Antidote ;Sequel to Kryptonite;

Chapter Four: Coincidence

        "What are you doing here?"

        "I could ask you the same question." The tone of my voice came out harsher than I expected. I shouldn't have been upset at Niall Horan of all people but I was still hurt. Hurt that he didn't warn me that they would leave to go on tour a year ago. He was supposed to be like a brother to me. We had been best buds since we were little and you would think that if you were that close with someone- you would warn them if they were about to get their heart crushed. He was one fifth of the reason I cried my eyes out for months.

        "How about for every question you answer, I'll return the favor. Can we duck into a shop or something? Coffee?" Anxiously, the blonde eyed boy glanced around. His eyes searching for paparazzi or fan girls that could give him away. I nodded as he grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the hotel and down the street. With a strong hold on my suitcase, I fought to keep up with his long stride. "I can't believe I ran into you of all people," his accent was so thick I could barely understand. Before, when we hung out often, I was used to the accent but my memory faded as time progressed. When I spent the time mourning my almost epic love story, I slowly forgot what each boy sounded like and how thick their accents were.

        Once we rounded a corner, Niall hustled me into a small dimly lit coffee shop. He ushered me into a booth in the back as he slid in on the opposite side. "Are you thirsty or anything? Can I get you anything?" I shook my head no and just lookied at him. He looked so much older; the features in his face becoming more defined as he aged. His hair was styled instead of laying flat across his forehead. When he smiled, his white brace-free teeth gleamed. Change. He changed. And I wasn't there. I looked down at my hands as we sat in silence for a short time. He glanced behind his shoulder periodically while I sat pondering. "Well?"

        "Well what?" My voice was hostile but I couldn't help it.

        "Why are you here? In California of all places?"

        Do I tell him? Or do I just get up and leave- never facing his dumb beautiful face again? This was my best friend though, no matter what, he had been there for me except for this past year. None of the boys tried to keep contact. "Why didn't you call?" I completely ignored his question and demanded he answer me first.

        Regret flashed across his features as he reached up and ran a hand through his hair. "I meant to but..." He pressed his lips together, trying to buy himself more time. "It's complicated."

        "Then uncomplicate things."

        "Chriss-"

        "Do not call me Chrissy." I spat with such hatred that I surprsied myself. That nickname was not welcomed anymore.

        "I'm sorry... Christina. It's just- multiple things. We've been busy, and I didn't want to hurt you more and I didn't want to go behind Harry's back... You know?"

        "Excuses. Pathetic excuses, Niall. Do you not under-" I paused and leaned in, lowering my voice. "Do you not understand what you put me through? To leave and not send even a single text message saying sorry or something? I was your best friend. Or so I thought but best friends don't do what you did to me."

        "I wasn't allowed to- okay?"

        "Allowed to? Are you five again? Who and why wouldn't they allow you to talk to me?"

        "Simon. Listen Christina, he just wanted to cut off the fake dating stunt before things got complicated. He was obviously too late because you had developed feelings and he didn't want things to get messy. Simon didn't want bad publicity if everyone found out the beloved relationship was all a big hoax. So, he put an end to it and made us stop contacting you. I'm sorry Christina."

        "You kept in contact with Abigail." Niall went rigid, his eyes widening as he realized he was caught. "This is pathetic. I can't believe I had to run into you."

        "Why did you? Why are you?"

        "Why are you?"

        "Why can't you answer my question?"

     "Because you don't deserve it, Niall. You lost me the second you left me at the studio. Our friendship was ruined."

        "This is one of the last stops on the tour. We play a few more shows around this area. I think it was fate though that we ran into each other out of all the places in the world. There has to be a reason that we were placed into the Renaissance Hotel instead of a nicer one." Niall's big eyes poured into me, begging me to agree with him. I put on a cold expression and crossed my arms. I wasn't about to put myself through this again.

        "No. It was pure coincidence."

        "I don't think so. Maybe this is our second chance to make things right. I really am sorry with how things ended and I wish I could go back in time to fix it all."

        "No. Just- no. No second chances. None of you deserve one for what you did to me. Every single one of you could have given me a heads up and fair warning that I was about to get my heart broken the second I walked into that studio. Have fun on the rest of your tour, Niall. It was nice knowing you."

        "Wait- please, Christina-" Niall reached out to me, trying to push me back into the booth.

        "If you don't let me leave peacefully, I will make a scene and Simon will get the publicity he never wanted." With the final warning, he let me go. His expression full of confusion.

        "You changed..."

        "You made me change." I wasn't weak anymore. I wasn't Christina Greenwell, the girl who let anyone walk over her. Now I was Christina Greenwell, the independent girl who takes no bullshit. "Farewell Niall." With my chunky suitcase in my hand, I held my head high and walked out of that coffee shop. I was strong, I reminded myself. It was okay to be mean because they had all hurt me.

        But was it really all of them? Did I really have to be so bitter?

        I tried to push each question out of my head but the longer it took to walk back to the hotel, the more I questioned my actions. I just hope for my sake I never see another member of One Direction again.

        I was here for one thing and nothing was going to stop that.