The Setup

I have to stop running after a bit because of my knee. I was about halfway there. I went to call her then remembered that she left all her stuff in the car. Great. She really could run away and I would have no way to find her. So I just hope and pray she is where I think she is. I get to the park and see her. I can hear her sobbing from here. I stop dead in my tracks. Its been 9 years since we have both been together at our spot. Sometimes I would dream about her sneaking back here to go to our spot. Mostly I would daydream about her coming back to me. Ever since I saw her on that damn magazine I haven't been able to get her out of my head. It got to the point where I would hallucinate seeing her in crowds. I one time almost had a mental breakdown because I thought I saw her on the streets. But it wasn’t her. They never were her. But there she is…sitting on our bench crying. God what the hell did her mom do to her? I've never seen Cleo so mad and sad all at once. She told me we were done. But I didn't want that. I wanted her…so badly. I have no idea how these feelings came about. Originally my plan was just to have her be my best friend again and distract the paps from Harry. But now having her with me…being close to her. A lot of feeling I didn't know I had came. I really should go over and talk to her. Comfort her like how a boyfriend should. I want to be her actual boyfriend. Not just one out at public events but behind the doors. I start walking over and stop again. Her words going through my mind. She said she was just something that kept Lina tied to a monster…her dad? Why was her dad a monster? I mean I know that he was a drunk and didn't really work much. But what did that have to do with Cleo? I know that he hit her once because she stayed the night that day. Which I liked a lot. I take a deep breath and start walking again. "Cleo! Cleo!" I start jogging…god what if I am hallucinating again…what if she did run away from me? But she turns around and my eyes lock with her grey ones. I felt so relieved. "Cleo! Thank god you are okay." She stands up and looks at the ground. I see a couple of tears fall. "I um…I'm sorry if I ruined everything. I just…" Ruin everything? She didn't. I went over to her and pulled her face up to wipe away the tears. Then I hug her. She starts sobbing into me. I feel really happy that I get to do this with her. I'm glad its me and not Mickey. "Shhh Cleo. Please stop crying. I hate it when you cry." Which only makes her sob more. Shit what do I do? Think Niall. THINK! "Cleo please stop. Everything is okay now. I'm here. Shhh baby please stop." Slowly she stops crying. I think I have effectively calmed her down so I suggest that we should probably head back. "Suppose we should go back?" She just sighs and leans back on my shoulder. Oh yea I loved this. I hear her mumble "I guess so…"
"Cleo…if you ever want to talk I'm here for you. I will always be here." I am hoping that she will open up to me now. I mean I just held her while she sobbed into me. "Thanks Niall…"
"I mean it Cleo. I know you're hurting on the inside. I just want you to tell me why."
"Its better if you don't know." What? Better if I didn't know what? Ugh she frustrated me. I just sigh and let her go. I lace my fingers into hers and we walk back to my place. We get back and I see that she is glaring at her old house. Something happened 9 years ago that made Cleo resent anything that had to do with her past. But what? I see my mom come over and hug Cleo. "You hungry? I made a lot of food." And at the mention of food I go inside. Cleo needs a mother's comfort right now and I needed food. I get to the kitchen and start loading up some food. God I missed my mom's cooking. I go and sit down at the table. I see my mom walk in but Cleo didn't follow her. I stop eating. "Mom where's Cleo?"
"Getting her stuff from the car I believe." I eye my mom suspiciously. I went back to eating and finished a plate. I heard what sounded like sobs coming from the porch. I go to peek out a window and see Cleo crying again. "MOM! What did you say to her?!" I stormed into the kitchen. To be honest my mom kind of resented Cleo after she left. But god you would think she could've let it go. "Huh? Oh…um…nothing."
"Mom she's crying on the porch so its obviously not nothing!" I was pissed. How could she hurt Cleo like this? I won't let anyone hurt her again. "Oh Niall. I just told her that if she planned on leaving you again she better just leave now. I didn't want to see you get hurt again." SHE SAID WHAT? God how could my mom be so stupid! Cleo was a massive flight risk. I just gaped at her. "Are you stupid?! Why would you say that! You basically told the girl I love to leave me!"
"Niall James Horan. That is not the same Cleo you liked back then. She is damaged. Broken."
"Don’t you dare say that about her!!! She's just protecting herself."
"Darling something made her like this…I just want you to be happy." I sigh. I can't really be mad at my mom. She only had my best interest in mind. Even though my best interest is to keep Cleo. I made her a plate. A little bit of everything then went outside. She was on the phone with someone. If it is Mickey I am going to slap that phone right out of her hands. But I heard her respond in between her sobs. "Mom I just…I want to go home…" No! No please no. I let the door shut to tell her I'm out here but she doesn't even look back. "I love you too Mom. And I will…"
"Okay…I will. Love you too." She hangs up the phone and puts it back into her purse. I can see that she has no intention on going back inside. So I sit down beside her. She just sighs. Okay just break the ice. "Hey I brought you some food…um I didn’t know what you wanted…"
"I'm not hungry." She hugs her legs into her chest and rests her head on her arms. She has to eat something. She really can't afford to not eat…she like all skin and bones. Sure she has some curves and is muscular but she needs food. "Baby…please--" She cuts me off.
"Don't call me that. And I said I'm. Not. Hungry." She snaps at me.
"Cleo come on…just eat something. Here have the--" I try to reason with her but she cuts me off again. "Niall. I am not hungry. So just stop and go back inside."
"Not without you." That got her to look at me. I just move closer to her and rest my head on her shoulder. Her voice is barely above a whisper when she speaks up again. "Niall please I just want to be alone."
"Cleo…you can't just stay out here the whole time." She doesn't respond to me. I think she knows I am right. She will have to come inside eventually since we are staying the night here. I try again. "Cleo come on. You have been out here for like 2 hours." Still nothing. So I stand up and just grab her. She so fucking light. Like a feather. I can tell she is super shocked. "Niall! Put me down RIGHT NOW!"
"Not happening babe. You can be all mopey on the sofa." If she wanted to be alone then she can do that inside where I can make sure she won't run away. I go back and grab her plate of food and set it down by her. Then I go and help my mom in the kitchen. "Mom I got this you can go relax on the couch." I go back to Cleo and see that her food was all gone. I look at her and back at the plate. "Where'd your food go?"
"I ate it." I just smile and grab the plate to go clean it. I finish up the dishes and see that my mom is getting up. "Well I'm going to bed. Greg and Denise are coming for breakfast tomorrow morning before you two shove out. See you in the morning."
"Yea alright night Mom." I was excited to see Theo. I missed that little guy. I hope Cleo is okay with us staying here. Not that she really has an option. I sit down and she moves away. So I move closer and she just moves away again. Playing hard to get are we? "Cleo. Come here." That came out a little bit huskier than I planned it too. But it still did the job since she stopped and looked at me. I move closer to her and run my hand on her thigh. She just sits there. I take my other hand and pull her in. My lips meet hers. It was everything I could have wanted. Her lips were so smooth. I don't think I could ever not want to kiss her now. Then she pushed me away and she bolted right up and moved far away. I looked at her with confusion. Last time I checked this is not how kissing should go. "What the hell do you think you are doing?!" Um…I think it is fairly obvious what I was doing. "Uh kissing my girlfriend…"
"I am not your girlfriend! This is fake. FAKE!" Not this whole thing again. God why can't she just see that I don't want it to be! Why is she trying so hard to not let love in. I don't get it. I could be the one who comforts her. Who holds her when she's scared, to take care of her when she's sick, to make her smile and laugh. I take a deep breathe and say the words that have been on my mind since the photoshoot. "Maybe I don't want this to be fake…"

Notes

Ohh snap! Niall doesn't want this to be fake anymore! What will Cleo do? How will she respond? I don't know! Well I do know but...I can't tell. Sorry. :(

Anyways. In Wisconsin....April showers bring snow plowers. But seriously this is a lovely winter we are having this spring here in Green Bay. And on top of shitty weather...I think I'm getting sick! :'( Wahh...

Thanks for everyone who has read this story! Please please please comment! I love comments even if you are commenting just to get to know me. I don't care! :) Because I'm cool like that. haha not really though. Yepp! Please comment or vote or subscribe...it would mean a lot!

Stay awesome my lovelies!
~A xxx