The Side You Don't Hear (1D)

Alice's POV

                "She won't allow me to see him," Harry answered, eyes full of tears, to the interviewer's question.  He made a point to look down at his hands as Louis gently rubbed his back in support.  All the boys fell quiet as the camera panned the audience full of girls with varying degrees of sadness and anger on their faces.

                "How could she!" Someone yelled in the silence.

                "I'd never do this to you, Harry!" Another voice proclaimed, starting a flood of similar exclamations, effectively bringing the solemn feel of the room up to one of bitter anger.

                "That's quite unfortunate," the show's host said, "but on a lighter note, you boys have next week off.  Are you excited to head back home and see your families?" The boys smiled and nodded with agreement, each explaining what exactly they plan to do with the time off, ranging from catching up with friends and family to seeing shows and going to parties.  It was at this point that I angrily shut the TV off and pulled myself off the couch to tend to my crying baby boy.

                "Shhhh Clark, everything is alright, mommy is here," I cooed into the ear of my five month old. When he finally quieted, I buckled him into his stroller and set out the door of our small apartment and went straight down to the mail box.  I knew what would be inside: a lofty child support check that meant not only Clark's livelihood, but that another month of hate filled loneliness has passed.  I opened the box, pulled out the envelope that looked the same each month, and sighed.  Clark wouldn't remain quiet much longer, meaning I had to finish my errands in a timely fashion.  I tucked the envelope into my purse and turned the stroller away, heading straight to the bank around the corner.

                I kept my hood up and my sunglasses on, trying not to be recognized, as there was always an angry teenage girl on the prowl trying to catch a glimpse of Clark and his striking similarity to his MIA father.  I jumped a bit as I noticed a pair of silent feet keeping pace with mine, reflexively pulling my baby's stroller behind me to protect its precious contents from the stranger.  As I looked up, I realized it was simply Peter, the only person who has given me a chance in the last 14 months. I breathed a sigh of relief at his familiar face and continued walking.

                "A bit jumpy today, are we?" Peter laughed as he walked beside me.  I refused to answer, still angry at him for scaring me.  He fell silent, but kept his sweet smile on his face.  He wasn't easily put off by my constantly grouchy demeanor; one of the many things I loved about my best and only friend.  We reached the bank, and he instinctively took hold of Clark's stroller as I went inside to cash the check that meant my survival for the next month. Work was out of the question for me the constant public abuse and a demanding child at home, making Harry's child support check my only source of income.  I thanked the teller as she finished and pulled my hood up again as I walked back outside.

                "Does baby want the teddy bear? Yes he does!" Peter said in a silly voice, handing the toy back over to my son, followed by a little tickle on his tummy.  Peter looked up and straight into my eyes, all the time with a smile on his face.  "Lunch?" he asked, looking hopeful.  He saw my hesitation, knowing that I had to save money wherever I could these days, and added, "my treat!" in an attempt to convince me.  I smiled back, which he took as agreement, and started walking off, pushing Clark along with him.  I laughed at his unbelievable positivity and jogged to catch up with the two.

Harry's POV

                "I hate when they ask about that."  I grumped as the boys and I walked off the stage of the interview and towards the back exit.  I pulled my cellular device out of my pocket and checked twitter, receiving a flood of mentions regarding Alice and Clark, all seeming either angry, sorry, or a combination of both.  I rolled my eyes and put my phone away, tired of dealing with that side of my life.

                "But you play the victim so well!" Louis teased, throwing my coat over my head before putting his own on.  We opened the door into the brisk air outside and made our way to the waiting van, stopping to sign a few autographs from the mob of girls waiting outside the talk show's studio.  The boys all remained silent on the matter until we were all piled into the van and the heat had been put on full blast.  As we started to thaw, Liam chose to speak up.

                "Maybe you should call her..." Liam whispered into my ear from the seat behind me.  I  sent a glare back to Liam, causing him to sit back in his seat guiltily.  I hated when he suggested that, as he was always the one who did so.  All the boys knew that Alice and Clark were a touchy subject to me, but not for the reason that the fans think.  To them, I am an innocent father being denied my right to see my son.  That is the facade that management has forced me to build, and I obeyed in order to not lose fans by the thousands, but in reality, that's not how the story went.

-Five Months Ago-

                I stared through the nursery window at the sleeping child that I've been told was mine.  I know I should feel happy, but I don't.  Niall came up behind me, clapping a hand on my shoulder and uttered a cheery congratulations, but all I could do was shrug his hand off of me and walk away.  I couldn't do this,  I didn't want to be a father.  This isn't how I wanted my career to go, and I wasn't going to let this mistake define me for the rest of my life.  I would do my civil duties and pay child support, but I was not going to be that child's dad.  I knew that this decision would mean a massive cover up story and plenty of interview questions, but I didn't care.  That would be a small price to pay to be rid of this craziness.  That was hopefully the only time I would ever have to see that boy.

Author's Note:

Should I continue this story? Feedback greatly appreciated:)