He Cared (Niall Horan)

Chapter 1

I didn't go home to meet my drunk mother, no. Instead I went to Niall's Pharmacy. When I got there I was already teary eyed, about to break down any second. I went to the medicine section and took 2 bottles of sleeping pills. I ran up to the counter. "Here" I said, "How much will that be?"

"No," the pharmacist said "I'm not letting you buy these."

"Why not?" I said harshly

"You can't just wash your life away down the drain!! People love you!"

"My brother. Is sick. Don't assume things about strangers." Oh who am I kidding?! I'm an only child, as if my long sleeves and on-the-verge-of-crying face didn't give me away.

"Then get him some real medication, not sleeping pills." His tone was conceited and knowing. He's on their side. Watch him call me a name. Just watch him tear me apart.

"Stop being a nosy ass, I'm helping you make money." And with that I slammed a 10 onto the table and stomped away. At least tomorrow I won't have to deal with people like him. I mean, I won't have to deal with anything by tomorrow.

I was almost at the door, the exit where I could just escape this man's concern, although I don't know why he would even care.  I was being too obvious, I wasn't wearing that overly bright smile people know me by...maybe that's how he read me.  Read me like an open book.  There's nothing I hate more that people seeing through me.  And this boy did, the same boy who was sprinting towards me, roughly grabbing my arm.

I smiled, largely, convincingly.  "I'm sorry, I just got a bit protective of my brother back there, um, I'm sorry, I better get going," I tried to pull away from his firm grasp.  "Um, excuse me, goodbye now."

"No. No, give me the pills."  I could hear his accent now, it was thick and foreign, Scottish, I believe...I don't know, something like that, but it was damn sexy.  He probably has someone though, I'm too delusional.

"Sorry, bye."  I tried to run, but he pulled me back clasping my waist with two strong hands.

"Come with me, honey.  Let's talk about this."

I didn't protest, I mean, no one's ever wanted to know about how I felt, about my side of the story.  And so I followed him into the back of the quaint shop, into the "Employees Only" area, although I only noticed one other pharmacist here.

"So, tell me your story.  Tell me all of it.  I'm a stranger, nothing will be awkward, cry into me, tell me things you've never told anyone else before.  I'll always be here to support you, okay?  I'll catch you when you fall.  Pour your emotions into me, and we'll get through this, together."

I felt something inside of my chest: hope.  I felt hope.  And an awful load of attraction for this fella, but he was offering me somthing great, something I've never really had before; care.  He cared.