Light On {Niam Love Story}

Twelve- [Part Two]

A/N: So, I know I told you this would be up sooner, but...Nah. It didn't happen. I had to work on my other stories, and my stupid Health project, and...blah. I was also on vacation with my friends, and that was pretty exciting. But, you get it now, and that's better than nothing, aye? The song for this chapter is Intensity In Ten Cities by Chiodos. Oh, and because I love shameless self-promo, I have a Ziall story based off that song, so you should check it out. -dead- I'm kidding, though. This is dedicated to 'Sincerelywithlove' because she's really supportive of my writing, and I really, really appreciate it. So, um...I think that's it? Enjoy. x

"Your head is full of words, full of words that don't mean anything."

Liam stayed quite late that night.

Visiting hours were over at midnight, and it was currently nine. The boys were gone - Harry and Zayn went back to the hotel; Harry because he was tired, and Zayn because he claimed he had a killer headache. Louis was going to stay until he was forced to go; but, at the moment, he was downstairs getting himself and Liam some food.

Niall was still a sleep - chest rising and falling slowly, matching Liam's breaths. His skin was a pale, chalky color, almost like a ghost. He was small and frail - like he would crumble to dust if you laid a single finger on him.

Liam looked worse.

His hair was tangled and snarled - he wouldn't  be surprised if he found rats hidden in the mop he called his hair. Dark circles were under his eyes, and he looked almost as pale as Niall did. He hadn't moved an inch since he planted himself in the chair next to Niall's sickeningly white hospital bed. He hadn't eaten a bite, hence the reason Louis was gone at the moment, nor had he gone to the restroom - he would hold it in until Niall was awake, safe, and happy.

But, that might take a while - so, he settled for awake.

"Niall, baby..." Liam muttered, taking Niall's weak hand in his own. "You need to wake up...we need you. I need you..."

Niall didn't even twitch.

Liam sighed, and nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard the door close behind him. He whipped around angrily, only to face a shaking Louis. There was a huge, red stain on his shirt that hadn't been there before. He was empty-handed.

"I-I drop-pped the dr-r-rink-ks," he stuttered, before collapsing to the ground - a sobbing mess. Liam  suddenly felt awkward as he whispered,

"Lou?"

At the sound of a voice, Louis pulled himself off of the group, and furiously wiped at his stinging eyes. Yet more tears poured. He held out his arms, and Liam was confused for a few seconds. But, he got the message, and stepped into his mate's arms - gently yet awkwardly holding Louis as he cried. Louis never broke - ever.

"Hey, Lou..." Liam mumbled, shifting as Louis cried into his shirt. "Um...uh, is everything, like, okay? You, uh, seem upset."

Well, duh.

Louis shook his head, and pulled back, "I'm sorry..."

Liam just shrugged, and took his seat once more. He may not seem like it, but Liam wasn't all that great at talking to people - not when they cried, at least. And seeing Louis, of all people, upset was downright horrifying. Almost as bad as seeing Niall cry - well, not really, but Liam still felt bad for the poor lad.

~-~-~

When Josh found out Niall was in the hospital, he called Harry over.

While he was waiting, however, the guilt was eating him alive. He felt like, somehow, this was all his fault. If he had told the boys what happened, what he knew of it at least, Niall could have gotten some help.

But he couldn't betray one of his best mates that way, could he? 

When you got right down to it, however, this wasn't betrayel. He was trying to help him. He had already let this go on too long. He should have never agreed to keep this a secret. He couldn't get the image of Niall, battered and bruised, out of his mind - no matter how hard he tried. He almost fainted the first time Niall ended up in the hospital - due to cutting, of course.

 By the time the doorbell rang, Josh had nearly bitten off his fingers from chewing on his nails for so  long.

He opened it slowly, and Harry's smile disappeared the second he saw that Josh was upset, "Hey, mate. Is something wrong?"

Shudders rippled throughout Josh's body, "Um...it's about Niall..."

Harry was all ears now.

Josh shut the door, and led Harry to the living room. He reached out a trembling hand, took a quick drink of his Peace Tea to clear his throat, and stared into Harry's anxious eyes for a couple seconds. He coughed.

"So, uh, do you remember that day you guys went clubbing? Before the day of the meeting; when Niall stormed out?" he asked, wringing his hands the entire time. Harry thought for a couple seconds, before nodding his head ever so slightly - scared of what was about to happen. "Well, that night, Niall called me. He, er, told me to come pick him up from the club..."

"But," Harry interrupted. "You told us Niall called you when he got home?"

Josh shook his head, "I lied. But, that's not the point. When I got there, Niall was...hurt. He was all bloody - he couldn't even walk in a straight line. He, um, told me not to tell you guys..."

Harry just stared for a few seconds, letting it all sink in.

He shook his head, curls flopping violently, "So, then...what happened? I mean, like, why was he hurt and all?"

"I don't know," Josh spoke, voice cracking. "He didn't say..."

Harry got angry then, "So, you just lied to us, about Niall's fucking safety? Me, the boys, Simon, Bronson...you lied to ALL of us!"

"It's not like that," Josh blurted. "I was scared, and so was Niall."

"That doesn't matter!" Harry exploded. He hadn't recalled the last time he had been this mad. "Niall is hurting, and you kept it a secret?! Josh, he needs help! He needs to tell us what happened! But, he can't - since it was a damn secret!"

Josh trembled, "But...I wasn't even keeping it a secret very long..."

Harry threw his hands in the air in frustration, "Josh!"

He had more important things to worry about than arguing with Josh, Harry realized. He snatched his keys from his pocket, stormed out of the flat, and sped towards the hospital.

He had to talk to Niall.