CHAPTER TEN:
I don't even know how to react... I still can't believe what happened. But at the same time.. it's not exactly entirely his fault.
"Will he be okay?" I ask.
"What?!" Liam's anger snaps back within a second.
He comes back over to me and for the first time, I'm actually scared of him. He looks beyond out raged. "He just did this to you.. and you ask that? He should be here like a man and accept what he did. He should be asking if you're okay!" Liam's short, hot breaths hit my face as his breathing starts to become heavy again.
"Liam... please, you're hurting me." I reply to him grabbing me even harder than before.
He looks down at his hands grabbing me and within a few seconds his facial expression changes, "Ash-I'm sorry." He lets go of me instantly, but I can still feel his grip.
"Seriously, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to do that.. I just.." I can see his anger turn into regret and distress.
"It's okay." I say putting my hands on his chest. "I know you're just upset."
He looks at me for a second and then sighs before leaving the room.
I sit down on the couch and Niall sits down beside me.
"I hope you know that I'm always here for you." He pushes a strand of my hair behind my ear and gets insanely close to my face. I look up at him and we make eye contact for a moment and I start to feel myself smile.
"Thanks." I reply back to his comment.
He leans back and I lay my head on his lap. He looks down at me and starts running his fingers through my hair and I can feel myself starting to fall asleep.
- - - - - - - - -
"I can't believe Harry did that..." I wake up to Niall explaining things to the rest of the other boys who are now here.
I sit up and see everyone's eyes on me... or should I say my bruises.
"You okay, love?" Louis asks as he comes up to hug me.
"Yeah, thanks." I smile as I pull away.
"What time is it?" I whisper quietly to Niall.
"11:30. Do you want to go back to bed?" Niall asks as he starts to gently rub my back.
I can't believe I slept that long... five hours? That's crazy, but I'm truly exhausted.
"Yeah, I'll just sleep on the couch tonight... I don't want to sleep in his room." I say looking away, slightly ashamed.
"No. I'll sleep out here and you can sleep in my bed." Niall pulls me up, "She's going to go to bed, I'm going to sleep out here tonight." He looks back at everyone, explaining our conversation we just had.
He walks me in his room and I sit on the edge of his bed. "Are you sure?" I ask again, feeling intrusive.
"It's no big deal." He replies taking a pillow for the couch.
"Can I um..." I trail off, not sure if I should ask or not.
"What is it, my love?" The way he said that literally made me melt. For a moment I forgot everything and just felt the chills on my body. His blue eyes flash at me and I swear I just want to die, my emotions are completely taking over.
"I was going to um, ask if I can borrow a shirt to sleep in.. I don't want to sleep in his clothes. But I'll just go ask Liam." I look away, slightly embarrassed that I even asked for his shirt.
"No." He stops me before I can leave, "You can borrow one of mine." He smiles slightly to himself and then pulls a shirt out from his drawer.
A shirt hits my face and I pull it off to see him laughing.
I change into while he strips down to his underwear.
I crawl into bed and he tucks me in... I feel like such a child.
He turns the lights off and opens the door to leave.
"Niall.." I stop him before he goes.
He turns around facing me, "Yeah?"
"Um.. can I ask you for a favor?" He sits down at the edge of the bed, "Anything for you."
"Will you stay with me... I don't want to be alone." I lie. It's not that I don't want to be alone, I just don't want him to leave.
He walks to the other side of the bed where it's empty. "Of course." He gets under the covers and I get next to him. He wraps his arm around me and I can feel the warmth of his body.
I love his company, but as I lay there with him... I realize, he just isn't Harry.
