FOREVER [Niall Horan] ✔

Chapter 2.

"Sometimes I can hear my bones straining under the weight of all the lives I'm not living." -Extremely Loud and Incredible Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

I walk through the desolated area towards my car, ready to sleep in that awful seat in the back. I unlock the car and throw my bag in the trunk. Opening the door of the back seat, I push myself in. I take a seat and lock the doors, checking every door multiple times just in case. I stretch out lying on the seat with my legs curled up so that I fit before removing my glasses and keeping them safely in my shoulder bag that rests under my head. I place my arms on the top of my head and close my eyes as I try not to think about the consequences that are to occur because of my actions.

I long to call Andy since he's the only one who can calm my unsettled nerves, he has always been there for me during my hard times since we were four, but I don't know if I should, not because I don't trust him, but because I don't know if he's still upset with me for keeping my pregnancy from him. I didn't hide it purposely, but with everything going on I forgot to tell him.

Andy never liked him. He always told me to be careful when I was with him and always warned me about him, but I was just too blind to see it in the very beginning.

"I like him," I murmur.

"He's no good for you, Ana," Andy warns and I roll my eyes. "He'll hurt you."

"I know what's good for me!" I shout at my best friend "And I know him. He won't hurt me."

"I see what he's like when you're not around. He's just using you." It irks me to know that Andy doesn't trust him and it irks me even more that he doesn't trust me either. "It's my job to protect you," Andy softly says, holding my upper arms and looking me in the eyes. "I care for you."

"I know, Andy." I sigh and leap forward to hug him. "I'll be careful."

"Just tell me if that bas-guy hurts you, yeah?"

"Yeah."

But I never told him about anything that I went through because I was ashamed. Even though I know he won't judge me or lecture me about it, I just couldn't.

I take a deep breath and sit upright on the leather seat before unzipping my shoulder bag and rummaging through it until I find my phone. My finger hovers over Andy's name as I contemplate if I should call him or not.

My thought process stops when I hear a knock on the car's window and I flinch, my head dashing on the roof. I panic as the stranger knocks again on the door and quickly dial 999.

"I know, you don't know me, but I won't hurt you." I stop when I hear the stranger's thick accent. I can see the silhouette of him, but nothing more. I don't move from my place pretending as if I'm not in the car, I know for a fact that he can't see me because the glasses of my car are tinted, but he continues to knock on the window. I gulp when he speaks again. "I know you're inside." He taps on the window again and I hold my phone closer to my chest feeling very nervous to move. "I can assure you that I'm not a murder and I'm not going to hurt you" He repeats, a smile clear in his voice as he tries to joke, but I don't move to open the door. "I talked to Roger. You can have my room." This catches my attention and I raise my eyebrows even though he cannot see me.

I roll the window halfway down until I see the man's figure. I can barely make out anything except that he's wearing jeans and a white T-shirt. We stare at each other until I clear my throat.

"Here." He voices and hands me the room keys.

I hesitate a little before taking it. "Really? Thank you-um?"

"Niall Horan."

"Ana Kohl," I say and put my glasses back on my nose. I open the door and walk out after taking my shoulder bag. I take my bag from the trunk and lock my door. Niall takes my bag from my hand, surprising ms, and walks towards the entrance of the motel without saying anything. I follow him inside towards the stairs, taking the right one, we climb two floors. My-His room is third to the left, 23. He keeps the bag on the ground when we reach the door and asks me for keys. I hand him it and he unlocks the door.

We walk in and he places my bag on the side table and turns the light on, I take in the interior of the room. It is small, with a small bed in the middle and a nightstand adjacent to it. To my right is a door which leads to a dirty bathroom. The windows are covered with pale and torn curtains and there is a small single door closet in the left corner. And I thought it was small.

What else did I expect?

Niall turns around to face me and a small gasp leaves my mouth and I feel my mouth drying up. I feel a tingle in my stomach when I look in his ocean blue eyes. He is tall with broad shoulders and his brunette hair is up in a quiff. He has light stubble over his face, which suits him so much and his eyebrows- Seriously? I ask myself.

"Um- I think I'm gonna leave now. It's already after three," He says, looking at me.

"Yeah." I flash a shy smile. "Thank you so much."

"G'night, Ana." He nods.

"Goodnight Niall."

He walks past me, towards the door, and I stop him. "Niall?" He halts in his tracks and turns to face me. I walk towards him and give him an awkward, small hug as a thank you. A smile creeps up my lips when he hugs me back. "Thank you," I repeat.

"No problem. Sleep well." He offers me a toothy smile and walks out of the door.

I close the door behind him with a smile lingering on my lips. I walk towards my bag and pull out a pair of spandex shorts and a tank top to change into. I use the bathroom, after changing my clothes, and crawl under the sheets by quarter past three.

Resting my head against the pillow, I sigh in contentment. I finally feel free.