Stumbling through the dark

Jumping To Conclusions

Niall drove about aimlessly for an hour, trying to make sense of his feelings. Did he really care about Jacey? Did it matter she was finished with him? He wasn't worth it, he thought sadly. Why would anyone want him. Jacey obviously didn't. He was nobody special. Maybe he needed a distraction, he thought, so he decided to head to see Louis. Maybe a  few beers would help, never mind what the doctors said about alcohol. He needed a drink. Maybe he could convince Louis to let him get drunk.? He doubted it but he so wanted to lose himself for a while.

Louis jumped up and hurried to the door to answer the pounding knock. When he opened it, he immediately grabbed his visitor by the ear and hauled him into the house, slamming the door behind them.

"Horan, you A$$hole." Louis shouted then pushed Niall down into the nearest chair. Putting his hands on the arm rests, Louis got right into Niall's face and continued yelling at him. "You f.cking idiot. You've really upset Jacey. She's been talking to me  and she never stopped crying the whole time"

"She's upset!" Niall splutterd. "She was the one who said she didn't want me" Niall's own eyes started to swim with tears as he felt the emotional pain of his words.

"Mate, I love you like a brother but I could rip your head off for you right now" Louis growled, moving away from the chair. "When did Jacey say she didn't want you?"

"This morning, she said she couldn't do it anymore, that Graeham was taking over and Management agreed"

"And in  what part of that did  she  say she didn't want you?" Louis glared at Niall. "You are so 'f.cking stupid"

"But...." Niall started to say but got interrupted by Louis.

"Shut it, Horan. And listen for once" Louis ran his hands through his messy hair "She never  said she was finishing with you. She was trying to tell you she couldn't be your doctor any more ,mate. You've started a relationship with her so ethically, she can't be your doctor" Louis spoke calmly now. He glanced at Niall's stunned face."You jumped to conclusions, mate."

"You mean...she...she isn't done with me?" Niall said brokenly. "Oh g*d, Lou. I've messed up badly"

"Yeah, you have. So what are you going to do about it?" Louis sat on the couch looking across at his friend. 

'Dunno. I messed up big time. That's  it now. She really will be done with me" Niall whispered

Louis pulled his phone out of his pocket and scrolled through his contacts. He waited patiently until the call connected then spoke. 

"Hi beautiful, he's safe. He's here. When I've  finished beating him to a pulp, do you want me to let you have him back?" Louis listened intently for a few moments, the corner of his mouth twitching as he tried not to laugh. "Ok love. Bye" Louis ended the call.

"You are so lucky, mate. Get yourself home now .....and don't mess this up" Louis was stern. He walked Niall to the door "Seriously Nialler, she really cares about you. Don't let a chance of real happiness escape because you are too stupid and stubborn to admit that it's OK to allow someone to love you". Louis hugged Niall, and shoved him out of the door. "Go mate...and next time, let Jacey finish what she's saying before you jump to conclusions"

Niall drove back to his home in a complete daze. Jacey hadn't been finishing with him. He'd been so sure that he was worthless, he'd just assumed that was what she was telling him. He sighed. Would she forgive him though? He pulled up in front of his house and climbed out of the car slowly, walking to the front door with his head bowed. He was an idiot. He went to put the key in the lock but the door was suddenly thrown open and Jacey stood there, biting her lip as she looked at him. He raised his eyes to her face and stood there. Her eyes were sore and puffy and there were tear tracks  still visible on her pale cheeks. His heart hurt. He had been the cause of her pain. 

They sat together on the couch, Jacey curled up to Niall's side. Neither of them felt ready to talk but both found it comforting to be so close together. Niall's brain was whirling, his emotions all jumbled up. Jacey was in a similar state. She knew she'd started the conversation wrong. She hadn't explained it well. No wonder Niall had felt rejected. It was all her fault. Thank goodness Louis had been able to help her sort it out. But was it sorted out? Had she hurt Niall too deeply? She knew he was not confident with women. He'd never lost that shyness, that lack of confidence. And she'd made it worse. She mentally kicked herself. Niall was feeling equally bad. He'd jumped to conclusions, assumed the wrong thing,  ran at the first sign of trouble and created this disaster.

"I'm sorry" two voices said simultaneously . They looked at each other as they spoke and broke into laughter. 

"Niall, it's my fault, I didn't think how it must have sounded to you. I just wanted to say I couldn't be your doctor anymore. I didn't think you'd assume I didn't want to be in a relationship with you" Jacey said quietly "Forgive me?" she pleaded.

"Nah, you are not to blame. It was me. I should have let you finish. I just couldn't believe anyone would want me" Niall blushed as he spoke. "So will you forgive me?"

"Nothing to forgive, my love." Jacey smiled at him as she raised her hand to stroke lightly down his cheek. Niall reached up and caught it in his own.

"So where does this leave us?" Niall spoke nervously, looking down at his hand which was now  entwined with one of Jacey's. "I mean....Jacey  will you please allow me to  spend time with you, get to know you more?" Jacey smiled at him and leaned in for a gentle kiss. "Good answer" whispered Niall as he pulled her even closer and kissed her back . Jacey smiled to herself as Niall's kisses moved from sweet to decidedly more intense . Even then, she thought, Niall retained an innocence about him and it was adorable. And as they kissed, the cracks in their hearts started  the slow process of knitting together.