piper [n.h.] -Discontinued.

Chapter Four

"Niall?" Derrick says, and I jump.

"Huh?" I look at him, and he raises an eyebrow.

"You okay?"

"Yeah..no. No actually."

"What happened back there? You seem so distant."

"I met someone."

"Oh? Well give me the details."

"I don't think that's a good idea.. I'm not even sure what those details are."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know. She gave me her number." I wave around the napkin.

"It's a real one?"

"I hope so. We were getting along fine until.."

"Until?"

"Until her boyfriend showed up."

"You were planning on fucking a chick with a boyfriend? Oh, Niall. That's low, even for you."

"Fuck you, man. I wasn't even thinking about getting into her pants."

"Then what is the problem?"

"That's exactly it. I didn't think about banging her like every other girl I meet at the bar. I thought about other things...like waking up to her smiling face every morning..and protecting her. And making her happy--"

"Holy shit, dude. You just met her and you're already planning your future? She gave you her number not her hand in marriage for fuck sake."

"I know. I don't know what's happening to me. Just seeing him grab her and throw her around has shaken me up a bit."

Derrick's grip tightens on the wheel. He snaps his head to face me.

"Who's he?"

"Her boyfriend, Will, I think she said. He grabbed her and pushed her out the door. I didn't know what to do, but when I told him to stop hurting her, he said he's done worse to her."

"Fucking hell. So you're telling me he abuses her?"

"I guess so. That's what I got from it. And her eyes were so sad when he showed up. Earlier she told me he didn't want to be seen with her."

"That's...that's fucked up."

"Big time." I mumble.

"Well, are you gonna call her to make sure she's still alive after her actions tonight?"

"I don't know. Should I?" I glance over at him, waiting for an answer. But he stays silent.

"When I first saw her dancing, I just felt different. I felt something change. I want her so bad, and I don't even know her. Sappy, isn't it?"

"Don't be falling in love on me." He laughs. I manage to laugh along even though I feel guilty for making Will hurt Piper.

"Love isn't my thing." I remind him. He doesn't reply to that, but I see the corners of his mouth turning up.

"Maybe just text her? A simple hey and when she replies, you can let out a sigh of relief and get some sleep."

"Yeah I might. Who knows, she could have forgotten about me already. Whatever."

"Sudden mood swings eh?"

"No. Fuck off."