Keep Me From Falling Apart [Niall Horan]

Chapter Fifteen

Well it was very good while it lasted.

I practically sprinted from the plane. My chest felt like it was about to explode. The black hole was creeping back up, and it was getting bigger, closer, ready to suck me under for eternity. 

See, these things just happen.

I’m fine on second and the next I’m running for my life from something that only exists in my head.

I couldn’t tell you what happened between the car rides and our check-in into the hotel.

The, for once, happy mood I was in back in London with Niall, was gone. I hadn’t spoken to him since we had gotten onto the plane in London. It wasn’t like we were avoiding each other, or I wasn’t, but, thankfully, Paul was the only one who realized that Niall and I arrived at the airport together. 

The girls noticed that I had on Niall’s sweatshirt, but I really didn’t have a choice, I couldn’t just take it off. He had taken his hat back before we had found our seats, and I could see the top of it a couple seats ahead of me through the flights.

I collapsed onto my bed as Emma dumped her bags onto the floor by her bed.

“I’m confused,” I stated, staring at the ceiling.

“Why?” Emma asked.

“Why did Marie tell me that she would see me in London today?” I asked.

“Oh, she had some kind of meeting there, but it got cancelled and so she just caught a flight to here, that was the only reason she was flying to London,” Emma answered.

“That makes more sense,” I said, nodding.

She gave a small chuckle before checking her phone.

“They boys are going out to dinner. We’re both invited,” she stated, typing a reply to her text.

“I am legitimately freaking tired, I’m gonna take a nap,” I said, though I more meant I’m going to try and get about 541651351 hours of sleep.

“Okay, well, they’re heading out now. Call or text if you need anything,” she said grabbing her key before leaving.

I rolled over, already feeling my eyelids getting heavier. I kicked my shoes off and curled up into a ball. I didn’t bother pulling the blanket over me, the room temperature was comfortable, and I was in comfortable clothes so I didn’t bother changing.

I had finally gotten the grip of the black hole off my neck and I was starting to relax a bit. The hotel room smelled nice for some reason. I sniffed, wondering if it was the bedding. It wasn’t. I pushed the thought aside, too lazy to put further investigation into the smell of something.

Whatever the smell was, it was calming. Keeping the thoughts from the plane out of my head.

Sleep came and Niall interrupted it. Or I thought he did. He was hugging me. My head buried in his chest as I bawled my eyes out for some reason. I sniffed, a natural action when crying, and he smelled so good. Honey, woods, something fruity. Fruity? I abruptly stopped crying and pulled away from Niall.

I suddenly sat up, making myself dizzy as the blood rushed through my brain. I looked down. UCLA. Niall’s sweat shirt. I was still wearing it. I pulled at the collar of it and sniffed. Honey, woods, and the smell of something I was wearing, which was fruity. That was the smell I couldn’t place. So, Niall’s scent soothes me? That’s not weird at all.

My thoughts were interrupted by a knocking at my door. I groggily slid off the bed and went to open the door. I twisted the knob, pulling my eyes up from my feet as I opened the door, and I looked up to meet Niall’s blue eyes.