Climbing the Walls (a Niall Horan love story)

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

I showered, replaying my sobbing session with Louis. I just told him everything I had been bottling up for the past three years. And it felt great. To get Chase out of my system, to tell someone about the horrible things he did to me. Whatever was haunting me was backing away now, slowly but surely. Was I ready to fall carelessly into Niall's arms? Hell no. But at least my thoughts and feelings were clearer. I still didn't know much, but I was starting to accept that I had definite feelings for Niall. I still didn't want to, but I couldn't deny the inevitable. Talking to Louis made me realize that none of it was my fault, that the only thing that was my fault was forgiving him. But that's why I couldn't trust myself. I knew that falling for Niall would mean thinking with my heart and not my head, and that would end up badly. Anything could happen. I could say anything, do anything, think anything, absolutely anything was possible. I knew from experience how much love could skew my perception of situations, and I didn't want to stumble blindly through life again. But maybe Niall would hold my hand and lead me, like the other night...

I got dressed in my pink and black checkerboard flannel shorts and my yellow LOVE PINK sweatshirt, not even bothering to wear an actual shirt under it. It was warm again, but I didn't care. Screw weather. I descended the staircase, tying my damp hair up in a bun on the back of my head. Most girls wore obnoxiously large buns on the top of their heads, but not me. I entered the kitchen as the boys finished putting the groceries away. An adorable smile spread across Niall's face when he saw me. "We got two more boxes of Oreo's," he informed me, making me smile.

Muscular arms wrapped themselves protectively around my waist and I jumped. Louis chuckled, not letting go. "Aww, I'm sorry, did I scare you?" I turned my head around and looked up into his blue green eyes, sticking my tongue out at him. He just smirked. "How are you?" he asked casually, loosening his grip. But I knew what he really meant.

"I'm good," I replied with a firm smile. He smiled back and I nodded slightly. He let go and looked at Niall. I followed his gaze to see Niall with a curious expression on his face, but quickly looking away. A light pink rose to his cheeks and a fluttering sensation entered my heart as I sighed lightly. He truly was too cute. Screw Chase, I thought, walking over to Niall. Screw the walls he built around me.

He was scouring the newly filled fridge, so his back was to me, and before my brain knew what my body was doing, my heart made me wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head on his shoulder. "Good morning," I said softly. He turned around, looking pleasantly caught off guard.

"Actually, it's the afternoon," he corrected me with a smile. I smiled back up at him, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Louis smiling. Well weren't we a happy bunch today? Harry looked at us curiously. Louis took someone's car keys and ran upstairs. What was that boy up to now? I wondered with a small grin.

"Haley, are you wearing pants?" Zayn asked, not noticing anything between the cute little Irish boy and me. Once again, my sweatshirt was longer than my shorts. What? I like it that way. I let go of Niall and lifted up my sweatshirt to reveal the shorts I was wearing underneath.

"Barely," Liam muttered as he entered the kitchen, searching for something. Probably his car keys. Oh Louis. I giggled, but I have to admit, those shorts were pretty tiny.

"Sorry, Daddy," I replied in a sarcastically sweet voice, batting my eyelashes innocently. He playfully waggled his finger at me in response, making me laugh again.

"Ever think maybe you should wear pants long enough to actually see?" Zayn suggested jokingly. I put on a thinking face for a few moments.

"Nope!" I concluded with a smile. He laughed lightly and rolled his eyes. I felt like I wasn't that close to Zayn, which I wanted to change. Liam, too. The voice that did weird things to my heart broke my thoughts, and I didn't fight the feelings inside my chest.