Nobody Else

Chapter Eighteen

After running for a while, I eventually came to a stop. I couldn't run any longer, tears were blurring my vision and I was emotionally drained. I had no idea what to do. I just knew that I had to get as far away from Jay as possible. I couldn't bear to look at the confusion on his face as I attempted to explain things to him.

He didn't even remember what had happened. I didn't know how to move forward from here. The dream only existed for a while and then it had been shattered into a million pieces.

I couldn't go back to the house. I just wanted to go back to Nottingham. I felt safe there. I sighed and walked towards the train station. I couldn't even cry anymore, I didn't have the energy left. I looked at the train timetable and saw that the next train for Nottingham was in half an hour. I sighed and sat on one of the platform benches.

I jumped as I heard my phone ringing. I glanced at the screen and saw that it was Jay. I quickly cancelled the call and put my phone back into my pocket.

I felt someone sit on the bench next to me, but I didn't pay attention to them. I felt disconnected from what was happening around me. Trains and people were rushing past, almost in a blur.

"What's going on?" I heard a familiar voice ask me.

I turned and saw that Max was sitting on the bench.

"How did you find me?" I asked, unable to look at him.

"I followed you." he admitted.

"Well maybe you should head back, the boys will wonder where you are." I pointed out.

"I'm staying with you." he stated.

"Well I'm waiting for a train." I admitted.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Back to Nottingham." I said quietly.

"Why?!" he exclaimed.

I shrugged and shifted uncomfortably. I didn't want to open up to him. It took me a long time to trust people and we had only just met. The last thing I wanted was to tell him how I felt, and him to then let on to Jay. I'd already been humiliated enough.

"I can't talk about it." I whispered.

"I can't help, if you don't tell me what's wrong." he sighed.

"I don't need help, I need to get out of here." I said quietly.

"What about Nathan, he'll be gutted if you leave." he pointed out.

I ignored him.

"Besides you have nowhere to go and no money, you'll be completely alone." he added.

"I'm already alone." I said sadly.

"No you're not, you are part of our little family!" he protested.

"I want to be alone." I told him.

He sighed.

"You'll miss Nathan, if you leave there will be no going back." he said.

"What do you mean?" I said looking at him for the first time.

"We were going to surprise you but we start a promo tour next week, so we'll be on the road all the time. Management may not like it if you leave and then try and come back." he announced.

"A promo tour where?" I asked.

"Around the UK, but we are trying to book a holiday abroad as well, so we can bond as a group." he stated.

"No one tells me anything." I said angrily.

"We haven't told any of the girls we wanted to surprise them." he answered hesitantly.

"Fine I'll come back, but only for Nath." I said.

I knew that Max was right, even though I couldn't face the thought of being around Jay at the moment, I hated the idea of being away from Nathan. I had only just got him back, I didn't want to lose him again.

I stood up reluctantly and followed Max back to the house.

I knew that everyone would question me when I got back. I had no idea what to say to them, I didn't want to lie, but I knew that I would have too.

"Anna!" Tom exclaimed as soon as I walked into the kitchen. I saw that Kelsey was sitting next to him.

"Where have you been?!" Nathan demanded.

I opened my mouth to answer but Max beat me to it.

"I took her out for a bit she needed some air." Max said quickly.

"I thought you went out with Sophie." I asked, changing the subject.

"I was but Jay called and said that you took off and he was worried about you." he told me.

"Well as you can see I'm fine." I said smiling falsely.

I glanced over at Sophie and saw that she was watching me, a frown on her face.

"What was all that about, Jay said that you was upset about something?" Nathan asked worridly.

"Nothing I'm fine." I said quietly, desperately trying not to cry.

"It's something to do with last night." I heard Jay's voice.

I swung round and saw that he was standing in the doorway. I quickly looked away from him, hoping I could pretend that he wasn't there.

"Did something happen?!" Nathan asked, a note of panic in his voice.

I knew that I had no option but to lie my way out of this situation.

"After Jay brought me home I went back out and got a bit carried away." I said quietly.

I hated lying to him, but I had no idea what else to do. It was obvious that he wasn't going to stop asking until he found out why I was upset.

Nathan raised his eyebrow at me and waited for me to continue. I felt Max take my hand and squeeze it, trying in vain to reassure me.

"I just did something stupid, but I'm over it now." I said trying to make light of it, hoping that he would back off.

"Anna!" Nathan said impatiently.

"It's none of your damn business!" I snapped.

"I'm your brother, it's my job to take care of you, we are supposed to trust each other." he said impatiently.

"Really is that why you took off and left me!" I shouted.

I had no idea where that came from. I just felt a surge of anger. I could see that my words hurt him and I instantly regretted them.

"You were going to tell me earlier so why not now?" Jay said quietly.

"I HAD A ONE NIGHT STAND WITH SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T FUCKING DESERVE IT, HAPPY NOW!" I screamed.

I looked at their shocked faces before running upstairs to my bedroom.