Temptations [Niall Horan]

Chapter 43

I ran.

I ran as fast as I could, pausing only a moment so I could slip off my heels.

I ran until I couldn't run any longer.

When I reached a park a few blocks away from the party, I searched for somewhere to hide. When my eyes landed on a big oak, I quickly ran to it, getting behind it.

I sunk down, my back against the rough bark as I broke down, pulling my knees to my chest.

I sobbed, tears pouring down my face.

What had I done?

Niall had proposed and... I rejected him.

How could I be so cold hearted?!

But then again... What was I supposed to say? I was a junior in college... I was way too young to even think about getting married.

Besides, Niall had told me he never wanted to get married. He wanted to stay single.

But... Then what was this?

The confusion I was feeling right now was unreal. The boy I desperately loved had proposed to me, yet I turned him down. Why has he proposed if he wanted to stay single together?

But then, it hit me.

I recalled another incident... When he had lied about how true feelings for children. He had told me he hated them, but after I'd caught him, he'd admitted how he really felt...

Was this the same type of thing?

He'd lied about staying single. Or perhaps... I changed his mind.

I pieced together the facts until I realized...

Niall must have meant everything he'd just said to me.

I cries into my knees, this time a small smile on my face. He loved me, enough to spend his life with me. He wanted me.

But... Why?

I was nothing special. I wasn't half as pretty as the other girls on campus, or here for that matter. It seemed as if we fought more often than none, so why would he want someone like me?

But none of that even mattered now.

I'd ruined my chances with the best man I'd ever have in my life.

In the midst of all my crying, I didn't hear the soft footsteps approaching me...

It startled me when my hand was taken in someone else's, the imprint of a warm body sitting next to me catching my attention.

I raised my head, my eyes meeting with Niall's, filled with sadness.

"Ronnie... I'm so sorry..." he whispered.

I stayed silent, staring at him, a cloud of emotions swarming in my mind.

"I didn't know you'd get so... so worked up about..." he struggled to speak, looking away from me sadly, "Ya must hate me, huh?"

What have I done...

"No... No, Niall, no. I'm so sorry," I whispered, tears streaming down my cheeks.

Although he faced away from me, his hand still held mine tighter than ever.

"Then why? Why don't..." he swallowed, desperately trying not to allow his tears to fall. His voice wavered as he continued, his eyes shutting tightly. "Why don't ya love me like I love ya?"