Your Greatest Mistake

Chapter Seventeen

Niall's POV

It's been about almost three months since Riley moved in. We've been sleeping in the same bed for a few weeks now. I really think she is over our trust issues. I've been spending so much time making sure that she is okay that I haven't been sleeping very much. The boys have been coming over a lot lately to basically keep me awake. Oh, and there's something you should know. l get a little frustrated when I don't sleep. The boys are over and we're all in the living room with Riley. Why does everyone keep asking what's wrong?

"Are you sure everything is alright?" She whispered.

"Yes." I said with a frustrated sigh.

She looked away and scooted farther away from me.

"Hey mate, are you alright?" Liam asked.

That was what did it. Everyone asking just finally pushed me over the edge.

"Maybe I would be if I didn't always have to keep an eye on her. Maybe if she didn't always have to be so god damn suicidal then I could get some sleep!" I yelled.

The boys were silent. Riley was bright red.

Riley's POV

I froze. Did he really just say that?

"Riley, I didn't mean-" He started.

"I knew it. Forgiving you is my greatest mistake." I whispered.

I got up and kissed him on the cheek and mumbled a goodbye while walking out the door. I couldn't stay here any longer. I knew where I had to go.

Niall's POV

Did I just really say that? And did she just leave? I couldn't move. I saw Harry and Louis run past me, maybe to stop her. Maybe to make sure she didn't do anything she would regret. I couldn't move. I had tunnel vision. Everything around me sounded so echoed and far away. I heard Liam and Zayn calling my name, but I was frozen. Stuck to the ground.

"Move him to the couch before he passes out!" Zayn yelled.

I felt my body moving, but I knew I wasn't moving myself. They kept calling my name, but I couldn't answer. I just made my greatest mistake.

Riley's POV

I ended up at the park. No, I wasn't going to attempt suicide again. I just sat there, emotionless and hollow. I could hear everything around me, but nothing felt real. I heard two people calling my name. I wasn't going to hide. I just sat on the bench, listening to their shoes smacking the concrete. So it was Louis and Harry. They stopped short when they saw me on the bench.

"Riley?" Harry said with a confused look.

"Yes." I said in a flat tone.

"Are you alright?" Louis asked.

"Sure." I lied.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked.

"No." I whispered.

I stood up and rubbed my eyes. Where the hell am I going to live?

"Where are you going?" Louis asked.

"I am basically going to have to beg my mother to let me move back in." I explained.

"You can't go back to her. You have to go back to Niall's." Louis said.

"I can't." I said.

I wanted to explain how much I was hurt. Or how badly I wanted to cry and scream. But I knew I had to protect myself. I had to protect my heart.

"Please Riley. He's just been dealing with a lot. He said things he didn't mean. Please don't do this." Harry pleaded.

"Do what Harry? He already did." I said.

"He didn't actually break up with you!" Louis said.

"He didn't have to! His words were enough." I said.

My voice was shaking and I was very close to crying. I swallowed hard and regained my composure.

"I should probably get my stuff from his house." I said.

"Louis, go back to the house and see how Niall is. I need to talk to Riley." Harry said.

Niall's POV

I was sitting on the couch just thinking about what I had done. The guys were sitting with me, trying to get me to snap out of it. I saw the door burst open and Louis ran in. He caught his breath and closed the door behind him.

"She's coming to get her stuff." He muttered.

"What? Why?!" I yelled.

"She wouldn't really explain. She said she was fine, but she couldn't be here anymore." He said.

"Where's Harry?" Zayn asked.

"He said he needed to talk to Riley." Louis said.

He sat down next to me and patted me on the back.

"I'm sorry mate." He said.

Riley's POV

"Why do you want to talk?" I asked.

"Please don't do this. Don't move out. I'm scared Riley." He said.

"Of what?" I asked.

"There's something that he isn't telling us. Something is wrong Riley. I think you and I and all of us have noticed that he hasn't been the same lately. It's like something just hit him and he just changed. And I'm scared that you leaving will push him to do something he would regret." Harry explained.

I opened my mouth to argue, but he was right. Something was wrong and I didn't want to be the reason he made a rash decision.

"Fine." I said.

"But Riley you can't let him, wait what?" He asked.

"Fine. I'll stay. But don't expect things to be the same. He was the one who made that decision." I said.

And with that we both walked back to the house in silence.

Niall's POV

I heard the door open and was ready to face the worst moment of my life. Watching her leave with her bags. She walked over to me and opened her mouth to speak. Here comes goodbye.

"Goodnight." She said.

She kissed me on the cheek and mumbled another goodnight to the boys. She walked out of the living room and into her room. We heard the door close quietly and we all seemed shocked, all except for Harry. What was going on here?