Taken by One Direction

Chapter 29: Chance

As soon as I stumbled backwards onto Louis, Harry hopped up and pulled me off of him. I was still wrapped up in the blanket as he picked me up and held me bridal style.

Louis stared at me wide eyed, but not because I had pretty much just rubbed his dick. No, I knew it was from the sticky substance that was trickling down my face.

I felt my left eye throb in pain from where Liam had punched me. The room was eerily silent. No one dared to say a word.

"What the fuck, Liam?" Louis shouted as he got off the bed and slid in front of Harry, who was holding me, so that Liam couldn't get to me.

"It was an accident! I-I was trying to hit you! She jumped in the way!" Liam defended.

On any other day, I would not let Harry touch me like that, but at this point I just needed someone to hold me.

Louis shook his head, as if not believing him, but left it alone, spinning around to see me.

"I don't think so, mate." Niall pulled Louis away from me and towards the dresser.

"You can't touch her until you put some clothes on." Louis groaned, but obliged. He slipped some sweatpants over his hips and yanked on a t-shirt.

The whole time, Zayn remained quiet. He was brooding over something. His eyebrows were furrowed in what looked like anger. I could practically hear the internal debate he was having in his head.

Then, as fast as lightning, Zayn struck. He pulled back his fist and punched Liam right in the jaw. I heard a loud crack as Zayn pulled his hand back and shook it out. Liam stumbled backwards and clenched his jaw. I was afraid a fight was going to break out between those two, but Liam just kept quiet and nursed his reddening jaw.

Zayn recoiled back into the protective stance he held in front of me.

Just when I thought things were getting better when I was with Louis, this happened. Fuck. I mean seriously. I don't think I could take much more violence. I really need to escape. That's all I can really say; I need to escape.

Harry stood with me in his arms and snuggled me up into his chest.

"I think we all need to take a breather. How about Louis and I go out to the gym? Then Liam, how about you go do something that YOU want? Zayn and Niall can stay here." Harry suggested as he gently placed me on the bed, still wrapped up in the blanket. No one responds. Everyone still stared at me, or rather my bruising face, with shock.

Harry was trying to calm everyone down. He was trying to release the built up angry tension in the room created by the scene that had just unraveled. Louis looked back and forth between me and Zayn nervously, but reluctantly followed Harry out of the room.

As soon as they were gone, a bruised Liam spun around to talk to me.

"Katie, I am so sorry! I didn't mean to- I... I... I'm so sorry. I didn't want to hurt you! I-" Liam began to rush out.

"Please, just go. Just leave me alone." I whispered hoarsely through the tears streaming down my face. Liam nodded sadly and left the room. A few seconds later we heard the door to the bus slam shut as Liam left us.

"I'm going to fetch the first aid kit while you change." Niall instructed as he patted me gently. I nodded and buried my head in my hands as I tried to hide myself from the other boys. It was a few moments before I felt cool hands brush against my arm.

"It's ok, baby. It's just me." Niall whispered. I peered through my fingers in time to see Niall holding up the first aid kit. I wrapped the blanket even tighter around my body.

"Why didn't you dress?" He chuckled as he left the room once more, joining Zayn in the front. I quickly slipped on some panties and a bra, and then one of the guy's t-shirts and some sweat pants. I made my w ay to the front room, where Niall was waiting with the first aid kit and Zayn was just, well, brooding. This whole situation had him in a pissy mood.

"I'm going to take a smoke. Try not to rape her while I step out Niall." Zayn hissed as he slammed the door behind him. I watched him through the window as he took out a cigarette and brought it to his lips.

"I promise I won't-"

"It's fine Niall. I think he was just being sarcastic, is all." I mutter as I sit across from him.

"Er, ok. Here, I'll get you cleaned up..." He opens up the first aid kit and pulls out some guaze wrap. He hummed softly as he wiped the blood off my face and then pulled out an ice pack. He bit his lip as I winced when he pressed it up to the bruise forming on my face.

We sat there silently for a little while Niall dabbed my face with the ice pack. I didn't have much to say, and apparently, neither did he. When he was finally done, he packed up the first aid kit and put it away.

"You feeling alright, love?" He asked as he came back. I nodded slowly as I stood.

"Does your face, er, feel better?" He asks softly. I nod again.

"Thank you for helping me, Niall." I mutter softly. I wanted to get on someone's good side.

"No problem, love." He smiles warmly at me. I felt my eye throb, right where Liam had punched me. A wave of exhaustion washed over me. I didn't want to be awake for when everyone got back. I didn't think that I had the strength to deal with that.

"I'm going to head off to bed. Is that all right?" I ask Niall just as Zayn steps in.

"Sure thing, love. I can't believe you're tired already. You just woke up!" Niall chuckles warmly again.

"Get in my bunk." Zayn mutters as he sits down across from Niall, where I had been sitting. I felt my body tense up. I spin around and look at him with wide eyes.

"What?" I gasp. Zayn raises his eyebrows at me.

"You're sleeping with me tonight." He states simply. I am shocked. I can't believe that I wasn't sleeping with Louis.

"But I-" He cuts me off.

"You can't honestly think that you're going to be sleeping with Louis anymore." He scoffs at me. I mean, I guess I understood. I wasn't allowed to sleep with Harry anymore either.

"Um, ok." I mutter as I head back into Zayn's bunk. I didn't bother changing out of the sweats I was wearing. I just wanted to go to sleep.

Of course, even the simplest of plans would be ruined because I felt the bed dip down next to me. I pretend like I didn't notice Zayn's presence and just curled up closer to the wall.

"Katie." He purrs in my ear. I pretend not to hear him.

"Katie, we need to talk." He hisses harshly. I sigh an turn so that I am on my back, still not facing him.

"What, Zayn?"

"Why did you fuck Louis? Were you drunk?" He asks me softly, but still seriously.

"No, I was not drunk. I like Louis." I reply honestly.

"Do you like me?" He whispers. I can tell that he is trying to sound callous, but I could hear a slight hope in his voice.

"No." I respond a little too honestly.

"Why not? Why is Louis so fucking great?" Zayn spits. He grabs my shoulder and roughly turns me so that we are facing each other.

"Because Louis is the only one who has an ounce of respect for me. Unlike all of you other sick bastards." I hiss back, not even worrying about the consequences.

"You're fucking blind if you think none of us respect you." His voice is still soft and almost caring. Almost. I was surprised he wasn't angry.

"Because physical abuse and rape shows respect." I scoff as I try to turn back over to sleep. Zayn grips my shoulder so that I can't turn away.

"We're not bad guys if you give us the chance." He whispers before releasing me and letting me turn.

"Fuck off." I muttered back. Zayn just let out a sad sigh in response and left; leaving me alone with my thoughts.