Niall's POV
When I finally got her in my arms, I've never ever felt so relieved. She was shaking a bit.I didn't get to see her face when she came close to me, as we ran to each other and without a second thought, hugged one another.
The man left exactly when I gave him the money, ending the nightmare that Annie got into.
We're hugging tight, never breaking this connection. She's cold and I feel her heart beating fast.
"Thank you so much," she looks at me and her eyes are glossy. Her face is pale and has some spots of violence on her cheeks.
"What did he do to you?!" I aggressively ask her, my mind travelling to the worst possible answers.
She crosses her arms and looks away. "No need to worry. I'm alright." she replies, but I can feel that she doesn't tell me everything.
"I thought you would trust me after what happened," I tell her and her eyes meet mine again.
"I told you, Niall." she quickly responds.
I sigh, "Okay, let's go home, shall we?"
She nods.
I don't know why she keeps being so distant. It bothers me somehow, but bringing back some blur memories I bet she's right. I don't remember what I was doing yesterday after drinking all those beer bottles which were left from my birthday party on September. I had to drink a long time and this is the reason it hit me hard on the brain. I pray I didn't do or say things that I have to regret.
Arriving home, I help her with her things. She's quiet and I don't try to make her speak. She seems to be exhausted, so we'd better talk another time.
"Have a nap, please." I lightly beg her, sitting on the bed - her bed.
" I'll take a shower first," she informs searching in her suitcase for new clothing.
"Okay, I'm going to cook something quick." I tell her and she smiles entering the bathroom.
****
Annie's POV
The shower was relaxing as I also tried to forget whatever happened to me the last 24 hours. I feel sick and dead tired. My body is shaking and I can't attempt to calm. What is happening to me? I get dressed with my pyjamas and barely make it to the bed . After laying on it, dark.
Niall's POV
I cooked a soup with vegetables and chicken. The ingredients of it was only what had left in the fridge so having them and seeing her in a not good condition, I came up with this. I'm not the best at my culinary skills, but my food can be eaten.
I'm going upstairs to call her out and inform her that she can come downstairs and lunch with me. I knock at her door, she doesn't respond or open it. Could she still be at the bathroom?
"Annie?" I call her softly, knocking at the door and having my ears stuck on the wooden thing. I can't hear anything, not even the water's noise that streams down the bath.
I decide to open the door, thankfully wasn't locked.
Annie's settled on the bed, her knees touching her breasts, nothing covering her trembling body. She's shaking.
I go closer to her, panicked because I don't know what to do. She's also sweating, her forehead is all wet.
"Oh my," I wishper to myself, going quickly to take a towel to wipe her.
As I do so, I immediately take a blanket and cover her fit body. I touch her forehead to see if she's hotter than she should. She is. She has fever.
*******
Annie's POV
"Niall?" my mouth speaks automatically, as I turn to see him sleeping next to me. Wait..W..what?
He isn't actually sleeping, because he quickly turns to face me. What time is it by the way? It's dark and I'm here since afternoon.
His arms immediately support the weight of his back, as he realizes I'm woken up waiting him to inform me about what's happening right here.
"A-are you feeling alright? Do you want a pill?" he asks me with a worrying look.
"I.. Well, yes." I reply, feeling my eyes heavy enough to close again. How many hours I've been sleeping anyway?
He's standing up from the bed to get me the pill and water. I am just really grateful to have him. My life would be a complete hell since the day I got kicked out from my rental apartment.
"Here," the mini lamp brightens the room up and I see him giving me the medicine and a glass of water that I'm desperate to drink.
When I finish, he smiles at me and I can't help it but hug him too tight.
"Thank you, Nialler" a thank you isn't enough of course but this is what I have for now. He offered me food, a bed and a room in his house, saved me from that junkie, spending a fortune for that. He tried to help me from the great beginning when his girlfriend was the one who overreacted at my lame, nonsense and no offensive joke. He supported me since he met me, he never complained about anything. Even today, spending all that money just for me, he didn't frown , he didn't complain, he didn't show any annoyance, he was just Niall. Niall, the person I never thought I would meet, I never thought I would have such experiences and share a house, to be more specific now, a bed.
He looks at my eyes, I look at his, he strokes my cheeks, I feel already better.
"It costs nothing," he says, smiling like he always does.
"It costed some millions," I half laugh , correcting him.
"I don't care about money," he softly says, still being a breath away from my face.
"You spent a lot for me and it matters so much for me," I say.
His smile becomes bigger, " I'm so glad you're with me right now, safe and sound. I hope you feel better, you had fever and I didn't want to wake you up, you were exhausted.." he keeps stroking my cheek.
" I'll be fine." I assure him, showing a weak yet warm smile.
"Promise?" he asks, getting closer to me.
"Promise." I reply.
"Let me be next to you, please. I need to, you're sick and I want to be here for you if you need me and I-"
"Okay," I interrupt him. It's fine I guess.
" I love you," he tells me, completing his sentence, catching me off guard for another time.
I don't know what to say. I know basically, but I'm not ready yet. Not ready to say out loud.
His hand leaves the connection with my cheek, he's standing up and covers my half uncovered body with the blanket. He turns off the lamp and leans to kiss my forehead. I..
"It's midnight. Good night, sweety." he wishes and I feel him lying beside me, under the same blanket, the same bed.
The night was amazing to be compared with the morning, the sudden waking up from loud voices and shouts...
![](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/10791837-288-k764336.jpg)
YOU ARE READING
The Joke
FanfictionNiall Horan met Annie Tate in a restaurant. A simple, American girl who moved in London for a better luck. Her lame joke was what changed everything. Management tries to do whatever is possible to split them up and becomes their biggest enemy. What...