Code Black (N.S)

31.

Niall's POV

It had been a couple of weeks since the news of Ryan's bail. I still went to school and for the most part, I had been surprisingly okay with everything. I hadn't been physically hurt at all, only a few words being thrown at me every so often. 

Tyler had thankfully left me alone after he had confronted me at the lockers. It was almost as if the horrible news made everything else in my life a lot less problematic. 

The worst things that had happened to me would have to be what was going on inside my head. I would often find myself zoning out and inevitably thinking about every horrible thing that had happened. This was something I hadn't told Harry about, as I knew it would worry him. 

I was still confused about things with Harry. I obviously liked him a lot more than I probably should have. I couldn't help it. He was so affectionate and he made me feel like I had someone who really cared about me. Unfortunately, I didn't know how he actually felt towards me.

He had definitely changed around me during the past few months of us actually being friends. His words and touches seemed more gentle as time went on, so maybe there was a shift in his feelings as well. Although I still didn't want to say that for sure, as it was likely just his way of saying I was a close friend. 

~

"What are you thinking about, love?" he asked from next to me.

The Chemistry classroom was darkened as the teacher was showing some documentary that seemed to be taking longer than the thirty minutes it says that it was. Maybe I was just getting bored. 

I shrugged, not knowing what to say to him. I didn't meet his gaze and I wasn't really sure what he expected me to say. I wasn't about to admit that I was thinking about him, more specifically, how much I was beginning to like him. 

I couldn't let him know that. He was straight and it wouldn't exactly be good for our friendship if things turned awkward because I developed feelings that weren't returned. 

"N-nothing. Just waiting for this to be o-over," I said. That was kind of the truth, I felt as though we had been in class for ages and I felt myself becoming rather bored. Not good, as my thoughts would then wander to either fantasising about Harry or the more sinister and dark parts of my brain. Either way, it would freak Harry out. 

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and pressed the home button, the light illuminating his skin in the dimly lit classroom. I tried not to think about how green his eyes looked in the light, and couldn't be more thankful that the dark room would hide my possible blush.

He wouldn't let me see his phone background, not that he would need to but he acted so secretly about it, desperate for me not to see what it was.

~

We sat in class and half paid attention to the teacher and soon enough, the bell began to ring, dismissing the students from their seats and allowing them to leave.

"I need to go to the bathroom, I'll meet you at your locker," Harry said as soon as we had exited the classroom. 

I nodded and watched as he walked towards the bathrooms.

"There you are, faggot," I heard Tyler say behind me.

I turned around at the sound of that word, something I did due to a force of habit and looked into his eyes. I stared at him curiously, considering he hadn't came over to torment me in quite some time. I expected him to hit me but he just smirked and leaned down to speak into my ear.