Chapter 28: Niall's Epiphany

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Copyright © zylgnagnaba 2013

Niall’s POV

My skin is numb due to the cold atmosphere creeping up to my flesh. It’s still summer here in London, but this crazy unpredictable weather shifting is messing up with me. The only thing that calms my nerves right now is this cigarette between my fingers that I put to my lips with every drag.

I am on edge and I don’t know why. I refuse to believe that this is about Bree. I don’t care about her anymore, or don’t I really? Shit.

I stand at the back porch of the house, watching as the gentle wind blows through the leaves of the palm trees and the bushes adorning Valerie’s garden all lined up in symmetry. It is peaceful out here somehow and I could almost drown out the muffled sound of chatters and laughter inside.

I know they’re all having fun while I, on the other hand, am moping around at the back of this large house. It’s better than hearing all their nonsense conversation about Bree’s endeavours. I could only care less of what she was and is up to.

Right now, what matters to me is to be left alone for a bit while and enjoy the peace that the night offers, along with the intoxicating but soothing effect of the smoke in my lungs.

“I didn’t know you smoke.” A soft voice startles me from behind and I was hoping that it was any of the girls except Bree. But I guess the stars has different plan for me when she interrupts my peaceful moment. She stops only to stand beside me, one of her hands loosely grip on the steel railing of the little balcony.

I start tensing up again at her presence. With only the little proximity she puts between us, I could almost feel her bare shoulder brush my own. So I step away just a little—making my move abrupt so she can see how much I don’t want to be near her. She notices that but she smiles down only at herself. I ignore it.

“You don’t know anything about me,” is my harsh reply to her previous statement before I take another drag of smoke and spewing it out. I notice how she glances at me, and then casts her head down again. “What are you doing here? Go back inside. It’s cold out here.”  I immediately regret the words once they are said. Fuck. Even when I’m mad at her, I still think about her welfare. But I hope she doesn’t take that as a sign that I am already softening at her.

“I figured we should talk.” She simply says and I can feel the way her stare bore to the side of my face as I slowly take another drag of smoke.

“What is there to talk about?” I speak with a low bile voice. “It’s not like I care about any word you say.” I scoff and I hear her sigh quietly, noticing how she runs her hand down her dark brown hair.

“But I… I think I need to apologize about—“

I cut her off with a bitter laugh. “Seriously, Bree, you don’t need to apologize. Whatever happened in the past stays in the past. I don’t care anymore. Seriously, I’m fine.” I shake my head, chuckling as I say so. I push the cigarette rod down the railing and toss the cigarette away after, while turning halfway to finally face her.

“I am actually fine, until… you came here.” I continue. The grin on my face dwindle a bit as I watch the baffled expression on her face carefully.

“But Niall, I-“

“No, Bree. Listen to me. I don’t care about your shit, okay?” I tell her rather harshly, keeping my voice low so the people inside the house wouldn’t hear. I’m going to be screwed, especially with Valerie. “Go back to Australia or anywhere else for all I care. Just…” I shake my head and then turn around to look beyond the vast garden. “Just stay the hell away from me.”

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