Chapter Fourteen:
Paige’s POV:
I looked down at my feet and whispered, “It h-h-happened l-last ni-ight.”
I couldn’t look up at Niall. I know I wouldn’t be able to handle the disgust and hate that would be displayed on his face. So I just picked up my bag that I must have subconsciously dragged up here with me and quietly said, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’ll be going now.”
I made it halfway down the stairs before Niall caught up with me and engulfed me into a hug and whispered into my ear, “Don’t ever apologize for that, Paige. It wasn’t your fault. I’m so sorry. Please, don’t leave. I promise I won’t bring it up again.”
I felt my tears staining Niall’s shirt but I couldn’t move. I needed this. I hadn’t had a real hug in so long. Right now, I just needed someone to lean on. Someone to unload on and make this burden I was carrying around not so heavy.
“Thanks Niall, but I can’t go back in there and face the other boys.” I whisper back into his chest.
“Why not?” He asked, apparently puzzled.
“They’ll hate me! They’re probably disgusted with me. Please, just let me leave.” I stammer brokenly, my voice cracking in some places due to my tear filled voice.
“Paige, they won’t hate you. I promise.” He tried to assure me.
But he didn’t understand. He couldn’t. And how could he, he had no idea.
“Niall, you don’t understand.”
“Then make me.” He lifted up my face, to where I was looking into his eyes. Normally this type of male-female physical contact would make me at least a little nervous but for some reason Niall made me feel safe.
“I..I..I’ve had some other things happen to me, besides what happened last night; and despite what you’re thinking now or whatever your intentions are I assure you that there’s no way you’re not going to end up disgusted and hating me.” I stutter out, almost regretting the words that would surely cost me my new found friend.
“Try me.” He dared.
I took a deep breath. “I ran away a couple days ago. My father abused me, cut me, stabbed me, hit me, kicked me. I was used to hit. But the other day I came home late and he did all of that but then he raped me. I couldn’t take it. I ran away. Then last night happened….” I trailed off, really not in the mood to go into too much detail.
Niall just stood there, rigid as stone. Probably trying to figure out how to get me out of his arms without having to touch me anymore than he already was.
I backed out of his arms and said, “See? I’m just one of those people that can’t be loved. I’m sorry, Niall. I’m so sorry. Please don’t tell anyone, I’ll leave. I promise.”
And with that, I ran out of Liam’s flat before anyone could stop me. I didn’t even stop to look back and see if anyone was calling my name or coming after me; I highly doubted they were, but it still would have been nice if someone had.
But what could I expect? I was just a fat, ugly, broken whore of a girl that no one wanted and that no one could love; not even myself….
Niall’s POV:
Why did I let her run out? Why didn’t I tell her that she was wrong? That she could be loved, that none of us hated her? That if anything I respected her more because of what she’d been through and how she was still able to keep it together? How could I have been so stupid?
“WHAT THE BLOODY HELL JUST HAPPENED?!” I looked down at the bottom of the stairs and see Liam and the rest of the lads standing there. Liam looked mad, and the rest of the lads just looked confused.
“I..I..I was trying to talk to Paige and calm her down but then we got to talking and she told me about some other things in her past and I was so shocked that I didn’t say anything and she ran out of here before I could stop her. I’m so sorry, Liam.” I sigh, he was going to be pissed. We could all tell that Liam cared a lot about Paige, hell he might even love her; and here I just let her walk out the door without even so much as a goodbye or a comeback.
Liam huffed and ran his hand through his hair –something he only did when he was trying to keep himself in check- and said, “It’s fine, Niall. She runs off a lot. It’s not your fault.” Then he looked at the rest of the lads but still looking at me and continued, “Will you lads help me find her? I don’t know where she’s going but I can’t let anything happen to her?”
We all nodded and agreed to split up and text each other if we find her and Liam gave all of us Paige’s number and we were all sending her constant texts and calling her, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she turned her phone off just to ignore us….
Liam’s POV:
I thought everything was going well; until Niall asked Paige that question. I don’t know what she told him exactly when they both left but it must have been pretty traumatic. But maybe I should just face the facts, Paige obviously doesn’t want to be here with me, she clearly doesn’t want to be helped. So maybe it would just be for the best if I let her go and tried to move on; she’s a strong girl, she can handle herself.
I tried to reassure myself as I walked aimlessly in a direction that I had no clue if it would lead me one step closer to Paige or not, but I couldn’t help but remember what happened to her the last time I let her go; what if her father found her or those other men?
Okay, I vow, I will find Paige, no matter how long it takes or how hard it gets, and when I do, I’ll let her decide what we’ll do from there, but until then I had to give her one last chance for help.
I just hope that when the time comes, she’ll let me help her; if I find her….
