'Strong' A Niall Horan Fan Fiction

It had been a very hard day. To go from acting like this strong girl with nothing bothering her, to go to this weak and vulnerable teenager who hurts herself when she isn't happy is so frustrating. I knew it was only a matter of time before my parents found out what had happened and to say I was terrified was an understatement. Not that they'd be mad, they were not like that. I was terrified of how upset and disappointed they would be...
I knew there was nothing I could do now so I turned on my side and tried to sleep.
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'Kayleigh, Kayleigh sweetie, snap out of your daydream and listen to your doctor with your father and I.' I looked dazed at the two in seats beside me. I dazedly looked at the doctor who looked back at me with sympathetic smile causing me to look away from him again. I zoned out again and only refocused when I noticed the doctor leaving. Sometimes I honestly feel like there is a monkey inside my head with cymbals smashing together distracting me from the outside world.
'Kayleigh, baby girl, why didn't you tell us you were suffering? WE are a family, we can go through this together. You're a beautiful, normal sized girl who doesn't need to live in self-hatred alone. We're here for you.'
I mentally rolled my eyes and scoffed at my mother's usual words. They didn't get it. They just didn't and would never understand.
After listening to them drone on about how I should see my self-worth and my individual beauty, they kissed me on my forehead and left.
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'Kayleigh Long? There's a Niall Horan here to see you.' I snapped away and realized yet again I had fallen asleep. I wish it was the fact I hadn't been eating or sleeping that was to blame for me not sleeping but it was just me being my usual overtired self.
I looked at the nurse, she was very pretty...what had she said again? 'Niall Horan is here to see you.'
...Wait!
I looked at the door and saw that bleached blonde hair and almost choked on my own saliva! Was Amela here with him? Harold? I was so confused. I just nodded, and imagined that I was a confident model who woke up looking perfect even though I knew I looked like I was after getting a potato thrown at my face-with no makeup, an ugly gown and messy hair...
Niall walked in and stopped me in my thoughts.
'Hello Kayleigh, I hope it's okay that I came to visit today?' Niall said awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. I saw his eyes widen and his mouth scowl for a second before he directed his focus on me. I was so amazed and confused with this boy. Was this like the 'Split' situation and it wasn't him it was Patricia? I don't think so.
'It's fine,' I croaked out, 'please take a seat.' He sat down like a little kid who was invited to the big boy table. His eyes found my lunch tray and his eyes sparked up as he saw the chocolate pudding.
'Pudding!' He said before ''composing'' himself, 'sorry, I like pudding...'
'You can have it,' I told him, 'I won't eat it anyways.' I saw his worried eyes look at me before it looked like he was about to cry. I suddenly realized what was said and rolled my eyes at myself, 'I mean, they gave me this lunch accidental, that's why I haven't touched it. I'm meant to get weaned back on to food. It will only go on the bin. Eat away.'
He still didn't look happy-it was almost like he was having an internal war with himself-but with shaking hands he picked up the cup and plastic spoon.
'So, Kayleigh, your parents would have had to inform the teachers about your condition but I have every student told you passed out from exhaustion and are taking a few days off to catch up on lost sleep.' Niall said like it meant nothing, with a mouth full of pudding. I looked at him with relief...I had honestly thought I would have had to move schools.
'Thank you, Niall,' I said calmly, 'you didn't have to do that but I appreciate it.'
'It's no problem,' Niall put down the empty pudding cup, and looked at me. Like truly, looked at me. Not past me, not at me, but into my soul. 'Kayleigh, I never meant to hurt you. I never mean to hurt anyone. I was…taking my anger out on you because I thought you'd brush it off because you play so confident...' Niall looked down, looked around the room, then back at me and cautiously took my shaking hands. 'You're so strong Kayleigh, and I'm not saying that because I was an asshole to you! I genuinely mean it! I don't know what it's like to hurt yourself but I can only imagine...thank you for not going further...thank you for still being here...and thank you for giving me a second chance...'
I looked at our hands, to his face, to his hands on mine, to his face...this exchange went on for a few seconds. I broke the tension and took my hands back:
'Friends?'
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'So, what your telling me is...you truthfully from the bottom of your heart believe Harry and Amela won't ever get together?' Niall said to me, from his position lying down beside me on the bed. He turned his head to look at me and I stared into his crystal blue eyes. To say we had bonded in the last two hours was an understatement. I guess if you put two animals in a tightly enclosed space, they realize they both can live off what they have and survive...
...or else one kills the other but I was hoping this wouldn't take that turn.
'Okay it's not that I don't want them to get together...it's just I feel like they'll hurt each other beyond repair before they get there...and if they do get there, well they'll have a lot of repairing to do. I love them both but I just do not see it happening...Besides every time I assume or hope for something it goes downhill so it’s best to just wait and see.’
Niall's P.O.V.
I couldn't help but stare at Kayleigh. God, she was beautiful. There was still something off about her but I'm sure smell like dogs so who was I to judge? Kayleigh wasn't usually the type of girl I go for, I usually go for dark haired models, but with that being said I always loved a girl who could eat like a human...
...But I guess she wasn't like that anymore-I had destroyed her. God I'm such a fool. She gave me an easy tired smile, I could tell she was exhausted but I couldn't leave her just yet. I realized I'd been in my own little bubble for a bit too long so I snapped out of it. The handy thing about being part dog is you can be in your own little world but still hear everything being said to you.
'You're right-let's just see what happens,' I spoke easy, being around Kayleigh was calm and easy if I'm being honest. It was like, talking to a friend you hadn't spoken to in ages. 'So Ms. Kayleigh, what is Ireland like in your perspective?'
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Kayleigh and myself had been talking coming up to four hours, and I was absolutely shocked I hadn't given her the tie of day before. I wasn't quite sure if it was my stubbornness or my guilt that was changing my view of her, but regardless I was loving it. I felt like I was back in that closet with her, talking about my dad. The comfort of her beside me, the ease of her voice, the smell of her hair. I should be saying she smelt like shit considering I had very good dog senses and she didn't have the strength to stand up, but I could tell she was conscious of that and sprayed herself with a very sweet spray.
'Niall..what did I do? I know you want to drop the topic, and I get that, but I need an answer. I've been going over it for a while now and I'm so unsure. It wasn't like I said something, that happens a lot if I'm honest but it was even before that. I'm sorry but I overthink and I linger on everything and I'm just very confused. Why...? What did I..? Just...' She started stuttering and her eyes were dazed as she herself was searching for an answer-How was I meant to answer? I'm very sorry, you just smell like something dead but with a hint of peach? I'm deeply apologetic, but being around you eases me and sets of a fire that makes me want to both start and end wars...
What do I say, I didn't know, all I did know was that even without makeup on and her hair disheveled, she was still beautiful..
I didn't have an answer but I knew what I wanted to say so I slowly leaned in...
"Niall, I can't remember if I brushed my teeth!" Kayleigh loudly explained turning away causing me to pull back and tilt my head back in laughter. Oh jesus, was this girl something else.
Oh jesus...I liked Kayleigh!

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