Paralyzed [Nouis]

Chapter 3 // Louis

I woke up with a feeling in the pit of my stomach, one I'd had since Niall had run off. Something was wrong, I knew it, and I really wanted to know. But I know that Niall wouldn't be telling my any time soon. I tried to think of someone who knew Niall best- one of the boys. Not Harry, he was too busy comforting me. Not Liam, he was too busy with his long distance relationship.

That left Zayn. I considered that for a moment. Zayn was closest to Niall, out of all of us. It made me quite jealous, sometimes, seeing how comfortable Niall could be with him. But Zayn could help me. If I told Zayn how I felt, maybe he wouldn't think oddly of me. Maybe he would back off of Niall a little bit. And, most of all, maybe he would know what's going through Niall's mind.

I got up, I brushed my teeth, and I went to Zayn's room. I knocked on the door, but as my fingers hit the door, the door creaked open slightly. It hadn't even been closed properly, and as I peeked in the room, I saw why. Zayn wasn't there.

Maybe he's in Niall's room. I thought. Without putting any more thought into it, I headed over to Niall's room. Even if he wasn't in Niall's room (which, thinking about it now, I don't know why he would be) Niall would probably know where he was.

"Hey Niall have you seen Z-" I stopped short walking into Niall's room. I saw Zayn in Niall's bed with Niall curled up into his chest. They were both shirtless, the blankets covering up everything from their waist down.

"No. No, no, please no." I whispered, tears welling up and then flooding my eyes. I ran out of the room, knowing I was probably overreacting (but how was I supposed to react? The boy I love had slept with one of my best friends.) and burst into Harry's room.

"Hey- what's wrong Boo?" Harry asked when he turned to me and saw the tears all over my face. I hadn't expected him to be awake right now, but I didn't make a comment on it. He rushed over and pulled me into a tight hug. I buried my face in his shoulder, my eyes against his shirt.

"Shh, it's okay Boo." Harry said. He was hugging me, now,  his arms wrapped tight around my waist. I had my arms around his waist, too. We hugged out my tears for a few moments, then he pulled away. "Alright, tell me what happened."

"I-I saw Zayn i-in bed with Niall." I stuttered through tears. I really hated myself for overreacting like this, but I seriously couldn't help it. "Th-they were both asleep, b-but they were shirtless, a-and there was a blanket, and N-Niall cuddling with Zayn-"

"Oh, Boo. I'm so sorry." Harry said, pulling me back into a tight hug. "Maybe you're just assuming things too quick. I mean, you know they both sleep without their shirts, and maybe Niall or Zayn got lonely last night. They probably didn't sleep together at all. Besides, Zayn is-"

"Bisexual." I interrupted, pulling away from Harry to dry my eyes with the back of my hands. My hands were dry, and they hurt my eyes a little bit. "I know he is, Harry. And- and I don't want someone else. I want-"

"Hey boys." Liam said, walking in the room. He was smiling a little bit, but he took one look at me and his smile dropped. "Louis, what's wrong? What's happened?"

"Love problems." Harry answered for me, quick so I didn't say anything. Liam understood as soon as he said it and walked out, probably to get me food or something.

That's what I love about Liam. He doesn't pressure you into telling him anything. He just comforts you, and if you tell him what's wrong, he just comforts you in a better way. Liam's just amazing like that. The other boys are great with comforting too, but to me, Liam's best at it.

"Here Louis." Liam said, handing me a granola bar. I smiled, he even knew my comfort food (I really have no idea why granola bars make me feel better, though). I took the bar and he sat down, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

"Am I interrupting anything?" Liam asked, looking at Harry and I. Harry still had an arm wrapped around my shoulders from our previous hug, and I was slouched into his side. "Because if I am, I'll leave."

"No, stay." I said, shifting away from Harry's body to lay my head on Liam's shoulder. Liam ran his fingers over my arm, his arm over my back so he didn't push Harry's arm away. I smiled again, feeling somewhat relaxed.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Liam asked. I bit my lip for a second before nodding. There wasn't really any point hiding it from Liam anymore. I had a reason as to why I should keep my feelings away from Zayn, but I couldn't trust Liam. I could find comfort in Liam if I needed it.

"I think . . ." I started, taking a deep breath. It was hard to tell Harry, but it seems impossible to tell Liam. Still, I sucked in a deep breath and continued on, forcing words past my teeth. "I think I'm in love with someone."

I waited a second before speaking again, forcing more words out of my throat before Liam could say anything. "No, actually, I know I'm in love with someone. But I also know that they don't love me back."

"Who is it?" Liam asked, curiosity filling his tone of voice. "Unless you don't want to tell me- you don't have to-"

"It's Niall." I rushed out, closing my eyes against Liam's probably-judgemental look. I was waiting for the laughter or the confusion in his voice when he asked me why I loved someone who was obviously out of my league, but it never came.

"Aw. That really cute." Liam cooed. I opened my eyes back up, giving him a weird, maybe more of a confused look. "I'm sorry. Now, why do you think- or know, rather, that Niall doesn't love you, too?"

I just looked at him for a moment, wondering how to explain it without sounding over-dramatic again. I got up, than, grabbing his hand and dragging him along. Harry got up, too, following us to Niall's bedroom. I opened Niall's door and pushed Liam into the room. I decided it was better to show him rather than tell him.

"That's why." I muttered, gesturing to Niall and Zayn on the bed. I stepped into the room further so Harry could come in, too, if he wanted. Liam turned to look at me and rolled his eyes.

"They didn't fuck, if that's what you're thinking." Liam said. I opened my mouth to protest, but Liam cut me off. "First of all, I would have heard them. Second of all," Liam ripped the covers off of Zayn and Niall's bodies. "They would be naked."

Now, I was expecting them to actually be naked, but they weren't. Niall had his sweatpants on and Zayn apparently slept in skinny jeans. I wonder about that boy sometimes.

Niall woke up pretty quick after Liam ripped the covers off, shouting in surprise and sitting up swiftly. His eyes widened when he saw us all standing there, althought Harry was actually only half in the room.

Zayn woke up as well when Niall screamed, but his eyes opened pretty calmly instead of snapping open like Niall's had.

"Wh-what are you guys doing here?" Niall stuttered, shifting slightly as if he were uncomfortable. He looked at Liam, eyeing the blanking that was still in his hands. "And why do you have my blanket?"

Liam threw it back to him, and Niall caught it with both hands. I glimpsed something pink and white on his wrist when he reached up to get it.

"Niall," I said, my eyes locked on his wrist, which was wrapped up in the blanket. He turned to look at me and he pulled the blanket up on the bed the full way. "what's on your-"

"Man this is not cool." Zayn said, rubbing his eyes with his fists. I laughed at the tone in his voice, completely forgetting about Niall's wrist. Zayn pulled his hands away from his eyes. "But really, why are you guys in here?"

"N-no reason." I stuttered, then backed out of the room. Harry followed me, simply taking a side-step and then following me back to his room. Liam followed as well, saying something to Niall before he went. I could almost feel Niall and Zayn's confused stares after us.

I've really done it this time, haven't I? God I'm an idiot. But, despite being such a fuck-over- what with my assuming Niall and Zayn, who were best fucking friends, just slept together; and for what reason?- there's one thing I can be happy about- Niall didn't sleep with Zayn.