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**Chapter 24**

-Niall-

I really dreaded today. It was finally time for me to go home, only this time, my parents would be there with me. They really didn't have to come home. They could've continued to travel Europe to their hearts desired and left me be, doing my own thing. It's time for them to start trusting me with my life. I'm an adult now and accidents happen, but that doesn't mean my parents dreams have to be put on hold because of those accidents.

I pulled out several articles of clothing and laid them across the bed, staring at them. I honestly didn't want to leave, but I didn't want to stay either. I loved staying at Julina's house for long periods of time, but now I don't think her mother trusts me anymore. I can just feel her disappointment radiating off of her when she looks at me, and I can tell Julina feels it too.

There was a light knock at my door before Julina appeared, slowing walking into the room with a suitcase in hand, "You can borrow this if you want so you have something to put your clothes in." she said with a small smile, laying the suitcase on the edge of the bed.

I gave her a smile, "Thanks."

I could tell she didn't want me to leave either. She wouldn't look at me. She just stared off at the suitcase and clothes laying on the bed, "Julina, it's not forever. I'll be back over soon. You know that." I reassured her.

She nodded, "Yeah, you're right. After your grounded for months." she said looking at me then back to where she was staring previously, "It's all my fault again."

I shook my head, "It's not your fault. How could this be your fault?" I asked.

She looked at me, "All of it was my idea so therefore, it's my fault." she said and slowing started turning away to leave. I gently grabbed her by the wrist, stopping her from leaving. She winced and pulled her wrist out of my grasp before turning to look at me. She held her wrist in her other hand with care, like I had hurt her.

I couldn't believe it, "Julina?" I said and looked down at her wrist.

"Leave it alone, Niall." she mumbled and turned away from me again. I grabbed her by her arm this time to avoid touching her fresh cuts and pulled her close to me, engulfing her in a hug.

"I love you, Julina. More than you know." I whispered into her hair. That was all I was going to say to her. I wasn't going to tell her that she shouldn't do it, or that it wasn't helping her. I needed her to feel that I was there for her.

I could hear her slow breathing turn into quiet sobs, "I can't get rid of the voice, Niall. It blames me for everything." she cried. I could feel her body arch as she let her tears soak my shirt. I hadn't seen her cry like this in a long time. She was really hurting.

I rubbed her back soothingly, "Everything will be okay, Julina. I'm here for you. Whenever you need me, I'll always be there for you." I whispered again. She clung to my shirt, and I was really afraid of letting her go.

She picked her head up and let out a small laugh, "I'm sorry, Niall" she mumbled.

I looked down at her, "For what exactly?" I asked, sounding confused.

She nodded towards my shirt, "My mascara smeared onto your shirt. I'm sorry." she said as she wiped underneath her eyes. I looked down at my white shirt that now had black smudges on it.

I smiled, "It's alright, Julina. I'll just put a flannel over it. No big deal." I said, pulling out a blue, black and grey flannel from the pile of clothes on the bed. After slipping the shirt on my body, I stuffed the rest of the clothes into the suitcase and closed it up.

I heard the muffled sound of a car door shutting, causing me to walk to the window. I moved the white curtain aside, noticing my parents in Julina's driveway, "My parents are here." I mumbled to Julina. When I turned back around to look at her, she held a small smile on her face.

She nodded her head towards the door, "C'mon, let's go see your parents." she said and turned to walk out the door. I grabbed the suitcase off the bed and headed downstairs to greet my parents.

When I saw my parents standing in the foyer, I felt a bit nostalgic. I've missed them so much since they have been gone, and even though they shouldn't  have come home, I'm really glad they did. They looked so different from when I last saw them, I almost didn't recognize them. Their hair was lighter and their skin was darker.

"Niall! My baby boy!" my mum said when she noticed me, quickly wrapping me in her arms, "We have been so worried about you. Are you alright?"

I hugged her back, "I'm fine mum, really." I reassured her.

My mum let me go, letting my dad have a chance to hug me as well, "So, are you ready to come home with us, Niall?" my mum asked.

I looked down at the suitcase, then back at my parents, "I guess so. I don't think I forgot anything, but if I did, I'm sure Julina will bring it in for me." I said, looking over at her.

She smiled, "You know I will." she said.

I set the suitcase on the floor and walked over to Julina, hugging her one more time. I didn't want to say anything to her, I just wanted to hug her. I let her go and turned to give her mum a quick hug, "Thank you so much for letting me stay here the past few days. It really meant a lot to me." I said with a warm smile.

Julina's mum smiled sweetly at me, and for the first time in a few days, I didn't feel the disappointment she held towards me and that made me smile more, "You're welcome, Niall. You're always welcome to stay in our home." she said with a light nod.

"Well, we better get going, your mother's got supper on the stove." my dad said. I nodded and grabbed my suitcase. We bid our goodbyes and left her house.

~~~

We ate supper together as a family at the table. Having supper with my parents was never really quiet because my dad was always cracking jokes and my mum would laugh hysterically at them, while I would goof around with them. Tonight's supper felt different, quieter than usual.

My mum cleared her throat, "So Niall, how has school been?" she said, eating a piece of broccoli.

I shrugged, "It's been okay I guess. I'm doing pretty well in all my classes so far."

My mum nodded with a smile, "That's good. I'm very proud of you."

I smiled back, "Thanks." I said, then the room fell silent again. I really wasn't in the mood to eat. Instead I just pushed the food around on my plate to make it look like I was eating.

I looked towards my dad, who was staring down at his plate. He sighed and shook his head lightly, "Dad, are you aright?"

He sighed again, ''No, Niall I'm not."

"Well, what's wrong?" I asked.

He sighed again, "I'm just disappointed Niall. What you did was irresponsible and immature. You know your not supposed to drink. You're not twenty-one yet. It's obvious to us that you still need someone to guide you to do the right thing. Your mother and I feel that you're not ready to be left alone by yourself."

"What? That's ridiculous! What about your traveling?" I asked, dumbfounded by what he was saying.

He shook his head, "That's over with because we still have a son to raise." he said and that comment stung. They don't trust me anymore, and they are going to treat me like a child for the rest of my life. They may never let this go, and they may even hold this over my head for the rest of my life.

I looked down at my plate, pushing it away, "Can I be excused?"

My mum nodded with a frown, "Yes you may." she said.

I quickly got out of the chair and went up to my room, where I could be alone with my racing thoughts.