Red's Revenge || n.h.

4. New Year {Lady}

4. New Year {Lady}

►► “Diana” by One Direction

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“Are you really sure that your family’s just fine with having me for the New Year?” I asked, watching him move and arrange a few things in his room. “I could just call either Franz or Sheila –”

It was two days before the New Year and Niall had brought me along with him in his hometown. It makes me feel a bit unsure since this is Ireland, but he assured me that we don’t have to go anywhere near Dublin and that Sheila is working on the security. It’s amazing that his family or any of the lads’ families don’t know a thing about what’s really going on, though. They don’t know that their kids somehow became part of the secret about the truth with Father, and that they’re part of making ways to stop him.

They were just normal boys with hectic jobs – now, they’ve got a part-time secret life.

“I told you that they’re fine with it, Dianna,” he said exasperatedly, standing up properly and scanning his room with his back turned to me. “It’s been so long since I came back here...” he mused and faced me. “Mum thinks you’re lovely, and I’m sure she’d want to talk to you as soon as we get downstairs. There’s no need for you to doubt yourself.”

I sigh and nod my head.

He pursed his lips and sat down beside me on his bed. His arm was right behind me, but I wanted it wrapped around me – he’s the first person to make me feel safe, even if I’ve just known him for a couple of days. Franz has told me that Niall has always been the baby among the lads, but he’s been pretty mature and thoughtful to me, not the usual care-free personality they’ve always talked about. I get the feeling that maybe he’s waiting for me to say or do something, but I’m still struggling a lot with myself.

Should I tell them the truth? That’s the reason why I ran away from the house and to bring justice to everything that Father has done. To bring my brother to the right state and choose the right side. But if I tell them the truth, I’m pretty sure not one of them will back down and someone will have to die. Even if they’ve been cruel to me, they’re still my family; and Mother has taught on never to back down on my family. Blood is always thicker than water.

Is it wrong that I feel safe with Niall? Or maybe I’m just bringing the trouble along with me as I ran away. Even my Father considers me something filthier than a criminal, ever since Mother died and I just let it be. Maybe I’ll just harm him and he’s just safeguarding me against from myself. I’m nothing more than a ticking time bomb of danger, and I might obliterate everything around me.

“You shouldn’t worry so much, Dianna,” he said, giving me an assuring smile. “You’re gonna grow old and weary too fast and then,” he touched my forehead and drew lines, “you’re going to have creasing lines there before you even turn 30... You already look older than me...”

I grinned and pushed his hand away gently. “Shut up, I’m only nineteen,” I said. “You look like you’re 45 –”

“Hey, I’m only a year older than you,” he said and paused, the smile not wavering from his face. “You know, sometimes, it’s easier to think that you’re someone who they want to go away rather than someone who they actually need.”

I blink and my forehead creased, my eyebrows furrowing. “What do you mean?”

“Doubting yourself,” he answered simply, standing up. “Anyway, Mum probably has gotten the guest room ready. We can go there now so you can prepare.”

-:-:-:-

There are only two hours left before midnight – before New Year.

Sitting at the Horans’ front porch, all wrapped up in my scarf, I watched the dark night sky dotted with white lights in different brightness. I recognized and named a few constellations I used to study at home with Mother’s telescope in my bedroom. When you’re cooped up with nothing to do inside your bedroom, you tend to learn a lot of things and learn to appreciate the small things in life that many people seem to overlook now.