The Nanny

Paralysis

I was furious...

... And also a bit hurt.

I didn't know which I wanted to do more. Find Harry and knock his ass out or find a corner and cry my eyes out.

I had never been so humiliated and just... embarrassed before.

I was so stupid to think Harry and I could actually be friends. Silly me for thinking he was actually being honest when he said he wanted to be. I should have known better. Boys always lie to me.

It's like I had some huge sign over my head that read 'gullible' or some crap like that.

"Ari." I heard shouted from behind me and it only made me pick up my pace as I took long strides away from the building I had just been inside of with my arms tightly pulled across my abdomen.

All those people in there had been staring at me. Me, the stupid nanny who thought she could be friends with her boss. The nobody.

They had seen me slap him, their golden boy.

I was sure to be made out to be the bad guy by the morning.

"Aria, wait!"

I didn't.

I kept on walking, not really having an idea of where I was going at all.

I knew I was somewhere in the heart of London, I figured I was just a quick cab ride away from Kendra's place. I'm sure she wouldn't mind me crashing there. Besides all I really wanted right now was Jamie.

"Damn it Aria. STOP!" This time a hand grabbed onto my elbow and spun me around just as I reached for the phone I had in my clutch to call a cab.

I looked up at Niall's face and huffed indignantly. "What?!"

He looked a little taken aback by my tone, it was one I never used on him before, but I was just so upset by everything I couldn't find an ounce of myself that cared at that moment.

"Whoa, calm down babes. I didn't do anything, remember." He whispered out with a hurt look in his eyes.

And then I found the ounce with a sigh. "I'm sorry, I just... he just..."

Niall didn't need me to finish, he already knew. Wrapping his arms around me tightly, he hugged me close to his warm body and I sudden realized how cold it was outside.

I felt his breath on my ear as he spoke. "Look, Harry is an arse, but he's had a bit to drink and he'll more than likely regret this all in the morning if he doesn't already."

I pulled away from him and wrapped my arms over my chest trying to keep myself warm. "I don't care. He had no right to make me feel like I was worthless. Just because I'm Darcy's nanny doesn't mean I'm not good enough." I sighed and shook my head at the stabbing hurt that coursed through me. "I'm not going back there."

"You're right but you have to know none of us feel that way about you. .. and I wouldn't make you go back there." He sighed and looked around the empty street. Luckily for us we hadn't attracted any attention from anyone... yet. Most of the paps were on the others side of the building. I had enough clarity through my angry to take the side exit as I left. "Let's get out of here. Would you like to head back to mine? We could watch a film or something."

I contemplated my options. Really I just wanted to be alone, but that would require going back to either Kendra's or Harry's, both of which held issues of their own.

Although going back to Kendra's meant having Jamie with me, it also meant being grilled by my friend and I certainly did not want to have to recount this night to her, at least not tonight.