Again -n.h-

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Stephanie is standing in the kitchen, digging her hand in the bag of chips as I bring the bottle of wine to my lips. I hand her the bottle, she takes it and takes a large swig from it too.

"I can't believe it," Stephanie mutters, pissed off. "Harry didn't tell me either, you know. Not until the article came out."

I sigh, "Men fucking suck."

Stephanie nods in agreement, handing me the bottle. I gladly take it from her, sighing in defeat.

Today was supposed to be a girls night, but the others ended up canceling. Stephanie was the only one who was still able to come, and she was just as mad as I am about this whole situation with One Direction.

Stephanie gave up her career the second their son hit the age of five, and while she didn't mind Harry performing with the boys, she never expected them to go on for this long either. It's completely absurd to think that they've been hiding this crap from us. It drives me absolutely insane.

"Imagine the uproar if I suddenly would just get back together with the girls to start touring? Harry would be supportive like me but there's no doubt he'd be just as upset as I am. Man, it's never going to fucking stop, Jess."

"I know," I mumble, staring out at the empty living room. Usually, the kids would be running around but Niall decided to take them with him to go see the boys. He knew I wanted him to leave for a bit, so I could have a night to just collect myself together.

I don't know what to do anymore. I love Niall, and I am happy that he still has the ability to do whatever he loves, but it gets tiring to live in the spotlight.

"No matter how many times they say they don't have a choice, they don't realize they've all got enough money to buy the fucking label. If they've got money for that, they've got enough to get out of their damn contracts," Stephanie mumbles. "You know, Harry and I never been had a damn honeymoon?"

I raise my eyebrows at her in surprise, "Really?"

"Yep," she mumbles.

I lean forward, wrapping my arms around her and hug her, "I love you, Steph."

"I love you too, Jess. Maybe we should marry each other."

A chuckle escapes my mouth, just as the doorbell rings. I sigh, getting myself off of the counter and walk towards the front door. Opening it, my eyes focus on the one and only Josie.

Man. I can't ever get a break.

"What?" I sigh in annoyance.

"I'm here to see Niall," she says looking me in the eyes which are filled with tears.

"He's not here," I mumble, annoyed.

"Josie, fucking leave the Horan residence. Neither of them want you here," I hear Stephanie shout from the kitchen, her footsteps echoing through the house.

"I need Niall," she mumbles shakily before bursting into tears.

I can't believe she is standing at my front door in tears asking for my husband. What the hell is her problem? I could punch her in the face. I really freaking could.

"Oh my god," Stephanie sighs dramatically, "Stop the act, Josie. Go away."

Josie continues to sob, holding her head in her hands as her shoulder shudder from the sobs that are leaving her mouth. I turn to look at Stephanie, who isn't buying whatever is happening. Instead of saying anything else, Stephanie grabs the door and slams the door shut.

I can't help but let a shocked laugh escape my mouth.

I love my Stephanie Styles.

"Alright, lets get some food in you," Stephanie says, "Don't think I haven't noticed."

"Steph," I say frowning. "I'm not hungry."

"Jessica, you don't look good. How long has it been since you've eaten? Two weeks?"

"I ate the other day, I'm fine. I had some chips."

Just as she's about to reply, my phone rings. Looking down, I see that Niall is calling me.

"Hi," I say as I answer the phone call. "What's up?"

"Did you really slam the door shut in front of a sobbing Josie?" Niall asks, his voice filled with annoyance. "It doesn't matter how you feel about her, Jess. You can't just slam a door shut in someone's crying face."

"Niall -"

"No. I'm coming home and you're letting her inside the house."

"Niall, this isn't just your house."

"Jess, I fucking swear -"

I feel my chest tighten just as Stephanie takes the phone from my hand and presses it to her ear. Just as she starts ranting at Niall, I walk towards the door and open it. Immediately, she walks into the house and sits down on the couch, sobbing once again.

When I look at Stephanie's face, I see that she is filled with anger. She is raging and I don't blame her.

I feel like I am twenty years old again.

There are no words to describe how much pain I am in right now. My husband letting her in, demanding that I shouldn't have slammed the door shut in front of her. What else do I do to the woman that wants to ruin me? That wants to be in the spot that I have had for years? As Niall's significant other?

I don't even realize how much time has passed before Niall is walking into the house, ignoring me and walking towards Josie. It makes my heart break in half.

Not even a glance in my direction.

Is this what she wanted?

I wipe the tears from my cheek, turning my eyes into the direction of Stephanie who looks completely flabbergasted. It's not even seconds before she is walking over to me saying, "you're coming home with me. There's no fucking way you're going to watch this."

__________________________

Heyyyy :) update within a week! Whoop whoop