Fragile Heart (Niam)

Chapter Fourteen: Downward Spiral

Day 8

The last five minutes of my fourth period class is torture. Resting my left cheek in my hand, I sigh and press my pencil lightly against the desk. European History is so boring. Humans just need to understand that most wars and regimes started because someone who wanted power struck a deal with a contracting demon. Of course, the writers of history weren't too keen on their "accomplishments" being aided by some otherworldly power so they just left my kind out in the textbooks. I smirk when the lead of my pencil breaks off from me pushing too hard. Stupid humans and their pride. That's why there are so many of them burning or being tortured in Hell.

The shrill ringing slices through my trance and I immediately gather up my backpack and textbook in one fell swoop before scurrying out of the classroom. I run down the hall and speed down the stairs of the history building. I turn to the left and my pace instantly decreases when I enter the swarm of students who thinks it's alright to move like snails and stop to start their annoying conversations. Annoyance seeps into my body and all of my nerves jitter with blazing energy. These fuckers need to hurry up because I promised Niall last night that I would eat lunch with him. Yes, I visited him over the weekend. And yes, I stayed with him even though it was Sunday last night all because he asked. Somehow, my father was alright with it because he apparently was still tired from his "business trip." I can leave out the fact that I lied for those two days and texted him that I was sleeping over at Louis and Harry's apartment.

The growl that is only supposed to be in my head rips through the crowd and all the students turn around, their pupils dilating in fearful shock and their conversations disintegrating to silence. I want to smirk at their scared expressions, but my anger because of their insolence does not allow me. I walk forward with the glare still marring my eyes and lips, the surrounding students separating so a very comfortable walkway forms. I silently stomp all the way to my locker and basically throw my backpack across the floor. I turn the dial to the right three times and stop at my first number.

32

"When the HELL were you going to tell us?!" an airy scratchy voice whispers very harshly. Rolling my eyes, I stop the dial at my second number.

5

"Louis, it's very nice to see you this fine day. Life must be treating you well," I deadpan without leaving my stare on the lock. I twitch my fingers on the lock and it quickly spins to the last number.

22

"Don't play dumb, Liam. It's kind of getting old." My hand falters on the lever when the deep slow drawl whispers through the air. I slowly turn around, shocked to see Harry standing there with a frown and crossed arms. I glance over to my left and see Louis harboring the same expression as mine. I would've expected a comment like that to come from him. Definitely not from calm and collected Harry.

"And before you say 'I don't know what you're talking about' with that scary voice of yours, I just want to remind you that neither Louis nor I is human. So let me rephrase what Louis asked of you. When were you going to tell us that you started sleeping with Niall?" the werewolf continues without giving me or Louis any room for recovery from his unexpected outburst. I choke on my spit, my locker long forgotten. I try to think of some smart remark, but that part of my mind shuts down. I can't believe it. They backed me into a corner.

"I'm not sleeping with him in that way," I reply dumbly.

"We know that," Harry retorts back. "When you told us to meet you that Saturday after you told us to give you Niall's address to have a conversation about Niall, we were kind of expecting to not find you cuddled up with him in his bed over twelve hours later." I conjure up a glare, but his forest-green eyes burn bright with an intensity that I see only on missions. Damn it, I'm dealing with an irritated werewolf.