Coalesce

(verb) To unite, grow or come together to form one mass or whole

Lillian's P.O.V

AT THE BOAT

"Okay, you comfy?" I stood up straight after propping up Niall's pillow to sit better behind his head.

The proximity of our bodies stole my breath. Afraid to hurt him, I kept as much distance as possible but my body was telling me different. Lucky for me, my mind is pretty smart.

"Yes, thank you Lil," My heart fluttered at the nickname. I received it commonly but hearing it from his lips was different. "But I actually can't stay here." He motioned to stand but I immediately placed a hand lightly on his chest.

Ignoring the chiselled surface beneath my palm, I protested.

"Niall, you just got stabbed 15 times. Of course you are staying here." I rolled my eyes at his ridiculous suggestion.

I removed my hand from his body, my fingers aching for me to return it. I disregarded the sensation.

I heard Niall sigh and satisfaction filled my mind and soul. Allowing myself to turn my back, I waltzed over to the door that leads up to the main part of the boat. Too lazy to climb the ladder, I called out to my dad to slide over a wooden stool.

Shortly after, the stool was in my grasp. With content, I made my way over to injured boy only to find him attempting, and failing, to push himself off the lounge.

I huffed but waltzed slowly over to his struggling self. I knew there was no way he had enough strength to lift himself from his place on the bed. So I took my time, taking slight pleasure in watching him try. It was cute.

I dropped the stool down lightly beside the lowset bed. I plonked down on it and waited patiently for Niall to give up. As he fidgeted his arms around, trying to find a position which provided him with enough strength to get up, I kept mine relaxed in my lap.

He was only putting himself in pain.

After a few minutes, he huffed and fell back onto the cushioned surface. He squeezed his eyes shut, clearly trying to ignore his pain.

"Done?" I raised an eyebrow at him and laughed. He lifted one eyelid up to send me an annoyed stare which I happily returned with a chuckle.

"Lillian I can't stay here." He took deep breaths with his words.

"Well, Niall, you can't walk so what else are you gonna do hmm?" I retaliated. I took greedy advantage of his injured state to admire him.

His chest rose and fell unevenly, reminding me of earlier when my hand had been on his chest. Just thinking about it sent the tingling feeling I'd felt when I touched him to go coursing through my body. I again tried to ignore it but I just grew more and more flustered.

"Lillian, The League, they're not dumb." He shifted, "they'll find out I'm not dead and come for me. I can't go to the apartment but I can't stay here. I've put you and your family at risk enough." I listened patiently to his words, which were separated by long pauses of him catching his breath.

I watched him reach painfully for the glass of water beside him.

I flipped his words over in my mind. I felt as if I had a thousand Jacques the shrimps in my head, cleaning and stripping down every word.

It was a ridiculous idea and he would die if he didn't stay here to get help. But... he has a point. I didn't know much about the league but they managed to find him at the hospital almost immediately.

"Niall..." I began but I failed to form the rest of the sentence. I didn't know what to say because I didn't know the answer.

Either way he risks his life.

Stay here, chance them finding him and killing him and us.

Leave, die from his injuries getting infected AND chance them finding him and killing him.

"Lil, I'm so sorry for getting you and your family caught up in this. In the hospital, I was ecstatic to have you on my side. But now that I'm here, I can think clearly and I've realised how dangerous this is for you. Must have been the pain medication." He joked at the end following with an awkward chuckle. But the seriousness of the conversation couldn't have been any higher.

"I'm a criminal." He closed his eyes.

"Niall," The new voice came from behind and I twisted on the stool to see my dad poking his head down into my room, "it doesn't matter what you did. What matters is that you decided to change."

I felt the weight of his words press down on my shoulders.

"Niall, we can't, and won't, just throw you out on the street. We'll figure something out." As the words fell from my lips, my brain began ticking. I churned through every idea I could think of, my little shrimps at it again.

And I eventually decided on the only option that seemed plausible.

"I have a plan to get your apartment back." I blurted the words, nodding my head firmly and rapidly to assert myself and Niall.

I took a breath and stood up. I was really about to do this.

"Wait, Lillian. What are you doing?" I had begun walking but when his cold fingertips made their presence known on my wrist, I froze.

I was just about sick of this tingly feeling.

"Don't worry, I'll be back soon." I reassured him, and myself. This would be the third risky thing I've done for this boy and yet, I didn't hesitate. Yes, I was scared but that seemed to be nothing compared to my desire to help him.

His face fell and it was clear that he was not convinced.

I leant forward and wrapped my arms cautiously around his neck. I pulled myself closer and hugged him softly, careful not to cause him further pain.

I heard him sigh into the hair that rested on my shoulders. I wasn't sure if it was out of comfort or pain but I took it as my sign to let go.

I slowly released my arms from around, finding it difficult to retreat. Some kind of invisible pull but I was sure that was my imagination.

I dawdled. Taking my time in removing my hold, but when my nose brushed his cheek, I ceased completely.

Neither he nor I were breathing.

I pushed my head back further to meet his eyes; his gaze was harsh, like in the hospital. But it carried a different sensation. One that burnt my insides with.... lust.

That imaginary pull drew me in a different direction now.

I closed my eyes, breaking the hold he had on me. But still, I inched forward. I expected to feel his hands on my shoulders, stopping me from growing loser.

But there was nothing.

My head tilted.

My lips parted.

My hands lifted, hovering along his jawline.

It was he who closed the gap. His lips filled the gap in mine and I exploded with tingles.

It was almost too much.

I pressed my hands to his face, feeling his tiny stubble brush against my fingers.

The kiss was slow but filled with immense intensity. A hand rested on my lower back and his movements were slightly sluggish.

Even in his injured state, his lips worked wonders.

The tingles in my lungs disappeared and were replaced with a burn.

I, reluctantly, pulled away. I was afraid to meet his gaze but I braved a glance.

And sure enough, it killed me. His lips were plump; as I'm sure mine were too. And his eyes, my nirvana, shone with brightness designed to blind.

Our shallow breaths were in sync as were our smiles.

My hands stayed on his face and his on my back. We stayed like that for a moment before the haze that had filled my mind cleared, and my shrimps reappeared.

I had to go.

My body was numb and walking felt like a more difficult task than it should have been.

Even walking away, if you could call it that, I could still feel the chemicals moving between us.

I grabbed onto one of the chemicals and held it close. This is what would get me through what I was about to do.

~~~~~~~~~~~

ANYONE PICK UP ON THE 5SOS REFERENCE?!?!?! (The chemicals moving between us?)

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