Sentiments in the Sand (ON HOLD)

Chapter 8: More Memories...

I was walking to school

when I heard footsteps behind me.

We had a test that day,

which explained why I was quite nervous.

I turned around to see who it was.

It was the neighbourhood bully, Bill.

I bit my lip and walked faster.

Bill walked faster, too.

So I ran. He ran after me, and stood in front of me.

"What do you want, Bill?"  I asked, trting to mask my fear.

"I want your notes." he said, crossing his arms.

"Why? I go to an all girls school.

You don't have the same test I'm taking." I told him.

"I know. But my sister goes to your school.

And I'm supposed to help her with this test." he said.

"Go get your own answers!" I told him,

as I punched him in the face.

Of course, I was a 14 year old. A skinny one.

And he was 16. And muscular. So my punch didn' t do much.

He didn't mind it. "Give me your papers. Now." he said.

"No! Go get your own answers. Stop stealing mine.

I won't give them to you." I told him. He smirked.

"Well, I wasn't exactly asking for your permission, Annikka."

he laughed and slipped the strap of my bag off my shoulder.

My sling bag fell to the ground. He bent down to take it,

his face by my knee. I used my knee to kick him in the face.

He fell backwards. I picked up my bag and ran.

He didn't bother running after me.

"You'll pay for this!" he yelled. "Or actually, Niall will pay for this."

I stopped running. I walked back. I took my notes out.

"Here. Take them. Leave Niall alone."

I said, dumping my notebook on his face.

"Yeah, I thought so." he smirked, getting up.

"You have what you want, Bill." I told him.

"Leave. Niall. Alone." I said,

kicking his shin in the spot I knew it hurt.

He broke his leg there just last year.

He gasped in pain and growled.

I walked away.

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I walked to Niall's house after school.

Niall was sitting on the steps by the front door.

"Hey Niall. How was school?" I asked him.

I wanted to know if Bill had done anything to him.

"It fine, actually. Bill left me alone. Wonder why."

he said as I sat down beside him.

"How was your school?" he smiled.

"I-It was fine." I lied. School was horrible.

I failed my test, and Bill's sister Beatrice kept smirking at me.

She knew Bill had stolen my notes. She got a good grade.

I was always insecure around Beatrice. She liked Niall.

I liked Niall. She's prettier.

"You're lying." Niall said. "Huh? No." I said.

"What did Beatrice do?" he asked.

'She likes you,' I thought. 'And I'm afraid you'll like her better.'

Of course, I didn't say that. "Nothing." I told him.

"School was fine. Beatrice left me alone." I said.

"Okay, how was the test?" he asked, frowning a bit.

"Horrible." I whispered. "What?" he asked.

"I failed it." I sighed. I was going to have to tell.

So I told him. I told him what had happened that morning.

And of course, he got quite cross.

"You what?!" he exclaimed. "You didn't have to."

"Niall, you come home with a bruise everyday." I told him.

"I don't like seeing you like that." I said.

'I love you, Niall. Can't you see?!' I thought to myself.

He sighed. "Thank you, Annikka. But don't do that."

"I'll stop when Bill stops." I said. He hugged me.

I hugged him back. He kissed my forehead.

I felt my heart beat faster.....

I opened my eyes. It was monday. The day of the concert. I checked my clock. 6am. I could sleep some more.

~Niall POV~

I was sitting in my room, wondering what I would tell Annikka if she came to the concert. "Just tell her the truth, mate. Tell her you love her. Tell her everything. It's now or never." Liam had told me. I guess he's right. Liam's always been right about girls. I told him more about Annikka last night, over pizza. We both cried. Liam and I are both emotional. He smiled and sniffed when I told him about the one time Annikka gave a bully her notes so he wouldn't hurt me. The last thing he told me last night was, "Niall, when you find a girl like that, you never let her go."

That's what I'm going to do today. I'm going to find Annikka, and I won't let her go.