Restrained

Restrained - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Niall's POV

"Bria and I had been childhood friends. She grew up with me, and we started dating three years ago. Awhile ago we started a band with a few other guys, Len and Chris. They were at a party one night when I was visiting my mum. She had apparently said something that Len and Chris didn't want to hear. I don't know what she said or did, but I'm assuming it was bad, knowing how she was. They took her outside and started beating her senseless. I found her the next day, laying in the backyard. I took her to the hospital, and Len and Chris were arrested. Bria got out of the hospital fairly quickly, she had a few broken bones. One day she was walking to her car after work, and was shot. It was one of Lens friends who was mad about his arrest. Bria died after being shot several times. I wasn't there to save her, " I choked, running a hand through my hair. January 16, the day that has and will haunt me for my whole life. I hadn't left my apartment for months, until my friends dragged me out.

"Oh," she said, almost a whisper. Who gave her the right to judge? Mixed emotions cross her face in a matter of seconds, practically giving me whiplash.

"What?" I snap.

"Nothing. I'm not about to give you pity because I know that's not what you want," she says, and I'm great full and annoyed at once. I roll my eyes at her, leaving her room and slamming the door behind me.

How dare she be jealous! That's what I saw cross her face, I know it. She's jealous I love Bria and not her.

Once I've reached the half empty room I slam my fist into the wall, cracking it.

I shouldn't have let her stay.

I shouldn't have gotten close to her.

I shouldn't have let my guard down.

I need to leave her, before I get hurt. Or before I hurt her. I'm incapable of loving her, and she can't love me either. How could I think I could ever love again? Live again? I've betrayed Bria, I promised her.

A small knock at the door echoes through the room, along with shuffling from the hall.

"What!?" I yell, hoping it's not thought of as an invitation to enter.

"Well I just heard some slamming so I thought maybe...never mind," she says, luckily staying out.

"Well leave!" I snap, getting up to lock the door.

"How mature," she says as the door clicks and she attempts to open the door.

"Can't you go to Macy's or something?" I say to myself, and she huffs from the other side of the door.

"Yeah I'll stay there," she says back, and I hear her walk away. Finally.

I strip off my clothes and climb into the bed, attempting to fall asleep to forget tonight. Not too long after I fall asleep I hear the door open and slam shut as Amber leaves, waking me up. Good, she finally listens to me for once.

I toss and turn for awhile, tonight replaying in my mind. The emptiness of the room is haunting, and it only reminds me of Quinn. I haven't given him much thought since he left. We were friends, I suppose. It was weird, him leaving like that for his girlfriend. Annoying I might add. Not a single thing as a call asking 'Hey, how are you managing to pay the bills?' Because the answer would be, 'funny you ask Quinn! I now am hardly able to afford groceries! Hilarious!'

God, I need another job. I might as well look for one tomorrow now that Amber's gone. Although the thought of waking early in the morning is enough to make me cringe.

'Or you could just go to college.' My fathers voice says in the back of my head. Oh.

It would make sense to work at a music store, but the only one in town is the one Amber works in.

This is going to be harder than I thought. Everything would be so much easier if I'd never met Amber. So much easier. And the thought that I might have been close to falling for her pains me. I cannot-will not- love anyone else. She may have thought we had something, but she would be wrong. She was only allowed to stay here because I'm too nice for my own good. I'm not attaching myself to her again. And if that means I have to be a douche to her, I will.

But the other part of me knows I have to let go. Bria would want me to. Amber needs someone there, someone to tell her life is not as bad as she knows it to be. And I know I can be that person for her. I can stay with her and protect her from the things she fears.

But now that she's gone and I've pushed her out of my life, she's exposed to the great unknown. Macy can't protect her, and if anything she's in danger also.

Mark's out there. But he doesn't know where Macy lives. They're fine. Macy picked her up and now they're at her house, away from Mark.

Or did Macy pick her up? All I know is that Amber left.

She's with Macy, who picked her up tonight.

Or she's with Mark.

She could even be roaming around the streets, at night. Alone.

••••••

Author's note

Sorry everyone for taking awhile to update. I feel horrible. Schools coming up soon so I won't be able to update as frequently. I'll probably be doing longer chapters and fewer updates, or short chapters with quick updates.

I hope you like this chapter! I will try my hardest to update quickly.

I was thinking of making playlists for each chapter. At the beginning of each chapter I'll post the songs I listened to while writing the chapter. Sorry if I have a strange taste in music.

Lots of love for you all,

Xx Claire