The Water Boy (Narry)

Chapter 28

Harry shook his head and looked down at the ground with a sigh before reaching his hand into the pocket of his pants to pull out his phone, checking the time and quietly sighing to himself before he picked his head up again . "I don't think he's coming and I have to get going soon, otherwise I'm going to be late for therapy." The expression on his face fell as he stuffed his phone back into his pocket, his hands finding their way to smooth through his hair. 

I couldn't help but to glance down the hallway as Harry and I waited by the doors to the gymnasium, hopelessly searching for any sign of Liam coming down to meet with us. Ever since he had escorted Louis back to the office neither of us had seen him. We had waited for him in the library but he also never showed up there either. As the time went on in that heavy silence I began to come to a conclusion that I had feared from the beginning and saying that I was worrying about Liam was a definite understatement. 

I had a sinking and ill feeling that Liam wasn't even at school anymore. 

It wasn't his fault and he wasn't doing anything wrong. All he had ever done was try and protect me. Liam was just looking out his friend and I wished that I was able to do the exact same thing for him in return. There were times when I was sitting at one of the tables in the library where I just had this strong sense of wanting to stand up and go to the office myself and tell someone, anyone, that Liam was innocent and the fight was about me and nothing else. But I never did stand up from my chair, ironically. 

Harry could tell that I was a bit antsy when we were waiting for Liam and all he did was reassure me that he was going to be here. I could tell that Harry didn't even believe in his own words because he was much more focused on playing with his fingers that rested on the table than whether or not Liam was going to come strolling into the library.

Of course, my mind was able to drift away from Liam the moment my eyes fixated on watching Harry's little nervous habits. I guess anything that one wouldn't imagine such a strong person doing would cause another to stop and stare. It's already been discussed how much I've done that.

Yeah, it was getting rather odd.

"I really need to get going, Niall." Harry spoke up again as he stopped leaning on the wall and fixed his schoolbag on his shoulders after he picked it up and settled it onto his back. 

I nodded as I let out a sigh of my own, my eyes still glued to the empty hallway ahead of us. I tried my best to zone out of my thoughts so when I saw Liam walking towards us that I'd feel nothing but relief. Instead I was left with that same feeling that was pulling me down in the library. 

"You mind if I walk with you?" I asked Harry, clearing my throat. "Maybe if I go outside with you it would give me more time to avoid what's to come next." I couldn't help but to chuckle and scratch the back of my neck, my cheeks flushing pink. 

I knew that Harry didn't want to even think about what comes after kissing me in my bed at school yet but we kissed in the hallway, granted that the halls were completely empty by that point, so I thought maybe it meant something. I wanted to be careful around the subject to respect Harry in the way he's been so respectful to me. Then again, I was a curious boy nowadays so I had to try and not seem so eager to ask him. 

"Yeah, that's fine. I'd rather have them leave you alone but I don't want you to feel like you have to cower and hide from them anymore. I know these boys and they're not all like Louis or Zayn. They can't all hate you for whatever the reason." He began to explain to me as he motioned for me to come along with him.

As we started walking away I couldn't help but to glance over my shoulder again just in case Liam was about to show up. My shoulders fell as I tried to relax them after turning back around. I bit down on my lip and shook my head again in disbelief.