A Match Into Water (Neeroy Fanfiction)

Chapter 10

Niall Horan could not believe his ears. He couldn't help but have a little feeling deep inside him that Liam wasn't telling the truth, even though those chocolate brown eyes were watery with tears which never escaped. The sandy-haired boy sat opposite, his hands in his lap and his eyes connected to the floor. He was remembering the feeling.

But Niall didn't think the sweet, beautiful Leeroy would ever do anything like that. It seemed impossible. Could Niall be mad at him, eight years later? Could Niall feel angst towards him, though the harm wasn't targeted at him? He was unsure of his feelings right now. Thinking about Leeroy- all he felt was a warm, fuzzy feeling he had never experienced before now. Though Niall had excuses for being angry, he felt he couldn't.

The blonde haired boy didn't know whether he was glad for Liam to spill the beans, or he wished he hadn't. At this moment, he felt pain and betrayed. But that wasn't it. He also felt sort of numb, as if he couldn't feel anything. He didn't know what to say at all. Did he forgive Leeroy, or ditch him, to make Liam happy?

The silence wasn't awkward. Both of them were thinking hard, whether it was from the past or what to do in the future, both of them were in their own little world. Eventually, Niall checked his watch which read 2:15. His Mum would be worried, but he had other things to think about now. He was eighteen.

"Liam," Niall whispered. Liam Payne didn't glance up. "Liam?"

Finally, those melted chocolate brown eyes gazed up into the scorching sea-blue ones. Liam's eyes were still watery with tears. They never rolled down his cheeks. All of the droplets stayed put into his deep irises, waiting for their cue.

"Li... you know I had no idea," the sapphire-coloured eyed boy murmured, putting his hand out to stroke the older boys' fiddled fingers.

Liam took Niall by surprise and grabbed his hand, putting it close to his fast-beating heart, hopelessness planted into his dark orbs.

"Niall, I can't forgive him for doing this," he whimpered. "I can't. He hurt me in a way I'd never thought possible. It seems pathetic, especially eight years later. But he scarred me. Not physically, but emotionally. I think about the feeling all the time. I can't get it out of my head. Even when I'm sleeping, it's all I have nightmares about."

Niall nodded. "But you still have to realise... he's not that twelve year old boy anymore. He cares about you."

Liam snorted, no humour in his dark, deep irises. "He forgot about me. He didn't care when I came home, filthy and starving. He laughed, you know. He laughed at me."

"He was twelve. He was an immature pre-teen," Niall insisted. Though he felt so much sympathy towards his best friend, he also felt the need to defend Leeroy. This was eight years ago. Both brothers needed to talk about this.

Liam's eyes narrowed. "When your own brother laughs at you for being in a mess, you don't forget. Niall, you don't understand."

"Your brother cares about you. This situation was eight years ago. You have to talk to him about this, Liam. Otherwise you'll never get out of this... depression."

"I'm not depressed."

Niall rolled his sapphire orbs. "Honestly, you should go to therapy. If all you're dreaming about is your horrific past life, you should. Sorry, Li. My opinion."

"I will think about it. Maybe I'll make an appointment. Just not right now."

Niall lolled back into the comfortable sofa, eyeing Liam warily. The extra moisture in his eyes disappeared, but he had dark red bags under his eyes. Niall wondered idly if that was because he was still upset about spilling the beans or just because he was exhausted. Niall felt like he was going to pass out.