Chapter 43

Chapter 43:

-          Niall’s POV –

Day 59:

I rolled over onto Liam’s side of the bed and opened my eyes when I realised his side was empty. I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes as I scanned the room for him. He wasn’t there. I climbed out of bed and picked my shirt up off of the floor before walking out the door. I quickly ran into my room and changed into a fresh set of clothes before walking downstairs; expecting to find Liam at the breakfast bar. He wasn’t.

Also, I was taken aback when I saw that Harry was the only one sitting there; munching on a bowl of cereal. He smirked up at me the second that I walked in and I found myself giving up.

“I know that you know, so stop it already.” I said bluntly; stumbling over to the cupboard and getting a bowl for myself. I heard Harry chuckle.

“Aww, you’re no fun.” He mused. I sat down and poured myself a bowl before reaching for the milk.

“Liam went to the amusement park with Sarah, by the way.” He smirked. My eyes widened and I almost crushed the milk carton. I took a deep breath and composed myself before pouring the milk into my bowl. I took in a mouthful of cereal and glanced back up at Harry.

“Why are you rubbing this in my face?” I groaned. Harry grinned back at me.

“I’m just enjoying the situation... the two of you are god damn adorable after all.” He smirked. I blushed.

This is weird.

“Well you can stop grinning because we’re not together.” I stated; shovelling another spoonful of cereal into my mouth.

Yet...

“Actually, I was admiring your self-control. If Louis went to an amusement park with his ex, I’d be freaking out.” Harry went on absentmindedly.

I dropped my spoon and it made a loud clanging sound as it hit the counter. I stared back at Harry in shock; eyes wide, mouth open.

“Sarah is Liam’s ex..?” I managed to choke out. Harry froze mid-bite and his eyes grew wide.

“Yeah... didn’t you know that..?” He asked cautiously. I stood up and clenched my fists:

“No. I didn’t.” I gritted through my teeth. Harry started to say something but I wasn’t listening. I was already mid-turn and running for the front door.

My feet slammed down onto the pavement and I sprinted as fast as I could towards the train station. It was peak hour, there was no way I’d get there fast enough by car. Within minutes I’d reached the station was starting to shove my way through the crowd. People were yelling at me as I pushed past them but I didn’t care.

I didn’t care about anything anymore.

I ran down the stairs into the subway only to hear the loud speakers announcing that the train I wanted was departing in less than two minutes. I sprinted towards the turnstiles and leapt over them as I ran towards the platform ahead. There was no time to scan my ticket. I heard someone yell out to me to stop but I kept running. I managed to burst through the train doors the moment that they started closing. Once I was inside I collapsed against the doors and tried to catch my breath, before looking up to see that everyone was staring at me. I finally caught my breath and found a seat at the back of the carriage. I started searching my pockets for my phone but soon realised that I’d left it on my bedside table.

Brilliant.

I drew in a shaky breath and grabbed at my hair:

 This can't be happening. I'm supposed to have another day left...

...Am I out of time?

-          Liam’s POV -

Day 59, Earlier that morning:

I woke up to the sound of my phone vibrating on top of my bedside table. I went to reach for it but I discovered that I was being pinned down by Niall. He was sprawled out across my chest with his hand hanging over the edge of my side. I smiled from ear to ear before realising that my phone was probably about to wake him up. I carefully slid him off of me and reached for my phone; sliding the screen to unlock it and holding it up to my ear:

“Hello?” I whispered. I was almost deafened by Sarah’s voice:

“LIAM I’M BACK A DAY EARLY LET’S GO TO THE AMUSEMENT PARK I’LL BE THERE IN FIVE MINUTES YES OKAY BYE.” She yelled; hanging up before I could respond.

Damn it Sarah.

I looked over at Niall and couldn’t help but gape at his shirtless sleeping figure. He looked like an underwear model or something. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair before getting up and quickly changing into a pair of jeans and a clean shirt. The very second that I stepped outside my bedroom door the doorbell rang and I shot my glance over to Niall; hoping that he wasn’t awake yet. I wouldn’t be able to handle his morning voice again this week without pouncing on him them and there.

I ran downstairs and was greeted by Sarah throwing herself at me in the middle of the hallway and almost knocking me over. I glanced up at the door to see Harry smirking at the two of us. I had no idea why.

“Lili!!” She yelled. I snapped a hand over her mouth in an attempt to shut her up.

“Shh! People are sleeping!” I hissed. Harry walked over; that same smirk on his face.

“Actually, you and Niall were the only ones still in bed.” He said. I could practically see Sarah’s ears perk up as she ripped my hand from her mouth:

“What?! You slept together already?!” She yelled. I went to snap my hand back over her mouth again but she dodged it this time.

“What?! No! Damn it Harry, don’t say misleading things!” I yelled back frantically; sending a glare in Harry’s direction. He chuckled.

“And don’t get me started on you Sarah, what if Harry didn’t know that I’m in love with Niall, then what would you have done?!” I snapped. Her face went blank.

“Ugh, you didn’t even get that far, did you..?” I groaned; running a hand through my hair. I sighed. “It’s too early for this.”

Sarah grabbed my hand and started pulling me towards the front door:

“Don’t be silly! It’s already midday, now come on! We’re going to miss the traaaaain.” She beamed. “Bye, Harry!” She called as she slammed the door shut behind us. She dragged me all the way to the front gate and out onto the sidewalk before she let go of me. I saw an all too familiar evil grin on her face as she span to face me. I gulped.

“Tell me everything.” She smirked.

Ugh, I’ve been turned into her newest soap opera.

-          Niall’s POV –

Day 59, Back to the present:

The train doors opened and I shot out onto the platform; shoving past everyone in my way. I made it out onto the main street to see the amusement park far off in the distance. I clenched my fists and sprinted down the street.

Towards Liam.

By the time I reached the amusement park I was gasping for air. I rounded the corner and found a huge line stretched out in front of me. I ran past it; scanning the queue for any sign of Liam or Sarah. They weren’t there.

Shit, I have to go in.

I suddenly heard someone call out my name and I glanced up to see a lady inside one of the ticket booths waving at me; gesturing for me to come forward. I ducked under the rope and approached her window. She greeted me with a friendly smile:

“Here’s a map of the park, go straight in.” She said; pointing to the entrance gate on her left. I stared back at her with a confused look and she laughed.

“My daughter’s a huge fan, if you see her in there, say hello.” She said. I nodded and flashed her a grateful smile. Even though I obviously had no idea what her daughter looked like and no intention of stopping for anyone that wasn’t Liam.

“Cheers!” I called out as I ran around the corner of the booth and towards the gate. I ran through the entrance and into the amusement park; stopping at a huge signpost that was pointing in all different directions towards different attractions. I opened up my map and scanned the page; trying to figure out where they could possibly be.

I had no idea.

I decided to go with my gut and I bolted for the haunted house. Liam loved scary stuff. I ran as fast as I could whilst still being able to scan the crowd for them; my eyes searching every face that they could find for the one that I wanted. I soon arrived at the haunted house and scanned the line. He wasn’t there. I cursed under my breath and turned around; running towards the next attraction. I searched, and searched, and searched, but he was nowhere to be found. Soon I was gasping for air and I had to stop so that I could breathe again. I collapsed against a nearby wall and kept scanning the crowd for his face as I tried to catch my breath. I was having no luck whatsoever and it was frustrating me beyond belief. My mind started to think over everything that had happened up until now as I struggled to find oxygen.

I’d realised that Sarah had been the one that Liam had been hooked on this entire time. She’d been the one that I’d been trying to compete against; the one that I hadn’t trusted from the start. Suddenly that image of Sarah waking up in Liam’s bed that morning flashed through my mind and I clenched my fists.

“My best friend.” He’d said.

Bullshit.

I’d had no reason not to trust him, so I’d believed his words.

What a joke.

“No one could ever replace you, not even Niall.” “You always cheer me up.” “Love you too.” “More than ever.”

Any words that I could relate to Liam and Sarah started swirling around inside my head as I felt the anger well up inside of me.

I’m such an idiot... Why did I even believe him to begin with?

I clenched my fists even tighter; breaking the skin. Tears started to well up in my eyes and I bit my lip as I tried to hold them back.

...why did I even think that I had a chance in the first place..?

Every moment that Liam and I’d shared up until now flashed through my mind; image after image after image:

Us hugging in the rain, him kissing me in front of the others, seeing each other naked, our date at the restaurant, spending his birthday together, him hugging me from behind when I came back from Ireland, that moment on the couch the other night, sleeping with him in the same bed, him pinning me to the bed and licking all the way up my stomach, the love bites that we’d left on each other, his countless offers for sex as Dark Liam, that accidental kiss on his birthday, the moment that I’d realised that I loved him,

Everything.

It all hit me at once like a ton of bricks and I realised that he was too important to give up on. I’d come so damn close, and I wasn’t going down without a fight.

I finally re-gained my breath and started off again; scanning the crowds once more. I couldn’t see him anywhere and I soon became frustrated again.

Why on Earth did she have to take him here of all places?

I screamed out in frustration as I ran.

I probably forgot to mention this, but I’d been planning on taking Liam here for his birthday, before the storm had ruined it. I’d had everything planned out too. First we’d ride all the huge coasters, then we’d get something to eat, then we’d play some side shows or something, then we’d go on some more rides, and finally we’d go-

I stopped dead in my tracks.

The Ferris-Wheel.

I’d been planning on confessing to him when we were on the Ferris-Wheel.

It can’t be...

I span around and sprinted off towards the Ferris wheel; a huge bundle of nerves now building up in my stomach.

After what felt like forever I finally reached the garden in front of the Ferris wheel. I started scanning the crowd; praying that Liam was amongst the countless faces that were staring back at me with weird looks as I gasped for air. I looked everywhere. He wasn’t at the food stalls in the far corner, he wasn’t walking through the garden, he wasn’t sitting at any of the benches, he wasn’t buying tickets fo-

My heart stopped.

There.

My eyes locked onto him as I started sprinting towards him; his figure slowly coming into full view. He was at the front of the line for the Ferris wheel and moments away from climbing into the carriage. He was holding hands with Sarah while smiling down at her and laughing. I froze mid step and stumbled to a stop. Sarah was holding a giant teddy bear that I’m guessing Liam had won for her. She smiled up at Liam and reached a hand up to his head and ruffled his hair. My heart almost gave out.

They looked perfect together.

I clenched my fists.

No. We’re perfect together.

I snapped.

I sprinted forward towards the queue; bulldozing through anyone that got in my way. I took a few long strides and leapt over the barricade; planting a hand down on the rail as I flew over it. The barricade fell to the floor as I landed and caused an insanely loud clanging sound to ring throughout the courtyard when the metal hit the pavement. Liam shot his glance over to where the sound had come from and his eyes widened at the sight of me. He gaped back at me and started to speak just as I reached him and Sarah, who was now already climbing inside of the carriage.

“Wha-“ He started but he cut himself off.

I took his hand in mine and ran.