The Dark Days

Chapter 30

The boys started in awe as I walked across the hall and back to my room.

"You really have a way with him!" Niall exclaimed. I shrugged as I took my seat back at my desk.

"What are you writing?" Zayn pointed to the open notebook I had out.

"That's the poems for this week's issue. You can read it if you like." Eagerly he snatched up the book and read it aloud for Niall's benefit.

"He woke up with a start,

sitting up and breathing hard.

She was here when he fell asleep,

he hadn't imagined this, had he?

She stood outside the door,

listening in and silently crying.

She couldn't be there when he woke,

she was hurting him, wasn't she?

He needed her there with him,

he was terrified of being left alone.

He had dreamed she had left, as usual,

but this time he woke and she was really gone.

She knew he needed her there,

she was hurting him by leaving.

He had these nightmares frequently,

but this time she couldn't soothe him.

He untangled the sheets from his limbs,

he needed to calm down, he needed her.

Scrambling to the door he flung it open,

and there she stood, then she turned and left.

She could hear him wrestling with the sheets,

he couldn't calm down without her help.

The door was flung open and there he stood,

she had to walk away, she can't help anymore."

I was met with two pairs of eyes staring at me, one confused and one concerned.

"What or who is this about? What was your inspiration?" Zayn questioned.

"Personal experience." I mumbled, keeping all details to myself.

"How about we go find some supper to eat?" Niall suggested. Zayn nodded and I gave Niall a grateful, look, grabbing my book out of Zayn's hands.

We walked down to the kitchen completely silent. I had the boys sit at the bar and began cooking spaghetti. As I put on a pot of water for the pasta and began frying the hamburger I started a conversation to ease the tension.

"Sorry I woke you last night." I spoke to both of them.

"Don't worry about it kitten, care to share?" Niall spoke gently, his petname making me smile slightly.

"Well, I was back at my house, and that fight with Noah was happening. Louis woke me up before Noah hit me though." I added the noodles to the water and the sauce to the hamburger while the boys sat quietly.

The noodles were soon done so I drained out the water in the sink and and added them to the meat sauce. Placing four plates on the counter I placed large servings on three and a small amount on my own. After I served Zayn and Niall I placed Louis's plate in the microwave so it would stay warm. I took my plate to the open seat between them.

"If you don't mind my asking, was Noah ever violent toward you before that?" Zayn asked. His question brought Niall's eyes to rest on me as did his own. I focused my attention on my plate and took a few bites.

"Peyton..." Zayn urged gently.

"Yes." A quiet, single word spoken but I had never told anyone before. I had spoken so softly that they weren't sure they had heard correctly, but their suspicions were confirmed when I began crying.

Niall pulled me into a warm hug and I all but fell into his open arms. Thankfully, the stools were close together so we could hug. Zayn's hand was rubbing calming circles on my back while Niall held me and whispered sweet nothings in my ear. The way he spoke like his words were true made me believe everything would be okay and I was safe. I slowly pulled back and sat up facing my plate again.

"Thank you and I'm sorry." I spoke before beginning to eat again.

"You don't need to thank us or apologize, we are here for you." We all continued quietly but the silence was broken all too soon.

"You know you are going to have to tell Louis eventually." Niall's word brought me back to reality.

"I don't have to tell him. I don't want him to know." I couldn't let Louis find out. He would ask to many questions. I don't want to think about and relive what Noah did, but more importantly, he couldn't find out why I stayed instead of saving myself.

"He will find out eventually. You might as well just get it over with and tell Louis." He will find out eventually, but the only way for him to find out would be if one of them told because I'm not going to.

"Tell me what Zayn?" Louis's abrupt entrance made me jump. How much had he heard? I kept my head down as I continued slowly eating.

"Not my story to tell." He spoke vaguely before grabbing his plate and standing.

"There's a plate for you in the microwave." Zayn told Louis as he placed his plate in the dishwasher. He walked over, kissed my cheek, and grabbed his phone.

"Goodbye angel." He whispered as he turned to leave.

Louis took Zayn's newly vacant seat and Niall stood, cleaning his area and placing his dishes in the open spots.

"Goodbye kitten." With a kiss on the cheek he was gone. The sound of their cars driving away filling my ears.

I finished the rest of my meal at about the same time Louis did, and helped him clean up.

"Would you like to watch a movie?" He asked, turning to smile at me. I nodded and followed him to the living room.