Downfall [Punk Niall Horan]

34

My eyes stayed locked outside the grime covered window the whole ride, not wanting to converse with anyone.

I could feel the familiar burning of Niall's gaze begging me to look at him, or to give a fleeting glance to him. But I didn't want to look or speak to anyone. I wanted to stay locked away in my tremulous mind, going over all the circumstances and how things turned to shit so quickly. Calum had spoken the truth, and I was grateful and a little pissed at his brutal honesty. Atleast he told me, though.

My hand mindlessly drew down Val's matted hair, and back up again. She was going to die. Valie Arabella Clifford, my best friend, was going to die. The spunky and sassy blonde hair, blue eyed girl that was my complete opposite but still remained a part of me I would die without. I wouldn't nor didn't want to live if she wasn't here with me anymore.

These past two months I took for granite with her, being furious with something I didn't even let her explain. Right now she thought I hated her when it was actually the exact opposite. Val would never know just how much she helped me survive all these years of my family. Val was the light and joking while I was most times the dark and brooding without her around.

We were inseparable, partners in crime you could say. She was there when I needed her the most, when my brother died. And now I couldn't even return the favor, because there was absolutely no chance of her surviving this. She would change, go through the bend. Then she would become a Bender, and my best friend would be lost to me forever.

"Tylie," an Irish accent whispered, jerking me out of my inner thoughts. Immediately my head jerked to the side, seeing Niall standing in the open doorway. I hadn't even known we had stopped moving because I was too caught up in my mental turmoil.

Baby blue eyes peered intently into my hazel ones, so much like the one of my best friend's who was still unconscious on my lap. "Yes?" I questioned, voice raw from not speaking for hours. "It's time to go," Niall stated warily, not wanting to set me off. I tried to look around him to see where we were, but his bulky shoulders were blocking my view.

"Where are we?" I questioned groggily, squinting from the sunlight leaking through the gaps in between his arms and ribs. His brows pulled low over his eyes, then he looked back up to me. My mouth parted open in a silent, blissful gasp.

With the sun framing around Niall's head, and making his eyes appear an even more clear blue, I sucked in a breath. I know boys weren't supposed to be beautiful, but with him standing there like that, he truly was. And it shocked me that he cared about me.

"We're at an undercover airport in Los Angeles, California. I have friends here that can get us on a plane undetected. We should be in London by tomorrow evening," Niall told me calmly, but I barely even registered any of it.

"California?" I yelled, eyes bulging. By now I had noticed that everyone vacated the car a while ago probably. Absolutely no one else was in the car except for Valie and I. Well, thanks for the wake up call. "Where is everyone?" I asked, bringing my voice down lower.

It was way too bright outside, and my eyes had not quite adjusted yet. "They went to go get some food for us. They should be back soon. Why don't you get out and stretch your legs, yeah?" Niall tried, bringing his arms up to help me out.

My arms tightened protectively over Valie, and I shook my head. "No, I'm fine. I'm not leaving her," I stated, turning away from him. Niall's hand wound under my chin and gently pulled me to face him. "Ty, I know you've been beating yourself up in your damned head. Just take a fucking break, okay? It's not healthy for you. And you don't have to leave her, just get out of the car, and we will stand right here," Niall tried to reason with me, flickering a worried gaze down to Valie. After contemplating it, I sighed and gave into him how I always did.