End Up Here [Niam]

Today, Evening

I felt somebody shaking me, disturbing me from my slumber. I want to stay like this forever, I am so comfortable. “Liam?” I opened my eyes and found a blonde haired blue eyed boy leaning over me. He was trying his best to smile but the cut on his lips stretched and I could tell it hurt him. “Louis says supper is ready.”

“Are you hungry?” I wasn’t too hungry but if Niall was, I would go with him.

He shrugged. “It sounds like they were working on it the whole afternoon and you can tell it is delicious by smelling it.”

I sniffed around and my mouth watered. I sat up and rubbed my eyes, my body wanting to go back to bed but my stomach was beginning to protest. Niall was in front of me now and he holds out his hand, waiting for me to take it. I look at him and smile, taking his hand.

We went downstairs and I noticed that it was dark outside and the only light in the house was in the kitchen. We followed that light, we didn’t bother turning on any as we walked in complete darkness and we found the others sitting around the table. There were two extra seats, meant for us and plates for all of us. I pulled out the seat for Niall and sat down beside him. The food looked and smelt delicious but I looked over my shoulder and found the counters a mess and random pans and pots were everywhere.

“Don’t worry.” Zayn said, putting a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll clean it up.”

“This is great.” Niall said as he slurped his soup.

All of us started eating our soup and despite it being hot I was finished with five – fork - fulls. I guess I was really hungry. I grabbed the next plate in front of me and scarfed it down. Niall giggled beside me and reached up to wipe the side of my mouth. I blushed. When we all finished, Louis got up and took our plates and rinsed the plates, placing them in the sink. Zayn followed close behind and went to the fridge. I watched as he took out a cake and Louis got out plates and forks. Who was the cake for? I began feeling guilty for forgetting somebody’s birthday and it was then when I saw what was written on the cake. It was for me, it said Happy Birthday Liam. I completely forget it was my birthday today.

“I don’t know what to say.” I said as I looked at them.  

All of them smiled and they started singing happy birthday. I felt a hand slip into mine and I looked at Niall who simply smiled. I didn’t know how to react as they lit the candles and placed the cake in front of me. They dimmed the lights and when they finished singing I just stared at the cake.

“Come on,” Zayn began. “Before the candles fully melt. Before we’re old men with grey beards.”

“Li?” I looked at Harry who looked at me worriedly. “What’s wrong?”

My eyes began to burn and I blinked back the tears that were threatening to come out. I looked at Niall. He looked worried, he tried to grin but even that couldn’t make me feel any better. “Excuse me.” I said, getting up and leaving the room.

I shouldn’t be happy, despite that it is my birthday but not while I felt like this.

I ran up to my room and I locked the door. I crawled under the sheets and I just let go. The tears coming out like a waterfall.

No, I can’t be happy. I shouldn’t. I don’t want to feel like that when what happened to Niall is possibly the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me. What happened to Niall could have been worse, he might have had a broken bone, internal bleeding or worse he could have been killed.

There’s a knock on the door and I begin to debate if I should open the door or not until I heard Niall’s voice. “Li, it’s me.” I rushed to the door and swung it open. He was holding a piece of cake; it had a lit candle on top. “I brought your desert.” He whispered. “You still need to blow out your candle. It doesn’t become official until you do.”

I leaned in and blew it out.

I stepped to the side and let him in. I watched as he sat down at the foot of my bed and I walked over and sat down beside him. “Thank you.” I said taking the plate. “No fork?”

“All of your utensils were used.” He said, with a sheepish smile.

I used my fingers and I took a bite. “Was it store bought?”

He shrugged. “It’s a little stale isn’t it?”

I laughed and nodded. I put the plate on my bed side table and sucked the icing off my fingers. “I forgot it was my birthday.” I admitted truthfully. Who forgets their freaking birthday?

“With how busy our schedule is, I’m not surprised.” He grinned and I returned it. I froze when I saw him lean in and I didn’t know what to do. His lips pressed against my cheek as he pulled something out of his pocket. It was a bar of chocolate. “I didn’t know what to get you.”

I grinned. The spot he kissed felt tingly and warm. “You didn’t have to.”

“Well, you’re my best mate and I would be a jerk if I didn’t get you anything.” I took the chocolate bar and opened it. I broke off half and gave it to him. He took it and we sat there in silence enjoying our chocolate. In the corner of my eye, I saw him look at me and I pretended to read the wrapper. “Li?” He whispered.

I kept my eyes on the wrapper, afraid to look up. “Yeah?”

“Are you okay?”

I looked at him and for just a split moment I forgot the bruises and the cuts on his face. “I’m fine.” I stuttered.

“I meant” he paused “are you fine with happened?”

I bit my cheeks angrily and buried my face in my hands. No I am not Niall. How could you ask me that? I just can’t forgive myself. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I shrugged it off and turned my back to him. He grabbed my shoulders and I tried to push him away. He wrapped his arms around me and held me tightly. “Please.” I begged.

“Liam.” He whispered into my ear. “It happened, there’s nothing you could do about it.”

“Please.” My arms began to fail me. “Get off.”

He didn’t. He just held me and suddenly we were lying down and I fell asleep.