"You're being completely immature, Niall."
"You're calling me immature?! You can't hold down a girl for life mate. Do you even know how hard this is?!"
Harry stayed quiet for a moment.
"That's what I thought. I'm not the one out there trying to swoon any pretty girl and get it after two dates. Matter of fact, I think Betty White is just waiting for you outside your door. You only go for older women because you want to make yourself seem mature when in reality you're just as immature as the rest of us here!" Harry looked at the floor. What his friend says is true. He's never gotten much attention from anyone because he was always the youngest.
"Well at least I didn't make my own love walk away with another lad right before my eyes. 'Cause only a coward would let that happen."
It stung. That one word pierced Niall right into his soul. He is known to be the fragile one in the bunch, but in reality he was a fighter. He fought the urge to make his best friend his; but, instead he watched her get hurt by many boys in school. He was there every step of the way. He built her up and made her strong. She was his angel, his princess, his to protect. And she believed in him. He was her rock, and Niall knew it. Any word can describe Niall in so many ways, he was everything but a coward. The boys knew this too. And that's when he lunged.
In a quick movement Louis and Liam held Niall back. "What did you call me!", Niall roared.
"You heard me. A coward. A coward who lets the love of his life walk down a white carpeted aisle up to another man that she thinks is better than you'll ever be.", Harry growled getting close to Niall's face. Niall pushed forward trying to break free.
"I'm not the one who killed their own love!"
Harry's eye filled with sadness so deep that only he can understand. A flicker of anger started in his soul. He was about to punch Niall, but Zayn held him back.
"You drove home drunk! Didn't even know she was waiting for you at the other end of the bar! Slapping her before you forced her to get in with you? She cared for you, and yet you take her life away. There you are calling me a coward? You can't even visit her grave!"
"AT LEAST SHE LOVED ME.", Harry yelled.
"Calm down mate. This is just heated banter.", Zayn advised Harry.
"Why should I? At least I know she loved me. While he watches her go on with someone else."
"At least she's still alive!", Niall shouted.
"SHUT IT BOTH OF YOU.", Liam spoke still holding Niall. "Look, go take a walk, we'll continue recording in an hour. Nia-"
"No! Don't talk to me! I don't need any of this. This had nothing to do with him. He's always butting in. Trying to make himself feel better by bringing me down! I'm done with him!", with that Niall stormed out of the studio with his guitar still slung around his back.
He walked into the single stalled bathroom and locked himself in. Back against the door he slid down and sat on the cool tiled floor. Guitar resting next to him he brought his knees close to his chest and cried. Burying his face into his hands he let the salty trail fall down his face.
Liam knocked on the door ten minutes later but received no reply. Niall knew Liam means well, but right now he wanted to be alone.
The only picture that invaded his mind was watching her walk down the aisle. Every step in sync with the live music that was faint in the background. She was beautiful in a white fitted dress and a mid length train behind her; a translucent vale that covered her beautiful face. She walked up to him and smiled with her perfect lips that he wanted to be on his for the longest time. She was perfect. Their fingers made contact briefly as she was handing him the elegant bouquet of flowers. He stood there as a rush of blood surged through him. With one last smiled she closed her eyes and turned to her soon to be husband. That's when he lost the fight.
The monotone humming from the bathroom fan surrounded Niall. He's calmed down and stopped crying. A series of thought just flowed through his mind. Some were scary, others were hopeful, and many of the heart breaking. He took a deep breathe and let his hands fall to his side. Feeling a smooth surface underneath his left had, he picked up the only instrument that could probably take his troubles away. Strumming a few strings in no particular pattern he breathed slowly. After hearing three notes that he liked being played together he built off of it. Soon he was humming. No word in particular but humming his thoughts.
"Don't want to be without you......Try to scream out my lungs, it makes this harder.... And the tears stream down my face..."
He continued playing around with the notes of his interest. Then he realized. Getting up and fixing himself Niall unlocked the door and walked back to the studio. "Niall-", Liam started but he was already out the door with a notebook he carried to the studio.
Niall walked back to the very same bathroom and locked himself in. He played and scribbled the notes down along with his thoughts. Thoughts turned into feelings. Feelings turned into passion. His passion blossomed into a sweet poem. And that very poem evolved into a song. Reading over his lyrics tears dared to leave his eyes. As Niall read on he couldn't help but feel this pressure inside his chest. He couldn't describe what he was feeling if he wanted to. His tears have won and made the ink of his hand writing bleed across the lined paper. God knows how long he's been in there, but for some reason it seemed right.
He started from the start and played. Each strum of a single string was something he couldn't describe. He sang to himself in the tiled bathroom. The room remained as he disappeared into his own world. A world where Niall's soul was set free. His feelings were sprawled across the floor. His voice filing the air that no one else has ever breathed. The words of his heart was splattered onto the bare walls that listened so intently. By the end of his song every inch of this bathroom has been touched by Niall's soul.
With full confidence and a smidge of sorrow Niall stood up from the restroom floor one more. Gathering his things he unlocked the door and stepped out. He walked towards the studio with many careful steps. Opening the door, all eyes were on him. Niall was usually unpredictable, so everyone was very timid at times like this one. He walked up to Harry who stood from the studio chair. Harry stared into Niall's eyes, both knew what they were trying to say, but no one said a word. Niall looked down at his guitar in his left hand then at the notebook in his right. Putting down his guitar, Niall presented the tattered book to Harry. Harry took the notebook, not sure of what to say but looked down at the scribbled writing of his Irish friend.
Harry read the page. The boys were quiet. Niall watched Harry's face as a multiple feelings flashed through his eyes. The three other boys watched the pair carefully, preparing themselves for what might come next. Niall studied his friend with a hard stare upon his face. Next thing he knew a tear has fallen from Harry's face onto the paper that held so many emotions. Harry looked up to Niall and stepped towards him. The three surrounding boys did as well, for they were unsure of what would happen in a few seconds.
Harry's crystal green eyes shared the same emotion that Niall's soft blue ones. And what came next made the moment both Harry and Niall would never forget. With the emotions they shared. With the words unspoken, it all made sense. Harry took half a step forward and embraced his blond friend. From then Niall might have been the only one that understood what Harry was feeling, so he returned the embrace as the younger lad cried into the crook of his neck and whispered, "Thank You."
