Underneath My Skin

Ch. 35

The more you hide your feelings the more they show. The more you deny your feelings the more they grow.

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I take a few steps back and look at Niall with wide eyes. My heart sinks and my stomach twists in knots.

This is sick. This is some sick joke and I don't find it funny at all.

"I'm telling the truth Ri," Niall says, reading my mind.

I turn on my heels and hurry to the kitchen. I hear the front door shut. I grab a half empty wine bottle from the fridge and start chugging it until it's snatched out of my hand.

I look up at Niall. His eyes are bloodshot and blazing. He slams the bottle down on the counter.

"We need to leave now," he demands.

I shake my head. His eyes grow wide.

"He needs you Briella," he snaps.

My blood boils. "I can not go to a hospital and see him laying in a hospital bed," I say harshly.

He runs his fingers through his hair and tugs hard.

"Please," he begs softly.

I push past him and walk into my bedroom, he follows me. I give him a pair of Zayn's sweats and a T shirt.

It hurts me looking at Niall . He looks like he's about to break down any second now. He seems so nervous and edgy. I on the other hand, do not know how to feel.

I am deathly afraid to step foot in a hospital. I don't think I'm going to be able to do it. But if Niall gives me his puppy dog eyes, I might just get over my fear.

Niall pulls his shirt over his head and I stifle a gasp. He's just going to change right in front of me? Okay then...

I guess there's no harm in it. I take my gown off and throw on a T shirt. We are in kind of a rush so I don't bother putting on a bra. I hear Niall gasp and I look over at him.

His eyes are glued to the cuts on my upper thighs. My stomach clenches. He slowly walks towards me. I want to tell him to stop but my words are hitched in my throat. Fuck.

I take a few steps back and the back of my knees hit the bed. I lose my balance and flop down on my butt. Niall slowly sinks to his knees in front of me. I can't breath. I can't move. I can't think.

My T shirt is covering up some of the cuts but Niall softly pushes the shirt up my thighs. My panties are showing, causing my heart rate to increase.

He runs his fingertips gently over the cuts. His fingers are ice cold. So cold that it's hurting me. I wince and his eyes snap upwards and meet mine. His eyes are filled with sorrow.

He sighs heavily. "I don't know what to do," his voice is slightly hoarse.

I look at him in confusion.

"I don't know what to do about Harry. I don't know what to do about Zayn. I don't know what to do about you."

My heart sinks. He doesn't know what to do about Harry? What happened to Harry?

He stands and runs his fingers through his hair. I stand and put my pants on. I grab an umbrella and we hurry out of my apartment building to Niall's car.

The drive to Mount Sinai Hospital is dreadful because Niall is the worst driver known to man. Niall parks, cuts the car off, and takes a deep breath.

I look at the hospital and in big bright lights above the doors are the words Emergency Room.

I look over at Niall with wide eyes.