I was furious...

... And also a bit hurt.

I didn't know which I wanted to do more. Find Harry and knock his ass out or find a corner and cry my eyes out.

I had never been so humiliated and just... embarrassed before.

I was so stupid to think Harry and I could actually be friends. Silly me for thinking he was actually being honest when he said he wanted to be. I should have known better. Boys always lie to me.

It's like I had some huge sign over my head that read ‘gullible' or some crap like that.

"Ari." I heard shouted from behind me and it only made me pick up my pace as I took long strides away from the building I had just been inside of with my arms tightly pulled across my abdomen.

All those people in there had been staring at me. Me, the stupid nanny who thought she could be friends with her boss. The nobody.

They had seen me slap him, their golden boy.

I was sure to be made out to be the bad guy by the morning.

"Aria, wait!"

I didn't.

I kept on walking, not really having an idea of where I was going at all.

I knew I was somewhere in the heart of London, I figured I was just a quick cab ride away from Kendra's place. I'm sure she wouldn't mind me crashing there. Besides all I really wanted right now was Jamie.

"Damn it Aria. STOP!" This time a hand grabbed onto my elbow and spun me around just as I reached for the phone I had in my clutch to call a cab.

I looked up at Niall's face and huffed indignantly. "What?!"

He looked a little taken aback by my tone, it was one I never used on him before, but I was just so upset by everything I couldn't find an ounce of myself that cared at that moment.

"Whoa, calm down babes. I didn't do anything, remember." He whispered out with a hurt look in his eyes.

And then I found the ounce with a sigh. "I'm sorry, I just... he just..."

Niall didn't need me to finish, he already knew. Wrapping his arms around me tightly, he hugged me close to his warm body and I sudden realized how cold it was outside.

I felt his breath on my ear as he spoke. "Look, Harry is an arse, but he's had a bit to drink and he'll more than likely regret this all in the morning if he doesn't already."

I pulled away from him and wrapped my arms over my chest trying to keep myself warm. "I don't care. He had no right to make me feel like I was worthless. Just because I'm Darcy's nanny doesn't mean I'm not good enough." I sighed and shook my head at the stabbing hurt that coursed through me. "I'm not going back there."

"You're right but you have to know none of us feel that way about you. .. and I wouldn't make you go back there." He sighed and looked around the empty street. Luckily for us we hadn't attracted any attention from anyone... yet. Most of the paps were on the others side of the building. I had enough clarity through my angry to take the side exit as I left. "Let's get out of here. Would you like to head back to mine? We could watch a film or something."

I contemplated my options. Really I just wanted to be alone, but that would require going back to either Kendra's or Harry's, both of which held issues of their own.

Although going back to Kendra's meant having Jamie with me, it also meant being grilled by my friend and I certainly did not want to have to recount this night to her, at least not tonight.

And Harry's was just out of the question.

No doubt Harry would be more than willing to continue our little argument as soon as he walked through the door and honestly I had enough of him for one night.

So Niall's seemed like my best option.

"Alright." I agreed with a nod causing him to beam at me and pull out his phone to call a cab.

"There you two are." A new voice sounded from behind us.

I spun around only to find a slightly out of breath Eleanor walking over towards us. I hadn't realized until just then how far I had walked in my anger. That only served to embarrass me more. I had stormed out like a petulant child and both Niall and now Eleanor felt the need to come check on me. I didn't think I would ever be able to show my face again after tonight. And then poor Eleanor walked all that way on her own looking for us.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to hug her or call her crazy.

Niall spared her a smile but kept his eyes on the passing cars as he spoke quietly into his mobile requesting the vehicle that would take us away from this disaster of a night.

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Eleanor said once she was standing in front of me. "Harry was completely out of line. I'm so sorry for the way he acted."

"It's okay." I said even though it clearly wasn't okay. "But if it's all the same I think I would rather not go back there." I nodded towards the building in the distance.

She nodded in understanding and then without a word pulled me into a hug.

It was odd for me. I had only really spoken to the girl, maybe three times before tonight but the gesture made me feel a little better, like I wasn't a complete joke to everyone.

"Thank you." I said softly when we pulled away. She smiled sweetly at me and nodded.

Niall cleared his throat from behind me causing both Eleanor and I to turn in his direction where he stood holding a car door open.

Apparently our cab had arrived.

"Ready?"

I spun back to Eleanor and opened my mouth about the thank her again for coming to check on me but something over her shoulder caught my eyes making my weak smile fall completely.

He had been looking around but Harry's eyes landed on mine almost the exact second I saw him. There was a moment where we both just stared blankly at each other but then he began to take long strides towards me making me panic and take steps back.

I really didn't want to confront him again.

Niall caught sight of him too and reached out for my hand. "Come on Ari, let's go."

I looked at Niall and nodded before looking back at Harry.

For a split second I swore a look of hurt passed through his eyes but it happened so fast I was sure it was just wishful thinking.

Wishful in that I wanted him to hurt, of course.

Harry's eyes dropped to where Niall was holding my had and then behind us to the cab that was still waiting, even in the dark and with the small distance between us I could see his nostrils flare and the veins in his neck become more prominent as his jaw tightened.

He was definitely pissed.

I was sure all sorts of thoughts about how embarrassing it would be to have one of his friends seen with the nanny. And the thought of how little he thought of me, even after I had fooled myself into thinking we could be friends, made me want to cry.

"Come on." Niall gently insisted again, tugging on my hand as his eyes also stayed locked on Harry.

Again I nodded dumbly, slightly stunned, and allowed Niall and Eleanor to help me into the car. Harry stood in his spot a few feet away just watching with a clenched jaw and fisted hands but he didn't dare move or say a word and for the life of me I couldn't figure out if I was happy or sad about that.

"Call me tomorrow okay love." Eleanor instructed as she slowly shut the door to the cab.

As we pulled away I looked back to see Eleanor walk up to Harry who looked to be angrily waving his hands in our direction and shouting at her. I felt bad for leaving her to deal with him but by the way she stood with her arms crossed over her chest and the bored look on her face, I knew she could handle him. Harry's head shot up at something she said and his eyes looked my way, once again locking with mine.

I couldn't stand the intensity of his glare so with a sigh I looked down at my lap as the driver finally pulled into the steadily moving traffic.

"Are you alright?" Niall asked quietly from beside me.

I managed a sad smile and looked up at him with a nod. I seemed to have lost my voice as soon as I saw Harry.

Niall, always the sweet one, threw his arm around my shoulder without a word and pulled me into his side. It was comforting and I appreciated that.

The ride to his place was silent but that was okay.

As soon as we entered his apartment the awkward descended on us, which was very strange because for as long as I had known Niall, not once have I ever felt any awkwardness around him... until now.

"So..."

I would have laughed at the silly situation if it wasn't for that one word reminding me of Harry and our awkward encounters. In the end I just felt angry and sad and... drained.

I sighed and Niall looked panicked, probably scared he had done something wrong, as he rushed farther into his home and began to flick on lights.

I stood awkwardly by the door as I watched him rush into one of the rooms only to rush back out a few minutes later with a pile of clothes in his arms.

"I thought you might want to... change, maybe?" He asked making the most adorable face as he held out what I now could see was a pair of sweats and a plain white shirt.

I smiled gratefully at the thoughtful gesture and took the offered clothing. "Thanks."

"You can change in there." He pointed to the first door down the hall. "Um... you can pick out any movie you'd like, Ari. I'll go get us some, erm, snacks. I'll be just," he pointed to the archway to his left which I assumed was the kitchen.

I managed a small smile and nod before he walked out of the room.

After changing out of Kendra's dress in the bathroom Niall had pointed out I made my way to the very impressive looking entertainment center with the rather large assortment of movies.

My finger slide over the titles not really reading any of them as my mind wandered to my curly headed devil-boss I had left angrily standing on the sidewalk.

I wondered if I would even still have a job when I got back, which only made me depressed.

What would Jamie and I do if I lost this job? Where would we go? I couldn't go back to Kendra's, although I know she would allow me to return, I didn't think my pride would be able to.

Niall came back into the room right around when those thoughts were swirling in my brain; mindlessly I pulled out whatever movie my hand was on and spun around.

I knew something was wrong as soon as I looked into Niall's eyes.

He looked at me with deep concern as he placed the bowl of popcorn on the side table and walked slowly towards me.

I silently watched wondering what he was going to do. As he drew closer to me his hand gently lifted to my face and tears that I hadn't been aware I was sheading were whipped away with the pad of his finger.

"Don't cry Ari. Things are going to be ok."

I wanted to believe him, but everything finally just collapsed on me at that very second. All the embarrassment, the anger, the sadness, the hurt, the fear. I had been dealing with each feeling individually up until that second in time when they all hit at once and all I could do was sob.

Without hesitation Niall had me in his arms and was rubbing my back soothingly while whispering calming words into my ear.

I felt stupid and like I was overreacting but I couldn't make myself stop crying if my life depended on it.

Somehow we ended up on his sofa, my body curled up into Niall's side as he held me close until my sobs subsided.

"I..." I took a deep breath trying to dislodge the lump in my throat. "I'm sorry. I'm so dumb and you're so nice... I ruined your night..."

"Aria." Niall cut me off making my head snap up to look at his face. "Shut up. It's fine. I hate those things anyway; I only wanted to spend time with you."

I bit my lip as my heart started to pound in my chest.

The way he said that, the way his voice got soft and low and husky towards the end, made it seem like he meant it as more than just enjoying spending time with a friend.

It made me nervous. I was paralyzed by the intense look in his eyes. I wanted to pull away but I couldn't.

Not even as he lowered his face towards mine.

Not even as I felt his minty breath on my lips.

Not even as he kissed me.

Notes

oooo cliffhanger... anyway let me know what you think. Haria or Nari?
love you kiddies