Red's Revenge || n.h.

19. I Won't {Niall}

19. I Won’t {Niall}

►► “Your Call” by Secondhand Serenade

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Everything was so sudden that it was almost surprising that I had my feet and brain coordinating quickly to get out of the way. How did a normal day of going to the grocery store, buying groceries and getting back home to my flat in my Rover get traumatic-in-a-way-that-I-will-probably-get-paranoid-for-a-few-weeks-if-I-was-just-driving-alone?

I was just minding the road, carefully looking at the traffic light and waiting for it to signal green — and I was even playing the stereo. Music tended to distract too much now; it seemed like my emotional senses were in the phase of comparing every song on the radio on the relationship-that-could-have-been-but-turned-into-just-merely-ignoring. So yes, it did remind me of Lady.

When the light had finally gone green, I went on my usual business which was driving, getting home and unpacking everything that I’ve brought. I’ve gone a few kilometres when suddenly — a red truck went speeding out of the intersecting street I was going to pass (since the traffic light was thankfully green), almost hitting me if I hadn’t stepped on the brake so hard that I almost threw myself to the windshield if I wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.

My heart was beating fast, my brain almost going haywire as the scene unravelled in my mind’s eyes, going through more slowly and going past on what would have happened if I haven’t had the impulse of stepping on the brake. So many things could have gone wrong . . . so many things could have ended at that time. . .

. . . Like my nineteen years worth of short, flashing life.

And that’s how I ended up being in Franz’ flat, refusing to go to the ER in case something bad did happen and I haven’t noticed it yet. I don’t feel any pain, just that my heart beats are still thumping loudly in my ears but they have thankfully slowed down to being even. The only thing I feel right now is shock.

“Are you sure you don’t really want to go the hospital, Niall? You look kind of pale,” Franz asked for the umpteenth time, placing a cup of tea in front of me. We were both in the kitchen, the rain now pouring heavily outside and my groceries left back inside my car.

I looked down at the cup of tea, facing my reflection. My face did look a bit pale and there was this unfocused expression on my eyes. “I’m fine, Franz,” I said, but the tone of my own voice didn’t seem like what I just said.

Franz sighed and murmured, “Should I tell Lady to come out? Because, frankly, she wouldn’t stop bothering me since she found you parking right in front of our flat.”

“Yes,” I said with no hesitation as I look up at her, the idea of being near Lady at this moment pleasant. There’s nothing wrong with being around with someone you seriously needed to see right now, right? I feel as though she might be the only one who could soothe me down.

Franz nodded her head and stood up from her seat, heading to the extra room of her flat.

Who was in that red truck and how come they’re reckless enough not to notice the traffic lights? I mean, sure I’m not exactly the type of goody-two-shoes but that one was the wrong type of being bad-ass. It’s not bad-ass if you’re endangering other lives — it’s murder.