The car ride back to the flat was mainly quiet except I was crying the entire time. Niall held on to me the whole way back. I think Zayn was surprised I was letting Niall comfort me. Honestly, I'm surprised too. For once, I actually feel safe with someone.

I was too weak to walk, so Niall carried me. I didn't want anyone else to touch me. I felt safe in Niall's arm, like he wouldn't let anything bad happen to me. It's such a strange feeling. I've never felt like this before.

Niall opens my bedroom door and walks over to my bed. He sets me down on my bed. I reach for his arm not wanting to be alone.

"I'll be right back." Niall kisses my forehead. He walks over to my closet and brings me some dry pajamas. I smile at him gratefully. "Let me know when you're done." He steps out of my bedroom shutting the door behind him.

I stand up and look at the pajamas he grabbed for me. A pair of black capris and a red tank top. I trudge over to my closet and grab a clean pair of underwear and a bra. I peel off my wet clothes and toss them in a corner. I pull on my new dry clothes.

I throw my hair up in a loose bun. I grab the grey hoodie off the desk chair and pull it on. I open my door to let Niall know I'm done. I climb in my bed feeling alone.

Niall walks back in my room carrying some food in his hands. "Didn't know if you were hungry or not." He sets the food on the bed stand table.

"Thanks." I mumble. Niall kisses me on my forehead and starts to leave. I grab his wrist before he can get too far. "Please don't leave me."

Niall looks at my face before pulling the covers back. He climbs in next to me. He must have changed his clothes while he left my room. He's wearing a pair of grey sweats and a green pullover hoodie. I snuggle closer to him, wanting to feel his warmth.

"I was fifteen when I started dating Glen. I was one of those quiet, shy girls. We were dating for a month." I start, resting my head on his chest.

"You don't have to tell me." Niall rests one hand on my back.

"I want too." I say. "During the time when we were dating, Glen would try to get me to sleep with him. I would always tell him no. I guess one day he had enough. The next day at school everyone was calling me a slut and a whore. I didn't know why, so I asked my best friend Katie."

"She told me that the entire school knows that I had slept with Glen. I told her I didn't, but she didn't believe me. That's when she turned her back on me. All my secrets I had ever told her she used against me. Katie even made up her own lies to go with Glen's."

"That day was horrible. Everywhere I went people would pick on me. From ugly to slut, to fat to whore. I tried not to believe them, but I heard them everywhere. When I went home that day, I locked myself in my bedroom. I didn't want anyone to see me." I bite my lip to prevent the tears from falling.

"Zayn heard all the rumors at school. He came home and heard me crying in my bedroom. He picked the lock to get in. Zayn held me all night when I cried. My life was destroyed."

I remember that night so clearly. Zayn was pissed. When he saw me curled up on my floor crying, he instantly comforted me. He was the only one I let see me when I was crying. I didn't want anyone else to see me like that. I knew Mum would try to get me to talk about it. That was the last thing I wanted to do.

"For the rest of year, I was bullied. I even started believing some of the things they called me. Zayn got in a few fights to stand up for me. I decided I wanted to graduate earlier. I just wanted to get away from all of them. I wanted to start over. So, I graduated when I was sixteen. I was accepted into London Fine Arts Academy. I was thrilled to go."

"Then my happiness turned to sadness. Zayn was going to audition for the X Factor. I wanted to go with him, but the school wouldn't allow it. I watched every episode, video diary, and voted for you guys all the time. It wasn't the same, though. I should have been there supporting my brother."

"When he was at bootcamp, a girl realized that he was my brother. She became best friends with me. Turns out she was never my friend. She only wanted to get to know Zayn. When I refused to tell her, she made up some rumors about me. They weren't as bad as Glen's, but they still hurt me."

"That's my story. That's why Zayn is so protective of me. That's why I have trust issues. That's why I'm scared to ever get in another relationship." I finish. A tear rolls down my cheek and splatters on Niall's hoodie.

Niall pulls me even closer and kisses my forehead. "I won't let anyone hurt you. I promise."

"Don't promise things you can't keep." I whisper before falling in a deep sleep.

•

"How long has she been asleep for?"

"Three hours."

Is that Zayn and Niall talking?

"I can't believe Katie and Glen did that to her. You would think they would have grown up and matured." Zayn whispers.

"She told me about her past." Niall tells him. "Everything makes sense now. Why she has trust issues. Why you are so protective of her."

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about." Zayn says. "Natalie doesn't trust anyone. She only trusts me. How in the world did you get her to trust you a little? She always flinches away when someone touches her. Yet, here she is curled up to you."

I had a feeling Zayn noticed how close I've gotten to Niall. I don't know what it is, but I feel like I can trust him. Maybe I'm slowly starting to trust him. Niall is one of those people that wouldn't hurt anyone. He isn't that type of person.

"I'm not sure. I just know that I want her to be able to trust people again. Natalie's had a rough past. I want to show her that not everyone is like that." Niall's arm tighten around my waist.

"I can tell that you care for her." Zayn sighs. "You guys almost seem like best friends."

Niall cares for me? Maybe Zayn is looking into it too much. Why would Niall care for me? I'm just your average plain Jane kind of girl. There's nothing special about me. I'm not pretty. I don't have a good looking body. There are so many better girls out there. Niall shouldn't waste his time on me.

"I do." Niall agrees with my brother.

"Is she still sleeping?" Another voice joins the conversation.

"Yeah, she is." Zayn answers. "Can you get the other guys in here, Louis?"

A few minutes later, a few more people step in my room. I hear them whispering to themselves. They are so loud. Do they honestly think they are being quiet right now?

"I have an idea on how to make Natalie feel better." Zayn whispers.

"How?" Louis asks loudly. A loud smack echoes throughout my room. "Ow." I take it someone hit him. "How?" Louis asks again in a quieter voice.

"What if we leave? Go to the States or something. I don't want Natalie to be scared to go out in town because of Katie and Glen." Zayn continues.

Leave the UK? They want to go to the States just for me? They shouldn't have to leave because of me. That's not right.

"Let's do it!" Harry agrees.

He wants to go? Why wouldn't he want to stay here?

"I figured you guys could help me decide on where to go." Zayn tells them.

Does that mean we are leaving? It would be nice to be able to go into town without having to worry about running into Glen or Katie. Would they really leave for me? Maybe I can trust these guys. I will eventually trust these boys.

I'll probably trust Niall first.

••••••

Author's Note:

I decided to upload this. Almost didn't, but I did. Your welcome.

So, where do you think they are going to go?

Okay, so I'm trying to get One Direction to read my stories. Practically impossible, but I want to try. How awesome would it be to know that One Direction read my stories? But I need your help. Yes, you! I need you to tell the boys to read my stories. Either tweet to them, get my username trending, write them a letter, tell them at concerts, tell them at a signing. Anywhere! Just tell them to read my books.

I really need your help on this.