Keep Me From Falling Apart [Niall Horan]

Chapter Twenty Two

I bit my tongue to keep from saying something rude as Niall set down his water bottle and went back over to the boys while they talked to the crowd of girls there for the soundcheck.

I deleted the last few pictures I had taken. Since we’d left NY a day ago, I hadn’t gotten any pictures because every time Niall noticed I was in the room, he always did something causing me to get a crappy picture. It was either frowning, turning his back, completely walking away or moving so much that he blurs himself when the pictures is taken.

He’s knows what he’s doing and he knows it’s bugging the crap out of me. I had given up on taking pictures in Fairfax, but then on the way to New Jersey, Marie noticed I hadn’t been taking any pictures and told me to get to work.

But that was looking to be a bit of a challenge.

Two minutes left of the sound check and I can go wait on the bus for everyone before we leave to go back to New York.

I stood, turning my camera off, as I walked towards the hall that leads to the ‘food room’ as I heard Niall call it earlier.

My stomach was rumbling and I was starting to get lightheaded from both sleep deprivation and not eating.

I sat down on the couch, tearing open a bag of chips. I had no appetite, but the pain in my stomach told me to eat. I forced a chip down, leaning into the big cushions on the couch. I felt like I could just pass out right there and sleep for months. I ate a few more chips, not tasting them at all.

“That one girl was very eager to take her blouse off!” Harry laughed, his voice echoing in from the hall.

“Oh, you’d like that wouldn’t you?” Louis asked jokingly.

“Probably,” Zayn chimed in as all of their voices made it inside the room.

I sat up, opening my eyes before anyone could notice I was almost half asleep in here.

“Hey! We were wondering where you went!” Nicole said plopping down beside me.

“Sure were,” Niall mumbled stepping over my feet as he made his way to the food table.

I chewed on the inside of my cheeks to prevent myself from retorting back to his comment. Nicole bumped her knee against mine to get my attention. I looked back at her as the boys all carried on while snacking.

“Something wrong?” She asked curiously, her eyebrows furrowed.

Suddenly, all the voices in the room became very loud, distracting me. But Niall’s voice didn’t mix in with all the others. I could hear Louis and Harry carrying on about some inside joke, Liam and Zayn were talking quietly in the chairs in the corner but Niall was silent. I rested the thought of glancing behind to see if he was listening, hearing Nicole’s question, and waiting for my answer.

Being distracted, I nodded my head, that being the first reaction to come to mind, then, in realization to what I’d done, I rapidly shook my head no.

“No, I, uh.. no. Nothing’s wrong,” I managed to get legit words to form at the last minute.

Nicole nodded slowly, seeing my stupor. I abandoned the bag of chips, dropping them onto the table in front of me. Liam and Zayn both left the room, still carrying on their conversation about whatever. Harry and Louis were talking loudly and rapidly still. But Niall’s voice still remained silent. I saw Nicole’s eyes glance behind me for a second before she turned back to me. Louis and Harry’s conversation suddenly stopped and Louis spoke.

“Nialler, love, will you walk with me to the bus to get something?” Louis asked sweetly.

“Sure,” Niall answered.