More Than This (A Niall Horan Fan Fiction)

Chapter 24

Niall's POV

I have been in the band for three years now and I am still and always grateful for the success me, Harry, Liam, Louis and Zayn are having, the opportunities we are getting and what's next to come. Our job is incredibly amazing. We enjoy every single bit of it but at the same time, it is so stressful and such a demanding job. Our schedules too are hectic, taking away our normal lives and normal teenage selves. We are trying to live a simple and normal life but this job is so abnormal that we can't have the life we long for. I understand though, I wanted this and I know what to give and take. It leads me, not closer to but exactly to what and where I wanted to be-my dream. It's just, everything so important to me are being taken away from me: my normal teenage life; my family and loved ones; my time; sometimes my happiness; and my freedom. Even my right to be and fall in love is likely to be affected by this job.

"I'm in love with you but I can't stand all the insults thrown at me." Holly, who was sitting on a bench across me, managed to say in between tears. We have been together for more than a year, almost two, but we barely see each other since I started touring.

"Yeah, me too." Teary eyed, I said while I was leaning in-my elbows were attached on top of my knees, as if holding for a dear life whilst my sweaty palms and fingers were together, praying that Holly would hold on us. "I'm sorry."

"You're amazing, Niall, but it's getting into me and depressing me."

"Holly, please don't do this." I shook my head, begging.

"I don't want to but it scares me and you can't do anything to protect me."

"Tell me what I should do to save us." I kept shaking my head, in denial that Holly and I were about to break up.

"Nothing." I heard Holly whisper and I burst into tears. I felt her jogged towards me and sat beside me while she ran her hand back and forth on my back while she had her head leaned on my shoulder. "Don't blame yourself, Niall. It's not you, it's me. I don't know how to hold on."

"I thought we were going strong." I told her as soon as I looked up to her.

"I know, I'm sorry."

"Okay." I think of words to say but it was the only word I was able to say to her.

"I hope we'll stay friends." Holly whispered before she leaned back against the bench.

"Of course."

"Okay." She replied then stood up in front of me. "I applied for college."

"Oh, that's cool." I said, genuinely happy for her though I tried to pull out a smile. "Good luck, Holly."

"You too." She smiled back before there was a moment of silence. "I have to go."

I nodded and stared at her as she climbed up on her car and drove away.

We are in tour right now and our first off is here in Liam's hometown, Wolverhampton. The show is in two days so we decided to sleep over for a night at Liam's parents' house.

"To One Direction!" Liam's best friend, Andy, yells out while he raises his wine glass.

It's past nine p.m., about thirty minutes since an exclusive small party is thrown by Payne. There are just about thirty people in this house right now including the five of us; his parents and sisters; Andy; their closest neighbor; some of Liam's relatives; and some girl and guy friends.