Give Me Love | n.h

Chapter 12: Halloween

Saturday, the next day, the boys are huddled in the living room, planning for a Halloween party. 

I try to forget about what happened to the dorm and try to forget about who could have done it. It was a warning sign, and I knew I had to be even more cautious from now on.

Harry hasn't spoken to me much since I came here last night; probably rattled in the brain as I am. 

Mary asked me the moment I woke up if I was okay and I told her I was, which wasn't completely a lie. I feel okay at the moment; safe, even.

"Alright there, Riley?" Luke asks. I was sat beside him on the couch as they planned for the upcoming event. 

"Hm?" I look to my side, where his blue eyes shine witch concern. "Yea, why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, you've been staring at the coffee table for a while," he chuckles.

"Oh," I laugh, realizing that I was indeed staring at the coffee table, "Sorry,"

"S'alright," he grins.

"Thanks, by the way," I say. "For letting us stay," I've been thanking the boys whenever I had the opportunity to.

"Don't mention it, you almost practically live here," he laughs again before taking my hand in his and giving it a light squeeze, "It's gonna be alright, you're safe here,"

I smile. I knew I was safe here, but for how long? Sooner or later, our landlady will conclude that it was just a prank and ask us to come back. 

Although I didn't mind coming back, the constant fear that something bad could and would happen, terrified me. I couldn't handle getting anyone else involved and possibly hurt.

I excused myself and headed to the room Mary and I were staying at because my hands were beginning to feel numb. The tips of my fingers felt like they were being pricked by needles, but at the same time, numb. And later, my hands were shaking.

I didn't know what to do but try to calm myself down, but my heart rate kept increasing, as if it would explode in a second.

I couldn't breathe, either. It felt like I was drowning and I was gasping for air.

"Riley, Riley, Hey," I hear but the throbbing of my heart overpowered, making the voice muffled. 

I have never felt anything like this before which made the feeling worse because I didn't know what was going on and what I was supposed to do.

Suddenly, I felt warm. And then, lips on mine. Slow and steady. Altogether, the shaking, the throbbing, and the gasping for air stopped.

Almost as quick as it came, the lips were gone and I open my eyes to reveal ocean blue ones in front of me.

Niall's lips were parted, his breathing harsh. "Alright?" he asks. I realize he was holding me in arm's length.

I nod, not really knowing what to do or say. 

"I-I think you were having a panic attack," he concludes.

I nod and we stay quiet for a little while as I calmed myself down. 

"How did you know how to stop it?" I ask as my breathing steadied, looking at him from beside me where he settled himself down.

He shrugs, "Saw it on a TV series," 

We were sitting on the floor of the room, our backs against the wall. 

"What TV series?" I ask. I tried to imagine Niall watching a TV series; waiting each week for when a new episode would air or waiting for the series to end before downloading it, but I only end up giggling.