Is It So Wrong? ~ A COMPLETED One Direction Fanfiction ~ EDITING

3 - Closer

*Liam's POV* 

I can vaguely hear Niall tensing up on the other end of the line before he responds again. "Yeah, those ones," he says.

"What about them?" I ask. I really don't wanna talk about this.

Niall pauses again. He clearly doesn't know what to say now, so why did he bring it up? Then, to my surprise, he answers. "I just... I don't know? You know what, nevermind. I guess I just felt bad about the way they were treating you," he tells me.

Now it's my turn to tense up. "Why does it matter to you?" This is awkward. This is so awkward.

"Well, I feel like it's my fault or something. I mean, they're students from the school I've been going to for the last few years, so I feel... Responsible I guess?"

"Look, you don't need to feel bad about their actions. I'm used to people like them taking advantage of those moments of power," I state before thinking about what my Irish friend might infer about my past from what I said. "They're just a bunch of megalomaniacs, I guess."

"What the hell is a megalomaniac?" he asks me.

"Oh, sorry. It's, uh... It's a person who thinks that they are more powerful than they really are and they try to be very controlling and such." I sound like a nerd. I'm trying to make friends here, not have it all end up like it was back in Wolverhampton.

Speaking of which, this whole thing with those guys at school is worrying me. My dad may have gotten transferred at work for us to move here, but I had been looking for an escape from Wolverhampton for awhile because of the kids who would tease me at school. It was only painful moving this far away because I could've still seen my friends back home without dealing with the bullies, if only we hadn't moved so far away. That's why I don't like talking about the kids from school; I don't want to be bombarded with memories of the pain I felt both emotionally and physically before coming here. I want this to be a fresh start. Besides, I'm pretty sure I'm not gay, so it's just stupid to call me that.

I've been talking to myself and not responding to Niall. Oops.

"Liam? You still there?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. What'd you say?" Dammit, I hate when I distract myself like that.

"I was just apologizing again and then telling you that I have to go for supper, so I'll probably see you tomorrow or Friday," he tells me.

"Probably Friday," I say. "I'm gonna be spending tomorrow resting, most likely, or I might not make it to the end of the day."

"Well, feel better, bud. G'night!"

"Night." I hang up the phone and find myself yawning. Sleep would be great right about now.

I head to bed and fall asleep within minutes.

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*Niall's POV*

Oh god, I must have sounded so stupid. What was I thinking? I just got off the phone with my British friend, Liam Payne. I spent all afternoon worrying about how the idiots from the cafeteria would have affected him.

I'm almost used to their jibes by now, but I wasn't expecting that comment about Liam and I being gay for each other. I've never thought of possibilities like the idea that I could be gay. I'm not, am I? I've never had feelings for any guys, but I've never really felt anything for any girls, either. Girls just make me feel awkward and out of place, but that's just from being at an all boys school... I think.

How do you go about talking to someone about things like this? I don't want to bring it up with my family, but if I ask someone at school I'll be rejected immediately. I mean, homosexuality is frowned upon by the church and my school is a catholic school. We're not even supposed to talk about it, generally.

I get up from the chair by the phone and go to the one person I know I can talk to. I knock on the door to Greg's room.

"Who is it?" my older brother asks through the door.

"It's Niall. I wanted to talk to you about something. Do you have a minute?"

I hear some shuffling and then the door to Greg's room swings open. "You know I'm here for you. Now what did you wanna talk about?"

I slip into the room and close the door. "I don't know if I like girls." Oops, that came out a little too bluntly.

"Why? Because you've never had a girlfriend?"

"Well..." I don't know. "I guess that might be related to it. I mean, I've never really had any crushes on any girls before." I wait for Greg to start showing signs of feeling awkward.

"Look, if you haven't had any crushes on anyone, then don't come to conclusions. What if I help you find a girl to go on a date with?" he suggests.

This is why I love my older brother so much. "That could work. I just don't really know what it will feel like once I do start liking someone."

Greg slaps my shoulder. "Believe me, when you have feelings for someone, you'll know. I'll find you someone. But you know, it's okay if you don't like girls."

"But wouldn't everyone hate me if I came out as being gay?" I ask. Dammit. I wasn't gonna ask that.

"Is that what this is about? You think you might like guys?"

"I don't know," I whisper. "It's just..."

"It's just what? What happened Nialler? What's wrong?" Greg looks worried.

"What's wrong?" Is something even 'wrong'? Is that what this is? "Well there were these guys at school and they were mocking my friend, Liam, and then I tried to defend him and they called us gay and then Liam denied it but I couldn't make myself say that I'm not gay and then I spent all afternoon thinking about it and yeah, I don't know," my words spill out in a rush. My eyes are prickling, which only happens when I feel like I'm about to cry.

"That doesn't mean anything, you know. Freezing up when you're angry is natural. Besides, denying something like that in front of bullies would just give them material that they know hurts you."

It's natural? "Okay, well thanks for the help." My brother comes over and hugs me before I head back to my room to wait for dinner to actually be ready.

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*Liam's POV*

I don't know why mum insists that I invite a friend over. I mean, I get that she wants to make sure that I'm actually making friends here, but this is just lame. I've been going to Coláiste Mhuire for the past month and a half and she's still worrying about this.

I get on the bus the next morning, still going over what my mother asked me to do. As per usual, I sit next to Niall. I've started talking to other boys at the school, but I've also had more guys making fun of me, so I avoid most people here.

"G'morning, Li," Niall mumbles, eyes mostly closed. He's always tired in the mornings.

"Mornin', Niall." I lean back against the seat and close my eyes.

"Hey, Liam?"

I open my eyes and see that Niall is sitting up, facing me. "Yeah?"

"I wanted to know if you wanna hang out after school. I mean, it's Friday and we haven't hung out much really."

"Lemme guess, my parents aren't the only ones who want me out of the house?" I ask, smirking at him.

He laughs before nodding. "Yeah, my mum and dad wants me to spend time with friends more. Mum sometimes forgets that I'm not as lonely as I was when I was 12."

"What happened when you were 12 to make your mom think you were lonely?"

"Well, all of my friends went and got girlfriends, so I kinda asked her to date me..." Niall is blushing.

"Aww, how sweet." I wink at him and he shoves me. "Hey, that's not that bad. My parents want me to spend time with friends because of one year when I invited my whole class to my birthday party and noone showed up."

He smiles and I can tell he's grateful that he's not the only one with embarassing stories from the past. "So, wanna hang out then? Prove the parents wrong?" he asks.

I laugh and accept the offer and we decide to hang out at his dad's house after school.

"One thing," he says.

"Yeah?"

"Your shirt is inside out." He's laughing really hard at me now.

I look down. Oh god, it is. "I'll fix it at school."

"Well you've lucked out; we're here," he says as the bus comes to a stop.

"Thanks, I had no idea whatsoever," I tell him, my voice thick with sarcasm.

"Aw, come on, you know I'm just teasing," Niall says with a laugh before putting his arm around my shoulders. "Now then, let's go get you fixed up."