Niall Horan: My Bad Romance

Chapter 3: The letter

 By the time I arrived home my mum had already left for work. She has two jobs. I mean, being a single parent she was pretty desperate and would do just about anything to bring the money in. During the week she worked as a cashier in the bank however at the weekend she cleaned all of the houses around our estate, which is a modern housing complex in Westminster.

Unfortunately, five years ago both of my grandparents passed away in a car accident and my mum inherited close to a million pounds. I know it seems strange that she works two jobs yet she has a small fortune sitting in the bank, but that's my mum for you. Crazy. She wants it to build up in interest over a few years and add to it with her two other salaries. The only thing she did with the money was buy us this house, paying off the mortgage on the spot. Other than that, she literally would not touch it, hence why I could never afford anything.

However due to the fact we live in a fairly affluent area, the money for cleaning is sky high so mum is able to treat herself every once and a while. According to Harry, his mum Anne, had called mine the second we got back to his, reassuring her I was safe.... and completely sober. Whether my mum believed a word of it was a different story. 

I dumped my bag in the hallway. My head had been twirling with the thought of Scorpion all morning. Everyone else had been running around frantically trying to find out all of the details from Sally's friends. I had sat in bed, twiddling with my thumbs, reminding myself of his words. 

'I know where you live. Don't worry, I'll get you Daisy.'


I walked stiffly into the lounge and sat down on the sofa. I stared at the blank TV screen. I couldn't do it, I couldn't turn it on. If I watched the news I was certain I would see the face haunting my every waking thought. I couldn't turn it on. Shakily, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and scrolled through my messages.

Rubyyyyy: hey girl, good luck with mummy Howard xxx

Bella Boo: Hope you feel better my little alcoholic <3

Jakey x2: 1) I have an STD 2) Only joking;)

Cutie pie Harry: Hi, I put Robbie's number in your pocket. Good luck:) x

I took a sharp in take of breath. Robbie, black hair, dimples, blue, hot, dancing, drinking, no no no.

How could I forget about Robbie?! I dove my hand into my coat pocket and retrieved a crumpled piece of paper. I stared at the number in awe. I had genuinely pulled last night, I couldn't believe it. Nervously, I typed the number in and saved it. I bit down on my lower lip and gazed at my phone. Should I text him? I figured since I was the one with his number he didn't have mine, so really if I wanted to get in touch I would have to message him first. I sighed and started to compose a text.

Me: Hiya, Robbie its Daisy from the party. I got your number x

I hit send and lay back against the burgundy cushions. I shrugged out of my khaki coat and kicked off my black boots. My eyes stayed fixed on the glass coffee table in front of me. Thinking of Robbie made me remember the party and subsequently, Scorpion. I had heard the muffled cries Sally made as she lay helpless and tied up on the bed. I should have jumped to the conclusion that something wasn't right. In the pit of my stomach I knew. When my hazy state had cleared and I had sensed the danger I should have acted. But I was so scared.

I was thrown against a wall and threatened by a future murderer. I mean, what kind of a person stays upstairs in the dark at a party? With a girl bound up on the bed? I shook my head and stood up. I ran up the stairs and burst into the bathroom. I fumbled with the taps, turning the cold water on full blast. I rubbed my hands together washing then thoroughly. Then I splashed some on my face. The droplets mingled with hair and dripped onto my black crop top. 

I slowly turned my attention to my reflection. My blonde hair was scraggly and messy and my face looked awful. My skin was sallow and great dark shadows loomed under my eyes. My mascara was smudged and my foundation had rubbed off. I looked like a state. I ripped off my clothing and stepped into the shower. I scrubbed at my body, remembering his breath on my neck, his touch on my wrists and stomach. Piercing blue eyes glaring deeply into my soul, testing me, threatening me. I shuddered again.

It was only in the safety of the shower that I let the tears fall. They mingled with the water and trickled down the drain, lost forever. Just like Sally.

~

Around an hour later I stepped from out of the shower. My skin was crinkled and rubbed red raw. If my mum saw me, she would be horrified. I wrapped a fuchsia towel around my body and trudged into my bedroom. I dried myself and dressed into a warm tracksuit and fluffy socks. I yanked a brush through my hair and blow-dried it, shoving it up into a messy bun at the end. My skin tingled at the slightest touch but I felt clean. I felt better.

I settled myself back into the lounge with a bowl of popcorn and I flicked on the TV. The news popped up straight away but thankfully it was the weather, which spared me from seeing anything about Scorpion. My phone buzzed against the table and I picked it up, skimming through my messages.

Cutie pie Harry: Mum invited you round for dinner tomorrow. Tell your mum, she's coming too x

Khye: Okay Daisy Waisy, I have a task for you. I'll forget about the money you owe me, if you can convince my mum that we weren't at Megan's party last night. She'll go cray if she finds out I was at a crime scene. You're a star * :)

My breath hitched.

Robbie: Daisy how could I forget. How are you? x

I grinned happily and giggled. He remembered me, thank god for that. I quickly replied and called Lily.

'Hi Daisy, you alright?'

'Erm yeah I'm fine, I just thought I'd let you know that Robbie texted me back,' I said timidly.

'Oh em gee, Daisy that is amazing! I'm so happy for you!' She shrieked and I could practically hear her jumping up and down. 

'I know, he was so hot Lily,' I said forcedly, for some reason I couldn't share her excitement. The happiness had ebbed away and again remorse flooded my body. 'Look I've gotta go, I'll speak to you later?'

'Yeah okay, speak to you later girl. Byeeee.'

'Bye,' I replied and hung up. I was just about to put my phone down when it buzzed again.

Unknown: I told you I knew where you lived

I leapt up in fright, looking around frantically. No no no, he couldn't be in my house, he couldn't be. How would he have gotten in?! Don't be so naive, I suddenly thought, if he's capable of murder, he's capable of breaking and entering. I halted. The letterbox slammed and I skidded into the hallway. Through the glass pane I could see a figure walking away from my front door. A single sheet of paper slowly drifted down and settled on the doormat. Unsteadily I reached down and grabbed it. It had Daisy written on the front with a messy scrawl. I unfolded it and my heart stopped.

I'll see you soon. -Scorpion is all it read.