Act Like You're in Love {Niall Horan}

Chapter 42: Buried

~Niall's P.O.V.~

Mariah suddenly dropped the phone. I ran over to her in a panic.

"What's wrong, Mariah? Riah?"

Her eyes were glazed over and stared over my shoulder but were frozen.

"Mariah?" Liam's staticky voice came through the phone on the ground.

I picked it up. "Liam? This is Niall, what's going on?"

"Mariah's parents are here."

"...Well shit."

"Shit is right. I don't know what to do."

I ran a hand through my hair and glance at Mariah. "I-I don't know what we'll do. I'll try and get Mariah up there but she's a statue right now. I'll call you soon, just stall."

"I'll try. Good luck," Liam said before hanging up.

I put the phone on the counter and focused back on Mariah. "Riah, come on."

In a matter of two seconds, her face went from frozen to crumpled with tears.

I didn't even try consoling her because it wasn't going to work. "Mariah, we have to go up there and you know it."

She sniffled and stuck her head under my chin. "I know."

We both knew she needed to get this over with, so I didn't waste any more time. I held her hand as we went upstairs to Liam's flat.

Apprehension was in the air when I knocked solemnly like Mariah's death sentence was awaiting her on the other side of the door. A hurried pair of footsteps approached the door that was flung open soon after, revealing a fretful Liam.

When he opened the door wider, I saw Louis sitting on the couch awkwardly with a man and a woman. The man had gray hair and a slightly wrinkled face that made him look a bit menacing. The lady had blond hair a little like mine.

"Mariah." The lady stood up.

Instead of responding, Mariah squeezed my hand even tighter. I had to admit, on a different point of view, she would look completely strong and independent, but I felt her trembling.

"Why are you here?" Mariah finally asked.

"To talk to you, sweetie," her mother said trying to smile. Mariah's dad just grumbled.

"I had the impression that after over three years went by, you wouldn't want to talk to me."

"Honey, we still love you," her mum tried with that smile still trying to shove its way on her face.

Mariah squeezed my hand again before retaliating. "You have a really funny way of showing it, now don't you."

I was taken aback by her menacing tone, and I blinked a few times. At least she's not mad at me.

Her mother looked appalled and couldn't come up with an answer. I guessed Mariah hadn't been a child who talked back.

Suddenly Mariah's hand left mine. "If you two want to come to my apartment to talk about whatever you came for, come on. Let's not bother them anymore. I don't even know how you got in here."

Mariah's parents excused themselves from Liam's apartment and followed Mariah out the door. I started to, but Mariah gently placed her hand on my arm. "No, don't come, please. Not right now."

I frowned but complied as the three of them left, leaving us three boys standing in Liam's apartment with no idea what to do.

"I have to go," I mumbled and quickly left, feeling worried eyes follow me.