When Nightmares Become Reality

When we reached the door, Louis rang the doorbell, I hadn't said a word back nor had I ever acknowledged him. “Jazz?” he said to me, I could feel his warm breath on my cheek. “Jazz?” I didn't move. “Jasmine!” His voice rising, the door opened and Louis’ attention went to the door. Harry opened to door fully, revealing a half-eaten chip in his mouth. Louis placed his hand behind my back and walked me into the lounge room. I took a seat next to Zayn and looked down to my hands.
“Did everything go alright at the police station?” Zayn held a chip up to my mouth and I opened it, he placed the chip inside my teeth and I chewed it slowly.
I swallowed. “Yes” I whispered. My stomach growled loud enough for Zayn to hear.
“You should eat more” he held out a packet of chips and I felt queasy looking down at the oil covered potato chips.
“No thanks” I looked down at my hands again, “I feel sick, I’m actually going to go for a walk, get some fresh air” I got up and started to head for the door. I heard footsteps follow behind me but continued to walk.
“Eleanor, do you mind if I borrow some blankets?” Niall said from closely behind me.
I didn't hear a reply when I reached the door and pulled it open, I instantly wished I didn't. The wind whipped around me; causing goose bumps to form on my exposed skin. I walked out the door and started to head down the path way, even though it was cold, it was still nice to clear my head. I had walked a couple of steps when I heard the door open and close behind me and a footsteps run up to me. I heard Niall cough and wrap a blanket around my shoulders, I instantly felt grateful that he had asked.
Niall walked ahead off me and turned to face me, walking backwards. “Let’s go this way, there’s a park a couple of streets away.” I nodded and followed him to the isolated park. We sat on a park bench and didn't talk for a couple of minutes. I looked down at my hands again and Niall cleared his throat, his mouth opening and closing as if he wanted to start talking but not sure how to. “Jazz” he let out a sigh and I looked up at him. “I know that you're upset about Liz and I completely understand why, but you shouldn't shut out the people that are trying to help you.”
I looked down at my fingers again. “I know Ni-“
“And I just want you to know that we’re here, we won’t abandon you or anything, we won’t let you go through this alone, or at least I won’t” I let out a breath and looked out at the park, the street light letting of a dim glow, making the park a little eerie looking. “You can talk to me, Danielle, Liam, Louis, Eleanor, Zayn, Harry, Eleanor or even me?”
Did he realize he said me twice; I looked up to his face and seen his smile. “We could set up a counselor if you wanted one?”
“No, no counselors!” I said making my voice echo.
He bit his lip, “Okay, just talk to someone, please” he begged.
I felt angry, angry that he actually thought talking was that easy. I knew that the note was still in the back pocket of my jeans, it felt like it was getting heavier and heavier. I took in a big breath. “You want me to talk Niall?!” I sat up straight and turned my body to face him. “Fine, I’ll talk. When Louis and I got out of the police station I found this on the windscreen.” I pulled out the note and slammed it into the table. He opened it and read it, my anger increasing with every second that passed. “It’s a threat Niall, I don’t want to talk to any of you, because I’ll get close to you and I don’t want anybody else to get hurt because of me! Everyone gets hurt because of me, but not this time. Not if I can help it, I won’t get close to you, I can’t” I took a breath trying to steady my frantic heartbeat. “So you see know why I don’t want to talk, why I don’t want to get close” I bit my lip as a few tears fell from my eyes. Niall brought his hands up and cradled my face, his thumbs rubbing my cheeks, drying the tears that fell. I stared straight at him now. “I don’t want to speak because ...” My voice was now at a whisper. “Because I'm scared Niall, I'm so scared.” I couldn't handle this anymore; Niall released my face and put his arms around my shoulders, pulling me to his chest.
I sniffled and Niall pulled his head back to look at my face. “Jazz, it’s just a silly little note, nothing is going to happen, believe me. They always say stuff like this. I'm sure it’s just a stupid practical joke. Jazz, nothing is going to change how I feel right now; nothing is going to stop me from holding you and nothing, not anybody! Is going to change what I'm going to do right now” before I had time to reply, Niall's mouth was on top of mine and my eyes slipped closed. My lips were cold from the wind but soon warmed up. I started to pull my head back and started to open my eyes, Niall's face was still close to mine, his eyes a lighter shade of blue now. He kissed me lightly on the lips again before saying “Come on, they might be worried, let’s go back.” We got off the park bench and Niall wrapped the blanket tighter around me.
We began walking down the quiet street and Niall wrapped his arm around my shoulders bringing me closer to him. “Do you ever get scared of a crazy fan kidnapping you or something?” I looked up at Niall, his face neutral.
“Nope, I always have eyes on me. Even when I don’t see them, there’s always somebody watching.” My mouth fell open. I didn't see anybody at the park but that didn't mean that somebody didn't see it.
“So somebody just saw that?” My face flushing red; luckily for the dark skies that Niall couldn't see.
“Most likely” He nodded still with a calm expression.
“Well thanks for telling me!” I laughed and pushed his arm of my shoulder walking away, obviously pretending to be angry but fighting to hide my laugh. I could hear Niall's footsteps close behind me and the shadow of his body coming closer, through the shadow I could see his arm reaching out to grab me, but I started to jog before it could touch me. I heard Niall curse before running after me. I laughed now, running across the street, zig zagging over the road. Niall reached me in now time and wrapped his arms around my stomach picking me up and spinning me around. “I’ll always catch you” he whispered into me ear as he placed me back down.

Notes