STORM | Niall Horan |

Truth Or Dare

Chapter 9

“So, what were you doing outside at night the day we met?”

The rain was finally gone, and the sun’s rays shone through the clouds that were still covering the sky, causing a faint rainbow to become visible in the distance. After exiting the café, Niall had insisted on taking me for a little walk, and I couldn’t say no.

Apparently, he liked the smell of rain that lingered on grass, and that was what made me agree. We walked side to side along the stony path of the nearby park, the car was still remaining where he had parked it while we wandered along, I looked at the ground, while Niall’s gazes were focused on the sky.

His question caught me a bit off guard, and I turned my head to look at him, blinking in slight surprise. It was most certainly unexpected, and I didn’t know how to reply. What should I say? I caught my boyfriend cheating on me and got hungry so I went for McDonalds. Not very impressive.

“Well,” I began, clearing my throat in order to get a little more to think about what to say. Remembering that day made my features drop, and I bit my lower lip slightly. I have told myself various times that it was Daniel’s loss, not mine, yet I felt like I was responsible for it.

If he didn’t have to wait on me for the intercourse, he would not have grabbed another woman to do it with, right? Then again, if he truly loved me, he would have respected my decision. I was confused. Niall saw my reactions, and suddenly took hold of my hand, squeezing it reassuringly.

“I-I caught my boyfriend cheating on me, and needed to get rid of the pain by eating McDonalds.”

Oh em gee, I hope he didn’t think that I was a weirdo or something for thinking of food after something like that. He remained quiet after my words, and I was afraid that he doubted my sanity at the moment, but no. His handsome features began to turn angry, and his free hand clenched into a fist while the hand on mine was trembling slightly.

He became really angry, and I could see that he tried to calm himself down, even stopped walking. “What happened?” I asked, trying to let go of his hand to give him some free space or something, but he only held my digits tighter, looking deeply into my eyes.

“Your boyfriend is a little shithole.”

So, that was what this was about. We stood in the middle of the path, the people behind us passed us by, some muttered annoyed things since we basically blocked the way, and even though I wanted to move aside with Niall, he refused to do so.

“He never deserved you.”

With that, he wrapped his muscular arms around my head (since I was smaller than him) and pulled me into a tight hug, something I needed the whole time long. My arms crept around his belly and I finally dropped my strong façade. An embrace like this was all I had wished for. Tears began to slowly make their way down my cheeks and I nuzzled my head into his chest, hiding my red face with my blonde hair.

We stepped a little aside after various people almost bumped into us, the blonde still held me within his grasp as we stood under a tree at the side of the path of the park. His large fingers brushed through my hair and I felt his lips pressing against my head, rubbing my back in a soothing, comforting manner.

Three weeks ago, I had caught Daniel cheating. I had cried for half an hour. But after that? I was so focused on keeping a strong mask on that I suppressed the feelings underneath until their breaking point, which was now. The fact that Niall was beside me was enough for me to purely be myself for once.

“Cry it all out; don’t be afraid of letting your emotions flow freely, Jolie. But remember not to cry for the same reason ever again, okay?”

He whispered those words and I nodded into his chest, to which he loosened his hold on my hair, moving it towards my face while lifting my chin up, so I could look him in the eyes. Knowing that I looked like a goddamn wreck, I quickly turned my head to the side, but he moved it back.