Your Greatest Mistake

Chapter Twenty

Niall's POV

I woke up to a pounding headache and yelling. It was Riley and Harry and was that Louis? I got up and looked in the mirror. Gosh, where were my eyes? My eyes were swollen and my nose was still red. I was so congested. I honestly feel like shit right now. I decided to go back to sleep so I didn't have to see what the yelling was about. That was until I heard something that caught my attention. It was hard to hear, but I heard Riley yell something about hating him. Was that me? Then she yelled something along the lines of why did I need her. Why wouldn't I need her? I'm falling to pieces without her. Why can't she see that? Then Harry yelled back at her. I wanted to run out there and protect her. But I knew I couldn't. It got quiet and Louis yelled at her to stop hurting herself. What was she doing? I was making myself sick with worry. I walked back over to her bed and decided to go back to sleep.

I woke up to a completely different atmosphere. It was quiet and there was no more sobbing. One of the worst things was hearing her scream and sob and fall apart without me there to help her. I grabbed my phone and checked the time. I was asleep for three hours. I decided that it was time to face my friends. I opened the door and slowly walked to the living room. The boys were there, but where was Riley? Clearly the boys saw my confusion.

"She and Harry got in a fight. She said she needed air." Liam said.

"Okay." I muttered.

I sat down next to Zayn who gave me a pat on the back. I tried to smile, but I couldn't. Instead I collapsed into his lap and dry sobbed. No tears, just loud breaths and pain. Zayn wrapped his arms around my limp body.

"Nobody is mad at you Niall." Liam said.

"You're only human and you were in pain. We just wish you would have told us." Zayn said.

"I'm s-sorry." I choked out.

"Stop that! Stop it right now! Don't you dare apologize for being in pain!" Zayn cried.

Zayn was crying. I looked up and saw all of them were crying. They looked so pained. They came over and hugged me.

"We love you Niall! Please stop hurting yourself." Harry said.

"Can I tell you all something?" I asked.

"Of course." Liam said.

"The reason I did this, it wasn't all because of losing her. Ana kissed me and I didn't stop it and I may have liked it." I said.

Riley's POV

I was about to put my keys in the door when I heard it. The sentence that shattered my heart.

"Ana kissed me and I didn't stop it and I may have liked it." Niall said.

I wanted to burst in and tell him off. I wanted to tell him how much he hurt me. I wanted everything to stop. I took a deep breath and stopped. I decided that I should just leave again. Just for a little while. I was halfway out the door when I heard the front door open. Shit. Zayn stared at me and frowned.

"How long have you been here?" He asked.

"Long enough." I muttered.

"Please do-"

"Zayn please don't tell me what to do. I heard what he said. I heard that he liked the kiss. The kiss that happened while we were together. Hell I don't even know if we're still together. But I don't know if I have the strength or confidence to walk in there and act like everything is peachy." I said.

He went to answer, but he was cut off by a ringing phone, my ringing phone.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Riley." Lynn said.

Lynn is my fifteen year old sister. She has a twin brother named Austin. Then we also have the youngest little boy named Jake.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Mom's dead. Riley, she, she isn't waking up and she..." Lynn trailed off.

I heard the phone hit the floor and the loud sobbing on the other line.

"Lynn? Lynn?! Lynn answer me please!" I screamed.

The only response was the loud crying from my little sister. I ran into the house, making the boys jump, and getting concerned looks.

"Riley, what's wrong?" Zayn yelled.

I wasn't listening. I was in work mode. I grabbed my phone charger, some money, and a sweater. I had to go to the house and see what was going on. I went to run out the door, but I was stopped by the boys standing in the doorway.

"I need to go guys. Let me go." I yelled.

"What's going on?" Louis asked.

"I need to go back to my house." I said.

"No, Riley you can't go back. I know things a-"

"Damn it, this isn't about leaving! Lynn called me and she said that my mother is dead! I need to go!" I screamed.

It grew silent. Nobody knew where to go from here.

"I'm coming with you." Niall said.

"No." I spat.

"Don't argue. Now let's go!" He yelled.

I didn't argue. He grabbed his keys and sprinted out the door with me. We hopped in his car and headed for my house. I grabbed his hand and bit my lip.

"Thank you." I muttered.

He leaned over and kissed me. I didn't protest. I needed him now more than ever. Louis was right, we did need each other.