End Up Here [Niam]

Twelve in the Afternoon

Present day

Niall was once again asleep on the passenger seat, his head awkwardly craned back. I pulled in the driveway and I turned off the vehicle. We just came back from the police station and Niall had been exhausted. He was cranky when I woke him up so I had to carry him to the car. Now I sat there in silence and stared straight ahead. How could this happen to my poor Niall? Who would have the heart to hurt someone so pure?

It happened yesterday and I was being lazy at home. I had been the first to leave the studio because it had been a long day and I was extremely exhausted. Niall and I were texting back and forth while I worked around my new apartment. I had just recently moved in. It had two rooms; I thought it would be convenient if one of the boys decided to crash for the night. A kitchen obviously, two washrooms connected to each large bedroom and a humongous living room. It was a spur of the moment decision to buy a new place after Danielle and I broke it off. It was still close to the boys, a ten minute ride from theirs – depending on the traffic or somebody chooses to walk.

Niall was a huge help after the break up. He always stayed by my side and never asked about it until I brought it up. He was my shoulder and too bad he would never know how I truly felt about him. That was the one of the reasons why I broke things off with Danielle. I loved her but I wanted someone else and he was bleached blonde.

Back to the incident, Niall had texted saying he was coming and that he was hungry but they were stuck in the building because there were a huge swarm of fans outside. I don’t know what happened but I guess they decided to toughen it out and go on ahead. All I really know is that as a joke Niall had run off and when he had, they lost him. It took them twenty minutes to find him and when they had, Niall was bruised and bloody. They found him awake and when they tried to get him to talk; he would not say a word. They rushed him to the hospital and I got a call from a frantic Louis.

When I made it to the hospital, I couldn’t go in. I did not want to see him because I didn’t know what to expect. I heard the boys talking inside the room and Zayn opened the door while I had a war inside my head, fighting if I should open the door or not. I didn’t want to go in but I knew I had to. I was just scared. I did not want to look at him. I had to force myself to. Both of his eyes were swollen, his lips were busted and every part of his body was bruised. His shirt clothes were tattered, he was covered in dirt and he just looked scared and white as a sheet.

“Li?” I snapped out of my trance and I looked over to Niall. “What are we doing here?”

“I was just about to wake you up.” I said as I unbuckled my seat belt. I got out and ran to Niall’s side and helped him out. We went inside and I made him sit down on the couch. He began to protest of the dirt he was trailing but I ignored him. “It’s fine.” I said and helped him take off his shoes. He winced when I helped him take off his coat and I grabbed the remote to the TV and gave it to him. “Do you want anything to eat?”

“I’m not hungry.” He put the remote down and stared at the black screen. I honestly can’t tell you how I should react. I wasn’t sure if I should sit down and talk to him about it or wait until he is ready to come and speak to me. Waiting seemed the better option but I want to know who did this to Niall. He had not said a word to the police and in a yes or no question; he would either nod or shake his head. What am I supposed to do? I can’t even help my best friend. 

Come on Liam, talk to him.

I walked to the kitchen silently cursing to myself and pulled out my phone.

‘Lou?’

Immediately after I sent the text, he replied. ‘Is he okay?’ I could almost imagine the anxiety behind the text.

‘I don’t know what to do.’ I replied. I pulled myself up on the counter and waited impatiently for him to reply.

It began to ring and I rushed out the back so Niall wouldn’t hear the conversation. “Lou?”

“Is he okay?” he repeated the question.

“I don’t know. I can’t tell.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“He’s blank, he barely talks and when I took him to the police station-” I pulled at my hair.

“I thought we were all going with him.” He said.

“I’m sorry, I just thought he would-” I stopped.

“What?”

“Please Louis,” I begged. “I’m sorry and I’m panicking. I honestly don’t know what to do.”

“Okay, calm down. Do you want us to come over?”

“That would be great.” I nodded and I stopped pacing back and forth.

“He’s closest to you, Li.”

“I don’t know what to say to him, Lou.”

“Just pretend that it’s any other day, ask him if he wants to play some cards or some Xbox.”

“I can’t do that, that’s too hard.”

“Why not?”

“I can’t pretend nothing happened when the proof is one his face!” I snapped.

There was a pause on the other line. I kneelt down and pulled at my hair. I let out a small whimper and pushed back my tears. “Are you done?” There was an edge to his voice and I felt guilty.

I don’t know why I’m acting like this. “I’m sorry, that was taken too far.”

“We’ll be there in about ten minutes, make him something to eat or something.”

“Lou, I’m serious I’m sorry.” I sighed.

I hear him sigh “ten minutes” and he hanged up.

I pressed the end button and went back inside. I walked to the living room. Niall was lying down, head rested on his jacket and he looked up when I came in. I suddenly had a brilliant idea. I kneelt down in front of him and reached up to push back his hair from his eyes. I stared into his blue eyes and tried to smile. “You want to make smoothies?” I said with a hopeful lift in my voice.