NIALL'S P.O.V.

I don't remember falling asleep, but I wake up abrubtly, being pulled up by my collar. My initial fear is that someone broke into the house. I mean, I didn't lock the door, but then I give my eyes time to adjust and see that its Greg. He's still holding my shirt and all I can see is the disappointed scowl on his face. I feel like the room is spinning and I can't seem to completely wake up, leaving me stuck in a fog.

"Where'd you go? What time is it?"

"It's four in the morning. I went for a walk. I wanted to make sure I wasn't just doing this out of
anger."

I find stability on the floor and he lets go of my shirt, staying right in front of me.

"Doing what?"

"Kicking you out."

"W-what?"

He steps back a little and points toward the door where two duffel bags sit on the ground.

"You heard me. There are the majority of your things. Get out."

"Greg, I-I don't have anywhere to go!"

"Niall, you came home in a Rolls Royce. I'm sure your "new friend" will let you stay with her. I
can't look at you anymore."

"But, I can't stay with her. She lives with her parents and-"

"Maybe you should have thought about that before you fucked your brother's wife. I'm going to
ask you one more time to leave before things get ugly."

I stand there in utter shock. It's one thing to be angry with me or whatever, but he can't kick me out! Well, I guess he can. Fucking hell, I'm such an idiot!

"Greg, I'm really sorry, but you can't kick me out! Besides, its not like she cheated on you first!"

He looks furious. He steps toward me and I stand as tall as I can, puffing out my chest in a
natural reaction to his intimidating stance. He's not calm anymore.

"This isn't about her, Niall! It's about you! It's about what YOU did to ME. You crossed the line
and I don't know if I'll EVER get over it. Get the FUCK out of my house."

I stand my ground, not moving. I search his eyes for a glimmer of forgiveness and mercy, put I
see none. He only looks madder and madder as his fists curl at his sides. He pulls one arm back and before I can even flinch, his knuckles pummel into my face, making my eye feel like its pulsating in pain.

"Jesus fucking christ, Greg!"

"GET OUT!"

I stumble away from the couch and grab the two bags he packed, as well as my back pack, before opening the door. I hold my hand over my eye and turn to look at him one more time. He's seething, his chest rising and falling quickly and sporadically. I feel hot tears reaching my eyes and I close the door before he can see my emotion, running through the hall and down the steps until I find myself in the cool breeze on the sidewalk. I set my things down and plop onto the curb, wondering what the hell I'm supposed to do. What choices do I even have? I pull out my phone and first call Louis.

It rings and rings until finally:

"Hey, you've reached Louis' voicemail. Leave a message."

Normally I would just hang up, but instead I wait for the beep.

"Louis, uh hey, it's Niall. Call me when you get this; it's kind of important. Thanks."

I end the call and stare at the screen. I have another message from Hannah, but I don't open it. Instead, I take a deep breath and call her, feeling more ashamed than I ever have.
The phone rings for a while and I almost hang up, imagining she's sleeping just like Louis and doesn't have her sound on.

"Hello?"

It doesn't even sound like I woke her up.

"Hannah?"

"Hey, Niall. What's wrong? It's like four in the morning."

"Yeah, I'm so so sorry for waking you up-"

"I'm actually still awake, so don't worry."

"Wow, okay, umm..."

"What is it? What's wrong?"

"I-My brother kicked me out."

Silence ensues and I find myself holding my breath as I wait for the impending questions that
I'm too humiliated to answer.

"I'm so sorry. You- can you come stay here tonight? I know it's kind of far, but I can sneak you through my balcony door."

The way she asks seems like a plea, as if she needs to convince me.

"Are you sure? I would be forever grateful."

"I'd actually really appreciate it. I could use a friend right now."

"I'll be there in a half hour or so. Traffic shouldn't be bad and I see a cab coming now. Thank
you, Hannah."

"No, thank you. I'll text you my address."

I hail a cab and decide to spend the entire car ride thinking of how I can possibly explain to Hannah the stupid mistakes I've made without her hating me.


____________


"Okay, I put my bags in Joe's car and I'm out back like you told me."

I hold my phone to my ear and look up at the mansion in front of me. I see the light on in what I imagine is her room.

"Alright, I'm coming out to the balcony. You'll see me."

The door opens from the room I suspected to be hers and she steps out onto the long, shallow balcony.

"Hi."

I grin up to her and she waves back cutely.

"I'm gonna roll out this emergency ladder thing for fires."

I chuckle and she sets her phone down as I see her shadow disappear and reappear with a large rolled up ladder. She hooks it onto the balcony and lets it fall, the edge of it almost touching the ground. She picks her phone up again and I hear her giggle excitedly.

"Okay, just be careful. I'll see you in a minute."

I hang up and put my phone in my pocket, tightening my backpack so it doesn't fall off. I had put a change of clothes and my toothbrush in there so I have something for the night. I step forward and pull on the ladder to assure myself that its steady enough. I start to climb and Hannah leans over the edge, waiting for me impatiently. I make it to the top steadily and throw my leg over the balcony edge, happy to land on solid ground again. Before I can say anything, Hannah walks into my open arms and rests her chin on my shoulder, beginning to cry suddenly.

"Shhh. It's okay. We can talk about it."

I really have no idea why she's crying, but I assume her mum found out about us being at Jessica's. It's sad to say, but I'm glad she has something to talk about so we can avoid the subject of my idiocy.

"Okay, come inside."

She wraps her red robe around her tighter and I follow her into a large bedroom, obviously decorated for a younger girl, but it was tastefully done nonetheless. Pristine pink and white is all I can see and I immediately imagine a smaller Hannah reading books and playing with dolls in the seclusion of her dream-like room.

She plops down on a white couch and I snap out of my imagination and join her, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her closer to me. She rests her hand on my chest and her head on my shoulder, letting out a long sigh. I turn my head awkwardly and place a firm kiss on her temple, followed by an exaggerated, childish imitation of a kissing sound.

"Start talking. Did Jessica's parents call your mum or something?"

"Actually, no. It has nothing to do with that. I just feel like my whole life has been a lie."

"What do you mean?"

She sits up and turns to face me, her hand resting on my thigh. I envelope her hand in mine and stroke her knuckles softly with my thumb.

"Well, I got home and my dad was here. I was shocked, I mean, he was supposed to be gone.

Anyway, he told me he isn't going to France anymore-"

"So, he left that woman?"

"That's what I thought, but no. She's moving here instead."

"Here?"

I don't know much about this society, but I'm pretty sure your mistress doesn't move in with your family.

"Well, not here. The city. I thought that was the worst of it, but I had a long talk with both of my
parents and found out that my mom has known about this woman for a while and is totally okay with it. They've been cheating on each other for years, Niall. They both knew it and dad was just the first one to fall in love with someone. They made this dumb deal to stay together until one of them found someone else they really wanted to be with. It just- I don't know, it makes my family feel like a sham. Now, I just have these questions bouncing around in my head and I keep thinking back to all of these things that have happened over the years and I'm piecing it all together. It seems to have fallen apart after Max died, but even before that, they never wanted to be together. It kills me, because my mom was forced into marrying dad the same way she's trying to force me into marrying Harry and I don't understand how she can do that. She knows how it feels!"

I've done really good so far in not interrupting her.

"Wait, who's Harry?"

This is the second time I've heard his name and I don't like the context its used in. Before, I didn't ask and its probably still too soon and too personal. I hardly know this girl and have no right to be jealous. Yet, I am. She clenches her lips together as if she hadn't meant to mention him.

"It's not what you think. I- well, I guess I can tell you, but you have to promise not to tell anyone,
okay? I just don't want to start off on the wrong foot with lies."

If only she knew what I'm hiding.

"I promise not to tell anyone, Hannah."

"Well, Harry is my ex-boyfriend. He was a jerk and I never wanted to see him again. He's the next generation of the Sinclair family though, so my mom is always pushing me toward him. Anyway, she forced me to go to his house for tea today. That's where I was before I came to Jessica's."

She's talking really fast and I can tell she feels anxious talking about it.

"Well, he asked me to get back with him and when I practically left his house right then and there, he decided to explain himself."
I don't see where this is going. Is she just telling me about how she's getting back with her ex-boyfriend?

"He told me that he's seeing someone and wants me to date him 'publicly' to make our parents happy. I agreed because, well, I mean..."

She trails off and motions her hand between us.

"What?"

"I don't want you thinking I'm crazy or anything, but hypothetically speaking, if we were to start dating or something, I would need a cover."

"Oh."

I try to hide that her words hurt me a little. I already feel as if I'm not good enough for her, but I know it isn't her fault. Surely, her mom would hate me. She plays with the tie on her robe nervously and realizes what she said.

"I really don't mean that in a bad way. It's part of why I like you so much."

"Becuase your parents won't?"

"No, because you aren't a part of the large percentage of pompous assholes they'd like to see me with. Mom, at least. I'm starting to appreciate how dad sees it a little more."

"Wait. Who is that guy dating for it to be so taboo?"

She looks at me, indecision covering her expression.

"I guess you don't have to tell me-"

"No, it's fine. I need to talk to someone about it."

I squeeze her hand lightly and urge her to go on.

"It's a guy."

"Oh, that explains it."

I chuckle in relief. I don't feel nearly as intimidated knowing that her ex is gay. I don't know why I had the right to care before, but I did.

"Yeah, but Niall, you really can't tell Louis. I- god, I'm stupid. I hardly know you and I'm telling
you his deep, dark secrets."

"I'm not going to tell Louis, Hannah. I promised not to tell anyone! You have an Irishman's
word."

"I'm pretty sure they say to never trust an Irishman."

"Pft. Who's they?"

She giggles as I reach over and gently pinch at her side.

"Probably people who have previously trusted Irishmen."

She shrugs matter-of-factly and I push her onto her back and pin her down beneath me playfully. I hold her wrists above her head and we laugh togethe, getting lost in each other's
gaze.

"Smartass."

She grins and I stay in place, simply admiring her searching brown eyes. I lean down slowly and softly peck her light pink lips, keeping it chaste and meaningful. I release her arms and tuck mine under her back, pulling her closer to me and sitting us both up, locking our lips tighter and moving them more swiftly. She suddenly pulls away and rests her legs over my lap and draping her arms over my shoulders.

"So, why did you get kicked out?"

I've avoided it thus far and I don't really want to expose myself for the idiot that I am quite yet.

"Something with my brother. Can we talk about it in the morning? I'm exhausted."

"Of course."

She stands up and I stretch out on the couch, kicking my shoes off and placing them carefully on the floor.

"What are you doing?"

"Going to sleep."

She sits on the opposite end of her bed and scoffs.

"You can sleep in my bed. I locked my door."

I was hoping she would ask, but I didn't want to impose any more than I already have. I grin and hop up, pulling my shirt off, followed by my jeans. She slips off her robe, revealing a tight tank top and extremely tight shorts. I gulp and slip under her covers in only my boxers, mostly to hide my imminent erection. I don't mind her knowing I have one, but it's quite embarrassing how easily it's happening. I silently remind myself about our promise and how I don't want to ruin things with her as she turns off the light from a remote and scoots closer to me. I extend my arm and she slides agaisnt me, resting her head in the curve of my neck. I peck her nose and lips quickly and she nuzzles into me more.

"Goodnight, Niall."

"G'night, Hannah."

I fall asleep with a smile on face, despite the massive amount of problems I've gotten myself into in the past twenty-four hours. I'll think about all of that tomorrow.

Notes

Hello <3 I hope you aren't too mad at me for taking a while to update. :* I've just been busy.

Do you think Niall is going to tell Hannah about Allie? Will Greg change his mind about kicking Niall out? What will Niall do otherwise?

Please give me feedback and let me know what you think about this story. xx I love all of your comments! They make me so happy. Also, please subscribe and rate if you haven't yet. Thank you guys so much!!!