I Would Swim All the Oceans (Just to See Him Smile)

Chapter 8

I had woken up still sleeping with my head on Liam's chest. He was watching a football game but the volume was low because he didn't want to wake me. I stirred and rubbed my eyes.

"Morning," Liam spoke. "Or should I say, afternoon?" He said with a chuckle.

I looked at the clock. "11:50? It's too early!" I said with a groan and nudged my head back into his shoulder.

He smiled wide at me and went back to his TV program. I heard a door open, but I was too comfortable to bother looking who it was. I heard the person walk in quickly. They must be in a  rush, whoever they are.

"Jessica." I heard Niall's accent call my name firmly from in front of the couch we were sitting on.

I slowly turned my head towards him. I'd forgotten all about last night until now. I felt so many different emotions. All I could think to do was act normal.

"Yes...?" I asked in a tired voice. 

"Don't act like you don't know." Niall's face was turning red now, and I saw his lips tremble as if he were about to cry.

"Know what? That you got drunk as hell and got freaky with some strange girls? Yeah, I know all about it." I stood up from the comfort of Liam's warmth and stood right in front of Niall, looking him straight in the eyes. I could tell he was tearing up, and I was now, too.

He moved his hand from behind his back, holding a magazine that had a picture of me and Liam sitting outside the club last night.

I stared at the big red headline: Niall Horan's GF secretly in love with his best bandmate!

A salty tear rolled down my cheek. "Lies!" I screamed. 

Liam was standing now, away from us, but listening, hearing the argument that could end my relationship with Niall for ever. Damn paparazzi, spreading lies and rumors...

"Niall," Liam stepped in. "You don't under-"

"I understand completely." Niall responding, his voice shaking. He turned to me, "You don't want to be with me? Fine. Be with Liam. I don't care. He's always been better than me anyways."

I tried to stop him, but he was already storming out of the house and onto the patio. He shut the door behind him with a bang.

Me and Liam faced each other, our faces filled with embarassment and who-knows-what. Niall was hurt, and it wasn't our fault, it was the media's.

Neither of us knew what to do. I peeked out the window and saw Niall running his hands through his beautiful blonde locks, like he always does when he's nervous. Countless tears fell to his cheeks, off his chin, and to the ground, staining the concrete in a million different places.

"I"m going to go talk to him," I said, almost shaking I was so scared.

Liam nodded back and sunk to the couch, just laying there, staring into nothing.

I opened the door quietly, and closed it gently. I padded over to where he was sitting. I saw his stomach rise and fall with his breath unevenly. He sniffled and wiped his eyes. I sat right beside him and tried to look into his eyes. He was hiding his face, he looked towards the grassy ground and never at me.

"I love you," I whispered, too shooken up to be any louder.

No response.

I sighed and looked out at the distance.

then Niall turned to me and siad between breaths, "You love him."

I shook my head left to right, and tilted his face towards mine. "I love you. Do you really belive a filthy celebrity gossip magazine over me?" 

He looked back at the ground and nodded his head no.

"Look at me," I said in a hushed tone. "I saw you with some girls, I know you were drunk, and I know that was the only reason you got moochey on them." I was struggling to find the right words. "I went outside with Liam to calm down, get away from it all. I'm not a very big party girl. Liam's not a very big party boy. We just talked and that's it. Nothing more. He's like a brother. You're like a blessing. You're my blessing." 

I saw him try to smile through his tears and trembling. I smiled a sad smile at him.

"I trust you, Niall."

"I trust you, Jess."

With that, we hugged for a good couple minutes, Niall squeezed out a last bit of tears, and we shuffled back inside, holding hands.

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Ehh yeah, kinda  short chapter. I wasn't sure where to go with it. xD I'm not portraying Niall as a jerk ok? He's a sweetie. :)