With Flecks of Gold

I wanted to feel the water on my skin again. I wanted it to numb me, take my breath away. I gently gripped the soft, wet sand around me and guided myself deeper into the water.

It dulled my pains, it numbed me all over. It was like a dream.

I was in a place where there was no such thing as reality.

The only thing that mattered was I. Right here. Right now. I was alive and true, I was strong yet alone.

It was empowering. I was unstoppable.

I let the familiar wave-like motion take over my body as I slipped through the water, like it was oil. The reflection of the moonlight pierced through the water’s surface, creating delicate streams of water shimmer and glow all the way to the bottom.

The only sound to be heard was the low rumble of the calm, cool waters in the night. It was relaxing and intoxicating.

I felt the ends of my wet hair softly bounce against my neck as I swam. I continued to let the water have its way with my body until I decided I should probably head back to the tent.

I surfaced my head and took a glance towards shore, calculating how long of a swim I had left to go. I dunked my head back under and began to make my way towards the coast. I thought to myself that perhaps I didn’t have to go back, maybe I could just ditch Niall and swim home, however, the thought was quickly dismissed. I had no idea where I would be going and it was probably best just to stick with Niall because apparently he could get me to Nebraska the fastest.

He could get me home the fastest.

With only a few strong flicks of my tail, I dragged my fish body onto the shore. I sat there for a second, processing the scene before me before I made a decision on what I was going to do next.

How did I expect myself to get dry? I sighed in frustration and craned my neck backwards to see my tail. Maybe I just had to sit here until I dried off naturally, although that would take a little while considering there was not even a pinch of sunlight at this hour.

Defeated, I slumped my head down on the sand and prepared myself for the long wait ahead of me. My thoughts, however, were interrupted by what I figured was a soft murmur from somewhere in the forest. I began to make out a voice. I lifted my head from the sand and positioned my ear towards the woods where I thought the voice was coming from.

It was Niall.

He was calling my name.

“Crap…” I hissed to myself, flailing my body desperately in order to slip back into the water. Luckily, I was able to submerge my tail and most of my upper-body before I saw Niall’s dark figure stalking on the shore, illuminated only by the dull moonlight.

“What da’ fuck, Lauren?!” Niall swore, coming closer to me than I would have been comfortable with. He didn’t even seem to come close to noticing my issue at the moment. “What on Earth are ya’ doin’ out here in da’ middle of da’ night?!”

I thought of the first excuse that shot its way through my mind.

“I’m naked, Niall.” I spat a little too quickly. He froze in his tracks.

“You’re what…?” He stammered, taking a few slow steps in the opposite direction of my body. He turned his head frantically back and forth. “Well, where are your clothes?” He demanded.

“I-I um—I hid them.” Word vomit.

“Why would you hide em’?!” He was looking at me like I was crazy. Not the first time I’ve gotten that look.

“I didn’t want them to get wet—look, Niall, can you get me a towel from back at the tent, please?” I was begging him now.

He stood there for a couple seconds before shaking his head in annoyance and going back to where I assumed was the tent.

Forever past until he returned with an all too comfortable looking towel in his grasp. He stomped over to my soaked self in the water and thrust the towel in my direction, placing an impatient hand to his hip.

“Leave it on the beach and I’ll meet you in the tent.” I demanded, wanting desperately to keep my secret to myself for the time being. He sighed again and gently placed the towel in the sand before stomping back into the forest. I sighed in relief before using every ounce of strength in my body to drag myself onto the sand and over to the awaiting towel.

I grabbed the soft fabric greedily and began rubbing my scales furiously. I felt like I couldn’t get dry fast enough. To my pleasure, the moment actually came where the familiar soft, delicate coils of water wrapped around my body and took the magic away, leaving me simply human once again.

I got up and brushed the sand off of my body.

I took a deep breath in an attempt to relax myself and quickly slid through the dense forest, making my way back into the tent. Niall was already back in the sleeping bag, back turned to be, arms cuddled up against his chest.

“Niall?” I tiptoed to the sleeping bag cautiously and raised a foot so that I could step over his resting figure.

“What were you doing out dere’, Lauren?” He questioned suddenly, making me flinch.

“I just, I couldn’t sleep.” I paused in my tracks for a brief moment before continuing to raise my foot over his body and lowering myself next to him. To my surprise, he suddenly jerked up from his previous position, grabbing my shoulders and thrusting my body into his. I squealed, startled by his sudden actions. Was this supposed to be a hug?

“That was a very bad idea, Lauren. You could have gotten hurt.” His tone was hush and husky, his breath trickled down my neck, making my insides heat up instantly.

“I—I just…” I was honestly speech-less; I only spoke in a feeble attempt to keep myself from totally melting in his grasp in that very moment.

“Do ya’ have any idea what could have gotten to ya’ out dere’? Dere’ are so many wild animals aimlessly wanderin’ da’ forest at dis’ time, not to mention da’ things in da’ water dat’ could have easily pulled ya’ under.” His tone became frantic and worried, something that I hadn’t expected from him. It seemed as if he was almost vulnerable, like me getting hurt would have had a serious toll on his well being. Detecting this from him changed my mood completely.

“You were, worried about me?” I pondered aloud rather bluntly. I heard his breathing become faster.

“Worried about cha’? Of course I was worried about cha’ darlin’, you could have been killed!” He was gripping my shoulders rather tightly at this point. My face crumpled in pain.

“Niall, my arms.” I coughed. His grip immediately loosened, but not enough for me to escape his hold on me.

“Just listen to me for a second, Lauren, would ya’?” It seemed as if he was begging me.

“I’m listening to you, Niall.” I forced the words from my mouth, trying desperately to catch the look in his eyes through the darkness. All I could see was a light sparkle that was normally accompanied by a pale, yet striking blue shadow surrounding his pupils. To be honest, I was a little scared.

“Good.” His physique relaxed and he once again made himself comfortable beneath the sheets of the sleeping bag. “Now go to bed,” He turned his head around to face me, “And no more wanderin’ off, ya’ hear?”

I chuckled softly, but not loud enough for him to hear me. “Yeah, Niall, I gotcha.” I didn’t hear another word from him for the rest of the night. I snuggled back down into my familiar spot next to him and squeezed my eyes shut.

Thoughts and regrets flooded my head like a tidal wave, all at once. It was always so overwhelming.

Sleep consumed me like a black hole.

***

“Lauren…”

The voices of the night call my name.

“I’m in your head, Lauren.”

They taunt me.

“I don’t see an exit, do you?”

Robotic, mechanical laughter shutters and hits the walls like waves crashing into rocks.

“Of course you don’t.”

His voice echoes, it reverberates through my eardrums. It makes my entire being convulse in fear.

“Hm, what’s this?”

I feel cold, clammy digits trace a line down the center of my chest. His fingernails are long; leaving tiny raised lines down my skin. I hear the cold, heartless laughter again.

“This is your heart, Lauren.” I could almost feel his tight, chapped lips curving into a crooked smile. “It’s bleeding…” He firmly places his hand right below my ribcage. “Hmmm…” He continues, taking deep breaths as if in concentration. “Oh!” He pretends to be surprised. “It’s breaking.” Again, he pretends to put forth a sympathetic tone in his voice, as if he were speaking to a small child.

No. I wanted to scream at him as his laughing again began to fill the room. I couldn’t make a sound.

No.

NO.

Stop laughing at me!

STOP!

***

“Lauren!”

“LAUREN!”

“What?!” I jerked my body from its position on the sleeping bag. I frantically scanned my surroundings. Let’s see… A tent? A duffle bag? A panicking Niall?

Yep, this is what I like to call reality.

As all this was setting in I noticed that my heart was racing very quickly, and my body was slightly damp, I guess I didn’t turn into a mermaid from my own body fluids. I was sweating like an animal.

“Are you okay?” Niall was frantically searching my eyes for some sort of reassurance.

“I think so…” I was at a loss for any kind of response to that question.

“You were screaming and yelling in your sleep!” He stated, he looked like he was trying to convince me that I was crazy.

I put a hand to my forehead and tried to keep the tears from falling. I couldn’t answer him or else I would crack, I would snap.

But despite my efforts, my liquid sorrow fell from my face, leaving me completely vulnerable.

“Lauren…” His tone was soft and comforting.

“Don’t…” I attempted to push him away from me. Again, my efforts were wasted. I felt a warm hand on my back, quite the opposite of what the hands that touched me were like in my dream. But for some reason, it scared me even more.

“Just spill it. Tell me what’s gotcha in sucha bind here, love.” He cooed sweetness into my ears. I’ve heard it all before.

“Just stop!” I manage to keep my tone stern, even between sobs. This shook him off guard a little bit.

“What…?” He seemed flabbergasted, it was his turn to be temporarily short of English.

“I’ve heard it before.” I shrugged him off of me and scooted away from him, suddenly gaining more confidence than I had previously in this state.

“Wh-What?” His tone was laced with worry this time.

“You may seem…” I waved my hands in the air to try and serve as an aid to my word choice. It didn’t really work. “Like… you care.” I spit the words out like vomit. “But you don’t.” I spat at him. “Humans are so disgusting.” I continued to ramble. “Boys are so stupid!”

To be honest, I didn’t really know what I was saying at that point, but seeing the calm and understanding look on his face just made my mind go crazy, bouncing off the walls, words tumbled out of my mouth, unfiltered.

I sloppily wiped a lone tear from my cheek and continued to spit words at Niall like bullets.

“You,” I pointed an accusing finger. “Are just like the rest of them.” I stated it like it was a fact written somewhere in a textbook. “Even if you moved a mountain for me, you would still be like them.” I slumped my head into my hands, not even looking at his facial expressions anymore. “You would leave me, cheat me, bully me, fucking kill me, I don’t really fucking know.” I waved my hands about again, emphasizing my words. “Tell me you love me, tell me you’ll be there for me for fucking ever. Hell, I don't even know you!” I narrowed my eyes into slits. “Just go ahead and lie to me already.” My voice was barely audible. “Go on,” I said louder this time, slapping my hands to my thighs and shooting a burning gaze in his direction, demanding an answer for him.

“This isn’t a lie, darlin’,” He finally had the chance to speak up. “But you have a beautiful set of eyes dere’.” He smiled weakly. I scoffed.

“Heard that one before.” I rolled my eyes. After a few seconds of silence I innocently gazed back in his direction. He looked like he was thinking of what to say next.

“What if I told ya’ your voice was beautiful,” He scooted closer to me. “What if I told ya’ your way with words is solid and strong, like an angel.” He cupped my cheek softly in his large palm. My breath hitched. “What if I told you you’re strong, and tough.” He leaned in closer until I could once again feel his hot, heavy breathing spread across my eyes, nose, cheeks, and mouth. “Unbreakable.” He paused. “Indestructible.”

Notes

Hey ya'll!

Sorry I haven't updated in a little bit, I've been kinda busy. But I hope that this chapter was worth it. I really hope you liked it.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO LEAVE A REVIEW FOR ME WHICH I REALLY HOPE YOU WILL BECUASE I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK...

YOU HAVE THE CHOICE TO ANSWER ONE OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS...:

1. What are your overall feelings about Lauren and Niall?
2. Was there anything in this chapter (or the story so far) that has really stuck out to you?
3. What do you think is going to happen next?
4. What do you want to happen?
5. Any shippers yet? Yes no maybe so? Am I asking too early?
6. Any other comments or feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you everyone!!