"Talia," I hear a hushed whisper say. "Talk to me, c'mon. Please. Wake up." It's Niall's voice. I want to answer him and tell him I'm fine, but it's harder than you think when you've just passed out. I feel a cold rag on my forehead and my eyes open slowly. I see a worried Niall with my head in his lap. "Oh, thank God." he whispers. I ask, "What happened?" "You collapsed about an hour ago. I tried to just talk to you and wake you up, but it didn't work. Why did you faint? Wait.. Actually, what have you eaten today?" "I don't know.." I say. But I do know. I didn't eat anything today, but I don't want him to know that. "Well, first thing tomorrow, I'm taking you to Waffle House. No excuses." he says, smiling. It's 1:45am. "Niall? Would Paul kill you if you just stayed over here tonight?" "Nah. He'll understand. Plus, tomorrow I don't have a schedule, we can just go do something fun with the boys." Closing my eyes and curling into a ball, I feel Niall lie next to me, his arm protectively around me. As I start to drift off to sleep, he whispers,"Goodnight, Talia." But I was not prepared for my dreams that night. My dream takes me back to my first day of school, two years ago. Braces, glasses, 14 year-old awkwardness, etc. I walk into the hallway and see that my locker is right underneath Sophie Lillian's. Sophie. Long, barbie-doll blonde hair, all brand name clothes and shoes, plenty of eyeliner and mascara, you get the idea. With my head down, I cautiously approach my locker. Sophie greets me, "Hey there, Talia! So glad we get to be locker neighbors this year!" And with a smile and a smack to my forehead, she's off to homeroom. Tripping over my feet on my way into class, I'm late. Oh, joy. In P.E.; Who's cheering me on? Sophie. "Faster, cupcake! At least break a sweat!" After school? I was beat up. By who? Sophie and her "friends." I kept smiling. I never told anyone. I covered up the bruises. I acted like it didn't affect me. I sat with my only friend since 3rd grade, Jamie, at lunch every day. I'm convinced she was an angel. She had green eyes, straight, light brown hair, and I never saw her frowning. Every day these things happened. I remember every single day. That was the year I stopped. Stopped trying to reach out to people who hate me for no reason. Stopped eeating regularly. Apparently, being healthy is being fat. Stopped caring. Jamie died in a car accident that spring break. Drunk driver. Now, there I am at Jamie's funeral. Her in the coffin, still looking as beautiful as ever. Her three year-old brother, sobbing at her side, shaking her arm, screaming for her to wake up. But she never will.

I jolt awake, tears running down my face. I shake my head to try to get rid of the memories. Luckily, Niall is a deep sleeper, so I didn't wake him. It's 6am. I don't care, I'm showering. I maneuver my way out of his arms and off the bed. After I shower, I put on jean shorts, white sandals, and a hot pink Aeropostale top. I don't know how I'm going to cover these ugly stitches with makeup. Well, it turns out that base seems to mostly hide it. While I'm drying my hair, I hear Niall in my room. He's on the phone. "Yeah. Well, are you sure? Alright. So they'll be there as well? Sweet. See you lads soon." He hangs up and puts his phone in his pocket. I walk in and ask, "Liam?" Niall knits his eyebrows together. "Uh, yeah. How did you--" I interrupt,"Niam IS real. I knew it." Niall just laughs and shakes his head. OMG. They do know about our jokes... He tells me that he the boys are going swimming today, and they want us girls to come! Amy, Bailey, me, and One Direction. Going swimming. Well, Zayn's not swimming, of course..Then I'm in my room, packing a bag of clothes for later. By 8:00 we are both ready to go, and I take Niall to my parents and introduce them. "Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson," Niall says while he shakes their hands. My parents just stand there for a minute, shocked. Suddenly, my mother blurts out, "The song 'What Makes You Beautiful'?! Omg! My fave song! EVER! Niall Horan! In my house! Omg omg omg!" She looks like a little 10 year-old fan-girling. Giggling, grinning, and bouncing up and down. Good Lord, help me. Niall tries to stifle his laughter. "Well, we gotta go now, bye! Love y'all!" I say as I drag him out the door. Niall drives straight to Waffle House, just like he said he would. As we walk through the glass doors of the restaurant, I stop short. A painfully familiar face greets me.