Chapter Twenty Eigth

*Niall's P.O.V*

I haven't seen Josh for awhile now, and I felt somewhat worried about him. The last time I saw him was when I flipped him off and left with the interrogator, who I still don't know the name of. Maybe he's with Veronica, I thought as I counted the blocks on the wall next to me. If Perrie really did poison her, I really wanted to know the reason behind it. I haven't seen them speak to each other, but then again, I haven't been here as long as the others. Perrie seems like a cool girl, aside from the fact that's she's a drug dealer, I think I'd like to be her friend or something. That is, if she ever shows up again. I wouldn't either if I saw how mad Josh was.

Craning my neck, I look out of the cell and peer at the large clock hanging on the  wall. It's only a quarter till seven, so I figured I could go get something to eat before everyone had to go to their cells for the night. Easing myself off of the thin mattress, I stretch my  back so it pops repeatedly before strolling out of my room.

Being younger then most of the inmates, nobody really bothered me. Other then the first time they found out about Tony and I's situation, and Perrie and Josh, I was on my own most of the time. I wasn't complaining, its not like I wanted to make life long friends here anyway. What I really preferred was seeing Andi again.

I entered the café and strolled over to the vending machine. Looking at all of my choices, I finally decide on a packet of skittles. Inserting the correct amount of money into the metal mouth, I read the snack's two digit code. Pressing 2B into the key pad, I watch as the spring unrolls itself and lets the candy drop into the bottom. Hearing my stomach growl, I reach down faster then I would normally to get my skittles. Just as my hand brushes the thin, papery package, I hear a loud shout from far off in the distance. Scrunching my eyebrows at the sound of footsteps, I bend down further to get a better grip on the sweets.

"Niall! Niall, are you in here?!" Calls the voice in a hurried manner.

I drop the skittles and raise up, confused on why Suit Guy is here again. I thought we were done for the day? "Yeah, I'm right here, why?" I ask as I lean my food deprived body against the vending machine.

He starts to say something, but stops and raises an eyebrow, "Why are you getting candy?"

Confused at such a dumb question, I throw my hands up and shake my head, "It's cause of my massive sweet tooth? I'm just hungry man, what do you want?" I snap a little to harshly.

Letting my verbal assault roll off his shoulder, he smirks and motions me to follow him, "Your gonna want this a lot more then a Reese's, trust me," he says before spinning back down the jail hall. Groaning, I forget my snack that I already paid for, and follow him to where he was leading us.

Much to my surprise, we're back in the interrogation room, but somehow the mood feels lighter. Not sitting in my usual chair, I stand before Suit Guy with crossed arms and a dead-set mouth. "You own me a pack of skittles dude," I remarked as I watched him at the door, waiting for someone probably.

"Not really, you'll be thanking me when see what we found on your case," he replies as he is handed a brown box with Tony's full name printed on it. Striding over to the table in the middle of the room, he sets it down and peers inside. A giddy expression stretches onto his face and motions for me to look inside as well.

Shuffling over, I roll my blue eyes at his childish actions as I look inside the same box. I raises my eyebrows and pull my face away, "A shit ton of pot? How is that helping?"

Suit Guy smiles back up at me and crosses his arms proudly, "People at the hospital found this in Tony's closet. I asked some of the inmates around here about who he was and if he was a big dealer, and its surprising how quickly they all gave him up, now that he's dead," he informs me smartly.

I chuckle softly, hearing something like that about Tony doesn't really surprise me. Even from the start I knew he was scum. "Cowards," I remark about the inmates disloyalty, "And is that all they found in his closet?"

"Not exactly, look through the rest of the box," he says in a tempting voice.

Rolling my shoulders, I dump the box over and watch as its contents spill out onto the table in front of us. Other then two more large bags of weed spill out, a plastic  DVD case is now on the table top. Picking it up in my hands, I open it up and stare at the CD itself. On it, it read "Andi" in extremely slopping hand writing. Wiping my head to stare down the other man in the room with me, I hold the case out to him. "What is this?"

"That, my blonde headed friend, is all of the stolen footage of your girlfriend being harassed by Tony. He was hiding it all in his closet, and not well, I might add. Who would hide all of it together in one of the most obvious places? Either way, it all so has the night of the fight on that DVD too. Before heading up there, Tony had one of his "buddies" swipe the tape so nobody would find out. Unfortunately, his friend went and got the tape after he showed up on it, not before. And being the cop that I am, he gave Tony up as soon as we asked where the tapes were." He told me smugly.

My mouth must have hit the floor, I was so shocked. Who found the tapes and pot anyway? Does Andi know that they found them? I wanted to ask all of these questions and more, but all I could do was hop up and down with joy and pump my fist in the air a few times. "Fuck yeah!" I shout smiling, "See? I told you I wasn't guilty! Wait, if all of this is proving me innocent, does that mean I can leave?"

Sighing heavily, he nods and smiles, "As sad as it will be to see your dumb ass leave, yes your proven innocent, and your being discharged from captivity," he exaggerates playfully.

My smile widens and I mentally high-five myself before asking an important question, "Does Andi know I'm innocent? I mean, she was there with me when everything happened, so yes she knows, but does she know I'm being let out?"

Uncrossing his arms, he rocked back and forth on his heels before responding, "I wouldn't know. I don't know where she even is, frankly. You'll have to call her yourself after your tests and sign out stuff."

"Alright, I'll call he-, wait what tests?" I ask with a puzzled expression plastered on my now pale face.

Suit Guy looks too calm, almost knowing of what happened earlier, "Each inmate is required to take a drug test before their discharge," he says shrugging, as if I should have known this all along. "Is that going to be a problem?"

"N-no, not really," I stutter, obviously caught off guard. What's gonna happen when they find traces of heroine in my system?

Looking at the door, he leans in and quickly mutters, "You'll be fine." Pulling away, he sticks out his hand and smiles faintly, "It was good working with you. I'm happy everything worked out well for you Niall. Tell Andi I said hello?"

I shake his hand and smile, but shake my head, "Not a chance. But thanks for all of the help man, really," I say truthfully as we open the door and exit into the hall.

"It was my pleasure Niall, it was nice meeting you. Now, all you have to do is head to the clinic, take the test, sign out, and then your free to go," he says finally.

"Okay, thanks again," I sigh as he turns down the hall and waves at me before disappearing out of view. Groaning, I run my hand through my greasy hair and kick weakly at the air. I had no idea where the clinic was, it wasn't where I wanted to be right now, but I had to go there in order to leave today. That is, if I leave today.

I traveled down at least four different hallways before finding my way to the right clinic. Knocking on the solid door, I let myself in and walk up to the front desk. A ugly, old looking man is sitting there reading the sports section of yesterdays paper. Clearing my throat, he snaps his head up and flashes me a pissed off look. "Name?" He questions sourly.

"Uhm, Horan? Niall Horan?" I say, taking note of his unneeded attitude with me. Wow, I sound like a uptight parent thinking that.

He types slowly on his chunky keyboard, most likely closing out a game of Solitaire he started before and didn't finish. After what seemed like ten minutes, he finally sighs and gives me a sideways glance before speaking, "It says here that your being discharged? Is that correct?"

Why is he asking me, I could easily lie. I don't question it further, "Yes, that's true."

Huffing, he stands up and shuffles across the room and leaves. "The fuck?" I mutter as I'm left alone momentarily. This guy must either be crazy due to his pre-historic age, or just leaving me here for shits and giggles. Finally he returns with a small green box in his hand. Handing it to me, he points down the hall at a bathroom.

"Takes the drug test in there, pee in the cup, and don't try anything or you'll just be here longer kid," he scoffs before heading back over to his desk and sitting back down, causing the plastic chair to squeak loudly due to his massive ass.

Groaning, I take off down the hall at a slow pace and enter the bathroom as my nerves grow with each step. Opening the box, all I see is a plastic cup with a lid and a few bar codes on the side of it. I haven't seen one of these since my dad made me take one at home. I guess that's what really ruined our already rocky relationship.

After I drank five big gulps of sink water, which tasted like ass, I did my businesses in the cup and left the bathroom. Glaring at the man at the desk, I slowly hand him my cup, already knowing the results. He sends me a sarcastic smile, something Andi use to do to me and I scowl back at him for even reminding me of her in the slightest.  

 Taking a seat in a small plastic chair off to the side, I wait for what seems like eternity for him to come back with my results. I had just started picking at the skin around my thumb when he returned with a fake smile. Getting up, I rejoin him at the front of the desk and lean my elbows on top of it, "What are my results?"

Once again, he smiles and shakes him head, "It seems to be that there are traces of heroin in your system, as the rest shows. So you tested positive for drug use," he goes on.

I sigh and squeeze my eyes together, wishing I had never gone off with Perrie to take that shit. "So, what's gonna happen now?" I question as I reopen my tired eyes.

Returning to his computer, he clicks and types multiple things, raising his eyebrows quite a few times as well. Typing once again, he then prints out a handful of papers and hands then to me with a pen. Taking them, I give him a confused look. Sighing, he leans back in his chair before answering my unspoken question, "It says here that if you didn't pass the required drug test, then you would be sent back to Saint Annabelle's because your clearly still struggling with your addiction," he says sarcastically.

Wait, what?! That's not what I need to happen!  I know I cant change the results of the test, but they cant send me back there! I know that when I left Andi went back home, and I know for a fact that she hated it there and never wanted to come back. How am I suppose to see her again? The hospital doesn't really do visitations much, and even if they did, it would hurt to much to have her for only a few hours before saying goodbye once again. With sadness written across my face, I look back at the grumpy old and silently plead for a way out of this. He shakes his head and jabs his stubby finger at the now crinkled papers in my hand, "Fill those out and then a ride will be arranged to come and take you back to the hospital." Moaning in agony, I rip myself from the counter top and move myself over to a table to fill out the damn forms like a 40 year old office worker.

Filling out each page was like hell. But once I was done, I shoved the papers in the mans face and waited for his response. Taking them from my shaking hand, he glances at them before stuffing them in a already crammed cabinet. "Go down the hall to the left and take the elevator to the bottom floor. I'll have a driver take you back to the hospital in fifteen minutes, alright?"

Rolling my eyes angrily, I huff out a rude response but follow his directions by turning the left and storming down the hall. I was passing many rooms with tough looking men in there, attached to many wires and machines. I wince, as I peer into a room with a young white women, crying into her hands as she fights with a much tougher looking man on the bed. Wearing a cast and a array of deep cuts, I sigh and keep moving, not wanting to be caught.

As I got closer to the elevator, I began to hear screams and cries of terror and sadness mixed together. I quickened my pace and looked through each small window of the passing rooms to see where the voice was coming from. Getting closer to the end of the hall, the sounds got louder as I reached the room with the distressed caller.

Leaning against door frame, I turn my head so only one is able to peer into the room. Even though one eye was able to view this heart breaking scene, both widen to the size of the sun. Looking in the room, I see three people, Josh, Veronica, and a sorrowful looking doctor. I glace my eye over to take in Josh's physical state; red eyes, wet face, balled up fists, and a wild looking expression on his face. Even though I know I shouldn't, I turn to look at Veronica laying in the bed, not moving. My heart rate picks up as I see that hers has stopped. No movement at all, nothing. The air around me feels dirty as I try to breath.

The doctor shakes his head at Josh in a apologetic way, trying to explain. Pressing my ear to the door, I listen in, "I'm terribly sorry, but Miss. Veronica has passed away. If you would like to take a seat then please, do," he offers.

"FUCK THAT, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!" He screams painfully, throwing his arm out at his now motionless girlfriend.

Bowing his head, the doctor shakes his head, and looks to be at a loss of words but still speaks, "It looks to be a case of suicide, Josh. She had to many different pills in her body, it just sent her over the edge. Were you with her, when she took the pills?" He asked softly.

Letting out a blood curdling cry, Josh falls to his knees at the side of Veronica's bed and takes hold of her hand, as if he expected her to hold him back. "No, I wasn't. I WASN'T THERE!" he cries as he bawled into her hand. I don't think I can take much more of this.

Setting a carful hand on the shoulder of Josh, the doctor just shakes his head at the crying boy on the floor and whispers so quietly I almost couldn't hear, "I'm sorry Josh, but she's gone." 

I pull myself away from the door and ran the rest of the way down the hall and stab the down button on the elevator before I could hear Josh's wails of misery. But much to my dismay, the elevator gets here in just enough time for me to hear each word he screams out to Veronica. Stepping into the small room, I repeatedly press the lowest floor before Josh's cries force me to think about what I would do if Andi ended up in a bed like that.

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That was a sad chapter, so I'm sorry :( I'm starting to feel like everyone in my story is a druggie or I kill them off. What do you guys think about Veronica dying? Did you expect it to happen? I hope it was a unexpected twist for ya'll, cause I like to keep you guessing!

And yes, I know my update is super late, and that's because I had softball camp all week and I was really tired and I didn't wanna write if all that was going to come out was crap. Right? But the next update will be a lot sooner, because it's one of the two last chapters! I know, very sad, but you'll love them!

Please don't forget to ask questions about the story to get a sneakY peak of my new fanfic after Going Down in the Q&A chapter! I'm sure you'll love it, because it's a HARRY fanfic! I've always been a Niall girl, but I feel like the tides are changing?....DUN DUN DUN!

As always, I would really appreciate you guys reading, voting (which only takes 5 seconds, right?), commenting, sharing, and following me to receive extra updates about the story! I love all my little addicts, so stay happy and confident!

-TaylorMarie

**PLEASE READ!!!**  It has come to my attention that a lot of people are liking this story. And last week I was speaking with my dad about the story (yes, my parents know I'm writing a fanfic and what it's about *cue gasps of horror*) and I told him how close I am to getting 40K reads. And what he told me, is that if this story is so popular, did I want to try and get it published? Of course I would change the names around, but what do you guys think? Tell me in the comments, and if we get to 50K reads by August 20th, I'll look into getting Going Down published! Thank you so kuch for your support, I love you all!