I know I have no right to ask you anything…
Niall woke up the next morning with a horrible pounding in his head. He groaned and pressed the heel of his hand against his forehead. All of a sudden, the blanket shielding him from the light was pulled away. Sunlight streamed in through the window.
“What the fuck?” he moaned, rolling over. His stomach churned.
“Get up,” a female’s voice snapped. He opened one eye. Meaghan was standing beside his bed with her arms crossed. Louis, Liam, and Zayn flanked her. Niall propped himself up against his elbow. “What the hell did you do last night, Niall?”
Niall closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I…I…can I talk to Leah, please?”
“No.” Meaghan brought herself up to her full height. “Absolutely no way in hell am I going to let you anywhere near Leah.”
He looked down, ashamed, and fiddled with the edge of his blanket. “Are you going to tell her?”
There was a pause before Meaghan answered. “No, because you’re going to tell her. She’s waiting out in the corridor.”
Niall's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to say something, but no sound would come out. He shook his head in horror.
Meaghan snorted disdainfully. “Don’t tell me you expected to get away with this. You cheated, Niall, and that has consequences.”
“I can’t lose her.” Niall's voice broke and tears welled up in his eyes, spilling over. “I love her too much.”
“Listen, mate, you have to be honest with Leah,” Zayn advised. “Whether or not to leave you is going to be her decision.”
The blonde buried his face in his hands and let out a sob. “I was drunk and not thinking properly.” He looked back up to see Leah standing next to Liam, who had his arm braced around her shoulders.
“Can I have a moment with him?” Leah requested. “Alone?”
Everyone agreed and left the two by themselves. Leah broke the tense silence.
“Did you cheat on me, Niall?” she asked bluntly.
“I’m so sorry,” he breathed, burying his face in her neck. “I was drunk, I wasn’t thinking…”
“No, you weren’t.” She was calm enough to raise Niall’s hopes a bit.
“Will you take me back?” Niall whispered meekly.
Leah thought for a moment before shaking her head. “No, I won’t. I still care about you, but I can’t trust you anymore.”
Niall closed his eyes and took a shaky breath. Tears streamed freely down his pale cheeks. “I made a mistake. I promise it won’t happen again.”
Leah felt her resolve breaking. How could she break up with him? “I’m sorry, Niall. I can’t be with someone I don’t trust.” She got up and felt along the wall until she reached the door.
“I love you, Leah,” Niall whispered incredibly softly. It was the first time he’d said that to her, and by the tone of his voice, she knew he that he meant it. When she hesitated at the door, he repeated himself.
