Treacherous

Chapter Fifty-Two

It takes me a few minutes to recover before I'm able to sit up into a rather crumpled position. Taking deep breathes, I calm myself down slowly, whispering thanks into thin air at how fortunate I am. There is still leftover pain resonating around in my heart at the close misfortune, but it's incredibly dull compared to how it was before.

I lean my back up against the bottom half of the couch, digging the palms of my hands into my eye sockets until I see strange patterns to stop my tears. Still, they continue to spill out. A few more sounds burst through my lips despite my best efforts to press my lips together to prevent them.

A couple of shaky breaths later and I finally have enough energy to move myself completely onto the couch. It takes a few tries, but I make it happen. Placing my head in my hands, I continue to intake lots of cool air to bring my racing heart down a few beats.

Just minutes after I'm totally calm someone taps me on the shoulder, startling me so much that my heart rate shoots back up and my hand clutches around my phone until my knuckles shine white. I won't let the events that just transpired here ever happen again.

Finally looking up, I find Harry standing there with his hands clasped together in front of him. He can't seem to look me in the eyes, but only at random things around the room. For instance, he looks at a lamp sitting on the side table beside the couch, a plate that was left unattended on the coffee table, and the remote to the television that rests lopsidedly on one of the bookshelves.

Failing as I do so, I smile up at him, hating how I feel it crumble after 2 or 3 seconds. Taking a closer look, I see that his eyes are stained red and that drops of water litter his cheeks, a few of them having been smeared around.

Finally, he looks at me, but he doesn't even try to smile back. "I-I'm sorry, Niall," he whimpers, his bottom lip quivering. "I didn't mean to hurt you or anything- we just want to know what's going on."

I'm bringing destruction upon everyone every single damn chance I get. Harry shouldn't be crying over something as senseless as him trying to help me. I'm too far gone already anyways. None of them should waste their sweet time with me.

Bringing myself to a shaky standing position, I hug Harry. He cries into my shoulder in shame for holding me back despite my desperate cries. Shushing him, I pet that curly hair of his and say, "It's okay, Harry- I'll be alright. Please don't worry about me, and don't cry. I don't want to make you cry."

I feel him nod against my shoulder as he pulls away and I clutch my phone tighter, reassuring myself that he didn't steal it during our little moment. Feeling guilty of accusing Harry of doing something so evil, I take a few more steps back than necessary. Harry notices and a frown takes over his mouth.

Choosing not to acknowledge the downhearted look, I wave towards the kitchen. "You should go ahead and go back in there with everyone."

He gives me a sad, but determined look as he says, "Not unless you come with me."

My eyes narrow. I don't want to play this game right now, and I especially don't want to be around anyone right now- not after what they just did. Harry shouldn't be here anyways. I'm afraid that I scared him a little when I threw my explosive tantrum, but he's still here.

Replying to his earlier response I say, "Then I guess you're not getting food either."

"I guess not." He shrugs, frustrating me more.

"Just go and eat."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

Giving up, I sit back down on the couch, my bottom sinking into the cushions. "Fine, but I don't know what you're going to accomplish from this."

He shrugs again. "I just want to help you out."

"I don't need help," I argue.

"That's a lie," he fires back, his eyes burning into mine as I look at him. "You can't say that the fit you just threw was perfectly normal and okay."

"I didn't say it was, but I already have help," I snap, growing more infuriated by the second.

"Who? Because to me you seem pretty alone." I wince, hating the way those words resonate through me. Harry sighs. "Sorry."

"You're fine," I mumble, that sense of loneliness that he described setting in. "And I have Natalie."

"Natalie?" he asks, disbelief shining in his eyes and tone of voice. "She's just a bitch that wants to be famous, Niall." My fists clench at his ugly and unnecessary words.

"Don't talk about her like that." My jaw and muscles go rigid at the thought of her being harassed for being the only person that actually stood by me through my worst times unlike the rest of them.

"Oh, come on! Don't tell me you don't see it too! She's greedy, Niall- just like the rest of them! Do you really think she loves you?" His tone is harsh and the words spit out of his mouth like venom, only angering me more.

"I don't care if she loves me or not," I openly admit. "But what I do care about is that she actually took the time to be kind even when I gave her no information whatsoever! She opened up to me despite my rude ass behavior, and she actually cared. She stuck by me through the rough times I went through when not a single damn one of my 'best mates' did!" My teeth hurt from how hard they're grinding together and my fists are hardly restraining themselves from socking him in the face. "I am so done with all of you saying you're trying to help, when you're not! All you do is hound me for information, making me feel guilty every damn time I claim that I can't tell you anything!"

My hands pull at my hair as I look back up at him, surprised by his reaction. He's mad- beyond mad- he's fuming. His own fists lay by his sides, clenching and unclenching as he, too, restricts himself from causing too much ruckus.

"You know what? Fine. I'm so f*cking done with trying to be the good friend you want me to be. From now on I'll just leave you the f*ck alone- that should please you." With that, he turns towards the door to the rest of the crew who are still enjoying themselves in the kitchen, but I still here him shout, "Hope you're happy now, you dick!"

Embarrassed and full of guilt and regret, I grab my jacket and phone and run out of the house, slamming the door as loud as possible behind me.

I've lost yet another friend, and possibly- most likely- all of the rest.

XxXxX

Comment- Tell me how I did :)

Vote- Show me how much you liked it :)

Follow/Fan- Get updates on my stories :)

Thanks to everyone who reads! It makes me so happy to see that people have enjoyed what I've written! :)

LOVES

Nezza xx