The Pretenders (Niall Horan)

Chapter 8

"Hey, Grace," Will said, smiling at me like he always did.

"Why?!" I yelled. "Why the hell did you do it?!"

I stormed up to Will - who was standing at his locker, shoving books into his bag - and slammed the door shut. He held up his hands in surrender.

"What did I do?" He asked.

"Don't play stupid, Will!" I exclaimed.

He gently took my arm. "Can we please go somewhere else?" He whispered, glancing at some of the people who were staring at us.

I nodded and allowed him to lead me to an empty classroom on the other side of the hallway.

He shut the door and turned to me. "What's this about?" He asked.

"Don't play stupid," I repeated.

"Seriously! What?!" He said, suddenly sounding frustrated.

"You cheated on me! Didn't you?"

He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Grace -"

"So it's true?" I said, my voice going quiet, making my question barely audible.

"Gracie, it was once. I was upset after one of our fights and -"

"So, you went to another girl, instead of me, you're girlfriend, to talk about it?" I interrupted. "Will, someone told me you were cheating on me yesterday! Saying it in present tense meaning you were still with that girl!"

Will suddenly rounded on me and I took a step back. "Oh yeah! Well, I was told yesterday that you only went out with me as a dare!"

"Well, that was before I fell in love with you!"

"That doesn't change anything!"

"I just need a straight answer," I said, trying to hold back my tears. "Did you, or did you not cheat on me? It's a simple yes or no question."

"Yes," he said softly, looking at me with tears in his eyes. "Grace, I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry! If I could go back, I would change it -"

"But you can't," I said. "I trusted you! I put my whole heart into this relationship and this is how you repay me?! God, Will, I loved you so much and I thought you loved me too, but I guess not."

"Wait, why did you say 'loved'? I still love you so much, Grace. Please, please forgive me!" Will begged.

"I'm sorry, Will. You've said enough," I said, letting my tears finally fall.

"Please," he whispered, walking over to me and kissing me. It just didn't feel like the way it used to.

I pushed him away after a moment. "It's over."

I heard the crash of a chair being thrown as I left the classroom and Will. I emerged into the crowded hallway and pushed through the groups of students whilst digging through my handbag, searching for my phone with tears clouding my vision. Once I found it I sent a simple text to my two best friends whom I know would understand.

SOS. Meet in bathroom ASAP.

I rushed to the girls' bathroom willing for everyone to stop staring at me. I know I probably looked like a mess right now - smudged eye makeup and running mascara - but I couldn't care less. I just needed to get to Chloe and Rachel and away from everyone who did a double take as I ran past.

When I finally reached the bathroom, I pushed open the door and ran straight into the waiting arms of my best friend. Thankfully no one else was in there as the bell for the end of the day had rung a few minutes beforehand. After a few minutes of me crying on their shoulders, I pulled away.

"Shit, Grace, what happened?" Asked Rachel.

"I just broke up with Will," I said, studying my ruined makeup in the mirror before turning to the girls. "Do you have any makeup wipes?"

Chloe rummaged through her bag then pulled out a packet of makeup wipes and handed it to me.

"Thanks," I said, sniffling as I got one out and wiped my eye makeup off completely.

"Why didn't you tell him this morning?" Rachel asked after I explained to them exactly what happened.

"Honestly, I wanted to avoid him. At first I wanted him to come to me and confess, but then I realised that he wasn't going to and I had to confront him. I knew that he wouldn't tell me about something like this," I answered.

"Let's go home, come on," Chloe said, taking my arm.

The next day, everyone seemed to know that something was wrong between Will and I and a few people who saw the whole yelling match in the hallway then me leaving the empty classroom in tears and the sound of Will throwing that chair.

I avoided Will completely; I avoided the hallway where Will's locker was situated, whenever I saw him towering above the younger students as he walked to his next class, I would turn and walk in the opposite direction.

I know the way I was acting was stupid, but I guess after being with Will for so long, I think I secretly thought we'd be together forever. Well, I guess he proved that wrong.

In History, I suddenly realised something: the day that Will was late to our meeting in our free period, he had turned up with ruffled hair and Miss Blackburn definitely didn't do that with him and anyway, she had a class when Will supposedly saw her and she never stops a lesson for anything. Not even for one of her favourite students.

And then there was a red mark under his earlobe, which couldn't be anything but a lipstick mark and I definitely didn't wear red lipstick whatsoever. And suddenly, it all fit. But one thing was missing... Will had said that he only saw another girl once while he was with me and that it was after a fight. And the morning of that day, he had been all over me. Kissing me at our lockers, not wanting to let go of my hand, even texting me in class saying how much he loved me - which he never did. Meaning only one thing...

He saw that girl more than once.

And back to the red lipstick thing, there was only one girl that wore red lipstick to school that I knew of, because teachers and other members of staff always told her off for it...

Surely, it's not her. I must be so caught up in wanting to know who it was. I mean, why would she do that? She knew how much I loved him.

*-*-*-*

Oooooh cliffy!!!!!!

OMG I just realised that the English teacher is called Miss Blackburn and Will's last name is Blackburn.... Oops. Oh and btw they're not related at all...

Don't forget to keep the victims and their families of the Paris shootings in your prayers <3

I'm thinking of doing a qotd in the author's notes. But instead it'll be qotu (question of the update) and you can just comment on the chapter

Sooo....

Qotu: How are you liking this story so far? Are there any characters you love? Any that you hate? Do you just hate this story altogether?? (I don't care if the answer's realllllyyyyy long or really short, I just love hearing from you guys)

Anyhoo....

VOTE, COMMENT, EATING PIZZA WITH ME?!?!?!?

Love and cuddles,

Maggie xx