A Hopeless Addiction // Niall Horan

Chapter Ten

Here we go. You get one shot at this. Don't fuck up. You've been ace at that lately, but not anymore. It's all going to be okay. Just breathe.

        The boys were all in London, doing a bit of promotional work for the new album. If things didn't get better between Niall and me, Sophia insisted that I stay the night with her and Liam before heading back home. It obviously wasn't a plan I wanted to have to make, but it was the one I was sure would happen.

        Niall was staying with Harry and Louis so that was where we went after landing at Heathrow. I was shaking in the car, my nerves getting the better of me. Sophia pat my hand and gave me a small smile to let me know it would be okay.

        "I know it isn't ideal," she told me, "seeing him while you're jet-lagged, but the sooner this is sorted out, the better."

        A nod was all I could manage. Nervous tears would come out if conversation was attempted, and it was far too early to start crying. With the stress and pregnancy hormones, I would probably be a wreck by the time we actually got to Louis' and Harry's flat.

        We pulled up in front of the apartment building, and Sophia took my hand as we went inside and up to their floor. Louis answered the door and gave me a small, apologetic smile. Without a word, I hugged him tightly around the waist. He held me close and pressed his lips to the side of my head before leading me inside. Niall was in the sitting room with Harry, watching TV. He was curled up in the corner of the sofa, seeming far away.

        "Niall..." Louis started to get his attention.

        Niall glanced up and froze when he saw me. I brushed hair from my face and looked away, biting my lip.

        "Do you two want us to go or..." Harry started.

        "No," Niall replied. "We'll go to my room."

        He stood, and I followed him to a guest room. It was silent as he closed the door. We stood there for a bit.

        "Niall, I..." I stared, but didn't know what to say to finish it, so I went quiet again.

        After a couple more seconds, Niall pulled me in for a hug. My arms wrapped around his waist as I buried my now-sobbing face in his chest. His hands were in my hair, and he kissed the top of my head. His body shook, and I knew he was crying too.

        "We're gonna do this together, baby," he whispered, his voice shaky and choked up. "I'm so sorry. But I'm here now, and I'm never leavin'."

        "How could you do that to me?"

        "I'm so sorry. It was stupid and...selfish."

        I pulled back and looked up at him, wiping the tears from my cheeks. "Did you even think of me at all? Of how it would affect me? You had to have known I was going to find out."

        Niall hung his head in shame. He heaved a sigh and licked his lips before speaking again. "Listen, I know I fucked up. When I first agreed to it, I...I don't know what I was thinkin'. I wasn't thinkin'! Then I met you, and I really did start to fall for ya. I asked you out before I was even supposed to; they gave me so much shit for it, too. Every word—every damn action was genuine. I swear. You are...my world, and I am so, so sorry that I ever hurt ya."

        "Okay," I replied with a nod, sniffling. I sat on the edge of the bed, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand.

        "Okay?" Niall echoed. "That's it?"