Brielle’s P.O.V.

I stared at the door in shock, blinking. Niall stood behind me, wisely not saying anything.

“Did he just…” my voice trailed off as I couldn’t bring myself to finish the sentence.

“Yep,” Niall confirmed, coming closer and putting a hand on my arm. “Let’s go.”

“But…” I protested, still staring at the door.

“It’ll make it worse,” Niall said, now wrapping his fingers around my wrist. “Let your dad cool down.”

Reluctantly, I turned away from the door and followed Niall down the steps. As we walked back, my head whirled. What could my dad be possibly doing that I couldn’t see? Who could he be with that I couldn’t meet? How could he just shut me out like that?

Somewhere, my mind connected nearly invisible dots. He’s been busy. He’s been locked up in his flat. He wouldn’t let me in because he had some friends over. He must have met a girl.

I tried to be happy for him, but somewhere deep inside, deep down in my gut, jealously burned. I want to spend time with my dad, not have him beg off to hook up with someone. He came back for me, not some cougar.  He should be spending time with me, getting to know me, his own flesh and blood, not someone he’s just met while he’s here visiting me.

I’m so consumed in my thoughts that I didn’t notice Niall glancing back at me. “You okay there?” he asked, dropping back to walk with me. “You have kind of a sour expression.”

Startled, I looked in a car mirror. I looked like I’d just swallowed a spoonful of lemon juice.  “Yeah I’m fine,” I answered. “Just thinking about my dad.”

Something in my expression must be pretty bitter because Niall chuckled and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

“Your dad’s a big boy he can handle himself,” he joked.

I made a face. “It’s not that, it’s something else.”

“What is it?” Niall asked, poking me in the arm.

“Nothing!” I said.

“Mmm-hmm,” Niall said doubtfully, staring at me.

“Nothing! I swear! It’s absolutely nothing” I exclaimed, throwing my hands up in the air.

“Ya know, denial isn’t good for the soul,” Niall said.

I looked at him. “Where did you hear that?”

“I have my sources,” Niall said superiorly, tossing his hair.

“Calm down, we don’t want that head to get too big,” I teased.

“What head? My head?” Niall asked indignantly. “Are you saying I have a big head?”

“Oh look, home!” I said quickly, taking off running.

I managed to get there first, but I didn’t have a key, so I was stuck outside. I banged on the door, hoping that someone would let me in. Niall came up behind me walking leisurely, tossing the key from hand to hand.

“You expecting someone in there, babe?” he asked.

“Maybe,” I teased.

Niall didn’t take it as a joke and pinned me up against the door. “That’s not funny,” he said, voice low.

“I thought it was pretty funny,” I said, tucking hair behind my ear. “Actually, it was so funny, people laughed around the whole world. Even people in China, even. And you know that’s a faraway place. ”

Okay, maybe I was blabbing because I didn’t want to know what Niall was gonna do. I’m not afraid he’ll hurt me, I’m just afraid that he’ll tickle me to death.

“Stop blabbing, babe,” Niall put a finger to my lips, shutting me up. I went cross-eyed staring at his index, trying to keep it within my sights. “You seem jumpy,” he noted.

“Your observation skills are astounding,” I said dryly. “Really, quite amazing.”

“I’m gonna take that as a complement,” Niall said, still holding me against the door.

“So are we just gonna stand here, with you holding me against the door or…”  I trailed off, looking over his shoulder.

Niall smirked. Smirked. What the hell? Niall doesn’t smirk. He laughs his head off. He must be learning from Harry.  “I kind of like it here,” he said.

I rolled my eyes. “Is this the whole dominant male thing going on, or are you just in a flirty mood today?”

“Are you in a sarcastic mood today?” Niall mocked me.

“You know I get sarcastic when I get nervous!” I shot back then clapped a hand over my mouth.

He wasn’t supposed to know that I was nervous.

“You’re nervous?” Niall asked. “Of what?”

“That you’ll tickle me to death,” I replied honestly.

Niall’s laughter rumbled in his chest and he looked down at me. “Tickle you?” he mused, bringing a hand up and tracing my jaw line. “I was thinking more along the lines of kissing you.”

I could feel my heart beat faster as he grinned down at me, smile lopsided as usual. “Then what are you waiting for?” I breathed.

Niall smirked (Again, really?) and leaned down slowly. He paused right before my lips, as if to make sure, but then he tilted my chin up and our lips met. His arms went from my arms to my neck, pulling me closer to his body. I closed my eyes, letting his heat warm me up. My hands moved up to his hair to mess with the tangled mess that he hadn’t bothered to style today, just shoved it under a beanie that I was now wearing. Niall’s hands went from my neck to my hips and I pushed him with my palms, switching our positions so that I was pinning him against the door.

I pulled back for a second to look at Niall. His face was in absolute shock and I smirked a little before kissing him again. Niall remained against the door for a second but then he flipped us around, slamming my back into the door, not hard but with enough force for a gasp to escape me.

Niall smiled against my lips, putting pressure on my wrists as he held my arms up. “Don’t you know I like to be on top?” he whispered, breathing a little harder due to our make-out session.

“Don’t you know that I don’t follow rules?” I answered and enjoying the gleam in Niall’s eye.

He kissed me again, harder, and his hands were roaming everywhere, he was pushing me against the door harder, his lips were attacking my own, I was kissing him back just as hungrily-

Pop!

The door that I was being pinned against opened with a bang and I lost my balance, falling backwards as it swung open. I landed in the entry hall, Niall on top of me.

I sighed, closing my eyes. “Niall, did you forget to lock the door?”

“Maybe,” his voice was muffled as his face was buried in my shoulder.

“Way to ruin a moment, Niall,” I sighed, pushing him off of me.

“What?” Niall said. “This wasn’t my fault!”

“Yeah, it kind of was,” I said. “You didn’t lock the door!”

“Well, if you weren’t so damn cute we wouldn’t have this problem!” Niall said.

I bit my lip as I blushed. Niall noticed my face and grinned. He pecked my nose and hoisted himself up. He held out a hand to me. When I took it, he lifted me up and carried me into our room.

…

Parents can be the best gift or the one where you pretend to like it.

Hey diary. Sorry I haven’t been writing in you lately. Family drama. What a change. Actually, it’s not my mom. It’s my dad. He’s been shutting me out. It’s like he doesn’t need me anymore. I know, I’m pathetic to want to spend time with my dad when I’m twenty, but I can’t help it. He hasn’t been here. Now he’s here, and all he wants to do is spend time at home.

I don’t know if I’m overreacting, but I think he’s seeing someone, or doing something equally disgusting. As much as I love my father, if I walk in and he’s kissing someone, I’m done.

Niall says I’m overreacting. But I know something in my gut is wrong. And that same feeling was in my gut when I was on my walk the night that James was killed. The feeling that something is horribly, desperately wrong. And I was right before, wasn’t I?

Whatever. I’m sorry for the short entry. I’ll try to write in you again later. I guess it’s good that my entries are getting shorter? It means that I don’t need you as much? But I like you. You don’t judge, and you like my quotes.

Speaking of, do you like the one about parents? It’s mine actually, I made it up. Usually I find quotes on Google or something. I’m proud of this one. It’s true, isn’t it? Your parents are either the best, or they suck. Mine happen to suck. I know, I got the raw end of the deal. But what do you know about parents? It’s not like you have any….

Never mind, I’m not going to go there. Anyway, I’m going to go try to talk to my dad today, wish me luck!

 Love…

The parent-like daughter

I closed my diary and stretched, making my shirt rise up a little. I could feel Niall’s eyes on me as I stood up. “I’m going to go talk to my dad,” I announced.

Niall nodded. “Have fun.”

After a pleasant five minute walk I arrived at my dad’s. I skipped up the stairs and knocked on the door. He answered, but he looked like a mess. He was dressed in boxers and a white tank top, stained with something yellow. His hair was matted and he stank of alcohol and smoke.

“What’s wrong with you?” I blurted.

Dad grinned. “Long night, eh?” he winked. “You ever have one of those?”

I gagged. “Umm, Dad, are you okay?”

He burped. “Never better. Why?”

“You’re looking a little bit out of it,” I said nervously.

“I’m fine,” he said, swaying a little now.

“Dad, can I come in?” I asked.

He immediately shut the door halfway, looking guilty. “No, I’m busy.”

“You look like you just woke up,” I said flatly.

He grinned, looking a little woozy. “Well, ya know, the morning after…”

Ignoring him, I pushed past him and strode in his house. Hearing his sputters only drove me on. I barged into the living room and gasped. There were guns strewed across the table and what looked like a giant pile of mix-matched drugs in the middle of it all.

“What-” I turned to find a bunch of really buff guys standing next to my dad, looking like they were protecting him.

He shook his head. “Ah, Bri, too nosy for your own good,” he pulled out a gun and it clicked as he pointed it straight at me. “Now we’ll have to teach you how to shut up.”

Slowly, I reached into my pocket and found my phone. Slowly, I dialed 911.  

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Hey guys, I'm back! I know, no authors note last chappy, you guys must have enjoyed that. Haha, anyway, almost done! Do you know who the killer is now? You better! Drama, I know, but it is a necessary evil. I hope you liked this chapter, ummmm yeah. Oh, and recently, I asked my sister(who also reads this fanfic,) if she knew why I called it Love... and she didn't know. Do you guys? Leave a comment below! Anyway, hope you like this chapter, please vote and comment, I really appreciate it, almost up to 7,000 reads now! I was in shock when I saw the number. Anyway, hope you like it, next chapter next Tuesday!

Love ya!

-11tay99