spaces « niam

one

Niall was crying and he didn't know why. It was more than likely because of the picture of the beautiful man that sat in front of him, but it could have also been the homework that sat untouched in his backpack. He shoved another handful of food in his mouth and cried some more.

It was nearly time for him to get to school, he knew it. Harry would be ringing for him anytime now. Niall picked up the picture of Liam off of his bed and sat it back down on the dresser where he should have been to begin with. He picked up his bag and left the house.

-

Niall was right, Harry was waiting for him. He was nearly at the point of stomping his feet, too. "I've been waiting for ages!" Harry cried, slinging his bag into Niall's stomach. "Why did you make me wait so long?"

"I'm only twenty minutes later than usual, don't worry," Niall huffed. He was in his usual bad mood, and he would remain there until he got food.

"Twenty minutes longer I had to stand with all these weirdos looking at me." Harry looked around to see if any of them were still staring. Niall snorted. "Do you know what it's like to be by yourself around here? They're like animals, I swear."

This time, Niall laughed out loud, but it wasn't for long. The jock of the school glared over at Niall, and the blonde immediately shut his mouth and looked down.

Harry wanted to stand up for his friend, but there was no use. He wouldn't be much help to Niall if he got himself pummeled to, now would he?

The bell rang before the jock could approach Niall, and he was sure everyone in the hall sighed in relief. It was Monday; no one wanted a fight.

"Tickets come out tomorrow," Harry sang in Niall's ear before skipping off.

-

Niall was in a slightly better mood at lunch, when he next saw Harry. "Are you only happy because I told you about tickets? You can come over to mine and help get them; Mum's letting me skip."

"D'you think she'd let me skip too?" Niall asked hopefully. They both moved up a step in line.

"Why would she not?" Harry snorted. "You stay over nearly all the time anyway. She reckons you might as well move in."

"I should ask my mum about that," Niall said thoughtfully. "Not." His mum was nearly always in a bad mood, and it was better to stay out of her path even when she was in a good one.

"Maybe she'd just tell you to move out and be done with it, you think?" Harry took his plate from the lunch lady with a dazzling smile. Niall was sure he saw her blush.

"I doubt it. I dunno why she makes me stick around, though. It'd just be easier if I left." Niall shrugged and smiled at the lady that gave him his food. She growled back and Niall whimpered.

"I think I could convince her," Harry said proudly. Niall's loud laugh boomed off the walls of the hallway, and many of the twelfth years glared at him.

"Harry, you can hardly convince the teachers you know the right answer. How can you convince my mum to let me move in with you?'' Niall asked with a quieter chuckle.

"Oh, Ms Horan, wouldn't you please let my mum and I take your son off of you? We promise he will be at no harm, and it will be at no cost to you!" Harry said in a smooth voice. It was the one that he used at the grocery store to get the checkout lady to use his mother's old coupons.

"I seriously doubt that will work," Niall muttered into his food. Harry slapped the back of his head, and then both boys were silent for the rest of lunch.

-

The rest of the day was it's usual blur of yawns and "Why do I need to know this?" Niall was ready to cry by the end of math, his last subject of the day. Harry was in his class, too, and the boy kept pointing at his watch and making odd faces at the teacher until Niall was nearly dying of laughter by the time the bell rang.

"Take me home, Harry," Niall gasped dramatically. He fell back into Harry's arms. Harry caught him (luckily) and put Niall back on his own two feet.

"I'll take you to my home, yes." Harry nodded. "But you won't be going back to yours. We need to ask Mum about the whole you moving in business."

"I thought you were joking?" Niall paled. He couldn't move in with Harry. As much as he loved the brunette, Niall just couldn't do it.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Harry looked at him with a straight face. "I want to get you out of that stupid house, Niall. It's horrible for you."

"My mum somewhat ignoring me isn't that bad," Niall muttered into his jacket sleeve. Harry grabbed his hand and pulled him in the direction of his car. "It's better than her acknowledging my existence."

"Niall," Harry said in a warning tone.

"No, not like that!" Niall said quickly. "It's just... I dunno how to explain it."

"If she's doing what she did last time, I'll have her arrested." Harry spoke of the last time Niall had told him of any problems with his mother. At that point, she was calling Niall unspeakable things and pushing him into furniture. It hadn't gotten that bad yet, at least.

"It's not that bad. She just sends me to my room and stuff," Niall lied. He shivered. "Can you turn the heater up? I'm freezing my balls off."

Just like that, conversation went back to normal. Niall's mum was not spoken of again.

•-•

i am sad

my head hurts and all i want is someone to talk to

oh well

g'night, loves

1012 words

8.12.14