Fear [Niall Horan]

Police

Darkness falls and Niall explains that it's now safe and dark enough for him to walk me home. I would normally be ok to walk by myself but after what happened last night I don't want to go out alone; even if people are after Niall. During the time spent waiting to go home I did try to find out more about him and why people are after him but he wouldn't tell me a thing.

"You ready to go?" Niall asks getting up from the dusty old couch.

"Yeah," I reply quietly as I stand waiting for him to lead the way.

Niall picks up a jacket and hands it to me for me to wear. I slip it over my shoulders putting my arms in the sleeves; it's big and baggy on me but warm and smells like him. It's nice. I follow Niall out the apartment and into a dark and dingy hallway barely lit by one light flickering on and off. What kind of place is this?

"Stay close," Niall instructs and I shuffle closer linking my arm with his

We exit the apartment building onto the night's cold streets. I don't recognise the neighbourhood but it looks rough and rundown. I move even closer to Niall if that's possible as I feel safer to be close to him no matter what he's done. A couple streets later we arrive onto a well lit street which I somewhat recognise. We're not far from my house which means we're not far from Jasmines'.

Jasmine's house; the place I spent many childhood memories laughing, joking and gossiping. Oh god I can only imagine what Jasmine's mum is going through. I'm about to go home to my mum, Jasmine will never return to hers.

We cross over the next couple of streets still in silence as Niall keeps a watchful eye on his surroundings and I try to casually wipe away any tears falling from my eyes. We arrive on my street and stop just behind a wall of hedges next to my house. Flashing blue and white lights fill the street as two police cars sit outside my house.

"Oh god, I don't know if I can do this," I whimper and Niall grabs my face in his hands pulling my attention to him.

"Listen to me Lexi you have to go home and tell your mum what happened. Tell her about the robbery say you hit that guy in self defence and then tell them you ran. Don't say you saw me or mention my name."

"But what about the dead guy, I'll go to jail."

"No you won't it was self defence. You stabbed him because he stabbed your friend then came after you. Say you ran because you were scared and didn't know what to do." Niall tells me and I nod as tears fall from my eyes.

Niall wipes away any visible tears with the pad of his thumbs looking me directly in the eye. I can feel my body trembling with fear, anxiety and grief.

"I'm here if you need me Lexi, I put my number in your phone last night while you were sleeping. If you need me text me and I'll come but please just don't mention you met me or that I was there at the Carnival."

"I won't."

With not even a hug goodbye Niall disappears into the darkness of the night. I take a deep breath and walk around the hedge and up my driveway. The doors ajar so I step right inside seeing police everywhere. I spot my mum before she sees me but when she does I'm immediately swept into her arms as soon as she's on her feet.

"Lexi. Oh my god Lexi your home, you're safe. I don't know what I would have done if I never saw you again. Are you hurt? Do you need to go to the hospital?" mum blurts so many things in one breath I'm barely able to take it all in.

"No mum I'm fine, I'm just glad to be home." Is all I can manage before the sobs start and then I'm hysterically crying.

In the comfort of my own home and in my mother's arms I'm able to let out everything I've been holding back. I couldn't show weakness in front of Niall as I have no idea what he's capable of but now I'm home I can't hold it back even if I tried.