The Setup

I wake up since Cleo somehow got all the blankets on her side. But then I see her crying and screaming. Holy shit. Another nightmare? I sat there no quite sure what to do…I mean I am pretty scared right now. I go to wake her up and then she goes to punch me now she really is screaming. "Daddy! Stop…I didn't mean to! That hurts! STOP." I pin her arms down and try to wake her up. "Cleo! Stop its just a dream." Then she knees me right in the gut. "OW! Cleo! Stop it…its Niall. Please wake up Cleo." Her eyes open and she looks at me with fear. Like a deer in headlights. She quickly shot out of bed and ran to the bathroom. She slammed the door. I can hear her crying. God I just want to make it all go away. I knock on the door. Hoping and praying she will let me in. "Cleo…baby please open up."
""NO! Just leave me alone. I…" I can hear her sobbing again. I just want to make sure she is okay. Whatever she was thinking about only made her cry even more. "Cleo please…just let me in." I was about ready to bust down the door when she spoke up again. "What…time is it?" I just sigh and go to my phone to check for her. I could tell she was still pretty worked up over whatever was plaguing her. "Almost 3am. Cleo please…I want to be there for you."
"Why? Nobody wants…to be there…minus Mickey…"
"Because I care about you Cleo…please." It was the truth though. The more I am around her the more I want her to just let me in. The more I want to be there for her like Mickey. I hear that she has stopped crying. Hopefully she would be coming out. Then the door slowly opens. I look at her and to be honest she was beautiful. Even though her eyes were puffy from crying but they were like a steel grey. I go over to hug her. But she stops me. "No. I don't need a hug Niall."
"Do you want--"
"No. Sorry if I hit you."
"Its alright. I got abs of steel. Are you sure--" I thought maybe a joke would lighten the mood a bit but it didn't because she cut me off. "Yes lets just drop it okay? I'm going back to bed." I watch her as be crawls back under the covers. I do the same. After about 15 minutes I drift off.

"Nialler! Nobody has asked me to the dance. Am I ugly?" I see Cleo and myself twelve years old laying down at our spot in the park. "You're just too pretty that’s why." She laughs and fake punches me. "You have to say that! You're my best friend."
"No I really think your pretty." She sits up and looks at me. Then scowls. "You don't mean that."
"Yes I do! I really do!" She was just staring at me now. "Fine if you really think that then why don't other boys think that." I remember telling practically everyone that I was taking her to the Fall Formal. "Because they're stupid?" That got me a laugh. I love her laugh. "Cleo…will you go to the dance with me?"
"Yes! I would love to! Oh Nialler this will be so much fun." She leaned over and kissed me. That was when I knew I liked her a lot. Then it fades. I am 18 and I'm in London. I swear I saw a flash of her. I've been 'seeing' her a lot lately since that magazine. I try to yell at her. "No Cleo don't go again. NO!" She disappeared into a cab. Paul was now holding me back from running after that cab. "No bring her back! I loved her! She was mine…Cleo come back please." I was sobbing again. I just missed her so badly. I never did get to take her to that dance.

Suddenly I feel someone push me and I land on the floor. "OW! Cleo what the hell?"
"You were having a nightmare…I think. So I woke you up." I knew I was. But if she knew that…that meant….oh no. "You didn't…um…I didn’t…say anything right?"
"Oh things were said." She had a devilish grin on her face. I could feel my face turn red. I got up and quickly went to the bathroom. God she heard me. She now knew that I dreamed about her. About losing her. I was done showering. I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around my waist. Shit I didn't bring clothes in. That meant I had to go back out there. Well I knew I had to eventually. But still. I sigh and leave the bathroom. Just don't make eye contact. But I can tell she is watching me. I can feel her eyes on me. God why does she affect me so much? She then goes to the bathroom and showers. I put on jeans and a green tank top. She opens the door and goes to do her makeup. Which she doesn't need at all. "You don't need that."
"Do I look like I care what you think?" I just sigh and leave her alone. I go to my suitcase and look at the pictures. I go sit on the bed. Looking at how happy we were. God I'd do anything to go back and to be the reason she laughed or smiled. Now I am the reason she scowls and is sour. Suddenly I hear her voice. "What are those?" I look up at her. I notice that she wasn't wearing a lot of makeup. Just enough. I quickly put away the pictures. She can't know that I am still holding on to the past. I decide to change to subject. "You ready to go? I've got the whole day planned for us." I look at her but she is frowning.
"What? Exploring Dublin with the guys? I don't need to. I already--"
"We are taking a day trip. It’s a surprise." I just smile and grab her purse and phone then leave. I hear her finally come into the lobby. I was talking to Harry. "Eleanor is coming to the European leg of the tour too!"
"Great. Those two are going to do some major pranking." Harry just laughs. I feel Cleo yank her stuff out of my hands. She was standing next to me while checking her phone. She just sighs. Suddenly I hear Eleanor's voice. "Hi. I'm Eleanor. Nice to meet you." Louis must have told her about the whole situation. Harry and I pretend to not notice her. I hear Cleo respond. "Uh…nice to meet you too." Then we hear Eleanor yell at us. When we go over and greet her I see Cleo escape outside. I stopped paying attention because I was super nervous that Cleo might run. "Niall, that girl is stunning. Good choice! Man…good luck with keeping guys away from her."
"What does that mean? Everyone knows--"
"Doesn't mean that she won't do something or some guy won't. You aren't actually dating." God sometimes Eleanor can piss me off. I just walk right out and see Cleo on a bench talking into her phone. I missed most of the convo but I did hear "Yea I plan on going another time. Niall has this whole stupid surprise event for today. Come save me." I flinched. Did she really not want to be with me? It honestly hurt my heart. I felt like she was smashing it. I start to head towards her. She notices and lets out a sigh. "I have to go but I promise to call you when I get the chance okay? Oh tell Lola I miss her too." She was talking to Mickey. God can't he just leave her alone. Then I thought about what Eleanor said. That he wouldn't care about this whole setup. And I know for a fact she doesn't care either. "Oh my gosh! Don't call him that! But yes. I really have to go. He's making that face." She looks up at me and smiles. I'm making a face? "Love you too Mickey." She hangs up the phone and looks at me. "What?" I just grab her hand and lead her to the car. I drive away. We were getting close to Mullingar and I was really nervous. I don't really know how she will react. I mean she has been pretty clear that she wants to hide her past. We pass the sign and then she just starts yelling. "Niall what the fuck were you thinking?! Taking me here?! TURN THIS CAR AROUND RIGHT NOW!" I was thinking that it would be fun to go back to the town that WE grew up in. I don't get why she is all worked up over this. "Not a chance. My mum wants to see you again. I'm not the only one who missed you." Hoping that would calm her down but it doesn’t.
"I don't give a shit. TAKE ME BACK TO DUBLIN RIGHT FUCKING NOW!"
"No! I only get to see my family every so often."
"YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BRING ME! I hate you! I HATE MULLINGAR!" She had a point but as my girlfriend she is coming regardless. And I don't really trust her if I left her. Finally we get to my house. I get out and notice the Cleo has yet to move. God she is so fucking difficult. "Cleo you can't just stay in the car."
"You bet I fucking can."
"Cleo for god's sake just come on." I hear the front door open. I just slam my door. I just wanted to have a nice day with my family and Cleo. My mom comes running over and hugs me. "Oh Niall! I'm so glad you got to come out! Now where is she? Oh its been ages." I just point to the car. I see her go over to her side and open the door. I am leaning on the front of the car. I look over at her house. A bad habit I guess. Then I notice her mom. Oh boy…this should be fun. I am hoping that Lina is out of earshot because my mom basically squeals when she sees Cleo. "Cleo!!! Darling I thought you were gone forever! Oh so nice to see you beside Niall again." I can't help but smile at that. It was nice to have Cleo back. Then I hear a gasp. And I see Lina come over. Shit. "Cleo?" Lina hugs her daughter. But Cleo looks like she's about ready to kill Lina. Cleo has no emotion on her face. "Oh I never thought I would see you again. My lovely daughter." Then that's when all hell broke loose. Cleo pushed Lina off of her and practically growled at her. "You have no right to call me your daughter. You are the worst fucking mother in the world. You gave you the right to call me yours 9 years ago. I know you remember that day. I have a mom now. Who actually loves me and cares for me. So don't you dare even say that I am your daughter. I was nothing but a thing that kept you with that monster. I FUCKING HATE YOU!" My mom and I are standing there probably with our jaws hanging open. I honestly had no idea. Then she turns her rage on me. "And you! You asshole. Why the fuck would you bring me back here?! I am done with you. DONE! Do you hear me Niall??" Like hell she was done with me. I do something that probably wasn’t the smartest but whatever. I hugged her. "Shh Cleo…baby you don't mean that. You're just angry. Please stay…"
"No! I just can't…my past is better when it stays where it should…in the past." God no. This isn't happening. Its like one of my nightmares. "Cleo please…just stay. I just got you back." I was about to cry. I just got her back…I can't let her go again. I won't let her go again. She somehow manages to get out of my arms and just runs away. Lina runs inside crying. I am about to breakdown. My mom comes over and hugs me. "Niall darling. Lets go inside. Give her time to cool off."
"Mom I can't! She going to leave me again! I can't handle that again. I just--" I stop talking. I know where she was running to. "I know where she is going to go."
"Then go after her. I know that you love her." My mom was there to pick up the pieces the first time. I nod and just take off after Cleo. I am amazed that she still remembers how to get there. To our spot. The place that held my favorite memories of us.

Notes

Oh man....shit is going down!!! Ahh. Will Niall finally figure out what Cleo has been through? or will Cleo just run away again?

You all should check out my newest story!!!!!! Its an AU but the boys are still going to be in a band. Yep. Its really good. Thank you all for the support! VOTE AND COMMENT!!

Love you all! Stay golden.
~A xxx