Bad boy, Great lips//h.s.

Chapter Twenty-Three

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I'd been scrolling through the Internet for hours, reading articles about Aaron and trying to find of this mysterious gang. Maybe I should just ask Harry about it.
Who am I kidding? Of course I shouldn't mention any of this to him.
I couldn't help but wonder what Harry had dreamt about to be crying out to Aaron. Does he blame himself? Questions circled my head for hours it seemed, my eyes still open in the darkness of my room.
I nearly fell off my bed when the dorm door opened. I quickly stood up, slightly frightened. Thankfully, it was only Tori stumbling through the door.
"Hey stranger," I breathed. I haven't seen Tori in what seemed like ages.
"Hey, why are you still up?"
I flicked on the light and looked at her appearance. Her clothes were crinkled and her hair was a mess and what little makeup she wore was smudged.
"What's up with your appearance?" I asked.
I saw a blush rise in her cheeks.
"Is it that noticeable?" She asked.
It took the ripped shirt for me to piece it together. I widened my eyes.
"Oh my god, you and Niall sealed the deal?!"
She nodded, not facing me as she shook off her jacket while facing her bed.
"Nuhhu, you've got to spill!" I scrambled around the room and plopped on her bed.
"There's nothing to spill," she dead panned.
"Liar, was it planned?"
She smiled, reliving the memories, and shook her head slowly.
"Oh? Tell me!" I squealed. She grinned wider and finally gave in and laid on the bed beside me.
"Well, it was so sweet. He took it so slow, oh my god and his kisses. I just melted!" She blabbered. I propped myself on my elbow and I watched her gush about her love for Niall. It was the cutest thing. But all her talking of Niall oddly reminded me of Harry.
"Wait," I interjected quickly. "Y'all were safe right?"
She rolled her eyes. "Of course." She continued with her pervious sentence and my thoughts drifts back to Mr. Green Eyes.
Was he in a gang or did he just get caught up in it? Is he still in the gang? Those questions lapped around my brain. Then I knew it I was going to have to find out. I knew what I had to do.
Curiosity killed the cat, my voice spoke softy.

The next morning, I checked my mail. I had a package, probably from mom since Christmas was so close. I joined the gang in the dining hall for breakfast, ripping open my package in front of everyone.
"Who's it from?" Zayn asked.
"My mom," I replied simply. I got the orange package open and pulled out a pair of jeans, my favorite pair I had left back in the states. I smiled widely and held them up.
"Jeans?" Harry questioned.
"Not just any jeans, they're my favorite," I corrected him. He rolled his eyes and waved it off. I grabbed the second thing in the package. It was a letter. I used Zayn's pocket knife to open it neatly. There was three scrapes of paper in it. Two of them were thick card stock. I grabbed them and looked at them. I screamed when I realized what they were.
"Oh my god, what?" Tori almost screamed at me. I yelped in glee and shoved the two pieces of paper in face. Her eyes went wide when she relaxed what they were.
"Your mom's flying you home for Christmas?"
I smiled broadly and hugged her in my moment of glee. Everyone at the table was laughing at my reactions.
I pulled out the other note and read it out loud.
"Dear Rose, hope you missed me because we missed you. Bring someone home with you. Merry Christmas honey," I read aloud.
"Your mom's so sweet," Lissa commented. "My mom would never do that for me," she added almost bitterly.
I smiled my apologizes. I knew how awesome of a mom I had.
"Who are gonna bring?" Niall asked. Harry. Immediately ran through my brain then followed by Zayn.
I shrugged. "No clue."
Everyone fell silent after that. There was tension and have no clue why, that is until I lifted my head and saw Harry and Zayn glaring at each other.
Oh shit.
At that point, I made up something about class and scurried off. I hope I wasn't the start of that.
I didn't have classes for the next two days and I called in from work for those two day too. Not to mention I leave for Texas in two and half weeks and I needed to find out something before I left. I laced my boots and pulled on a hoodie over my head.
I walked down the street after leaving my dorm and took a taxi to the train station.
"I need help getting to Holmes Chapel?" I asked the service lady. She perked up and quickly answered.
"There's a train leaving in ten minutes to Holmes Chapel, would you like a ticket?" I nodded. I gave the lady the money and stood by the gate.
I hated trains. Hated. They were so boring and I couldn't stand sitting for nearly two hours. I almost screamed in glee when my stop appeared on the sign. I tumbled out the train.
Okay, first, I need to get something to drink.
Checking off the drink, I gripped my coffee and headed toward the newspaper firm after asking the lady at the cafe. I walked in, the warm air de-thawing my cheeks and fingers.
"May I help you?" The clerk asked in the lobby.
I nodded. "Do you have any articles on the drive by shooting about three years ago?" I asked.
"Um, ma'am, may I ask why?"
I sighed, I've already came up with a lie for this.
"I was Aaron girlfriend at the time, I don't know," I sniffled, I watched the ladies face mark with sympathy. "It would just help me. Could you please?" I sniffle again and even blinking rapidly until some tears brimmed. Wow, I was low.
"Oh, dear, I'm so sorry. Yeah, I'll go pull a few strings. Why don't you just sit down while I get them?"
I nodded and sat down against a wall, leaning my head against the wall behind me. I closed myself my eyes and breathed deeply.
Why was I going to such effort to find out something Harry obviously wanted to keep secret?
Because you care, a voice echoed in my head.
No, I thought back. Because I like to figure out puzzles. That's what Harry is, a puzzle I'm going to figure out.
I didn't have too much more time to
over think because the clerk came out holding a bundle of papers.
"I snuck in some extra files that aren't released to the public, I trust you not to share any of these," she whispered.
"Thank you so much," I told her. I have her a hug, which she returned.
"I hope I helped."
I smiled. "More than you'll ever know."
I left, I went back to that cafe and began to search over the papers she gave me.
After reading three newspaper articles, I came across Harry's bio. I'm assuming this is the part that isn't released to the public. I glanced and saw Aaron's and Dough Timbers were in here too.
Harry Edward Styles, 16, student.
Styles has no criminal background until age 14 when he was caught stealing from the local grocery store. It has been reported by teachers that after a mutual nasty divorce between his parents, Styles has been misbehaving in the classroom and at home as well.
At age 15, he was reported working for his father, Ken T. Styles, in his carpentry business. There he was taken to court for assaulting one of his fathers workers on the job. He was given 70 hours community service, which he completed quickly.
I skimmed down the paragraph over useless information until my eyes caught something.
Styles has been caught numerous times with Ian Nalick, reportedly a leader of a inner circle of gangs. After that, Styles's criminal record jumped to an all time high. Theft, criminal mischief, and assault being the main charges. At this point, it has become apparent that he is knee deep in a gang.
December 14, there were shootings reported. Styles was found shot on the sidewalk along with four others (names listed below). Although he was not dead, just a bullet in his upper arm and a concussion.
My eyes froze right there. I glanced to the bottom of the page, scanning over the list of names who were killed and shot that night also. Sure enough, Aaron name was there. I knew he died in a drive by shooting but this... This proving it made it all the worse and the fact Harry was shot also made me want to cry.
Also at the bottom, there was a picture of the shooting site. The dead bodies were still there. I felt bile rise in my throat at the gory massacre. The white snow on the ground was splattered with blood, blood was everywhere. On the window and brick wall behind them, I glanced closely again at the window. I felt the urge to run to bathroom when I realized that was brain mass smudged on the window.
I quickly put all these photos in a folder and closed it hastily. Checking the time, I realized I only had about two hours until I had to be at the train.
Daring to peak again at the pictures, I looked for a street sign was in one of them. Repeating the address to myself, I held the folder closely to chest as I waved for a taxi.
"Where to miss?"
I told him the address, he grunted in response.
The drive was less than five minutes, that irked me. I was less than five minutes away from where Harry's best friend died. I stepped out and I felt a shiver run down my body. Not the kind that come from the cold, the kind like if someone walked over my grave. I was on the street corner where a massacre had happened. There a group of guys stood, smoking and drinking and being loud. Naturally, the plaque I wanted to look at was mounted on the brick wall directly behind them. Naturally.
I walked up to them, holding my purse tight to me and my folder close to my mid section. I act like I was just walking to the store when I pretended to take notice in the sign behind them. They didn't notice me until I came to a stop and was staring at the sign behind them.
"What are you looking at pretty lady?" One of the guy asked me. He was pretty good looking and clean shaven, much more than what I was expecting on this side of town.
Before I could think, I said. "A piece of trash."
The other boys around him gave a very immature "Oohh!"
The man smiled at me, it was cold and didn't reach his eyes. "Feisty, I like that. What's your name?"
I raised an eyebrow. "You first."
"My names Ian, Ian Nalick, now what your name?"
"Hilary," I lied with a smile. "Hilary Peterson."
He grinned, obviously thinking he won something. This was the Ian guy was the one mentioned in the records. "Why don't you say I take you pretty little thing some where a little more private?" I grimaced at the thought of his hands running over my body. I gagged slightly.
"How about you keep dreaming?" I smiled a sarcastic smile.
His blue eyes darkened and he stepped closer to me which I countered by stepping back and out in the street.
"Stay away from me," I seethed.
"Don't be that way baby," he cooed then he chuckled and said over his shoulder. "She worse than the time with Styles." All the boy behind him starting laughing.
I stiffened. What about Harry?
"Who's Styles?" I played dumb.
"Harry Styles, he's a little bitch."
I smiled. "Why?"
He raised his eyebrows. "Why are you taking such interest and what's in that folder of yours?"
"I think my best friend is dating a guy named Harry Styles or she's fucking him. Something like that," I shrugged and avoiding the question about the folder.
"Oh? Where does your best friend live?"
"Washington," I replied simply.
He blew out air. "Wow, he ran far."
"Hm?"
"Nothing," he shrugged.
"What's in that folder of yours sweet cheeks?"
I gripped it tighter against me. "None of your business."
"Why don't you let me look?"
"Why don't you fuck off?"
He bellowed a laugh. "Why don't you make me?"
I grinned. "Gladly."
Then his hands flew out and grabbed the edge of the folder, trying to tug it from me. I gasped. He cannot look at this.
"Get you hands off it!" I exclaimed and kicked his shin.
He grunted at the hit and pulled harder. It took me off guard and then papers went everywhere. I held my breath, I'm so dead. He glanced, there was the gory picture of the drive by shooting landing on his foot. He looked down and saw it. Oh shit.
He looked up, anger in his eyes. His hands gripped my arms tightly.
"You're coming with me."
I quickly brought my knee up and connected it with his groin. He cried in pain and fell to the ground. I didn't wait, I gripped my purse closer and ran.
"Get her!" I heard Ian yell. Then footsteps behind me appeared. I ran faster, I knew I was faster than all of them but I had no clue where I was going. I just ran straight, pushing people aside. Then I saw someone pulling over a taxi and opening the door. I pushed that person aside and got in the taxi instead. The taxi drive looked at me with wide eyes.
"If you don't plan on dying, I suggest you drive."
She didn't question but hit the gas, hard. I looked back and saw the running figures stop and eventually disappear.