We'll make this work

chapter 6

"Uh, shit." Niall rolled over in his bed until he was on the edge. He got up and stumbled to the bathroom down the hall. He fell to the ground in front of the toilet and released his stomach into the bowl. 

Niall groaned falling back onto the ground. “Mom!!" He yelled as loudly as he could. “Mom!!" 

"What do you want Niall it’s nearly midnight?" She stopped at the doorway, seeing Niall laying on the bathroom floor. 

"Mom, I think I’m dying. I keep throwing up." Niall groaned again, holding onto his stomach. 

"What’d you eat when you went out for dinner with Greg?" 

"I had chicken and-" 

"It might have been the chicken. It probably wasn’t cooked right. Come on, let’s get you back to bed." 

"Ugh, but I don’t want to move." 
"Come on, Sweetie." She pulled him up until he was standing. 

"Will you carry me?" Niall groaned. 

"Niall James! I don’t care how sick you are, you’re almost eighteen I am not caring you." Niall slouched down, heading to his room with his mom. “I’ll make you some tea before you go to sleep. Try to sleep it away okay?" 

"What about school tomorrow?"

"I’ll call, you probably won’t feel up to it by morning. Just get some rest." She leaned down and kissed his forehead. “I’ll bring you up your tea and some more blankets in a little bit."

"Thanks Mom." Niall rolled over, closing his eyes to rest them but ended up falling asleep before his mom showed up again. 

********

Niall rolled over in his bed, his eyes opening to see the sunlight. He groaned, rubbing his eyes as he rolled over again, nearly falling off the bed.

"Fuck. My. Life." Niall grumbled, stumbling out of bed, pulling his blanket around his shoulders and heading down the stairs. 

"How are you feeling, Sweetie?" Niall’s mom greeted him from the kitchen. 

"I haven’t thrown up since six in the morning." 

"Maybe you’re fighting it off." 

Niall groaned, laying down on the couch. His mom came up behind him, setting a cup of tea down on the coffee table. 

"I put some medicine in this to make you feel better. You shouldn’t taste it so make sure you drink it all." 

"Thanks." Niall reached out and grabbed it, taking a sip. He had finished nearly half of it before he fell sleep on the couch. 

"Niall?" Niall’s eyes flickered open and he saw his moms face. “Hey." 

Niall groaned again. “What time is it?" 

"Just passed eight. You should take a bath and then head to bed in your own bed, you’ll feel better." 

Niall nodded. “Do I have to go to school tomorrow?"

"If you aren’t feeling better." 

Niall nodded, wrapping his blanket around his shoulders as he slowly made his way up the stairs. He turned on the water and stripped from his clothes as the bathtub filled up. 

Once he was fully naked, he stepped into the steamy water. He moaned out quietly at how good it felt to relax in the warmth. He sat for awhile, his eyes closed, nearly falling back asleep. 

After awhile he got back out, walking into his room in only his boxers. He pulled on Louis’ sweatpants he still hadn’t given back before climbing under his blankets again. 

It was nearly ten at night when his mom came back into to say good night and give Niall some more tea. 

Before getting comfortable, Niall checked his phone, which he hadn’t looked at in nearly two days. 

He found multiple texts from Harry, Liam and Zayn, along with a missed call from Louis. He called him back immediately.

"Hey Niall!" Louis answered cheerfully. “You weren’t at school today, everything alright?"

"Yeah, just sick." Niall croaked out. 

"Yeah you don’t sound too good. What are you doing up, shouldn’t you be sleeping?" 

"Well I saw you called." 

"Go to sleep babe, you’ll feel better. Drink lots of tea."

Niall half chuckled. “That’s all I’ve been drinking." 

"Good. When are you coming back?" 

"I’m not sure, not tomorrow. Maybe I’ll be back by Friday but I don’t know." 

"Well come back when you feel better." Louis sighed into the phone. “‘Cuz I miss you." He said quieter. 

Niall blushed. “I miss you too. Maybe I’ll call you when I’m wake tomorrow." 

"Sounds good, now get some sleep." 

"Love you Louis."

"Love you too, Niall."

********

"There is no way you were sick enough to miss a whole week of school." Harry said beside Niall as they headed to Harry’s locker before Lunch. 

"I had food poisoning."

"That doesn’t last that long." 

"Okay well maybe I was feeling a little better on Tuesday and I might have made myself throw up on Thursday so I didn’t have to go to school Friday. But that’s all a big maybe." 

Niall grinned as Harry burst out laughing. They started to near Harry’s locker when they saw Liam and Zayn up against the lockers beside Harry’s. Zayn had Liam pinned against the metal, their lips moving in sync as Liam’s hand rubbed up the back end of Zayn’s jet black jeans. 

"Have they always been that… open?" Niall asked once they reached Harry’s locker, Zayn and Liam not minding to split up. 

"Should have seen them last week, they just slowly kept getting more and more frisky in the middle of class until eventually they’d just make out in between classes. Makes you wonder what they’re doing when they aren’t at school huh?" Harry giggled as Niall rolled his eyes. 

"You know, I’d appreciate it you didn’t talk about us while were right here." Zayn smirked, finally pulling back from Liam. 

"Whatever, I’m going to lunch." Niall stated, “You going to come with or not?" Niall asked Liam.

"Yeah." He smiled, leaning up and kissing Zayn once more on the lips. After pulling apart, he headed off with Niall. 

"See you in art!" Harry called to Niall before him and Zayn headed off the other way to their next class. 

********

"What the hell are you doing?" Niall asked as he walked into art class to see Zayn sitting in his seat. 

"Oh I asked Mr. Tomlinson if me and you could switch seats."

Niall bit his lip. “Of course you did." He walked around the table, sitting next to Harry. “Because sitting across from Liam is too far away." 

Zayn blew off Niall’s comment, continuing his conversation with Liam. Niall rolled his eyes turning to Harry, smiling when he saw Mr. Tomlinson appearing behind him.

"What?" Harry asked when he saw Niall smiling. 

"You’re finally back." Mr. Tomlinson announced once he reached the table.

"I should have known." Harry shook his head. 

"Yeah, I’m kinda glade I’m back though. I missed art class." Niall smirked up at him. Mr. Tomlinson smiled down at him.

"I bet that’s exactly what made you come to school today, my class." He grinned. “I handed out a new assignment, come up to my desk and I’ll explain it to you." He added before walking away. Niall got up from his chair, following Mr. Tomlinson to his desk. 

********

"I can’t believe it’s only Monday." Niall complained beside Liam as they headed to Harry’s locker at the end of the day. Liam groaned beside him. 

"I know, and the school year’s only barely halfway over. It couldn’t go any slower could it?" 

"Don’t say that or it will." They neared Harry’s locker finding Harry and Zayn already waiting. Zayn grinned, seeing them approach, Liam nearly running into his arms, their lips connected again. 

"Do they ever stop kissing?" Harry joked.

"I wish they would." Niall glared at them, feeling his body fuming. His hands bawled into fists before one of them was collided with Liam’s face. 

"Niall!" Harry yelled, his eyes widening.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Zayn yelled, holding onto Liam’s already bloody nose. Niall gulped, backing up, knowing Zayn could hurt him bad. 

"S-sorry." 

Zayn let go of Liam, grabbing ahold of Niall’s shirt and pushing him up against the locker. “Look Zayn, I said I’m sorry. I really am so sorry." Niall said pushing Zayn back a little. 

Zayn pushed Niall harder into the locker. “You son of a bitch. Lay a hand on him again-" Zayn lifted a hand to hit Niall but Harry jumped in the middle of it.

"Zayn. Niall. Just both of you stop it! Okay!?" Harry gulped, looking between the two of them, his eyebrows furrowing inwards. 

Zayn pushed Harry out of the way, both him and Niall lunging at each other. 

"Guys!" Harry yelled before two teachers came and broke it up, one being Mr. Tomlinson. 

Mr. Tomlinson pulled Zayn and Niall off to the office, while the other teacher brought Liam to the nurse. 

Mr. Tomlinson sat in silence with Niall, Zayn in the other room with the guidance counselor. 

Mr. Tomlinson starred at Niall, who starred at the ground, still breathing heavily from anger. 

"Why?" 

Niall looked up to see Mr. Tomlinson, saw all his disappointment in his face. He sighed. “I’m sorry."

"Don’t apologize to me." Mr. Tomlinson leaned back in his chair. “Still haven’t answered my question." 

Niall shrugged. “I don’t know." 

"Niall, you don’t just get into a fight with two of your friends for no reason." 

"Look, I don’t know why I did it, I just swung. I was just angry and I don’t know why!" Niall rose his voice. 

Mr. Tomlinson rose his eyebrows at Niall. “This isn’t like you, you’ve always been a good kid." 

Niall rolled his eyes, shaking his head, all his anger coming back. 

"You know I was going to try and help you get out of trouble but with all this attitude and shit you’re giving me I don’t think you deserve it anymore." Mr. Tomlinson got up leaving Niall in the small room by himself. 

Niall sighed to himself, feeling bad for yelling at Mr. Tomlinson. Soon the councilor came in to talk to him. 

"Niall, you know getting into a fight with someone is wrong, but punching someone because of their sexuality is just very disrespectful." 

Niall’s eyes widened, nearly choking on his spit. “You think I’m homophobic?" 

"Now Niall,-" 

"I’m not homophobic! I’ve got I boyfriend myself. I’m dating-" Niall stopped himself, biting his tongue. “Fuck, I don’t even care. Just give me detention." Niall yelled crossing his arms.

********

As Niall went to leave school, he took the long route to his car, passing by Mr. Tomlinson’s room. He sighed when he approached the door, seeing he had already left for the day. 

Once he reached his car, he texted Mr. Tomlinson before leaving. He sent: Look sorry I yelled at you. Sorry I was an asshole. I’m just sorry. I’m having a really fucking rough day.

He then headed home. 

"Mom, I’m home." Niall yelled, throwing his keys onto the counter, heading for the fridge. 

"Niall would you like to explain to me why the hell I get a phone call from your school saying you got into a fight?" Niall looked over to see his mom standing in the doorway, his arms crossed. 

Niall sighed, “Look it was Zayn and Liam, we got into a fight. I don’t know why I did it and I’m tired of everyone asking me why I did because I don’t know! Okay?" Niall yelled, shutting the fridge door. “I’m going upstairs." Niall grumbled, walking past his mom. 

Niall slammed his door shut, flopping down on his bed, checking his phone to see no messages. He grunted, shoving his face into his pillow and screaming. 

"Niall?" He heard his mom saying his name followed by a faint knock at his door. He heard it open behind him but didn’t look up because he realized he was crying. “Harry’s here, he wants to talk." 

Niall gulped. “Okay." The door shut again and he quickly ripped his eyes before rolling over, seeing Harry standing by the door. 

"Hey." Niall let out quietly, crossing his legs on his bed. Harry walked over and sat beside Niall. 

"Niall, why the hell…" He swallowed thickly, looking at Niall’s face. 

"Look I don’t-"

"Don’t you dare tell me you don’t know. They’re two of your best friends." 

Niall sighed, looking down at his feet. “Maybe I was a little jealous." 

"Jealous?"

"Well they were all kissing whenever they wanted and they were happy and I just, why can’t I kiss Louis whenever? Why can’t I tell him I love him or I miss him or just simple say ‘see you tonight?’ I fucking can’t and they can and I was angry and jealous and I feel so bad I am so fucking sorry." Niall began crying again and Harry brought him into a hug. 

"Niall, you knew this is what you were getting into dating him." 

"I know but it’s so much harder when you see what you could be like but you know you can’t." 

"Well you and Mr. To- Louis, you’re happy together right?" 

"Not at the moment." Harry gave him a questioning look. “I yelled at him because he called me out for being an asshole and he hasn’t talked to me since. God I’m fucking ruining everything!" Niall groaned, falling back on his bed. 

"Niall I think it’ll be fine just, talk to him tomorrow and everything should be fine. It’s not that big of a deal."

"No offense but can you leave? I kinda just want to sleep."

"Nope, I’ll leave. Hope you’re feeling better tomorrow." Harry half smiled before getting up and leaving.