Chapter 17
===================================================================================
Something cool was brushing against the side of my lips. My eyes fluttered open. I couldn't recall what happened last night. A fuzzy figure moved in and out from my vision. My mind raced to comprehend what was happening through my distorted eyesight. I tried to get up but my upper body seemed to have stiffen. A hand stroke through my hair gently, calming me with a song though I couldn't really hear since my ears were still ringing.
I lay there for approximately ten minutes, recollecting myself till I recovered from my situation. 'Niall!' He looked startled from my sudden outburst. He fresh face hovered a few inches above mine, holding a wet cloth. I guessed I was on a sofa. 'What are you doing?' I tried to sit myself up but failed. 'How did you get in here?' I demanded.
'You left the key in the lock. Found you lying on the floor.' Niall informed me. 'Zayn told me everything. Come to think about it, how did you manage to trip yourself up so badly?' He referred to my wounds on my arms, knees and a red mark around my neck which I suppose he tried his best to fix. 'Anyway I was just wiping off the blood from your lips.' He dabbed the cloth at the edge of my mouth.
I watched him with much amusement. He was really cute when he was focused. He would scrunch up a side of his cheek and his tongue would poke out occasionally. I think I was too busy studying features to realised he was done cleaning me up.
'What are you looking at?' Niall raised an eyebrow at me. I could feel my cheeks burning. I hoped I wasn't blushing too much. I stammered, unable to answer as he stared intensely into my eyes and I couldn't help staring back at his beautiful bright blue ones. His warm breath caressed my cheek as he let out a small laugh. I knew he was getting closer. His nose brushed against mine and my gaze dropped to his soft pink lips. If either one of us tilts our chin up, then we would be-
No, no, no, no. 'Niall,' My lips were only an inch from his. 'I think we're too close.' I placed my hands on his shoulders and pushed him back gently.
'Yeah, sorry.' Niall sat back up, clearing his throat. It hurt me to see the disappointment in his eyes. I do like him, I really do. He's really cute and funny and sweet, but I just didn't think I wanted to be in a relationship, not when my whole life is a mess. 'I should get you to the hospital.' He pulled out his phone and dialed the number.
'No!' I almost yelled as I yanked the phone out of his hand. 'I mean, no...' I lowered my voice. 'Sorry...I just don't like hospitals.' I disconnected the line.
'Why won't you go?' Niall wore a look of annoyance. 'Everytime I see you, you're in some distressed state! Something is very wrong with you, I don't know what, and you refuse to talk, but I have a bad feeling about. Let's be rational about it, the doctors can help you. Zaria, stop being so stubborn.'
'And I keep telling you, there's nothing wrong with me. I'm just exhausted. Okay? See, all fine.' I forced myself to sit up without making a face, though the pain was excruciating. I heard him curse under his breath which made me frown. 'Let's just watch a show.' I quickly changed the topic.
Niall gave in and switched on the TV. He sat himself down beside me and flipped through the channels. 'Nope. Definitely not...worse even...boring...no...no...' He muttered to himself as he went through the programs. 'Seen it more than I need to...nada...AAARRGH!' He groaned in frustration, his cheeks turning pink. 'You know what, just eat your BLT.' He tossed me a foot long sandwich wrapped with the Subway paper.
'Food!' I tore away the wrapping. 'Wait, go back. The BBC channel. Yes! Merlin. When is season 5 coming out?' I probably sounded whiny but I had to watch the repeated episodes all over and all over again just cause it was my favourite TV drama. 'Colin Morgan is so cute! That's the name, right? The one as young Merlin himself. I heard he's from Ireland too.'
Niall grunted for some reason. 'But he's too old for you.' He pouted.
'I know, just saying. Did the green-eye monster come out? Don't worry buddy, I love all the Irish.' I messed up his tuft of blonde hair. 'You're cute too.'
'Okay, okay.' He smiled and took my hands in his. I couldn't help feeling slightly irritated when the front door swung open and John burst in with a rolled up magazine in his hand.
'Zaria!' John practically sang my name, waving the magazine in my face but stopped at gestured a finger at Niall and I. 'What's this?' He raised a suspicious eyebrow. 'Is something going on? Not to be rude, Niall, but what are you doing here? Is she alright?' He turned to me. 'Zaria, you're not sick, are you?'
'I'm fine. It's fine.' I reassured him. 'Niall, uh he was just dropping by to er...pick up something he left behind the last time. So what was it you wanted to tell me?'
'So you ARE fine? You better be. Cause you've got a date tomorrow.' John said with excitement, doing a little happy dance.
'WHAT?!' Niall and I yelled simultaneously.
'Tada!' He flashed the cover of the magazine. 'See? See?' He pointed numerous times at my picture on the bottom corner of the page. 'You can thank me anytime.'
'Thank you?'
'Well, you're welcome!'
'Thank you?! John!' I had no words as I snatched the magazine out of his hand. I read those words over and over again. "Win a date with Zaria Loyt!". 'What the freaking hell is this for? You can't just make decisions without my approval. Since when did I not become in charge of what I do? I can't even control my own life, is that it?!' Out of anger, I tore the magazine into half. With all the blood rushing through my head, the pain came back, driving me over the edge of my sanity. I collapsed onto the couch. 'Sorry, I just need things to settle.'
'She won't go.' Niall said firmly. 'I refuse to let her. It's against her wishes as to mine.' Technically, he don't have any rights to get involve in my private business but I appreciated his concern over me. At least there was him to back me up.
'Zaria, I apologize but I can't disappoint the winner. The contest has been going on for weeks now. I'm really sorry. Can you bear for just a day? My intentions were pure, to boost your popularity.' John told me with sincerity.
'What more attention does she need?!' Niall's cheeks glowed bright pink. 'She's like a British Taylor Swift for crying out loud! She needs a long break, away from the spotlight. Look at her!' They turned to look at me just as my face wore an expression of exhaustion. I suppose everything Niall said were the words from my heart that I've never told anyone. I wanted to be the old me, Althea Carlsleigh Lai Na.
'It's done...' John threw his hand up in exasperation. 'Sorry, can't do anything.'
Niall was still furious I could nearly imagine steam coming out from his ears. He walked past John, glaring at him, grabbed his coat and left.
'That went well...' I said to myself. 'Forget it, John. I'll go on that..."date" tomorrow but you must promise me not to decide on anything without my permission. Okay? No hard feelings. Now, I just want to be alone.' I couldn't explain why I preferred solitude. John nodded and left as well.
Finally! I let out a shrill scream into the pillow. My head was a fire pit full of nasty stinging scorpions. The wetness feeling that I had on my head, later I found out was blood when I checked myself in the mirror. The world seemed to spin around me and my legs were shaking like Jell-O. Too much drama. I slid down to the floor with my back against the cold concrete wall as black spots danced across my eyes.
===================================================================================
YOU ARE READING
The Letter Of My Story (One Direction)
Fanfiction...I woke up not knowing who I was, where I was or why I was in that state. I found myself running away from the world, constantly hiding. Sometimes, I see things, which usually normal people don't see. It was so bizarre. Five amazing boys lifted th...