One Thing - One Direction fanfic

Chapter 13

I couldn't sleep. One part of my brain was paralyzed with the date. I had never experienced the emotion that comes with kissing. It felt soothing, yet also as if I had been craving for it for all my life. The other part of me was thinking about what Caroline said. She had confused me. I hadn't thoroughly thought about a relationship with Niall and definitely not about loving him, but I guessed it was kind of important to know. I didn't want to hurt him by possibly dating him for the wrong reasons. So, how did I feel? Was I just excited to possibly date him because I was a fan of his? Was it because I liked Niall Horan for the person I had gotten to know somewhat better the last couple of days? Then again, perhaps I was excited merely because I had never dated before? Caroline had given me mixed feelings when thinking of Niall. I started analyzing mine and his every move. Our every word. I was tired and wanted to fall asleep so bad. I didn't want these messy thoughts. I forced my mind shut up by I staring into the darkness and concentrating on an empty mind.

"Brontë, wake up!"

My body was being shaken. I opened my eyes to darkness, yet I sensed Caroline's proximity as her hands were gripped on my shoulders.

"What's wrong?"

I looked at her confused, though she probably couldn't see my expression.

"Why did you wake me?"

"You were screaming in your sleep?"

I guess that was only logical when my nightmare was being recalled.

"Oh, sorry. I was having a nightmare."

As my eyes got more used to the darkness, I could see her cocking her head and frowning slightly.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

I sighed. It was only a dream anyway.

"It started out perfect. I was with Niall and you were with Zayn. We were laughing. All of a sudden, everything turned black. I heard people cry. I saw you, falling into a ravine, expressionless. Zayn jumped after you. Then Niall was right in front of me and gave me a kiss. Then he said he didn't love me and he floated above the ravine. He looked at me sternly, then fell down. It happened so fast. I tried to scream. All the other people I know and care about followed you guys into the darkness of the ravine. I tried stopping them, but it was no use. They just walked through me. I wanted to follow and plunge in the darkness to find all of you, but I couldn't move. I wanted to make everyone stop with words, but couldn't talk. Suddenly, Niall stood with some distance in front of me again, smiling in my direction. I was so happy to see him again, knowing he came back. I ran up to him, suddenly able to move, but I ran right through him. When I turned around, he was walking to some other girl. His smile had been aimed at her. He gave her one of his nice hugs and they started making out. I was crushed. To top it off, he told her he would always love her, adding 'even more than food'. She seemed to return his feelings. Suddenly I was the one floating above the ravine. Niall looked into my eyes. They held no sign of adoration or even friendliness. He continued by turning around and walking away with the girl under his arm. As he did so, I started falling. The darkness didn't stop coming. I felt the bottom getting closer and closer by every ticking second and I didn't care. All my friends and family were dead and gone and Niall didn't care for me in the slightest. He didn't want me. I let myself fall."

I didn't notice until Caroline gave me a tissue, that I was crying. She hugged me tight.

"It's okay. It was just a dream. Everyone's still alive and Niall's not with another girl. It's okay."

She shushed me and rocked me, like mothers do to get their baby to sleep.

"Did I do this to you?"

Even though she brought it up, the insecurity would have kicked in sooner or later.

"I did, didn't I?"

"No, I would've been worrying about it sooner or later."

"I'm so sorry. Try to go back to sleep, okay? Just for a few more hours."

"What time is it?"

"Quarter past four. Just try to get some sleep. Think happy thoughts. Think about our inside jokes, like the one about 'personal space', or how creepy that girl from our class is."

Remembering those things made me smile for four and a half seconds. Then my thoughts just returned to my nightmare. She probably noticed.

"Lay down," she commanded me, "and listen to my wise voice of funny moments."

I was both amused and curious as to what she was planning, yet did what she asked.

"This is the 'do you remember?' game. You need to answer each statement with 'yes' or 'no'. 'Yes' if you indeed still remember the quote or line or something like that, 'no' if you don't remember it. Do you understand these very basic and easy rules?"

"Yes."

"I guess you don't, because I have never said something like that in my life, so you can't remember it. Do you understand?"

"No."

"Good! Now for the quotes and lines. Do you remember when that creepy girl from our class wanted to sit down on a chair during geography but actually fell on the ground, even though no one pulled away her chair?"

I laughed.

"Yes!"

"Good! Do you remember when we were watching a movie at your place on Halloween and you had put up a scary comedy? And when the guy in the movie looked in the mirror, his reflection had changed? That it wasn't his anymore? Then I got scared and made holes in your wall with the chair and your brother bumped his knees against the table because I screamed very loud and the glasses almost fell on the ground because of that? Do you remember such a scene which I am still sorry and a little embarrassed for?"

I was already laughing when she said 'Halloween'.

"Yes, I still remember that! You were so scared!"

"I was! Moving on. The time when we were talking on the corner after school, and our music teacher biked by and a while later he biked by again but this time with a hat on and we were like 'they certainly won't recognize me with a hat on'?"

"Yes."

I smiled and laughed quietly. I felt that my eyelids were heavy, so I continued to listen with my eyes closed. I didn't want to fall asleep, I wanted to hear her recall our inside jokes.

"What about the time that a girl from our class had to evaluate a guy for his speaking exercise and she was like 'he was a little stiff' and it sounded so wrong?"

"Uhu."

"And when that creepy girl said 'I don't believe in tidal waves'?"

I smiled and nodded slightly.

"... and he had sweat,not only under his armpits, but all the way through until one side reached theother on top of his shoulder... ... then everyone was looking normal, but wecouldn't stop thinking about it and.... one time... with music... .... ... rememberthat... ... be here... ... will love you... ... best friend... ... cry on... ... everything to me... ... mark inmy memory... ... everything... ... forever... ... ... will come... ... sweet dreams.">