SAFE (Harry Styles Fan-Fic)

Chapter 11: Competition

"So, you're from Arizona," Niall rephrased. She smiled as she sat comfortably, passing a plastic ball back and forth to Frankie and Liam. She nodded, awaiting another question.

"Born and raised, " she gave a soft smile, throwing the ball to Frankie, a chuckle escaping his lips. She yawned but quickly shook it off.

"Nikki, you still haven't slept much, you should go get some rest," Liam rose an eyebrow, concerned. She smiled.

"I'm not tired-" she began, looking around the room.

"They won't get us from here, they're too stupid," Frankie laughed, putting his hands behind his head as he threw the ball to Liam. They all reasoned with her, except me. I was still a little heated from how rudely she pushed me in the car.

"I'll only take a quick nap. Wake me if anything," she said as she stood up and headed for the other room.

"Yeah, because they'll just let you sleep while they get massacred," Frankie joked,but we all glared intensely- that's not a joke...

She threw him the finger before walking away, and I chuckled... but then my smile disappeared as he stared at her bum again...

Later that night, after awkwardly keeping a conversation with Frankie about his life...We all headed to bed in the plane... we still needed a few hours anyway.

I walked into the room, before realizing that not one bed was in use... I turned to look around the room, finding Nikki cuddled up in a ball, a pillow on the rug beneath her head, her face relaxed as she slept beside the  furniture against the wall.

Okay, I know I was upset and all, but as a man, that is not right. I couldn't help but feel horrible that a girl is sleeping on the floor. The guys followed behind me and followed my gaze.

"Dude, put her on a bed," Niall tugged Louis' shoulder. He gave him a sassy look.

"No, you go," they began to argue in a whisper.

"What if she wakes up and shanks me?" Liam replied.

"Stop fighting, she's sleeping!" I interrupted. They all turned to me, blank expressions as smiles curved against their lips.

"You fancy her,Harry. You put her on the bed," Louis rose an eyebrow with a smirk. I sighed.

I went towards her, taking slow hesitant steps.

I hope I don't die tonight.

I slowly made a cautious touch, sliding my hand onto her shoulder. She didn't even move... She was really tired then, which is understandable. I then took a sigh of courage and slid my hand under her back, putting the other under her legs.

I know I was trying to stop the thoughts, but I couldn't help but think about close she was to me... For some odd reason, I think I had a massive crush on this girl... No, I'm pretty sure I do.

As I carried her, I couldn't help but stare at her expression. She was sleeping so deeply, peaceful,  I couldn't help but feel guilty for saying those things earlier today. If you think about it, she is always watching to make sure I'm not in danger; she has to care, right? If she didn't, I would have been dead by now...

I lay her slowly onto the bed, and covered her in some blankets. I didn't want to do anything else, because then I know for a fact that she'd wake up and kill me accidentally... I slowly backed away, and turned to find all their eyes on me.

"Damn, boy. You're really into her aren't you?" Zayn whispered. I felt myself blush, and I just shrugged, pulling my fingers through my hair. Niall coughed sarcastically, looking at the door.

"But I think ya' have some competition with that Frankie dude... He seems to get pretty jealous when Nikki looks at ya'- which happens alot by the way lad," he rose his eyebrows.

"... and then  he becomes all happy when you guys fight," Niall explained... And I guess he was right. Man, that's pretty intimidating.

Before I could respond,  I turned to see Nikki squirm a little, taking a sigh, the ones you make when you become conscious I suppose. I turned my back to the men, and we all took a few steps back. I kept my eyes on her face, and I saw her furrow her eyebrows, before opening her eyes in seconds.

She screamed in fear, and we all joined in before  she went jumping off the mattress, tripping over it and falling onto her bum, quickly crawling away from the bed and against the wall.

Her eyes were horrified and wide as she glared at the bed, she had her gun out in front of her, it shivered in her hands as she pointed it towards the mattress. Her breaths deep and frantic, and we were all confused...

As we tried to look for a reason for such a scare on the bed, Frankie came through the door seconds later, his pistol in his hands in front of him, gazing around the room  for danger. He caught Nikki and immediately put the gun down, and sighed with a smirk, turning to look at me.

"You put her on the bed while she slept, didn't you?" he asked, putting his gun into his belt, walking towards a whole different woman that we had hours before...

I nodded frantically, confused. Wait, I remember her telling me something about that the other night... Shit.

"I- I didn't mean to hurt her in-"

"Nice one, dickhead," he said rudely, before giving me a dark glare and bending down on his knees. As he did so, he didn't notice Nikki getting up, stepping away from him.

"It-It's okay. I just- I needed to get up anyway," she gave a last look around the room before she pushed him aside. She looked at me in seconds.

"I- I'm sorry," I had begun...

"It's fine," she said before heading for the door.

"What was all that about?" Louis asked curiously. Frankie gave us a look to stay quiet, but Nikki had already stopped in her tracks. She held the knob, trying to be polite.

"My mom was raped and killed on my very own bed when I was 13. I took her place after that, as a Protector. I vowed to kill all those people who do such evil, to be only the good that my mother was," she finished. Louis nodded, understanding.

"I understand. So, you're afraid of-" he began. She jerked her head to him, eyes still a little tired.

"No. I'll never be afraid," she said offensively.

"I  just can't find myself to lay on a mattress still, it seems...disrespectful," she gulped as she looked down, turning the knob.

In that moment, I realized just how good her heart really is. Her intentions only pure, and the only thing poisoning my feelings for her was Frankie, and only because he wanted her, too...

From there on, I was going to try and be the most best I can be, to make her job easier, and to get to know her even more.  But how will I ever know if she'd ever consider me? I mean, Niall did say that she looks at me often, so maybe that could be a start, I'll start looking at her more often, too... More than I already do.

I had to show her that I was seriously beginning to grow fond of her. 

I can't believe I'm actually falling for my Protector...

but how the hell was I suppose to compete with Frankie?