Niam One Shots

21- Dead Silence

21- Dead Silence

Niall walked into the silent gas station and directly through to the fridges where he grabbed a large water bottle. He ripped the cap off and gulped some down as he reached for a pack of crisps. With that he walked over to the counter and looked at all the products on display below the gum and cigarettes, searching for one item in particular. Once he spotted the box, he grabbed it and stuck it up with his crisps and water before pulling out his wallet.

"Eight pounds, please." The too cheery boy behind the counter said. The bright fluorescent lights made his green eyes electric in color as he held his hand out for the money. Niall smiled weakly as he handed over the money with shaking hands, and he looked down at his bony fingers. His knuckles were white and he realized he had a death grip on the notes.

"Are you okay, sir?" the boy asked, tilting his head. A big fluff of swooped back curls managed to stay in place as he did so, and Niall found himself staring at it while answering.

"Y-yeah, I uh..yes." He stuttered, looking down at his white Nikes with flushed cheeks. The boy gestured down at the pink box, pointing with a tattooed arm.

"This for you?" he guessed. Niall nodded with once his again pink cheeks, and ran a hand through his disheveled hair.

"My boyfriend just picked one up this morning..said he'd wait for me to get home." The boy grinned, his bright smile making even Niall smile shyly.

"Well, good luck with that, I guess?" Niall asked unsurely. The boy grinned again and reached a hand out to give him his receipt and change.

"Thank you." He said sincerely, giving Niall a pat on the shoulder. Niall gave a tiny smile before he turned and walked out to his car to drive home.

He paced the halls this way and that, waiting for the minutes to be up. His fingers were in his mouth as he bit his thumbnail before he stopped abruptly. Zayn would scold him if he saw him biting his nails, claiming that it's a terrible habit. Niall took another quick glance at his wrist watch and saw it was time, so he quickly went and grabbed the box, along with the item he took from it minutes before.

With trembling hands, he went to sit on the cold floor in the dead silence. He looked down and saw it. No, that couldn't be right, could it? He never pictured himself in this position even though it was just as common as it was around the world.

A year slid down his cheek as he let out an whine. Liam would be so upset, he would leave Niall, he--

He was home.

"Niall?" a voice called throughout the one-story flat. Niall jumped in his spot in the dim hallway, the dark wooden floors matching those of the walls.

"Ni, I'm home baby. Are you here?" his voice called, but Niall just kept his spot staring at the box and the object as he pressed them against his chest. Liam rounded the corner to the hallway before startling at the sight.

"Jesus Niall, you scared me! I must've jumped six feet in the air!" he exclaimed as he opened the curtains to let some late afternoon natural sunlight into the hall.

"How was your day, babe? I was thinking we could go out for a nice dinner ton--" Liam cut off as he turned around to see Niall on the floor staring at his trembling hands.

"Baby, are you okay?" He asked, sitting down on the floor and wrapping his arms around the tiny boy. Niall shook his head and let a sob out as he leaned against Liam's shoulder. He might as well enjoy his boyfriend before he dumps Niall.

"What's wrong, Ni? Has something happened?" He asked as he held the boy tightly in his arms. Liam's heart actually ached for the sad boy in his arms, and he was desperate to find out what upset the boy so much.