Ditto || l.p

Ch.36- setting free

-Liam-

As I paced back and forth in front of Niall, I gripped my hair in my hands and huffed angrily. "I just-I don't know what to do Niall. How do I fix this?"

"There isn't anything you can do, Liam. It isn't your fault, and it certainly isn't her fault. There's no one to blame," he shrugged slightly, but at least acted like he was concerned. I doubted he was that much, though.

"No, there is," I shook my head and stopped pacing, turning to face him. "They did this. The 'fans', they're destroying her, Niall."

"Not all of them-"

"Enough of them! You know how fragile she is! I can't keep her off of those sites and it's breaking her down, she's not herself anymore." I bit back tears, thinking of the horrible things that might happen if I let this go on much longer.

"You need to talk to her, then. Convince her that she doesn't need to see it-"

Cutting Niall off again, I said, "I've tried! She's promised so many times but she keeps going back, and I can't be angry with her because I do it too."

"Do..what?" he asked softly, his face paling a bit. I shook it off and began pacing again.

"I'm so tired of her being hurt," I sighed and plopped down next to Niall on the sofa, rubbing my hands over my face. "I never should have let her get involved with me."

"You couldn't control that, Liam. You two fell for each other, you can't stop those feelings from happening. It's just how it works, whether you like it or not."

"She's not safe anymore, Niall," I whispered. Tears were lining my eyes, daring to fall down my face, but I somehow held them back. "There's so many people that-that want her..d-dead.."

"I know, I know," Niall sighed and shook his head, clapping me on the back. "There's just nothing you, or anyone can do."

"Theres..there's one thing.." I mumbled, but I wasn't going to get even close to saying what it was out loud. I couldn't stand the thought of it.

"You need to rest," Niall shook his head and stood up from the sofa. I knew he knew what I was thinking, and it obviously didn't appeal to either of us.

"No, I promised her I wouldn't sleep until she got back," I shook my head and sat up straight. "I don't break promises."

"She'll understand, Li-"

"No."

"Alright, alright. Sorry," he held up his hands in surrender and took one step backwards.

Just then I heard loud knocks on the hotel room door and I was there in a split second, opening it and revealing a distressed looking Ashley. My eyes widened at her appearance; blood dripping from her nose, holes in her shirt, and a cut above her left eye.

"Oh, Liam," she mumbled and fell into my arms, hugging me close. I immediately hugged her back, kissing the top of her head.

"What happened to you?" I asked quietly, but was cut off by someone shouting down the hall.

"There she is!" I heard, then the sound of many people running down the hall. Ashley shoved passed me and ran into the room, jumping behind the sofa and peaking above the top of it.

"Cl-close the door!" She whisper-shouted, and I quickly slammed it shut, just as people began pounding away on it, shouting at us to let them in.

"What's going on? Who are those people? What happened to you? And where's Harry?" I bombarded Ashley with questions, kneeling on the sofa and staring down at her cowering figure.