UnStarStruck

Chapter 22 - Coping Mechanisms

Chapter 22 – Coping Mechanisms

Clare’s POV

I was shaking, fear quaking through my entire body. It was just a dream, it was just a dream I chanted in my head. I was terrified. Niall’s arms wrapped around me didn’t make me feel any better. My eyes stayed wide for the rest of the night, the last second of my dream refusing to leave my mind.

When I got hit by that car it was one pure moment of complete agony; the physical pain, the pain of having Niall and Ivy gone. I never want to relive that, even though it was a dream. No a nightmare, it was the worst thing I had ever felt.

So I sat there wide eyed and shaking as Niall whispered comforting words in my ear. We didn’t go back to sleep and I never relaxed, shoulders staying tensed as I was waiting for something else terrible to happen. I still wasn’t completely sure I was awake yet. I stared blankly out the window, my head in the crook of Niall’s neck, and watched the sun rise over the BrisbaneRiver.

???’s POV

The orange and red rays of the sun bathed the white walls of my room in a bright hue. It made me feel like today might turn out well. But I knew it wouldn’t. That today I would be able to be happy and have a genuine smile for the first time in what felt like forever. But I knew that would just be me in denial. I’m not depressed, oh no, I’m just I don’t know. Empty?

I sighed and gently stood up. 26 days, and believe it or not, I’m not sad no matter how much people told me it was okay to be. I’m not angry either. And most importantly, I’m not scared; I stopped being scared a long time ago.

Clare’s POV

Once the sun was up, Niall gently un-wrapped his arms from around me and pulled back so he could see my tear stained face. “Are you okay? No stupid question, do you want to move or stay here for a little bit longer?” His eyes were worried and his expression was gentle. He brushed his thumb across my cheek and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

“I’m going to go for a shower; do you have clothes I could borrow?” I replied quietly as I stood up. He walked over to his suit case and pulled out a polo and some shorts that I could roll up. I took them and walked toward the bathroom. Before I went in his arm snaked around my waist and he whispered in my ear.

“I’m never going to leave you Clare, never worry that I will. I love you too much to leave” Niall kissed my cheek and pulled away. I didn’t look back at him as I walked away.

I was in and out of the shower quickly and after it I felt a lot better. The hot water seemed to burn away the dream and left me feeling fresh but I was still tired as all hell. As I skipped out the bathroom I saw Niall on the bed showered and changed as well having used the other bathroom. He looked up and cracked a smile “Someone’s feeling better”

“Yeah, thanks for last night by the way. Sorry I woke you” I blushed as I sat down next to him and observed the dark purple rings that were under his eyes and mine.

“I don’t mind but I was freaking out Clare, I didn’t know what was happening. Then you started screaming and I was… terrified. I thought I was going to lose you. What were you dreaming about anyway?” He looked so worried and confused. Like a puppy.

I chuckled at his expression and pushed back his hair. “Not much really, it was just upsetting. How did everyone stay asleep? I was screaming my head off”

“They were all up when I went out and I asked them. All the boys didn’t hear because they were over the other side of the room and they sleep like logs. Lydia, well Lydia was kind of vague on why she didn’t but all I know is that she heard nothing.” He rambled off.