Home (1D/Olly Murs)

Chapter 6

"Ok here it goes." I began with a shaky breath " Growing up my mom was my best friend and she was an amazing musician. She loved music and she made sure I could share that with her. Before I was reading books, I wad reading music. It didn't take too long for her to start putting instruments in my hands and I was incredibly accomplished. I can play any instrument you give me, but my true passion was for the piano. Mom and I would play The Beatles all the time because she was obsessed with them, Olly would sing for us, and my dad would just watch like he was the most lucky man in the world. He loved my mom with everything that he had.

When I was nine my mom wad diagnosed with stage four breast cancer and we were shattered. Olly was nineteen and couldn't handle seeing my mom the way she was so he left to live with our family here in London. After that it was just me and Dad taking care of my mom. The doctors gave her four months, it took four years and watching someone die like that does things to people. My daddidn't know how to handle it so he became engrossed in his work until he only came home for a few days out of the year. Not that I complained because when he was home he would drink and drink and cry and then get angry and sometimes he'd take it out on me. That's when I started doing this." I said indicating to my scars.

"And one day I just had enough. My dad had left on another business trip after reminding me how worthless I was and beating the shit out of me and he destroyed my piano which was the last thing my mom ever gave me. That's how I got this one." I pointed to the scar that ran from my wrist to the middle of my forearm. "If the maid hadn't found me unconscious in my room I wouldn't be here. I was hospitalized for weeks and not once did my dad come. He showed up after I was released to let me know that he was having me committed until I could 'get my shit together '. I was there for a year. Seeing counselors and therapists and staying under constant watch. When I got out I was greeted by my dad who immediately drove me to the airport,handed me a plane ticket, and told me I was going to live with Olly and now here I am."

By the time I finished I was sobbing uncontrollably in Niall's arms. He was doing his best to comfort me, but it wasn't going to work because I needed to do this. I needed to cry for all those times I hadn't in the past six years. When I finished and lifted my face to look at Niall, he spoke for the first time since I started my story.

"Abby, I'm so sorry. I had no idea. "

"Don't apologize, it's not your fault."

"I never would've guessed any of this. You always seem so happy and so full of life."

"That's because I am. For the first time in a long time I am genuinely happy. Coming here was the best thing I've done in a long time. You, Olly, the rest of the boys, you fixed me. I don't know how you did it but you did and I owe you everything. " I let him know giving him a bright and genuine smile.

"Well I'm glad we did or else I wouldn't have my best friend."

"And I wouldn't have told you any of this and I would still be dealing with it all on my own."

"You mean Olly doesn't know? "

"He knows I was in the hospital, but he doesn't know why and he doesn't know about me being committed and put on suicide watch."

"You should probably tell him Abs."

"I should, but I can't. It would break his heart and he would blame himself."

"I still think he has a right to know." 

"But I don't want him to see this side of me. The side of me that was dark and messed up."

"Abby, you just don't get it. This doesn't make you messed up. It makes you a fighter. It shows that you've overcome a lot of bad shit in your life. These are your battle scars Abs."

"Hey you two lovebirds!" one of the other boys shouted "quit with the kissy faces and let's get a fire going. " this caused us both to turn bright red and Niall to let go of my wrists.

"I think I have a jacket too if you wanna put on some dry clothes." Niall offered.

After the bonfire we started to make our way home and the trip back was scarily quiet compared to the trip up. Part of this was because Harry wasn't happy with all of us because he fell asleep so we buried him and spent twenty minutes digging him out after he woke up. Now everytime he shook his hair sand came flying out. Forty-five minutes of silence was all it took for all of the boys except for Harry to fall asleep. Liam had his face pressed against the window in the passenger seat, Zayn had his legs stretched across Louis' lap as he too leaned up against the window while Louis used Zayn's legs for a pillow, and Niall had passed out in my lap while I absentmindedly played with his hair as my thoughts went back to my story.

Niall didn't judge me or pity me. He was proud of me and wanted me to see all that I had overcome. It didn't matter to him that I was clearly eight different kinds of crazy he still stuck around. Yup. I had stepped in it big time. I was falling for my best friend.