The Power Within [Narry]

--Chapter 1--

Hello people of Wattpad! This is my first ever story, and I'M FREAKIN NERVOUS ABOUT IT. This is going to be boy x boy, so if you're not comfortable with that, then don't read it :p I would appreciate it SO much if you could comment and tell me what you think of it so far :)

Whale...Read on! I hope you guys enjoy it! .x

**NIALL POV**

With a quick goodbye to my mum, I close the front door to our house and make my way down the snow-covered porch steps. A sharp breeze brushes by, and I hug my gray sweatshirt closer to my body in need of warmth. The only audible sound is the crunching of the snow beneath my shoes as I speed-walk towards my black Range Rover parked in the driveway.

I have to admit that winter is my favorite time of the year. And no, it's not just because of all the food and presents that come along with Christmas. When winter comes along, I always feel a bit calmer. Final exams aside, I feel relaxed and content when December rolls by. The whole neighborhood is utterly silent during this season―allowing me time to think as I wander aimlessly down the streets. Don't get me wrong, I love to have a good laugh with my mates, but it's nice to have some time to think to myself every once in a while.

Ever since that tattoo appeared between my shoulder blades when I was six years old, I've been finding myself locked up in my room just staring at my ceiling for hours on end, trying to figure out what it all means. The tattoo is of a triangle with its three edges each extending out into a swirl. It couldn't have been something that was drawn onto my back with a marker, because it never came off after 13 bloody years. And I couldn't have randomly gone to a tattoo parlor at the age of six.

I sigh as I come to a stop in front of my car that's blanketed by a thick layer of pure white snow.

“Damn it.” I grumble as I fish around in my pockets for the car keys. Once I find it, I walk over to the trunk to retrieve the squeegee.

“NIAAAALLLLLLLLEERRRR!!!” I jump five feet off the ground at the sudden scream and drop my keys.

I spin around to see my annoying-as-hell close mate, Ryan McDough, sitting in his beat up pick-up truck with the windows rolled down. “What the bloody-”

“Hey! That's no way to talk to me! Hurry up Ni! I ain't got all day, and your hot cocoa's getting cold!”

Meet Ryan, he's a strange one. He has bright green eyes, which girls squeal “are to die for”, with light brown hair styled up in a permanent quiff. He's not the tallest guy around, but he's still taller than me, which I hate to admit. I have to be honest, he's not a bad looking guy, which is why girls usually follow him with a trail of drool lying in their wake. They might as well have a stamp on their forehead saying, “Ryan, fuck me!” Anyways, Ryan and I have been inseparable since the moment we met. His family moved here from Minnesota about six years ago, and we met on the very first day of high school as freshmen. The encounter was definitely not normal considering how I crashed into him after I slipped on a meatball in the middle of the school cafeteria, leaving us both sprawled out on the ground. Rather than knocking me out cold with a punch, he laughed as I pathetically tried to stutter out an apology.  He even asked me if he could join me for lunch. I know, he's a very spontaneous lad, but I guess that's why he's one of my closest mates. Ryan is always the guy I go to when I'm down in the dumps because he always manages to make me laugh until my sides hurt. Even though he's jokes and giggles 99.99% of the time, he can surprisingly give out great advice when someone needs it. I guess I have my clumsiness to thank for meeting this treasure of a guy.

But he can still be a pain in the ass.

I roll my eyes at him, but nonetheless pick up my fallen keys and jog over to his car. I hop in the passenger seat just as Ryan huffs, “I saw you rolling your eyes at me, you twat.” He playfully Z snaps his fingers and lifts up a tempting cup of hot chocolate. “And to think that I got you Starbucks.”

“Thanks Ry, love you!” I snatch the cup from his hand and lean over to quickly place a sloppy kiss on his cheek.

“Ew Nialler, I don't want your spit all over me! We haven't even reached the campus yet!” He whines as he starts the car towards London University.

Some people may think that there's something going on between Ryan and I, but I swear that we're not dating. Besides, he's more straight than a damn ruler. We just have an intimate, weird friendship that involves some cheesy nicknames, cuddles, cheeky kisses, and the occasional bite. It's a bit surprising that we've kept this going since grade nine, especially after I came out to my family and friends two years ago.

Coming to terms with the fact that I like boys, and telling my friends and family about my sexual orientation was certainly one of the hardest things that I had to do in my life. The peculiar mark on my back already made me feel like a freak, and I had such a difficult time admitting to myself that I was gay because I was so afraid of becoming more of an outcast. The pressure of fitting in fueled my fear of coming out, but I knew that my friends and family deserved to know, so that's what drove me to nervously tell them. Turns out that my nerve-wracking fear was for nothing, because everyone was so supportive and accepting. Ryan even tried to drag me out to a gay bar the day I told him, but he finally decided not to after I threatened to run over his balls with my car.

“...and then he slapped her and was like, 'OH NO YOU DIDN'T GURL.' ...Hey Boo, you listening? Nialler...NIALL!”

“Wa-What?! Where's the fire?!” My head snapped over to look at Ryan, who's staring at me with a quizzical expression.

“You weren't listening to my story? I'm hurt, boo,” he pouted and choked out a dramatic sob.

“Jesus, Ry. Suck up those tears, you look ugly when you cry.” I joke, but he shuts me up by punching me in the arm.

“You jerk. The marriage is so off,” he huffs as we enter the campus parking lot.

“Whatever.” I roll my eyes and open the rusty, squeaky door once the car comes to a stop.

Here goes the first day of school after winter break...