Tomlinson was the best thing to happen to me (Watty's '13)

Aftermath

A series of rapid knocks wake me up. "I'll get it," I mumble. I open the door, and Zayn's standing there, agitated. "Hello Zayn."

"What happened last night?"

"Finished things off with Niall."

"You what?!"

"Finished things off with Niall," I repeat, irritated. I was concerned that maybe I might turn on my heel and go back to the flat, give him a hug and eat my words. Maybe later when I think I'm game for a serious relationship. But that might not ever happen, only time will tell. He grabbed my arm and dragged me back to his living room.

"Right. Explain in more detail exactly why Niall turned up at my door in the middle of the night, crying." And this, is what I've been warned about. I was not prepared for this.

"I know that I'm not the best at communication, and the relationship's going down the drain anyway, so why leave it for later? You know what I mean?"

"Do you know exactly how he feels about you?! He was all happy that you'd have some time alone, and then what happens? You drop that bomb!"

"It was hard for me. I like him, you know… it took me a while to wrack up the strength to do that. I don't want to get weak at the knees right now. If I get through this first stage, I'm set."

"So that's what Niall was mumbling. Look: I get your point. I'm not one to criticize you in this aspect because that's what bullies end up forcing you into building up. A shell. Most of us here have had bullying or something of the sort at some stage. In your specific case, that's your dad and brother. It just takes time to move out of this and break out of that shell."

"I have to be tough, you know. After all this time I've trained myself to stay tough and not crack under pressure. And getting in a relationship at the moment is not the best way to break down that wall because I'll find myself an excuse to worm out of a heart to heart talk with a boyfriend. But that's different from you and Liam. You treat me like a sibling, and I treat you the same way. We've established such a relationship that I now talk to you and Liam more than Louis about my inner turmoils. I didn't think Lou and I would be so easy to break apart. All because Harry's around and I don't want to hang with him simply because I want to hang with Lou. I didn't think I'd have to deal with this, but apparently I have to."

"You can either live, or exist. Choose wisely." Goodness, he's gone and pulled a Dumbledore on me.

"Yes, Dumbledore."

"Now run along," he played along with it. He's definitely good to be around. Zayn. Hm. Yeah, he's pretty cool. Time to check whether Harry's really spending all his time with Louis. And if he is? Yeah whatever, I'll pull Louis aside and he's not gonna be able to do anything about it.

I try the door without thinking. I didn't always have to knock to get in. Next time, I must make myself a piece of card and get myself in because that's how cool I am. Despite me not wanting to knock, the door opens. And what is before my eyes, I don't like at all. It's Harry. Again. "Why are you here all the time?"

"Why not?"

"I mentioned nothing about disliking your presence, I'm just questioning your presence. There's a difference there, son."

"Well you don't seem happy I'm here?"

"Nah. Can't say that either. Where's Louis?"

"Over here! You want me for anything?"

"Like you'd have time anyway."

"Annie, if you want to talk to me, I'm here."

"Lewis, I see more of Zayn and Liam than I see of you."

"Here goes the remake of the To Kill A Mockingbird scene," he grumbled.

"Well sorry for wanting to spend time with you! Can't even spend a few minutes alone! What has the friendship come to? Merely living on the same floor of an apartment building. I understand that you've got friends of your own. But spare some time for your unofficial blood brother. You said you always wanted a brother. I can call it off any day and do that with Liam and or Zayn. And I won't be going out of my way."

"I'm sorry, Annie."

"Enough of that, we need to talk."

"Do you want me to leave?"

"That would be brilliant, Harry."

"You don't need to go, Haz. You can stay."

"I asked Annabelle and she said it would be great, so I'm doing just that."

"Can't my friends stay together in the same room without the atmosphere exploding?"

"Her problem, don't look at me."

"He was ignoring me as well-"

"You started it in the first place-"

"No one told you to hog my friend, you git-"

"No one told you to not come see your friend, genius-"

"No one told you to repel everyone from within a 20 foot radius."

"No one told you to be polite, did they?"

"No one told you to piss the living daylights out of me, or did they?"

"NO ONE TOLD YOU TWO TO ARGUE!"

"No one told you to get involved, Lewis." That was it. I snapped. "Aborting mission." Hands next to my head, I expressed that I was walking out on this. Not going to keep going if this is what I'm confronted with.

"Annabelle. You said you wanted to talk."

"Not now. I'll talk to someone else. I might sound self-centred and all that shit, but if you're going to put that kid over me, I'm walking out."

"Yeah, you are self-centred. More than a bit, too."

"All the more reason to stay away from you, since you say so. Wouldn't want to be a bad example for your sisters, Louis Tomlinson."

"You don't have to stay away from my family, you can change yourself."

"To what? A prissy girl who depends on her boyfriend for a sense of security? That's just weak."

"I have a life apart from being friends with you. If you would accept that, it would be immensely helpful."

"I accept that you have other friends. So I'll leave you to those friends. You don't need me in your life to be happy as such. I've seen that for myself. I'll find myself a flat and a job, and with any luck we might never meet again. It's about time I got myself a life instead of holing myself in here. I'm leaving."

It's already been 2 weeks, and you know something is really wrong because we haven't spoken except the bare essential 'need to get more food' or 'dinner's ready' and out of politeness, 'good morning' and 'hello'. Nothing else. It's just so tense in flat 4.

AN: Sorry it's taken so long to upload, I've had a lot on my hands lately, I've got a few up my sleeve so if I get good readings I'll upload the next chapter within 24 hours. If I get but only few readings I'll upload a day later. Vote and comment reviews please. If I get even 2 comments in the next 20 hours I'll upload another immediately. LeprechaunBoss