Keep Holding On
Chapter One
Part Two
And I know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
NIALL’S POV
So Sophie’s making me help some girl “feel again.” Honestly, I know it’s just a bunch of crap. She’s probably some kid who’s looking for attention. It’s all an act but Sophie doesn’t see it. I mean, I love my little sister but seriously? I don’t get her sometimes.
I walked out of the small den we almost never used and saw Casper. To be honest, even though she’s obviously begging for attention with this whole no emotion thing, she is kind of pretty. I’d never go out with her, though. I hate people like that, who beg for attention by pretending to be disturbed or cutting or something.
“Casper,” Sophie said, “say hi.”
“Hi,” she said bluntly.
I held out my hand to greet her and she stepped back.
“Too fast,” Sophie said. “Casper don’t be scared of him. He isn’t going to hurt you.”
“This is ridiculous,” I said, putting my hand back by my side and walking up to her.
She looked frightened and tried to step back but I put my hands on her upper arms so she couldn’t. She didn’t cry, she just tried to pull back.
“Niall knock it off!” Sophie shouted.
“She’s looking for attention,” I said to her and then I looked back at Casper. “You’re looking for attention aren’t you?”
Her eyes never left my hands that were on her arms.
“Why am I looking or attention?” she asked me, although she never stopped looking at my hands. “If I was looking for attention you would know. I’m not a good actor. You don’t know me. Don’t judge me until you’ve walked a few miles in my shoes.”
“You’re not crying,” I said. “You’re obviously not upset.”
“I don’t know how to be upset,” she shrugged. “I just… I don’t know anymore how to feel those emotions. Just scared, that’s all I know.”
“Are you scared now?” I asked her, starting to believe her.
“I think so,” she said and I wanted to cry.
She didn’t know if she was scared or not. The slightest bit of her eyes I could see told me.
“Darling you don’t need to be scared of me,” I said, letting my thumbs move around over her varsity jacket. “I’m here to protect you and help you.”
“I don’t need help,” she said, in a monotone, still watching my hands.
She was really tense, like she was ready to defend herself from something. Like so much adrenaline was coursing through her veins because she was scared. Scared of me. Scared of touch.
“Look at me,” I said quietly, “not my hands. Come on, look at me. Trust me, I won’t hurt you.”
She didn’t look at me, but she did relax.
“Just let go of me,” she said. “Please.”
“Not until you show me you aren’t scared of my touch,” I said. “Until then I am not letting go of you.”
“I am scared of it, though,” she said. “At least, I think I am.”
“You are,” I said. “The feeling you are experiencing is fear. Everyone feels fear, and it’s not the best thing. But people can get around fear. You have nothing to be scared of, when it comes to me. Please look at me, not my hands. I won’t hurt you.”
She turned her head to look up at me, as I was slightly taller than her. The first thing I saw was her eyes. Piercing green and full of hurt, they were. They were scared, but beautiful, nothing like I’ve seen before.
“Promise me?” she asked. “Promise me you won’t hurt me.”
“I promise,” I said and she nodded.
No smile, no chuckle, no change in her facial expression, just a nod. That’s okay, though, because I’ve gotten my job started.
Fear: check. She knows what fear is again. I hate to say that was the first thing I showed her, but it needed to be done, I guess, even if it was on accident.
Author's Note
Ooooooo what's next?
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