The Way Things Change

Chapter 23

The evening went by and I ended up sitting in the garden, alone, on a bench. I really didn’t mind. I couldn’t handle anymore of the drunk guys trying to grope me. It brought back memories. Bad ones.

I had met all the boys at some point and they had all complimented me for my new look. Niall had insisted to stay at my side for a while. That was nice. It kept a lot of hands from my body. Niall had been holding me around the waist all the time. He was very protective of me. When I had left for the bathroom, I couldn’t find him again, so I quickly moved outside to get some privacy. I had my back turned to the party, looking into the dark garden. I could see some couples making out, but it was too dark too see who they were.

“Can I have a seat?” I heard a voice behind me. I looked up. There was standing a red headed guy. He seemed familiar. One of his arms was covered in tattoos. I had the urge to cuddle up to him. He kind of looked like a teddy bear. “Sure” I said, pointing to the empty space next to me.

“I’m Ed. What’s your name?” he asked me. He was nice, not one of those groping men. “I’m Kate.”

We sat there in silence for a while. I didn’t know what to say to him. “So…” He started. “What are you doing here, sitting all alone?”

“I don’t know… I just needed to get away I guess. I really wasn’t in a mood to party, but they kind of made me.” I glanced to the side. Ed was looking at me. There really was something familiar about him. “What about you? Why aren’t you partying?” I asked him.

“The same. I also needed to get away” Again silence. But it wasn’t awkward. “So how do you know the boys?” he asked.

“Well, I kind of live here.” I said “But not for long though” I quickly added.

“Oh you are THAT Kate.” He said.

“What do you mean THAT Kate?” I asked, looking over at him. He suddenly seemed shy.

“Well uhmm…” he fumbled “They boys have told me some things about you.”

“Like what?” I interrogated him.

“Well just things. That you were living here for example.”

“Keep going” I said. What had they been telling about me? I really wanted to know.

But Harry came to his rescue. “Hey. What are you guys talking about?” Ed seemed relieved. “Oh nothing really. Just stuff.” Was he always this vague? Or was he just trying to avoid saying anything he shouldn’t have?

“So Kate, I see you have met my good friend Ed Sheeran. What do you think of him then?”

“I KNEW YOU LOOKED FAMILIAR!” I yelled. Both Harry and Ed jumped a bit. “Oh sorry. I’m just really bad at recognizing faces. But I LOVE your music! I listen to it a lot when I need to relax.” I smiled shyly, suddenly aware that I had been sitting next to probably the best singer songwriter of all time. 

“Well thank you. And that was actually something I already knew about you.” He smiled at me cheekily.

“Which part?” I laughed.

“Both actually. Harry told me about you.” Ed answered, making Harry’s eyes grow wider, as if he had told a huge secret.

“So you tell your friends about me, huh?” I said, the humour evident in my voice.

“Yes. I tell them how awful a person you are and how ugly you… “ My face fell. I knew they had all been lying to me. I really wasn’t pretty. I quickly turned away, I didn’t want to show how hurt I was.

“NO! I didn’t mean that” Harry quickly said. “I’m really, really sorry. I meant that as a joke. I thought you were in on it. Kate, look at me!” He grabbed my chin to turn my face towards his. I didn’t want to look at him. He forced me to look into his eyes.

“I really didn’t mean that. I’m sorry. And you are the most beautiful woman here tonight. You are just too stubborn to see.” I could see in his eyes that he meant it, but I was still hurt. He couldn’t just say that and pretend like it didn’t happen. I got up, wanting to get as far away as possible. I took my heels of and walked barefooted into the darkness of the garden. “Fuck.” I heard Harry mutter. “You really messed that up.” Ed told him. I didn’t want to listen anymore.

I didn’t need to cry or anything. I just needed to think. I didn’t want to face Harry anymore this evening. So when I saw Harry and Ed disappear into the house, I decided to go back. I was just going to bed now. The party was ending anyway. I could see a lot of people leaving and some were passed out different places in the house. While I was walking up the stairs I heard Niall call for me. “Kate, wait up. I need to talk to you.”

Niall was drunk, I could smell the alcohol on him. I sat down on the stairs and he came to sit next to me. “So are you having a good time?” He asked me. .

“I was. Now I just want to go to bed, I’m really tired.”

“Okay. I guess the party is sort of over anyway.” He got the hiccups. We just sat there for a while till it was over.

“I must say you looked AMAZING tonight. You were the most beautiful woman in there. Really. Everybody was looking at you!” I didn’t know if he was telling the truth. I was confused. I most certainly wasn’t the prettiest in there and yes I had seen some look at me, but not everybody. I kept quiet.

“So… When are you moving out?” Niall asks. Wow, that was quite the change if subject.

“In about two weeks I think. I just have to talk to the realtor once more to be sure.”

“Wow that’s soon.” He says. Some emotion flashed over his face, but I can’t make out what it is before it is gone again. 

“Look Kate, there is something I’ve been meaning to tell you… It’s not easy for me to say, but… I think… No, I KNOW…” his voice wanders. What? He knows what?

“What is it Niall? You can tell me.” I put my hand on his leg, looking him in the eyes. They fill with hope.

“Kate, I like you. I really like you.” He says. “Niall, I like you too.”

“No I mean like you like you.” His eyes big. I jerked my hand away. “Oh.” Is the only thing I’m able to say. And I left him there on the stairs. I didn’t know what to say. He can’t like me like that. He just can’t.

I was almost sleeping when I hear someone stumble into my room. My body tensed. Who could it be? The person crawls into my bed and put his arms around me. It’s Niall. And he is even more drunk than before on the stairs. “Kate… Kate, wake up.” He is whining. “I really, really like you. And I know you like me. Come on, this could be perfect.” He clumsily removed his clothes, so he is only in his boxers. He got under the sheets and started spooning me. I could feel his boner against my back. I really hated this. He shouldn’t be here. “Niall let go of me” I said sternly. But he just holds on tighter. “I know you want to Kate. Why do you keep fighting it.” I didn’t like where this was going. He had to let go. I was panicking. “Niall get off!” I yelled, trying to get out of his grip.

This was not good, not good at all. I finally managed to get out of his grip. “Get out, Niall. Go sleep it off”

“But I know you want me! Stop fighting it” he stumbled towards me, trying to grab me. I quickly moved away. “GET OUT!” I was screaming at the top of my lungs. Zayn appeared in my door.

“What’s going on? Are you okay Kate?” he asked sleepily.

“I’m fine. Niall just doesn’t want to leave. He is really drunk.” I answered. “Oh come on Kate. I know you can’t resist me.” Niall muttered.

“Can you please get him away from me?” I begged. My whole body was shaking. I was really scared. “Of course. Are you sure you are okay?” Zayn looked concerned.

“I’m fine. Seriously. Just get him out!” But I wasn’t fine. I needed to get away. Anywhere but here. I knew this night would be a disaster. I waited till I was sure everybody was sleeping. Then I jumped out the window and over the fence with one bag of clothing.