Across the Hall

Chapter 13

    Harry and Liam sat in the same awkward silence they'd been in for the past two days. It was a huge slap in Harry's face, reminding him of life without his girl, and how she'd changed him for the better. He felt lonely, missing the girl that felt like home, but he dared not voice it. Not while the blonde in the other room was in ear shot. Sure, he shot himself in the foot, spewing malicious lies at his own girlfriend, spiraling this whole situation out of control, but once he'd sobered up, discovering his bubbly blonde other half was no where to be found, he was gutted.

    "I really don't know how we're going to fix this. What if she doesn't want to deal with us anymore? What if she finds away to keep running?" Harry was worried, not only for Niall, but he'd become attached to Whitney too, as a best friend and a big sister.

    "She's got to come home, Harry. And not just over there. Take a look around. That's her perfume next to Niall's cologne in the bathroom. Those are her slippers next to ours in the hall. She didn't run away, Haz. She left for work. She'll come home. And this is just as much her home as it is Niall's."

    "I just wish she'd let us in, Liam. I hate this feeling, knowing she thinks we hate her. Where would she even get such an awful idea?"

     "We weren't here when he let off on her. There's no telling what went on in her head when he was busy spreading lies. I'm just thankful she's been keeping in touch with Annie." Harry's girlfriend had been livid to say the least when she called that next morning, wanting to know why she couldn't understand her best friend through the choked sobs and mumbles. She'd calmed down eventually, letting Harry and Liam in the loop. Annie had been gone almost a week, and with the way things were going, Harry was more than willing to have the remaining time zoom by.

     Niall hadn't really done much speaking to anyone since he'd woken up the morning after, hungover as all hell, looking forward to cuddling into Whitney's small but warm side. But she wasn't there. He knew they'd fought, but she'd always come back. When he finally came to terms that she'd left without him, not even knowing where to, was earth shattering to him. He'd broken up with his last serious girlfriend to protect her from the fame, and now his fame may have caused him to drive his current one away. Harry and Liam barely spoke to him, he only hoped Annie wouldn't kill him when she got home. What hurt him most of all though, was having her gone. Around his wrist was her favorite bracelet, small turquoise stones like blue specks on his skin. Safe keeping, that's what he had it for. She was prone to losing things, and would be heart broken if she lost it. Now he was heart broken, because he might have lost her. Where was her safe keeping?

    Day four was when Niall knew he was in for it. Waking up, he could hear the conversation in the living room. Annie was home early. Something about her brother coming down with something, but he knew that wasn't all of it. He wanted to hide out in his room, but he knew he had to face her some time, so he grabbed his crutches, taking his time to gimp into the room.

    "You're back early." he tried to greet, but by the narrowed look she gave him, Niall certainly knew this wasn't the time for pleasantries.

    "You. I should kick your gimpy ass from here back to Ireland!"

    "Now Annie..."

   "Don't even go there with me, Niall. Do you not remember our conversation the night you finally asked her out? Wheeling your apologetic behind up to my front door, hours after making my best friend cry, talking about how I made you feel lower than you already did because I reminded you of how much you meant to her?"

    "I remember perfectly." he muttered, not bothering to look her in the eyes. Her stare could probably melt the entire Antartic in one small swoop, and was no doubt still trained on him.

    "But then what do you do? You hurt her even more?! She'd done nothing except love you, and keep you happy, and you try and say she turned on you? And I have to listen to her crying on the phone while she's up in fucking Denton, all because you've crushed her." Niall knew it was wrong to hit a girl. But how wrong was it if a girl slugged a guy? She sure sounded to him like she was up for it at any moment.

     "I just can't with you right now. I don't even know how to console her because I don't even know how to handle you myself. There's no telling what shape she's going to be in when she gets home. I just can't." Annie walked out of the apartment, Harry hot on her heels. Niall prayed Curly would be able to cool her off, but he knew deep down Harry was still mad at him too. Liam sat back on the couch, staring at the floor, not knowing who's side to take. Niall's head spun with the onslaught of emotions he was feeling right then. Anger at himself. Sadness at the situation. Happy he knew where Whit was, and that she was safe. Guilt to know how much he hurt her. Frustration at Annie. He made his way into the kitchen, pouring himself some water. Hearing the sound of Liam's socked feet following him, he waited until they stopped.

    "Niall." Liam wanted him to turn around, but he wouldn't. Liam wasn't allowed to see him break down like this. He was supposed to be tough. Tough doesn't mean tears.

    "Nialler." Liam eased again, getting in front of the blonde before he could turn in his crutches.

    "Liam. I'd give anything, anything at all to have her back. I didn't mean it. I promise, I didn't mean it." Babbles continued, Liam just pulling Niall's head into the crook of his neck.

    "I know you didn't, mate. She's gonna come back. You're gonna be able to fix this. Might take something major to set it right, but I know you'll get it done."

    "How. How do you know I'm so capable." he sniffled out, pulling away to show Liam those sad, tired, red ringed blue eyes that Liam knew matched Whitney's, where ever she was. 

     "Because you love her, you big dummy. And I've never seen you give up on something you love."