The Dead and The Damned

Part 18

The car idles on, and I lean my head against the window, watching the buildings as they pass by. A lone zombie wandering the road starts to run after the car, but gives up. Harry huffs out a breath. I turn my head to look at him, catching my reflection in the car mirror as I do so. I look terrible. My blue eyes are tired and dull, my blond hair a tangled mess, and my skin is pale, with dark bags under my eyes. I cringe and look away, instead looking at Harry who sighs again.

"What is it?" I ask. Instead of answering me, he starts to tap his fingers on the steering wheel, I thing I noticed he does when he's nervous. He flicks his eyes over to me, but then switches them quickly back to the road, clearing his throat.

"Harry?" He sighs a third time.

"I know I probably shouldn't be telling you this - well, I should, but I should've done it a while ago. That week you were unconscious? I..erm..I kind of.." he trails off, the words getting caught in his throat. I feel nervousness pang in my stomach, and I start to fiddle with the hem of my shirt to keep my mind off of it.

"Well?"

"I slept with Bella." he murmurs. Guilt is clearly shown on his features, and I feel bile rise up in my throat.

"You what?" I ask, shocked.

"She forced herself on me, b-but I didn't stop her. I'm sorry Sophie I'm sorry - "

"Stop the car." I feel like crying, but I don't even think there are any tears left to spare.

"Sophie, please - "

"STOP THE FUCKING CAR, HARRY!" I scream, losing it. He slams his foot down on the brake, causing the car to screech to a halt, and I jump out the door, running towards Sam's bus. Sam has already pulled the bus over, noticing our car stop, and Niall has stopped the motorcycle behind us. I hear Harry call after me, but I ignore him, forcing open the sliding door and hopping in. Madison and Sam give me weird looks, Louis is asleep in the back beside Liam, and Bella's face hardens when she sees me. Before anyone can even react properly to what I'm doing, I grab Bella's shirt collar, dragging her out of the bus and throwing her to the ground. She winces as her shoulder bangs painfully against the pavement.

"Sophie!" Sam yells. I look down on her, seething, Harry's words pulsing in my head.

"You fucking slut." Those are the only words I can seem to think up, but I throw all my anger into them. I kick her harshly in the ribs as she struggles to stand up, watching in satisfaction as she crumples to the ground again. Strong, yet skinny arms wrap around my torso, picking me up so I'm unable to get away before I can do further damage to Bella. I squirm in their grasp, hot angry tears spilling down my cheeks.

"LET ME GO! LET ME GO!" I scream, writhing around in their arms. I know it's Sam by the color of his skin, a similar shade to mine. Sam kneels down on the ground, still holding me in his arms, and presses his face into my hair.

"Shh, it's ok. Calm down. It's ok." he whispers. I feel my fatigue catch up on me, mixing with my anger and sadness and betrayal and every other fucking emotion that's spinning around inside me. I melt into Sam's grasp, burying my face into the crook of his neck and crying onto his skin. He picks me up again, carrying me over to the bus and setting me down in the front seat, brushing a kiss against my forehead and shutting the door behind me. I can see him faintly through the blur of my tears and the glass. He's standing in front of Bella, who is now standing up, pointing his finger at her. I can hear their conversation through the slightly cracked window.

"What the fuck did you do?" Sam asks her, his voice cold and hard. Harry is behind Sam, but I can't see his face.

"Nothing! Your sister is just going crazy!" Bella shouts. Sam slaps her, and I gasp. Liam has to grab his arm to prevent him from doing it a second time.