Like Dreamers Do (Niall Horan Fan-Fiction)

Chapter 38

i can't believe this story is nearly over :'( clearly i get much too involved..send me your reviews, because even i'm not sure how it's going to end! those who have been reading this whole thing, i really do love ya. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @/Rawr_Its_Mona and check out my other book, Tumblrs Boys Post ily xo

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Exactly eleven police cars had shown up to Charlie's place that night, all of them looking for me. As it turns out, my call to the police hadn't been so useless after all. When I told them that the room was filled with dolls, suddenly everything made sense to them. And it was all thanks to my grandad.

My sweet, naïve grandad turned out not to be so naïve after all. Last night, the night of the dance, he drove over to Lucy's house and asked her everything he could about Charlie, the man who had been following her in the shops. Lucy had told my grandad that Charlie collected dolls, of every shape and size. It didn't take long for my grandad to go down to the police station, which explains why he didn't answer the phone when I called him last night. He told them everything he knew, and as it turns out, they had already been tracking a man who had been lurking around the neighbourhood following a little girl named Lucy. They knew exactly where he lived and how to get there. All it came down to was my phone call, otherwise I would probably be dead.

Which is what happened to someone else last night. Some of the police were excited to tell me, others looked solemn. I had been sitting in the back of the police car with Niall, my whole body shivering as his arms were wrapped around me, putting his jumper on me carefully. My head was resting in the crook of his neck when the policeman knocked on the car window, looking as though he didn't want to disturb me. I didn't move or speak when he knocked again, Niall had to answer for me. I was so physically drained, I wasn't even sure what was happening anymore.

"Sorry, I know you don't want to talk but I have some news." The policeman had said solemnly, gesturing for me to get out of the car. I grasped onto Niall's hand quickly and kept him close to me, clambering out of the car without taking his jumper off. The policeman clamped his lips tightly shut for a moment, before looking me straight in the eye.

"There's been a development. Charlie just shot himself in the head. He's gone."

I'm not sure what I felt in that moment, it's difficult to describe. I remember my legs threatening to give way from underneath me from the shock. I remember the joy I had felt inside, which came with a sense of guilt that I was pleased at someone else's unhappiness. I remember wanting to cry, thinking that I had caused someone's death. But mostly I remember wanting to scream. I wanted to scream so loud, and let everyone know how I was feeling. That I was shaken, angry, depressed, scared and happy, all in one go. It's finally over, but I can't even describe what that feels like.

Much to everyone's shock, I made the policeman take me back down the gravel road and to Charlie's house. I didn't listen to Niall telling me it was a bad idea, because I didn't care. I needed to see for myself that he was actually gone. For some reason, I felt as though everything might be okay if I could see for myself. The policeman had obliged, taking to the driver's seat of the car, with Niall and I in the back. When we pulled up to the house, I had zero hesitation left in me. I looked at Niall, knowing that he didn't want to come inside. He said he would, to comfort me. But I told him to stay put, that he didn't need to see this. I climbed out, escorted to the front door by a policeman and his partner. Inside, at least 25 other cops were looking about the house, taking photos, dusting fingerprints. I don't know what the point was, if Charlie was now dead.

I was lead back down to the room he had kept me in. It was weird, but I wasn't scared anymore. I was determined, a little shaken, but mostly I was indifferent. I can't really describe how I was feeling. Surrounded by about five more policeman was clearly a body, blood everywhere. I felt a lump rise in my throat and that awful feeling in the pit of your stomach when you realize something bad has happened. But I couldn't stop myself now. Walking slowly past the stacks of dolls and creeping in between the policeman, I bent down to Charlie's level, my face hovering above his. I looked into those eyes, the cold and bitter eyes that had been haunting me for so long. Without thinking, I lightly close his eyes with my fingertips, knowing that I would never have to look in them again. It really was all over.

The paparazzi have been the worst they have ever been today. After the police took me home, Niall and I had both gone and hugged my grandad, the three of us sitting in the living room with cups of tea, none of us really saying anything. The paparazzi were simply sitting outside the house, but none of us really had the heart or strength to tell them to go away. None of us except Mrs. Winterberry that is, who had come rushing over in her small Volkswagen Beatle with a fruitcake she had made for me.

"Get out of here ya useless brutes!" Was the first thing I heard her say, before she rushed up the balcony and let herself inside, much to everyone's shock. She had thrust the fruitcake at me and said 'You were always my favourite down at the Greenhouse.'

Some much needed laughter had burst out of me at that point, before Niall too let out a brief smirk. Before anyone knew what was happening, the four of us were laughing so hard, that even tears were coming out of my grandad's eyes.

I can hear Mrs. Winterberry talking to my grandad now downstairs. Niall and I are lying on my bed, listening to the whistling of the bird in the tree outside my window. Pink Floyd is humming softly on the stereo on my desk, and Niall's phone is turned off in the corner of the room. He had gotten calls from all of the boys, asking what had happened and praying I was okay. Harry in particular asked if he could come over to see me, checking why my phone wasn't working. Niall had told him my phone was smashed, and that he could come over in due time. Right now, I can only be around Niall. I can't stop looking at him, running my hand through his hair. I can't believe he's still real, that I'm still here and alive. Niall too has his blue eyes situated on mine, stroking my arm softly.

"I don't know what I would have done." He whispers over the soft music, pulling me closer to him as he wraps his arms around me. "If anything had have happened, I honestly don't know where I would be right now."

I close my eyes briefly, keeping my concentration on the feeling of his skin against mine.

"You would be with the guys. They would look after you, you would have been okay I promise." I reason with him, feeling the tears prickling at the corners of my eyes.

"I don't even want to think about it." Niall says quickly, resting his head against my neck as he plants a small kiss on my lips. "I wouldn't be fine. I wouldn't have been okay Elli. Just the thought of losing you, it kills me. I love you so much."

I can't stop a small tear from falling down my cheek, as I kiss him back tenderly, forgetting about anything else on my mind.

"Well I'm here. And I don't want to be anywhere else right now." I smile softly, keeping my gaze on him. "I love you too. We're going to be fine."

And as many doubts that I have in my mind as to this working out, as many questions there will be from the press, I honestly believe myself.

Niall and I are going to be okay. And listening to the humming of the soft music, the bird outside my window, the feel of his body pressed against mine, there is nothing I want more than that.