Love... A Niall Horan Love Story

Chapter 26: Crybaby

Brielle’s P.O.V.

Niall’s expression immediately turned to panic, and he quickly spun me around, looking over my face.

“Are you hurt?” he asked anxiously.

I managed to shake my head, and my vision blurred as the tears came pouring out of my eyes.

“What’s wrong, babe?” Niall relaxed visibly and tried to hold me.

The use of the pet name and his attempt to comfort me almost made me cry harder. I shook my head, trying to calm down enough to talk.

Niall still was looking at me, holding me at arm’s length, trying to figure out why I was crying so hard.

“It’s just,” I hiccupped, trying to get control of my hormones.

Niall nodded patiently, which hurt. Like, physically hurt. I don’t know why, but I felt this ache in my chest because he was being so sweet, and I couldn’t repeat those three stupid words back to him.

“Anytime you want,” he whispered, and managed to pull me in for a hug.

He held me there, rubbing my back soothingly, which I really found did not help in this situation.

“I-I can’t do this,” I sobbed.

Niall’s face took on a strange expression. I think it was something like hurt, and confusion, mixed with pity.

“Why?” he croaked.
Then I understood. “No, I’m not breaking up with you,” I soothed.

Niall relaxed, but he still looked confused. “Then what did you mean?”

“I can’t tell you… those three words,” I said, hoping he would understand. He did, and nodded for me to continue. “It’s like this, I really do like you, I like you a lot, but I’m not ready to say them back. I just don’t want to put everything out there and say it, because I’m scared. I’m scared of a broken heart. I’ve had it before, and it is really not fun at all. I cried for days, and I didn’t get out of bed for weeks. And I told him I loved him, and I like you more than I loved him, so it scares me. I just don’t want to get hurt.”

Niall nodded slowly. “But… I won’t hurt you. I promise. I would never do that to you.”

I nodded. “I know that, but… I’m still scared.”

Niall simply hugged me, which made a few more tears escape. I hugged him back and breathed in his scent, trying to convince myself that it wouldn’t go away. Niall would always be here for me. Niall loved me. Niall told me he loved me. I didn’t believe myself.

“For the record, I wasn’t really making you say them back,” Niall said suddenly, letting me go. “I just wanted to let you know how I felt about you.”

I laughed softly. “And I took it the totally wrong way. Wow, I’m a mess.”

“You’re my mess,” Niall corrected, then started tickling me.

I fell backwards, squirming as I tried to breathe. Why Niall liked to tickle me, I would never know. I would just know that he enjoyed making me squirm and almost stop breathing from laughing too hard.

“Say I’m sexy!” he said suddenly, and tickled me even more.

I managed to roll out from under him, but he caught me right away again. I squealed, kicking out my feet, trying to get free.

“Say it!” Niall yelled.

“I’m sexy!” I shouted, making sure the neighbors could hear me.