Dark 2

24 : Intense

"I was once a sad person, but then, he happened."

"Was she talking about dad?" I asked.

"No doubt." Zayn said. "There were so many other things she was muttering unconsciously, but this is the only thing I heard properly."

"Audrey, you might think this is wrong in so many ways. You might even hate me for this, but, just consider this as a suggestion. A suggestion, alright?" I nodded my head.

"Do you suppose um, don't you think you should uh, have a dad?" He said, slowly.

"NO!" I yelled, although I wasn't heard. He was taken aback by my response.

"I expected you'd say so. But, think about it like this. Don't you think she'll need someone-..." He started to say, but I stopped him halfway by throwing his phone to his face. He didn't talk after that.

"She'll only need us. Dad's gone. That's fine. But no one can substitute him." I yelled, well at least I felt like I did. "

"Okay, let's go and practice. Audrey, take rest. I'll come and check on you every now and then." Lisa said, and they all rose to leave. Niall turned back at my expressionless face, leaned closer to kiss me, but I just pushed him away.

"Just, leave her to herself. She'll understand." I heard Zayn whisper.

"There's nothing to understand in that. It's not happening." I yelled, and they just left me alone in my room. As I saw my door close, I leaned back to my bed to drift away in my thoughts. Then as I was about to do so, I heard someone open the door. Thinking it might be Niall, I didn't move. I pretended to be asleep.

"Hey." I heard a whisper from behind me. It wasn't him. As I tried to turn around, whoever it was appeared in front of me. My eyes took some time to focus. It was Harry.

"Hey Styles, what is it?" I asked.

"Nothing, I decided to keep an eye on you." He lied.

"No, that's not it. You're lying to the wrong person." I said.

"Hey, I can hear you now. Your voice is becoming better." He said.

"Don't change the topic." I said. "Why are you here?"

"What? You don't like me talking to you?" He asked.

"No, that's not it." I said.

"See, okay. Let me spill the beans. You might be knowing Niall for, how long now, almost two years. I've known him longer than you have." He started. "And I'm telling you out of my experience, okay? If he tells you to do something, he never tells it simply. Like, he won't be joking or suggesting things simply. Are you getting my point?"

"No?"

"He sounded like he was suggesting you, but in reality, he expected you to actually take it seriously. He knows when to sound serious and when to joke. He normally never jokes. He always means business when it comes to sensitive issues. I'm not taking sides, alright? Let me make that clear to you right now. I am not taking sides."

"I understand."

"And honestly, I don't know if I should be telling this now, but-..."

"What is it? You can tell me." I said. "Please, tell me."

"He, seemed to be upset when you yelled at him." He said. "He consulted with me a million times before he actually told it to you today. That thought, whatever he told today, wasn't a sudden thought. He really thought about it for days. That's why he expected you to agree to it, instead of reacting like that."