Let's Just Keep Pretending

Chapter 6

“Niall, I need you.” Harry needs him. Niall can’t describe the feeling in the pit of his stomach, or the way his heart seems to feel like someone just gripped it hard and won’t let go. He never thought he’d hear those words come out of Harry’s mouth; he sounds so weak, like Niall is the only one who can save him right now.

“Harry, what’s wrong?” Niall finally finds his voice, he’s very aware of Zayn standing behind him staring at the side of his face with that intense stare he has. 

“Niall. Ni…I feel so bad right now.” Harry slurs.

“That’s cause you’re drunk Harry, God. On a Monday, really?” Niall says.

“Do you think…can you come get me?” Harry’s voice turns softer, he has that fragile tone back in his voice. “Please.”  

And that desperate raw please at the end is what has Niall sprinting into action, he has Louis’ car keys in his hand but a hand on his shoulder stops him. He looks up.

“Let me take you.” He says. Niall can’t stare into his eyes for longer than a second because the small trace of hurt is still written in his eyes. And for a moment Niall wonders if Zayn knows, if he knows why Niall is in such a rush, dropping everything and forgetting everyone (including Zayn), just to go pick Harry up. 

Niall calls Harry twice, both of those times there is no answer and Niall starts to chew on the ends of his already nonexistent nails. Why is Harry doing this to him? Doesn’t he know how worried Niall is at the moment? His stomach feels like it’s about to throw back all that popcorn and soda he had earlier.  A warm hand encircles his wrist and brings it away from his mouth.

“You’re going to chew through your fingers if you keep at it.” Zayn says calmly, Niall wonders how he can be so calm right now, maybe because he hadn’t heard the distress in Harry’s voice like Niall had.

“We’re almost there.” He states quietly, giving Niall a quick side glance before returning his eyes to the road. Niall watches as his knuckles turn white from their grip on the wheel, the only indication really of what he must be feeling. Niall is so sure now that he knows, he knows about Niall’s feelings for Harry. It’s stupid really, how Niall has the need to apologize for something he can’t even control, he wants to reach out and sooth the tense muscles in his arm and tell him that if Niall could control his feelings, then they’d still be standing  outside his dorm sharing shy kisses. Niall pulls his mind out of it though; he needs to focus on finding Harry first.

Harry wasn’t able to tell them the name of the hotel he was in, but he said it was a small one next to one of the bars they frequented a lot. From there Zayn and Niall were able to find the place.

Zayn manages to pull up next to the Hotel’s main entrance. As soon as he puts the car in park Niall is out of it, and racing to find Harry. He faintly hears Zayn calling his name.  Niall swings open the glass doors to the small hotel, motel really. And glances around the small lobby he’s managed to step into. He takes his phone out and uses the little to nothing left of battery he has to ring Harry one more time, as the phone is ringing though, he spots him.  He’s sitting on one of the chairs next to the window looking outside. Niall can only see the back of his head from here, and as Niall walks towards him he suddenly fears what Harry will tell him, what happened tonight?  

“Harry?” Niall says softly, afraid to place a hand on him. Harry startles a little before looking up at him.

“Niall, you came.” He says, Harry stands up on shaky legs and tugs Niall in for a hug. Niall doesn't question it and hugs him back.  He feels Harry tense suddenly in his arms, before he slowly pulls away. Niall is surprised by the intense stare he’s boring into a spot behind Niall’s shoulder, Zayn.