Uptown Boy (Narry Storan)

27. Falling

// The following Monday //

HS

I bring my car up to a park outside Niall's shop, before grabbing the bags of food and climbing out.

As I'm nearing the shop, I start to hear some muffled shouting and lots of crying. Not just crying, wailing.

I quicken my pace inside the shop, looking for the source of the sound.

"Harry." Brandan greets.

"Hey Brandan. What's going on? Is that Theo?" I ask, rather anxiously.

"Yeah. He's getting a lecture from Niall." He tells me, sighing.

"Why? What happened?"

"I'm not sure of the full details, but I'm assuming Theo kind of disturbed Niall in his work and he's kinda pissed about it." He says. I release a soft sigh.

"I'll go see what's going on." I mutter. "Here's yours and Ed's lunch, by the way." I say, handing him two paper bags that holds their sandwiches.

"Cheers mate." He smiles. "They're at the back." I give him a last smile, before I'm making my way to the back tentatively, Theo's cries getting a lot louder.

I watch as Niall cards his fingers through his hair in frustration, his face scrunched in anger. Theo is in front of him, his entire body shaking as he sobs, his hands wiping at his face repeatedly.

My heart feels heavy at the sight. I'm quick to make my way over to them, immediately crouching beside Theo and pulling his head to my chest, his tears and snot staining my suit. Kinda gross if I'm being honest, but that's the least of my worries at the moment.

"What happened?" I ask, gently running my fingers through Theo's hair soothingly. Niall stays silent, simply spinning on his heel, before stalking off to get back to doing his work.

I sigh, letting him be before turning my attention to Theo instead.

"Shh, hey bud, it's me." I mumble into his ear, gently pulling his head off my chest. He releases a loud sob and I try my best to wipe the tears off his cheeks.

"It's alright, Theo." I whisper soothingly. "What happened buddy? Why did Uncle Niall scold you?" He releases a hiccup.

"Uncle Ni... scary." Was all he managed to sob out. I release a soft sigh, deciding not to ask him more about it. My heart aches for him as I see him so broken.

"Alright, bud. It's okay, c'mere." I say, opening my arms up and he's quick to climb into them, burying his face in the crook of my neck again.

I shush him as best as I can, rubbing his back up and down in hopes of calming him down. His sobs soon simmer down, his loud hiccups turning into soft sniffles.

I gently pull his head off my shoulder, wiping the tears off his face.

"You alright now bud?" I ask softly. He nods, but there's still an evident pout on his lips. I smile either way, before reaching for the bag of food that I left on the ground earlier.

"I've got you your favourite." I grin, holding up the bag of food. He sniffles, before he smiles weakly.

"Mac and cheese?" He asks, hopefully, his voice a little strained as he speaks. I chuckle softly, nodding.