Stay with Me || Ziall Horlik

Chapter Two [Maybe I know deep in my soul]

It happens like this;

Niall sees Harry in what appears to be a mirror. It's as if the two of them are looking at each other, Harry holding onto Niall for dear life, the two of them wearing nothing but pajama pants. Harry's got a hole on the side of his and he's wearing his slippers that look just as worn out. Harry kisses the back of Niall's neck, allowing his lips to linger for a while as Niall squirms under his touch.

Harry looks up through his lashes at Niall, his velour green eyes so innocent, but somehow, deceiving. They've done this once before, right before Harry left Niall all alone, it's one of the only memories that Niall can seem to keep a tight grip on, Harry whispers something in Niall's ear that Niall doesn't quite catch, until he repeats it once again.

"Niall, I have to say goodbye." Harry says deeply. Continuing to stare at Niall in the mirror. His eyebrows are furrowed together now, and Niall can feel the tears spring to his eyes. "No haz-"

It's not exactly a nightmare per say, but it's enough.  Niall sits up, gasping as he wakes up from the awful dream.

He's confused and disorientated, sweat covering his entire body and tears begin to stream down his cheeks, he is all alone in his apartment and suddenly a wave of sadness hits him. He can't stand being alone. This may of been he and Harry's apartment but it isn't anymore, he has to leave, he has to get out of here.

Niall quickly gets up, wincing as he hits the cold floor, he is wearing only a pair of boxers. He's not really sure if they are even his, but at this point it doesn't really matter. Niall quickly makes his way to the closest in the dark, the air is actually quite cool on his skin but for some odd reason he is still sweating. 

Niall fumbles around in the dark, searching for something he can wear, after a few minutes of cursing under his breath and smelling things so that he can place which are (somewhat clean and the ones that really need to be washed.) He settles on a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt he hasn't the slightest idea where it came from.

He grabs his mobile and his tooth brush before he decides that it's time to leave. The cactus that he has in the corner in his window can survive for a long while without him. He really isn't needed here.

He did have a gold fish right after Harry passed away but Ed saw that he was neglecting it, so he took him to his apartment and came back with the cactus for him. "Here, have Joshua, he can keep you company, he's also a great listener that one." Ed said smirking at Niall.

That had been one of the few times that entire month that Niall laughed. Ed was one of the few friends that Ed felt grateful to have, not because he sympathized with him but because he just treated him the same, and often tried to make him leave the flat. Even if it was just to the supermarket to get a few items that he knew Niall needed.

Things were different now, Ed was often away because of his music, so he didn't see him that often anymore. The fish was being taken care of by the girl in apartment 3B, Ed hadn't even bothered to ask Niall, which once again made Niall feel like he was useless.

Not that it mattered, Niall could of tried his hardest but he wouldn't of been able to keep a close eye on the damn thing, he's got so much on his mind already. Niall fumbled for his keys, hoping he had placed them in his pocket before he shut the door, when he found them he locked his flat with shaky hands.

Niall wasn't really sure how long he intended on staying away, just long enough to the point that he didn't find himself wishing he was dead. Or when the Cactus was dead. That was surely enough time.

As soon as Niall got into his car, he found himself driving far away, at first he was going to go to the same place he always went to when he was upset, but he missed the turn, and it was intentional. He didn't want to see Harry or touch flower petals. He wanted warmth, and human interaction. Something he never thought he would want again.

That's how he found himself at Louis' and Liam's flat. His toothbrush and mobile in one hand, his car keys in the other. He hadn't seen them in over a month, which was quite rare, but he had gone off on them the last visit they made. So both Louis and Liam thought they would give him the space he needed.

If you asked Niall why he yelled at his two best friends in the whole wide world he couldn't tell you. He's not really sure what happened in the first place, he just hopes that they'll forgive him and let Niall sleep on the couch they have.

"What the fuck do you-" Louis opened the door, squinting eyes and fluffy slippers. When he finally got the sleep out of his eyes, he quickly pulled Niall inside. Giving him a tight hug. 

"Tea then?" Liam asked, wearing his pajama's as well, Liam let out a loud yawn before he began to grab mugs out of the cabinet. 

Niall hadn't thought of checking the time, it could of been two of the morning and here he was knocking on the door, waking up his friends because he was scared of his bloodyapartment. "I'll get you a fresh set of clothes." Louis said placing a kiss on Niall's forehead. 

Niall looked down at his clothes, that were wet from the rain, he hadn't played the slightest attention while he stood outside waiting for Louis and Liam to open the door. Was he really that out of it?

In a few short minutes, Niall was clean clothed and had a mug of tea in his hand without any questions asked. He had been such an ass to this entire time, but they still took care of him.

When they were done with their tea, they all climbed into Liam's bed. Niall in the middle. Louis on his left, Liam on his right, holding him together like they always did. 

Knowing that if he didn't have the two of them, he would really be falling apart.

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thoughts, and opinions would be nice.

ily, chloe xx