All Because of a Snow Storm (Niall Horan Fanfic)

Chapter 22

*Niall's POV*

"Yes"

My heart leapt up in my chest, and my face cracked into a wide grin.

"Abbie, I don't think you're clingy and desperate. In fact, I thought you moved on just as quickly from me, it made me upset" I confessed. "I couldn't bear the thought of you being off with Kevin again, because of me. I knew how much he affected you, how much he hurt you... It hurt even more to think that you'd rather be with him again than to deal with the pain that I- the pain that I caused you"

I swallowed thickly, my voice shaky as I let everything out. Once I started, I couldn't stop the words flowing from my mouth.

"Niall-" she started, pausing to take a couple of deep breaths. She sounded shocked at my confession. "You... That's how you felt?"

I nodded, only remembering after that she couldn't see me. "Yeah... It was torture, Ducky. Pure mental torture for me"

Silence.

"What about Miranda?" she asked bitterly. "Aren't you two dating?"

I bit my bottom lip, closing my eyes and cursing under my breath.

"What did you say?" she demanded, and I could far too well imagine her demanding expression.

"I have to tell you something" I admitted, fidgeting with the edge of my shirt with my free hand as I started pacing around the bathroom.

She remained silent, waiting for me to go on.

"Miranda and I's relationship.... It's set up. Management made us get together for publicity purposes" I finally breathed out, feeling a weight being lifted off my shoulders as soon as the words came out.

But the weight came right back when Abbie stayed quiet on the other line, her breathing getting shallower and shallower. "What?" she squeaked. "Why- why didn't you tell me?"

I chewed on my thumb nail, trying to figure out how to explain it to her, when the boys started pounding on the door again.

"Niall! Open up! We need to get on stage in five!" I heard Louis shout.

"Look, Abbie-"

"No, Niall. I understand." she answered back, her voice toneless, empty, flat. "I wasn't important enough to know the truth, it's okay, I see where you're going"

My stomach twisted painfully as her words sunk in. No. No. No.

"Abbie that's not what I meant! It's my fault-"

"What? You didn't have the decency to let me know? I didn't deserve it? You think you can just play around with me like that?" she answered, her voice getting higher and higher with every word she spoke.

"Abbie, no, please just hear me out-"

"Niall! Open the god damned door!" Louis shouted, rattling the doorknob and banging his fist on the door.

"Abbie I thought you wanted to move on too! I was keeping it a secret for your own good-"

"I have to go" she interrupted me, and the phone buzzed one long, never-ending beep.

She hung up on me.

I closed my eyes, dropping Liam's phone next to me as Louis started pounding on the door again.

"Niall! The concert starts in three minutes! Let's go!" he shouted.

I sighed and stood up, unlocking the door and swinging it open. A pair of hands grabbed me and pulled me out. I felt numb as Louis pulled me through the dressing room and out into the hall, as Zayn ran behind us, pushing me on the back to make me move faster.

I vaguely noticed someone shoving my guitar in my arms, looping the strap around my shoulder. I grabbed hold of it so it wouldn't fall and followed the rest of the group to the stage entrance.

"Ready in two!" a deep voice called, and I felt someone pushing my earpieces in my ears. I gazed around me, and saw Louis, Harry, Zayn and Liam all looking at each other, smiling and saying words of encouragement. I just stood there, emotionless.

I just felt numb inside. Empty. I was so close to getting her back!

"Niall, mate, what happened? You look like you've seen a ghost" Harry said suddenly, making all the boys' attention turn to me.

"I told Abbie about the fake date and she got mad and hung up on me" I heard myself say.

"Are you okay? Will you be able to play?" Liam asked, pointing at my guitar.

"Ready in one!"

"I- I don't think so" I stuttered, looking down at my shaky hands. "I'll try"

"Look, Niall. We rehearsed this a hundred times. You know these songs like the back of your hand. It's like programmed in your mind. Just relax and enjoy our first concert here, think about this when it's over, alright?" Harry encouraged, scruffing up my hair.

I nodded, trying to force a smile on my blank face. "I will"

"Ready in ten!" the man shouted again.

I took a deep breath and clutched my guitar close to me, as if it were a lifeline.

"Five, four, three..."

"Let's do this boys!" Zayn shouted, just before the countdown ended.

"Two, one, Go!"

We all ran on stage, much to the pleasure of the thousands of screaming girls. I plastered a smile on my face and kicked into the first song along with the lads.

••••

Abbie's POV.

After I'd hung up on Niall, I couldn't help but break down in sobs. How could Liam have lied to me like that? Why didn't anybody tell me about the fake-dating? Did Rose know? And Heather? Why didn't I deserve to know? Was I not worthy of the truth?

Since Rose and Heather were at school, that left me home alone for a few hours still. Still with tears silently rolling down my face, I walked over to Niall's bedroom. I know I shouldn't go there, but I couldn't help it. I needed comfort.

I opened the door and was greeted with a feeling of emptiness. The room was unusually clean, since the boys had pretty much taken all their stuff with them to the States.

I slowly walked into the room and opened Niall's closet, hoping it would still be there. Fortunately, it was. I reached to the top of the shelf and grabbed Niall's old jumper, the one he let me wear at the campground.

I slipped it on and used the sleeves to wipe my wet cheeks and eyes. I gently closed the closet door and stepped out his room, closing his door behind me, before heading back to my room. I closed the door and threw myself on my bed, laying on my side as the tears started up again.

I wrapped my arms around myself, Niall's scent filling my head, making me cry even more.

I miss him so much.

I buried my face in the fabric of his jumper, closing my eyes as I cried.

Why did he lie to me? I understand it was a management thing, but usually he never lies to me! How can I trust him when he kept this from me? If he really liked me like he says he does, he would've told me the truth, wouldn't he?

I felt empty inside. Numb. I need Niall right now, I know I do. But I just can't wrap my head around the fact that he lied to me. I mean, he could have just told me the truth! I would've understood!

I shoved my nose in Niall's jumper, breathing in. Well, if I can't have him, this is the next best thing. Just imagining that he's here.

I took deep breaths in Niall's jumper, calming myself down gradually. Eventually, the tears and sobs stopped, but the pain was still there.

And right now it was even worse, because I didn't have Jonathan and Jordyn to distract me from it.

The house felt so empty without them yelling, running, playing around it. It drove me mad. They were still with the Social Worker, who was still in the process of interviewing families that were interested in keeping them.

I'd been able to visit them a few days ago... That was an emotional moment, let me tell you.

When I walked up to the Social Worker's office and opened the door, the twins attacked me in a hug. I held them close to me as I started crying. I hadn't seen them in a week, I'd been going mental.

They cried too, begging me to take them back home. It broke my heart that I had to say no, but I had no choice. The lady was watching our little reunion, an emotionless mask on her face. I just wished she'd have left us some privacy, but she seemed to have a different idea in mind.

I didn't even get thirty minutes with Jordyn and Jonathan before I had to leave again. The Social Worker, Karen, I think her name is, had a meeting to attend. I have no idea what she was going to do with my brother and sister, but she wouldn't let me take them out.

Since the twins had left, I'd spent most of my days cleaning the house, and when I was done, I'd spend the rest of the time practicing the piano.
I have to admit, I was getting pretty good. Louis would still have to help me with a few things when he got back, but apart from that, he'd been a great teacher.

Gosh, I miss the boys so much.

I tightened my arms closer around me, Niall's scent hitting me once again. I felt exhausted from all the crying. I let myself fall asleep, hoping for a long, dreamless slumber.

••••

Niall's POV.

"When he opens his arms and hold you close tonight,
It just won't feel right,
Cause I can love you more than this, yeah
When he lays you down I might just die inside,
It just don't feel right,
Cause I can love you more than this,
Love you more than this" Harry sung.

Louis had to elbow me in the stomach for me to remember to sing my solo. Since I started late, I had to skip the first line.

"Would you lay down in my arms and rescue me
Cause we are the same
You saved me, but when you leave it's gone again"

I took a deep breath, glancing over at Liam. He gave me a knowing look.

I carried on with the rest of the concert, feeling low and upset the whole time.

When we came off stage, the boys all surrounded me and bombarded me with questions.

"What happened out there?!"

"You kept forgetting your singing parts"

"No offense, mate, but you were crap on the guitar"

I sighed, pushing through them.

"I know guys, I couldn't fucking concentrate!!" I shouted, frustrated with myself. How could I've failed so badly?!

"Niall you have to get yourself together, mate! You totally blew our first concert out here! Do you have any idea how many bad reviews we're going to get?! We'll lose sales!" Louis shouted at me.

Everyone froze, looking at Louis. His expression turned from angry to shocked in a matter of seconds.

"Oh, dear... Niall! I didn't mean that! I swear! I just got frustrated-"

I raised my hand, cutting him off.

"It's fine, I know I blew it, no hard feelings" I shrugged, turning around and walking towards the dressing room.

It felt like someone had reached into my chest, grabbed my heart and squeezed it in their fist.

What hurt the most was that he was right.

It's my fault.

"Louis... It's not his fault, if you were in his place you'd have been the same" I heard Harry said lowly behind me, as Liam and Zayn agreed.

"I know! I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking!" Louis said desperately. I knew he was sorry. I'd forgiven him. I wasn't mad at him. I was just mad at myself.

They followed me and we all sat down.

"Was it because of Abbie?" Zayn asked carefully, as if he was afraid to scare me or break me.

I nodded, running my hands in my hair.

Liam stood up and grabbed his phone from the counter. "I'm calling Rose. Maybe she can help Abbie change her mind about it"

I nodded again. I was desperate for Abbie to forgive me, they can do whatever crazy plan they want for it to work. I don't care anymore.

Just as Liam was about to dial Rose's number, his phone rang on it's own. He glanced at the caller ID before turning to me.

"It's Abbie again"