Priceless: A Niall Fanfiction

Chapter 7

(WARNING: May Trigger)

“For not stopping him that night he hit you.”

      I inhaled suddenly, my lungs not giving me a choice. I put my hands in my pockets and looked to the ground to gather my thoughts. I could see Harry’s eyes on me in my peripherals.

      I took a deep breath and looked up at him, “it’s not your fault.” I could feel tears brimming. I tried not to blink in fear they would overflow. “You still saved me.” I choked out.

      Before I knew it there were arms around me in a gentle embrace. I tensed out of habit, but my muscles relaxed under the sweet touch of him. I felt safe. His arms were around my neck and my arms around his waist. He was so much taller than me.

      He held me like that as I cried. I soaked his shirt with my tears and he stroked my hair and soothingly told me it was all right. I tucked my head into his chest as I heard a door slam.

      “What the fuck.” The familiar accent rang in my ears and I felt Harry let go as my muscles weakened. I swung my head the direction it was coming from, Niall was walking towards us in nothing but his pajama pants and god he was sexy. How fucking messed up was I though? I felt the tears stain my cheeks as they partially dried. I knew he didn’t remember what happened that night.

      Harry started walking towards him and Niall’s face twisted into sadness and betrayal.

      “What’d you do to her?” Harry demanded. He stepped past me, looking at Niall.

      “Nothing, I didn’t touch her,” Niall looked past him and reached out a hand, I shook my head.

      “Bullshit,” Harry said before I could. I looked back and forth between the two boys, both not wanting to do anything they will regret. I stepped forwards, looking at Niall. I felt the breeze in the night and caught a sniff of alcohol. I winced. Niall.

      “You’ve been drinking,” I looked at Niall with disgust, “I just left about 25 minutes ago.” I started walking towards him.

      Harry let me walk, sticking out a hand and instinctively ready to take ahold of me and pull me back from his beloved friend.

      “You fucking dirty pig. I don’t get it, why do you drink when you know what happens to you? All that ends up happening is you blacking out and forgetting what you did! You forget that you’re a monster when you drink.” I could see the hurt in his tipsy eyes, he wasn’t all gone yet but he was sure to lash out if I got him mad enough.

      “You don’t even remember that night do you?”

      I felt Harry step forward and take my wrist, “Carson, not tonight—“

      “You don’t remember it at all and it fucking hurts. It’s something that won’t ever go away, Niall. You say you never want to hurt me, that you love me. I hate it, I hate that you mean so much because you are a monster and I shouldn’t love you.” Tears were pouring down my face and my words were slurring together.

      Niall’s brows were knitted together and his eyes were hurt, “what?” He looked at Harry, expecting an answer, “what’d I do…? Please, tell me….”

      I laughed and shook my head, “that’s just it.” I turned towards Harry. “I’m leaving.”

      I saw Niall turn his head to the side, looking out on the dark street, letting me walk away with Harry.

      I turned around, “if you remember, text me.” I looked at him with sympathy and love because of course I still loved him. I’d always love him. Harry walked with me, not touching me but his gentleness still lingered on my skin. I knew Niall was walking back to his house because the door slammed soon afterwards.