain, "Stop crying you little faggot!" he screamed as he harshly pulled my hand away from my face as he balled his hand into a fist and hit me directly in my face, hitting my jaw. I fell hard to the floor and wept, "P-please! Stop!" I tried to scream through my tears but all that came out was a small shout of pain. "No one’s going to help you. You're worthless, ugly, and disgraceful. I don't know why I haven't killed you yet!" he scoffed looking down at me, rubbing his bloody knuckles on his jeans as he walked outside of the house, slamming the door shut. I flinched at the sound of the door and continued to cry more and more as the blood from my bruised lip and sore jaw kept acing. When will this stop. When will the pain stop? When will somebody come and help me escape the living hell I’m in?

I gasped loudly as I woke up from another nightmare, sweat trickling down my forehead and down to my jaw. I glanced and sighed noticing it was already 12pm; I got off my bed and walked to my bathroom stumbling a bit my way there. I let out a long sigh as I took a long look at myself in the mirror, my entire life shown in bruises, cuts and scars. I shook my head slowly looking away from the mirror and turned on the shower and slowly steeped inside, sighing in relief as I felt the hot, steaming water run through my body. I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist and walked into my room, picking up my phone from the night stand and checking if Maddie texted me anything. 

'Get ready by 1:30! I'll pick you up and drop you off at the therapist :) - M. x' 

'I’m almost ready! Thanks. x'

I put down my phone and walked towards my closest, looking for the nicest thing I could wear but not having luck since I have a small amount of wardrobe. I put on my 'Ramones' T-shirt and old pair of jeans and I walked towards the mirror and fixed my hair up a bit, grabbing my phone and slowly walked downstairs hopping Richard would he in a bar. Surprisingly enough, he was and I sighed in relief, slipping on my Vans and walking out the side door, grabbing the keys before closing the door. 

I sighed slowly as I tapped my foot rapidly and looked outside the window, watching the trees and people whizz by me. "Zach, it’s just a therapist! He's not going to hurt you" Maddie said, placing a hand in my shaking knee and giving me a small smile when turning her focus back on the road, "I don't know Maddie, telling a stranger everything that’s happened in my life doesn't  seem in my comfort zone" I said softly, glancing at her then back at the window. "We're here" she said pulling into the parking lot, I sighed and bit my lip gently as I unlocked my door and stepped out of the car, looking at the massive building in front of me. "I'll wait for you in the lobby when you’re done" she said putting her hand on my shoulder, I looked at her and gave her a small smile, pressing a kiss on her forehead, putting my hand in my pockets and started walking inside the building. 

"Hello! Welcome to the National Institute of London! We have the number 1 therapist and doctors here to assist you, what do you need help with?" the lady in the front desk said a bit over excitedly "Uh.. I’m looking for a therapist, Mrs. Wendy?" I said as I looked at her name tag that said 'Mrs. Wendy Assistant Manager'. She looked down at her clipboard and looked back up at me smiling widely "Perfect! Mr. Horan is just back from his lunch break and he's free right now! Would you like to see him?" "Uh.. Yeah. Sounds great" I said faking a smile and looked across the lobby looking for Maddie, she was sitting down in the waiting area and gave me a small smile at me and a single nod. 

I took a long look as I stared at the door in front of me, it had a plaque that had 'Mr. Horan - Therapist' engraved into it. I sighed slowly and grabbed the knob, turning it slowly and pushed it slowly. 

As I walked in my jaw completely dropped. I saw the most beautiful human being right in front of me, the ends of his hair were bleached in blond and he had the brightest and bluest eyes I’ve seen. "Hello! You must be...” he looked down at his clipboard "Zachary, Zachary Aplin" he finally said. My knees went weak when I heard his think Irish accent; I was too weak for words and just nodded in response. "Nice to meet you Zach! If that’s okay if I call you that" he said smiling at me widely, "Y-Yeah... Perfectly fine" I said smiling looking into his sparking blue eyes. I didn't need to tell myself twice, I was in love.