Uptown Boy (Narry Storan)

43. Giving up

song in media: What hurts the most by Rascal Flatts (which I recommend listening to while reading this!)

HS

Niall's as stubborn as a donkey. So no matter how much I try to persuade him that he doesn't have to push himself away from me to keep me safe, I know he'd still do it.

But if he thinks I'm just going to give up on us, he's an absolute nutter. I honestly don't give a fuck what Elijah or Leo would do to me. I rather have Niall by my side, facing those two tossers together than have him tackle them head on alone.

And I believe in us. I know what we have is real, and as cheesy and cringey as it sounds, there's nothing they can ever do to lose my love for him. I love him, as simple as that. Yet, why must things be so damn complicated?

I push the doors to the bar open, already knowing that this is where he's going to be.

My heart quickens when I catch a flash of blonde-brunette hair at the end of the bar. He takes a sip from his drink, his eyes raising slightly, but enough for our eyes to meet. His blue eyes soften slightly, before he blinks slowly, his eyes falling in sadness, just for a millisecond. He visibly gulps, before averting his gaze, and tilts his body to face the other way.

I take a deep breath, before pushing my way towards him, ignoring the curses as I bump into others, my eyes focusing solely on him.

"Niall." I call, coming up to his side. "I want you to talk to me." I say, firmly but gently. He sighs softly, turning to me. He looks around the bar slightly, before nodding.

"But not here. Outside." He murmurs under his breath, hopping off the stool. I nod, leading the way out of the bar through the back door, having our own privacy in the small alley way.

"I already know what you're gonna say. But let me just tell you first, Harry, I'm an anchor. I'm dragging you down. Just cut me loose. For good." I scoff at his words, rolling my eyes.

"I don't want to. Even if you asked me nicely, I wouldn't." I say, rolling my eyes. What, did he think I'd do it just because he asked me to?

His jaw hardens by a tad. "Well, I'm not giving you a choice." He speaks lowly.

I roll my eyes once more, huffing out a breath. "It's not your decision to make."

"It is, actually. Please, Harry. Just go home."

"You don't have to do this, just because you're scared." I say, completely ignoring his statement. "I'm scared too. But It's ok to be. But if-"

"Harry-"

"No," I say adamantly, starting to get a little frustrated. "Why are you doing this? You were the one who said we could get through this. And now, you're just gonna give up on us? Just like that?"

He heaves a heavy sigh, running a hand through his already messy hair, blinking back some tears. "Please, just go Harry." He whispers. And my heart feels as if my blood has become tar, struggling to keep a steady beat.

"You want me to go?" I ask, barely audible.

He gulps. "Yeah. I do."

I feel my jaw tensing, my fists clenched. Not in anger, but in determination.

"Well, I won't." I say firmly. "Because you need me right now. And I know you don't want to cut me loose. This pains you as much as it pains me. And honestly, we are being complete nutters to simply give up on this. On us."

He swallows thickly, dropping his gaze southwards. "Well, maybe I don't feel the same way you do. Maybe I don't love you." He whispers, so softly that it was barely audible. But I heard it, loud and clear, causing all the oxygen in my body to leave, leaving me listless and empty. His words struck me so hard that my head feels hazy. A lone tear traces down my cheek, my hands clenched into shaking fists, in a desperate battle against the grief.