The Power Within [Narry]

--Chapter 3--

Hi guys :) OMFG SOME DRAMA IN THIS CHAPTER! MY OH MY. AND LIAM'S IN THIS CHAPTER! ...Sorta...

ENJOY!! .x

I stare down at my desk, my mind racing. The English teacher is taking roll, but I tune out the dull drone of her voice and sigh dejectedly.

 Why am I so weak? I can never stand my own ground, and the incident with Jay a few minutes ago proves that. I ball my fists up in anger.

God fucking damn it. I'm not only a freak, but I'm also as useless as a sack of molded potatoes. Yay for me.

“Hey Nialler, you alright there?” A soft voice breaks my train of thought. I look over to my right at Nick and he shoots me a small smile.

Ryan turns around in his seat in front of me and softly rests his hands on top of mine. “Don't worry about Jay. He won't lay a finger on your gorgeous head, not with me and Nick around to kick his ass into another dimension. Just ease up, kay?” He pats my hands, and I realize that I still have them balled up into fists. I sigh deeply and lean back against the uncomfortable chair.

“Thanks. I know you guys will always have my back,” I mutter softly. They smile at me and reassuringly clap me on the back. It's true, what I said. I know that Ryan and Nick will always be there to protect me, and I don't know if it's because they see me as the baby of the group or because I'm gay. Maybe it's both. Don't get me wrong, it warms my heart that they'd be willing to fight for me, but I don't want to drag them into my problems. Jay warned me that he's not done with me, and I sure as hell know that he's got something up his sleeve. Jay may be a coward, but he follows through with his threats (usually with his posse of idiots). I won't forgive myself if Nick or Ryan got hurt.

“Liam Payne.” My head snaps up so fast that I think I got whiplash. Liam. I desperately look around the room―praying that I'd spot a pair of warm, brown puppy eyes that I've been familiar with for seventeen years. But reality is a bitch, and I know that he's not here. Liam stopped coming to class about two months before winter break began. He's not coming back, and the university should just take his name off the roster sheet to save me the hope of having him magically appear.

Flashback

I'm staring at the black screen of my phone―the utter silence in my room driving me closer to insanity. It's been 43 hours and 27 minutes since I've last seen Liam. He didn't show up to class yesterday as well as today. He always tells me ahead of time if he's not going to show up, and the fact that I haven't received a single call or text from him sends me into a panic. The number of calls and texts I have sent him in fruitless desperation since his mysterious disappearance is now 209. Yeah, it's a bit extreme, and I should have stopped after the 30th text, but Liam has been my best mate since we were in mere diapers. We've grown up virtually attached at the hip. From playing hide and seek in the park to having movie nights at his flat, we spend as much time as possible with each other.

Wait...his flat...

I mentally facepalm at my stupidity. I didn't even visit his flat yet! With sudden, new-found determination, I hop off my bed and rush out the door towards my car. The drive to Liam's flat went by in a blur. All that was on my mind was Liam Liam Liam. Stopping in front of the familiar complex, I didn't even bother turning off my car as I sprint towards his front door. With shaking hands, I roughly knock on his door. No answer. My heart is pumping at an unhealthy rate. My palms are sweating. Nervously taking the spare keys that Liam gave me awhile back, I slowly open the door with unsteady hands.

Upon entering the flat, a foreboding feeling sets into my stomach. I'm met with complete silence. Willing my legs to move, I set out towards Liam's bedroom. I pass by countless family portraits and photos of Liam and I as toddlers. A small smile subtly makes its way onto my pale face, but it's quickly wiped off when I arrive at the doorway of Liam's bedroom.