Light On {Niam Love Story}

Two-

A/N: This is dedicated to LouisIsSuperman for being the first comment. Also, I wrote this chapter while listening mainly to Lonely Day by System of a Down, so I recommend listening to that, aye? That being said, enjoy the chapter, dolls. x

"Such a lonely day, shouldn't exist. It's a day that I'll never miss."

Only one word could sum up the rest of the night, and pretty much the entire afternoon - sleep.

Niall didn't dream; rather, he had been swallowed by the black and red void of his normal sleep. He didn't have to take Sleep Aids - he had a rough night, and he had crashed nearly immediately. He hadn't been bothered with picking up his mess; the maid was coming on Friday, she would take care of it for him. That was her job, after all.

He slept through his alarm, which ended up shutting itself off after about thirty seconds. He was in a deep, deep sleep. He preferred it this way - as he could feel no physical pain while sleeping. He couldn't remember any of last night; it didn't haunt him through his sleep, as he thought it would have.

Meanwhile, as Niall was sleeping ever so peacefully, his phone was going crazy - buzzing with text messages, and ringing due to calls from not only the boys, but management as well. The majority of them, however, came from Josh - who, at the meeting with the rest of the lads and Simon, was going absolutely crazy with worry.

He was the only one that saw Niall in that horrible, awful state - bloody, bruised, and broken. He had kept his word, and didn't tell any of the boys what had happened. Luckily for him, Niall had told Zayn that he was leaving beforehand - if it hadn't been for that, there would be no way Josh could keep his mouth shut.

"You shouldn't have let him walk home," Liam was scolding Zayn. "He could be seriously hurt - why do you think he isn't answering any of our calls? Damnit, Zayn! He could be laying face down in a ditch right now!"

"He's not," Josh blurted before he could stop himself. All eyes immediately went on him. "He...Niall, he called me after he got home from the club. We talked for a bit, and he was...totally fine. He's probably just knackered, you know?"

Good thing Josh knew how to lie.

Bronson, one of the boys' publicists, let out a groan, "Well, we can't sit here and wait for the bloke all day long. Can't one of them just go get him?"

Liam sighed, and picked up his phone. He doubted it would work, since he had already tried about seven times, but what harm could it do? Maybe Josh was right - maybe Niall had just been sleeping. But, Liam knew Niall always set an alarm - no way he could've slept through that.

Ring...

Ring...

Ring-

"Ughh, hello?"

Sleep was certainly thrown in with that little Irish accent of his, but there was also something else - something that Liam could not place his finger on. He got up from his chair, and made his way into the hallway. He didn't want to the rest of the lads to hear his conversation - he wasn't sure why, he just felt the need to talk to his best mate in private.

Once he was out of earshot, Liam spoke, "Aye, Niall, where the bloody hell are you?"

"Uh, in bed?" Niall's reply came quickly, and Liam groaned audibly. Good thing he couldn't see Niall flinch; as he was worried Liam was irritated with him. "Why? What's going on?"

Liam shook his head. Hadn't Niall been reminded? "Um, duh? The meeting? Simon, management - ALL of One Direction? The very important meeting that you were supposed to be on time to - but you were to busy sleeping to bloody remember?"

Maybe that was a bit harsh.

"I was sleeping, Liam," Niall's voice practically shook. In either fear or anger, Liam couldn't tell. "Don't get your knickers in a twist. I'll be there soon. Maybe."

The call ended, and Liam could feel his blood running cold. Did Niall just snap at him?

He stormed back into the room, and plunked down into his seat beside Zayn, "He said he'll be here soon. Maybe."

Bronson was seething, "Maybe?!"

No one spoke - until Niall came in. Immediately, they all sensed a problem. The small blond wasn't jumping off the walls, annoying the piss out of Simon, or shoving Bronson the finger. Without making eye contact with anyone in the room, Niall took the last open seat - next to Louis, and across from Zayn. He stared down at the table, shaking as he noticed the uncomfortable silence, and everyone's eyes locked on him. He just sat there, waiting.

Harry rested a hand on Niall's, "Hey buddy, you okay?"

About ready to jump out of his skin, Niall flicked his wrist towards his chest, bringing his small hand with him, "Don't touch me."

That, was odd.

Bronson, obviously not minding the current tension in the room, open up a file, and handed it to Liam, "Profits, from the sales of your album."

Niall paid no mind to anyone in the room - he spent the majority of the meeting staring down at his pale knuckles. The boys were paying more attention to the heaps of good news they received than Niall - who was about ready to get up and run for the door. He wanted to go home, have a few drinks, and sleep the days away - at least in his dreams, things weren't this stressful.

"Hey, Ni," Liam's voice broke Niall from his thoughts. "We're all going to Harry's house - for movies, videos games...you know, the works. You coming along."

Yeah, you REALLY want me to swing along, Niall clenched his fists. Like you would pay any attention to me at all.

"No."

No.

Such a blunt, angry word that sounded all wrong coming from Niall's soft red lips. He wasn't mean to people without meaning to be, and right now, it sounded like he wanted Liam to go jump off a bridge. The brunette looked around the room - seeing if anyone had heard the bitter words from Niall. Bronson and Simon were talking about something obviously quite secret. Louis, Zayn, and Harry, were all gushing about some new intern or something - Liam wasn't sure, he wasn't really listening to them. Josh, on the other hand, was biting his lip - looking at the ground in guilt.

He knows something...

Liam shook his head, and turned back to Niall, "Why not? We can even order pizza - you love movie, video game, pizza nights! Why won't you come?"

"Because, I don't want to," Niall hissed.

With that, the blond stood from the chair he had been sitting in, and made for the doors. But, no way was Liam letting him go. He was getting to the bottom of this, now. He speed-walked over, and clutched at Niall's elbow - not hard, with no force. Yet, the blond cried out, and, almost in a spasm, flicked Liam off him.

"Don't touch me!!"

Liam had never heard Niall scream like that, and honestly, it frightened him. All eyes in the room watched as Niall ran out - yet none of them could see his tears. Angrily, Louis turned to Liam, "What the hell did you do to him?!"

Concern being replaced with anger, Liam's jaw dropped, "Me?! I didn't do anything! Niall's the one being a little brat!"

Brat.

Brat.

Brat.

Niall was in tears. Even if he was running down the hall, trying to make it to the car without being seen, he could still hear Liam's bitter words. What the hell had possesed him to say such a thing? In retrospect, Niall had said his share of obscene words as well, but if Liam hadn't scared him shitless, he never would've done that. Besides, it's not like he had hit him, or swore at him. Simply, he wasn't in the mood for hanging out.

Why couldn't Liam understand that?

Why can't anybody understand that?