Seeing Blind |NH|

Chapter Twenty Seven

"You okay, babe?" I asked, placing my hand on Melissa's leg.

"Yeah," she said softly.  "Just tired."

"Me too.  I'm beat."

We didn't speak for the remainder of the drive home.  When we got there, I saw Esta's car was already parked in her space.  Melissa and I walked in and saw the two of them waiting on the elevator. 

Esta jumped when she noticed us standing beside them.  I looked at her eyes and they were red.

"Esta, are you okay?" I asked.

"She's fine, Niall." Jace said, matter-of-factly.

"She doesn't look fine."

"Well, she is."

I looked at her but she refused to look in my direction.  "Esta...are you okay?" I asked, again.

"I said she's fine," Jace snapped.  "I can take care of her."

The elevator dinged and the doors opened.  All four of us got on to the elevator.  Melissa reached for my hand as we stood there.  I looked over at her and she looked a bit sullen.  "You okay?"  I whispered.  She only nodded.

When the doors flew open again on our floor. Melissa and I went ahead of Jace and Esta.  When we got to my door, they were still standing by the elevator.  Esta had her arms crossed and she looked like she was about to cry again.

"Fucking asshole," I mumbled, as I unlocked my door and swung the door open.

"Leave them alone, Niall," Melissa said as she walked past me and into the apartment.  I took one more look down the hallway before entering and shutting the door.  I stood by the door for a minute until I heard them both approach and her door unlock, open, and shut again. 

I dropped my keys on the side table and kicked off my shoes.  As I made my way back to my bedroom, I started to say, "Please tell me you saw that out there, right?  She had clearly been crying, right?  And the way he spoke to me just for asking her if she was okay?  Tell me you saw that, Mel--"  I stopped.  Having rounded the corner into my bedroom, I saw Melissa packing her things.

"We don't leave til late tomorrow.  Why are you packing now?" I asked.  She looked at me, tears were forming in her eyes.  "Hey, what's wrong?" I asked, walking up to her.  She stepped away from me as I reached for her.

"Niall, I don't belong here."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm not supposed to be here," she said, looking up at me.  "With you."

I stood there, confused.  "What do you mean?"

"Niall, we aren't supposed to be together."

"What are you talking about?  We've been doing great!"

She shook her head and wiped her face.  "Niall, I don't belong with you and you don't belong with me.  And we both know that.  There's someone else you belong with and she's..."  She paused, raising her arm as if she were pointing, trying to control her tears.  "And she's not me."  Her shoulders slumped in defeat.

"Melissa..." I started but she shook me off.

"It's no one's fault, Niall.  It really isn't.  I tried to ignore it and chalk it up to something else but....I can see it.  Plain as day."

"See what?"  I was really confused as to what was happening here.

She gave me a strange look before shaking her head.  "You're in love but you aren't in love with me."

"Oh my god, I am completely confused, Melissa.  Who am I in love with then, if it isn't you?"

She gave me another look, "I hope you realize it one day.  Sooner rather than later.  You deserve to be happy."

She gave me a small kiss on my cheek before she walked past me and out the door.  I left to stand there in complete and utter confusion as to what the hell had just happened.