Your Greatest Mistake

Chapter Ten

Niall's POV

I opened my eyes and realized that I had fell asleep with Riley. She was still sleeping. I rolled over and got out off of the the bed. I went into the living room and hopped on the couch. She needed sleep, so hopefully she slept for a while. I sat there in the silence. I didn't want to turn on the television because it might wake her up. I sat for about ten minutes when I heard her starting to cough. She sounded like she was having trouble catching her breath. I dashed down the hall and burst into her room. She was sitting up and not coughing anymore.

"Are you okay love?" I asked.

"Mhm, just a cough." She said.

"Alright." I said.

I walked over to her and kissed her on the forehead.

"You still have a fever." I said.

"Yeah, I figured." She said.

I sat down next to her and pushed her hair out of her face.

"What time is it?" She asked.

"Five forty five." I said.

"That's weird." She muttered.

"What is?" I asked.

"My parents should be home by now." She said.

"Probably traffic." I said.

She shrugged and smiled at me.

"So what do you wanna do?" She asked.

"Um, I don't think you're up for much." I said.

She began to protest, but she was cut of by a few sneezes.

"Told you." I giggled.

"Ugh, I'm bored." She said.

"Go back to sleep love." I said.

"No babe." She muttered.

I smiled. She called me babe for the first time in a while. We spent the next hour talking about old memories. It amazes me to learn how much she remembers. We really do have history together. From the first time I introduced her to the boys, to the first time I held her when she cried.

"It's so weird to see you guys so grown up." She said.

"Us? Grown up? Riley I think I have met five year olds more mature than us." I laughed.

"True, good point." She giggled.

"I remember first seeing you. I was scared to talk to you." I admitted.

"Why?" She asked.

"Cause you were and still are so beautiful." I said.

She laughed and rolled her eyes.

"And I remember how mad I was to see you with Brad. He knew how much I liked you. And he just took you. And then he hurt you and I hated him." I said.

"He hurt me pretty bad. I remember walking into the pizza place with you and there he was, making out with Miranda. I ran as fast as I could because I was just so upset." She said.

"And then I punched him in the face and chased after you." I blurted out.

"You what?" She asked, wide eyed.

"I punched him. I knocked him out with one punch. And Miranda was shocked. Everyone was." I said.

"I never knew that you did that." She said.

"It doesn't matter. I hurt you just as bad. I'm just as bad as him." I said sadly.

"No, you aren't. You didn't purposely hurt me." She said.

"I would never purposely hurt you." I said.

She smiled and gave me a hug. I let her lay right on my chest and within minutes, she drifted right back to sleep. And so did I.