Anabelle [o.d]

#9

#9

     ANABELLE’S BLOOD BOILED like the summer’s day in the Middle East. She stood at the edge of the stairs taking deep breaths trying to calm herself.

Patience, Anabelle, patience.

She stormed into the living room and found Harry sitting on the couch still reading his book.

“Where’s Matty?” she asked slowly, trying to keep her anger at bay.

“He just left” he didn’t even look up and meet her eyes.

The coward.

“Why?”

“Said he had some things to do”

Lying coward.

“What the fuck is the matter with you?” she screamed, startling Liam from his sleep, and Harry finally looked at her. Guilt crept into his face but she didn’t care, her blood was on fire, “Why would you lie to him like that?”

“I didn’t! Niall obviously likes you Annie” Annie “And you like him too. You two are connecting” he explained it so easily, as if telling her what day it is.

“I treat him like I treat all of you” she tugged at the hem of her plain pink shirt – she changed – and pulled at her braid, “Why in the world would I like Niall anway? He’s whiny and clingy, like a fucking koala, he’s like a child and I’m his fucking mother”

Harry shifted his gaze behind Anabelle and sympathy crawled its way to his feet. He didn’t look guilty, he looked sorry.

Anabelle turned around and found Niall standing there looking like an overgrown child. Cheeks red, eyes red.

“Niall no – I didn’t mean – mean it” she felt guilty. She shouldn’t have lost her patience and said things she didn’t mean.

Niall shook his head and walked up the stairs for the first time since she came here. She screwed up. It wasn’t Matty’s fault, or Harry’s fault. It was all her fault and she screwed up.

     ANABELLE RAN UPSTAIRS after Niall. He had already locked his bedroom door. She knocked and knocked, but to no avail, he wouldn’t reply or unlock his door. She sat herself on the floor, her back against the door, and tears stung her eyes like a million bees.

“I’m so sorry Niall. I really am. I didn’t mean any of it” she repeated again, and again, and again until her mouth felt dry.

“I’m sorry I threw up on you” he finally replied fifteen minutes later, she was still sitting on the floor. She turned around, but the door was still locked. She knew he was sitting on the opposite side against the door as well.

“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry! I don’t care you threw up on me; I don’t care about any of that. You’re none of the things I said. Matty – Matty always does this to me. He makes me say things I never mean. It wasn’t right with him, even when we’re not together, just being in the same room brings out trouble” she wasn’t even sure she was aiming this at Niall or just realising it herself how her and Matty really were incompatible.

 “Harry told me about him. Why did you break up?”

“Because he loves his best friend”

There was silence at the other end of the door, before Niall opened the door. Anabelle stumbled on her feet and stood up in front of the blonde with the red cheeks, resembling a little boy.

“I’m sorry” she repeated again. She moved forward and hugged him close to her. He did not hug back, but he did not pull away either.

“I’m sorry your boyfriend didn’t love you” he mumbled against her neck.

“Yeah? I’m sorry for that too”

     ANABELLE STROKED THE guitar delicately with her long fingers. Niall has allowed her into his bedroom, and they were both sitting on the edge of the bed, very close indeed, which was why Niall was beaming. He had given her his guitar and urged her to play, as she mentioned she used to play before.

“I can’t, I don’t remember” she made excuses.

“Don’t bullshit me; no one can forget playing the guitar”

Anabelle chuckled and strummed the strings. Her body and soul filled with the music that radiated off the guitar. She had missed this bliss. As soon as she went into the nursing school, she had absolutely no time to play anymore. Her own guitar was dug deep into her closet away from her reach.

Anabelle played a soft melody she could remember. She closed her eyes and allowed the music to cover her up. All her problems, Harry, Niall, Matty, disappeared into the music. She felt herself not care about anything and anyone; she just cared about the music. She wished to stay here forever, but every moving object has to stop some time.

The playing was interrupted by Liam walking into the room. He smiled at how close Niall and Anabelle were sitting, he was aware of Niall’s infatuation.

“Did I interrupt something?” he asked, leaning against the door. His hair a total mess, his eyes teary from sickness, cheeks red.

“Not at all” Anabelle stood up, “Do you guys want some-“

“Soup?” Niall and Liam said at the same time and rolled their eyes.

“Oh my god, boys” she laughed out loudly and left the bedroom with a smile on her face. By the time, Anabelle reached the living room, Harry was sitting on the couch anxiously, his book long stranded away from him.

“I’m sorry Annie”

“Don’t call me Annie please! That was a dick move Harry”

“I know and I’m sorry” he repeated.

Anabelle was indeed not a person to hold a grudge, and seeing Harry in this state, with dark circles under his eyes, his legs crossed under his body, and playing with his fingers anxiously, she couldn’t possibly not forgive him. Her eyes softened and she smiled at him.

“It’s okay” she finally said.

“Really?”

“It was a dick move, but I’m not going to hold it against you love”

“Thank you, I swear, I really didn’t mean to cause any trouble. Niall really does like you… and I was just trying to help”

“Yeah, I know”

She needed to call Matty.

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