The Setup

I can't believe I just said those words. God what was I thinking. I think my heart was just blown up by an atomic bomb. I can't even look at her. I just look at the floor. Man how could I have been so stupid? Of course she didn't want this. She didn’t even want to see me again. She left this town and built a whole new life. But she doesn't know how happy I was to know that she was alive. Because to be honest towards the end I thought she might have died. Then I liked to think of her as my guardian angel. She was beautiful and funny. She made me want her so much. I blame the eyes. They put a spell on me. I can't help but want to her when she sets her gaze on me. No one could compare to her. That's one of the reasons I agreed to 'date' Barbara. Barbara was a model so I assumed that I would somehow run into her. But after about one month I called it quits on that. That's about the time a started to get Simon to set this up with Rachel. She finally speaks up "But…why…you…what?!"
"Never mind. Forget I even said anything." I get up and quickly go to my room. God I am so embarrassed. I get ready for bed and set up the air mattress for myself. I'll let Cleo have my bed. I lay awake waiting for her to come in to the room. Time slowly passes. She still hasn’t come up. I get up and go downstairs. I see her curled up on the couch. God I just want to cuddle with her. But I know that she doesn't want that. Because she doesn’t want me. I never thought it would hurt this much. But it does. She was going to leave me again. I go to wake her up. "Cleo…wake up." She slowly opens her eyes and looks at me. Then looks around the room. "What time is it?"
"Midnight…you didn't come up so I came to check on you…um I set up a bed for you." Which was true I put on clean sheets for her to sleep in. I got up to leave I hear her get up. "Oh um yea thanks." She follows me to my room. I think she notices the air mattress so I clarify the sleeping arrangements. "You can have my bed." I crawl under the sheets on the air mattress and try to sleep. I somehow manage to. Then I get awoken by my name. God what time is it? Who is calling my name? I just want to sleep. Then I hear Cleo's voice. "NIALL!" That makes me sit up. She was having a dream about me…that was…I don't really know. She thrashes the sheets off. "Niall…please save me!" I quickly get up and wrap her up in my arms. I kiss her head. She was crying…why is she always crying? She was clinging to me like I was going to vanish. "Niall…"
"Yea? I'm here." And I wanted to be there for her. But after last night I just know that's not a possibility anymore. She whispered into my chest "It felt so real." I was rubbing circles on her side hoping that would calm her down. It did. I try to reassure her. "Its not though. You have to remember that." She nods and I try to get up to leave. But she stops me and looks at me with those damned eyes. "No please don’t…stay?" She was pleading with me. God how could I say no to her? I give in. Because this girl has put a spell over me. "Fine. But promise no punching."
"I promise." I get back into bed and turn my back to her. It really hurts doing this. But if I can't see her then I won't want to touch her. I slowly fall back asleep.

I was sitting on my couch. Its been hours since Cleo has called. Where the hell is she? She suddenly enters. "Honey I'm home." I launch off the couch and go to her. "Where the hell have you been? I've been worried sick!"
"I was out. I told you I was going." No she didn't lately she has be 'going out' more often. "You never told me!" I was getting angry. She tried to get past me but I stopped her. "Who is he?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't lie to me!" Then I slapped her. She looked at me with fear and hatred. "Did that make you feel better Niall?!"
"Just tell me who he is damn it!" I slap her again. She's crying now. Oh god what have I done? No…I'm not this guy. I don't hurt people. "I'm leaving Niall. I can't believe you of all people would do this to me! But I have gotten worse. So I'm leaving before you get worse."
"Cleo baby…no don't go. I didn't meant to!"

I jolt up. I was sweating. Cleo was laying next to me. Thank god she was still here. She didn't leave me. Maybe it was just a bad dream. I crawl on top of her. I was desperate. "I didn't hit you did I? Oh god I am so sorry! I will never do it again. Please don’t leave me." I started kissing her jawline. Trying to make her see I won't do it again. Then she speaks up. "Uh…Niall…you do know you're awake right?" Of course I know that…wait…oh. Well this is even more awkward now. "Oh…um…it just felt so real…more real than any other nightmare." There was some silence.
"Do you want to talk about it?" I look at her. She seems to be uncomfortable but what the hell. I sigh and try to think of how I would even tell this. "Yea okay. But you can't judge me."
"I can't make any promises but I'll try." She moves closer so she's sitting right next to me. I lay my head down on her lap. That way I can't see her reaction. She runs her fingers through my hair. Which feels so good. God…I have fallen really hard for this girl. I sigh again then just spill everything. "Okay. So we were married and you came home late from something and I didn't know where you were so we argued. It got really intense and then…I…slapped you like twice. But you just took it and you started crying and god I felt so bad. But then you said…" I sat up then. I looked her then I took her arm that had that huge scar on it. The scar she claimed she got when she fell down on the street on broken glass. I traced it with my finger. She shivered a bit. I looked back into her grey eyes and just said what she said. "You…said that you've gotten worse." Then I looked back at the scar and it all just clicked in my head. Her dad…beat her. He abused her…my Cleo. And I didn't even notice. "Your dad beat you…that’s why you always missed school. Why you limped…" Why she always wore long sleeved shirts. To hide the cuts and bruises. That son of a bitch. She was pleading with me to stop. "Niall please stop…it doesn't--" I cut her off. How could she think it doesn't matter?
"It does to matter! God this all makes sense now…your mom put you up for adoption to get you away from him…if I ever see him I swear I will kill him."
"He's in jail now. Niall please don't worry over this…" Good that's where he should be. This makes so much sense. But I don’t get why she was mad at Lina. Well I'll talk to her about that later. Because right now she is trying to leave me. I grab her and pull her back onto the bed. I wrap my arms around her. She was my girl. Nobody will hurt her again. Not if I have anything to say about it. "Cleo…you…I won't ever let anyone hurt you. God why didn’t I notice this earlier!"
"Niall please just--" I cut her off. I kissed her and I knew she won't kiss me back. But I was surprised when she did. I smiled and just kissed her more. Then my door flies open and I hear Greg's voice. "There's my brother! Oh! Sorry didn't know you had company…" I groan. God could his timing get any worse? I slowly untangle myself from Cleo and snap at him. "Tell mom we'll be down shortly."

Notes

Oh man...what is going to happen? Will it be smooth sailing for Niall and Cleo now? Or will Cleo still push him away?

Sorry its been awhile....but I was busy. Oh I started a 5SOS story so the first chapter is up. So check it out!! :) Yep. And I am still toying with doing a Harry one but no one seems interested! So if you want me to COMMENT!!!! :)
~A xx