If You Let Me Know... [N.H.]

31. This Town

"Niall?" I mumble, my eyes filled with tears.

"Hey, hey" he hushes me, turning the bedside lamp on.

This is not Dan's room. Where are we? It's a hotel room, that's for sure. But honestly, I don't care where we are.

He's here.

I look at him, and I can't help but start crying, holding him tight.

"What is it, Victoria?" he asks, pulling me closer to him

"I love you" I mumble between the tears.

My eyes are puffy, my nose is runny, I'm a crying mess. But I don't care. I don't care one single bit. He's here. He's with me.

"I love you too" he whispers, running his fingers through my hair.

"Niall..." I smile, backing away and looking at him, just to hug him again.

"Shh, Vic..." he whispers, "I'm here..."

Wait.

That's not Niall's voice. I back away but Niall is not there anymore.

No.

He was here. I was hugging him!

"NIALL!" I scream.

I gasp and open my eyes.

"It's okay" Dan says putting his hand on my shoulder, "It was just a nightmare. You're okay. I'm here"

What?

I take my hand to my face. It's wet. I'm crying. It was all a nightmare. It was all a dream. I close my eyes.

"He was with me..." I sob.

"You cried his name" Dan nods, "Twice"

"It felt so real..." I mumble, "What time is it?"

"I don't know. Four? Five o'clock?" he says, "Go back to sleep" he whispers.

I try to retort, but I feel my eyelids closing again and the only thing I'm able to think is that I really wish I don't dream with Niall again.

I wake what seems seconds later, just to find Dan at the end of the bed, putting a t-shirt on.

"Good morning" he smiles, "It's a beautiful day to be a tourist in London. C'mon, get up, Natalie made us pancakes"

"What?"

"Well, she made you pancakes but I'm sure she'll let me steal a couple"

"No, you said it's a beautiful day to be a tourist" I mumble rubbing my eyes.

"Oh, yeah: I'm not letting you stay on your own and inside today. Take a shower and put some warm clothes on, we're going to be touring London. No buts"

"Dan..." I whine.

"Uh-uh" he cuts me, "Whining 'Dan...' is pretty much like a 'but' so... no. No excuses allowed"

I sigh. I might be stubborn, but if this were a competition, Dan would probably take the crown. I know it won't matter what I say, Dan is determined to tour around London so the best idea is to just do as he says.

If I'm honest, I'm happy he's decided to keep an eye on me. So I take a shower, put some warm clothes on and join him in the kitchen.

"You look pretty" Dan smiles, and when I look up at him, I realize he's not saying it to make me feel better. Well, maybe he is. But he's not lying either.