The Struggle •Unedited•

Chapter 2

My overly priced cup of coffee was already tossed in the trash by the time I had reached the convenience store. The sound of the bell when the door opened announced my entrance as I walked into warm environment.

"Hey, Niall. Ready to be relieved?", I asked the dirty blonde haired guy behind the cash register.

He flickered his eyes up from looking down at the cash register and smiled wide with my presence.

"Heeyyyyyy, Tomlinson!", he cheered. "Yeah, totally ready. Got a date in a few hours and gotta go freshen up."

"Alright. Don't scare her away." I chuckled and replaced him behind the counter. Niall slipped on his jacket and grabbed his car keys.

"No promises, lad.", he joked and winked. "Hey, maybe we can chill this weekend?"

He offered as he pointed at me, and I quickly gave him a reassuring nod. "Later, Tommo!" With that, he walked out of the store and I was left alone to work.

About forty-five minutes zipped on by as people came in to purchase snacks or useless items that they felt they needed. Suddenly, the entrance bell rang once more which was followed by the sound of pattering feet hitting the floor as the store manager frantically ran in front of the counter. My eyes popped out of their sockets as his frantic state sort of startled me.

"Louis!", he heaved, "Niall...he-he-"

The middle aged man tried regaining his breath in order for him to speak, but the words just wouldn't slip out. My head nodded towards him quickly to encourage his continuation. Finally, his breathing returned to it's normal rhythm.

"Niall, he's been in an accident. They can't get his body out of the car, he's been knocked unconscious and his phone can't be found to contact family.", he blabbed quickly as he pointed in the direction towards the door.

My mouth gaped open in shock until I asked myself why the hell he was here in the first place when he should be over there trying to do something about it.

"Without due respect, why the hell are you here right now?! You should be doing something!"

"You're the closest I could find to family. You and him are like best friends, right?"

He stared at me waiting for an answer, but nothing could come out. I never thought about it, but I don't think I ever had a best friend. I only met Niall four years ago when I was hired to work here when my love left and I needed a job to provide for Mason. We have got close since then, so I guess I could consider Niall a best friend.

Your friend could be dead, you idiot! Answer him! My conscience blurted out behind my thoughts.

My face twisted into confusion, "I-guess-so." My words came out choppy and uncertain.

"Then go! He's down two blocks form here. Maybe you could give the authorities some useful information. I saw your car wasn't in the parking lot, so you could take mine. Hurry!"

Without realizing it, he handed me his keys and began to push me towards the door. I didn't question it, I just needed to get to the scene of the accident. But...my shift-

"I'll stay with the store. Just go!", my manager spoke hectically answering my thoughts.

I slipped into his silver 2009 Impala and quickly backed out into the busy street. Fuck! It's rush hour. Hearing a series of blasting car horns encouraging me to get the hell out their way, I sped towards the accident. Zipping through red-lights and constantly hearing honking towards my reckless driving, I arrived within five minutes. I parked the car towards the side of the street and as soon as I climbed out of the car, Niall's red Jeep Wrangler was smashed through it's driver side. Oh god. My heart began to race as I walked closer to the crashed car, but a police officer suddenly stopped me in my tracks.