Dance in the Family (1D, bk 2)

Chapter Six

Haley's POV

I watched Perrie sit on the couch between Louis and Liam, giving them both a small smile. They didn't seem to know what to do, but I didn't know why. I sat down on the chair opposite, on top of Zayn. What? I could want to be friends and still make sure she knew he was mine. I was even wearing my ring again.

"Thank you for giving me this chance," she said softly. "I just... I missed my best friend."

"Perrie, your 'best friend' stopped being your friend when you... you know what, I don't think I can do this, babe," Zayn snapped. His eyes were closed and he was breathing deeply, clearly trying to calm down.

"Z, please hear me out! I was stupid, and I know that now. But you know what happened, I explained it all when we broke up. And you told me you were fine with it!" she said quickly, looking hopeful.

"I also told you not to contact me anymore," he said, turning to bury his face in my neck. I rolled my eyes. He was acting like a child.

"Let's just give him a moment while he hides and buries his emotions again. It's nice to finally meet you, Perrie. I'd like to say I know enough about you to call you a friend, but unfortunately, I know very little. Only all this shit with management that we'll work through later, when Zayn feels like talking again. So tell me about yourself?" I asked.

Perrie smiled at me again. "I'm Perrie Edwards. Which you already know. I'm in the band Little Mix, and we just put out our third single of our second album last week. My best friend... used to be Zayn but I guess it's Jade now. I competed on the X-Factor, just like these guys. I'd tell you about my family, but honestly... I haven't seen them in three years, and I haven't known them for a lot longer than that," she told me.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I'm kind of in a similar situation. I hadn't spoken to my father in five or six years before this summer, and my mother... the woman I called mother my whole life, died when I was young. These guys became my family, and I don't ever intend to leave them," I told her. She smiled.

"They were my family once too, you know. I miss them every day, but after everything that happened, I deserved to be cut out. I'm just hoping we can work through it all someday and be a family again," she replied.

"Well hey, Eleanor, Danielle, and I are going baby shopping tomorrow. Would you like to join us? I'm sure they'd love to have you along!" I exclaimed, suddenly remembering the plan. "I was going to invite Christel and make Liam invite Melody, too! It's about time all the girls got together, and as far as I can tell, you're a girl." They all laughed at my joke, even Zayn.

"I'd love to go... but I don't think El and Dani like me very much anymore. I haven't spoken to them since the break-up, and we didn't part on good terms," she said, looking down.

"How about this: I'll text El and ask her. If she says they don't mind, you come. If she protests, you're off the hook. Deal?" I offered. She smiled and nodded.

Me: Got a girl wanting to come along tomorrow, plus Harry's crush and Liam's gf. Sound good?

El: Who's the extra?

Me: Perrie Edwards. Just... trust me please?

El: I trust you... not sure I trust her. All the guys were really torn up when she left last time.

Me: She came to appologize and take her life back. I think she deserves that chance, don't you?

El: I guess. Yeah, sure, invite her along. I'll get Dani on board with it. Our LITTLE trip can be a big one. God knows I need everything still.

Me: I'll be yelling at Lou for that. He shouldn't wait for the last minute.

El: Not his fault. He's been busy.

Me: With guy stuff! It's not the same, and you know it.

El: Don't give him too hard a time. He's being insecure about being a good daddy.

Me: But he's great with kids!!! :D

El: Yeah. He doesn't think he'll be good with his own.

Me: Ridiculous.

El: I know. Gotta go, meeting up with Dani for coffee and girl-talk! ttyl!

"El says she doesn't care if you come. So that means you're coming!" I said, smiling. The relief was evident on her face as she smiled back.

"Haley... can I talk to you for a second?" Liam asked, standing and walking out of the room. I followed him in confusion.

"Look, I don't have a problem with you meeting my girlfriend. But to do it right in front of my ex... that's in bad taste, don't you think? What would Dani say about it? She's not going to like spending the day out with her ex's new girl, and I don't think Mel will be comfortable with it," he told me when we were in the kitchen alone.

"Mel is a big girl, and Dani isn't quite what you're thinking of her. She's between over you and into someone else, and that's a good time and place to meet the new girl. Plus, she's meeting two new girls and an old friend. So it won't even have to come out that Melody is your new girlfriend. We can just say that she and Christel are old friends- because Chriss was telling me about how she worked with Melody for a short time and was friends with her- and they wanted to come so they could reconnect. Since this was a girl's day, it was the perfect time. We don't even have to mention that Mel knows any of you at all!" I protested.

"I just don't know," Liam faltered.

"Ask her. Explain the situation and what I just said, and see what she says about it," I compromised. I was going to get my way if it killed me. I hoped it didn't come to that though.

"Okay... I'll ask. But I'm not happy about this," he muttered, pulling his phone out. I left him alone in the kitchen and went back to check on Perrie and make sure she wasn't being killed by my fiance.

That word... it made me shiver every time. I just loved being able to say it about Zayn! Speaking of... maybe it was time to tell the guys? But as I walked into the room I could see that the tension was high enough. It would wait for another day, and maybe a day when Perrie wasn't around. Might be best to wait until things calmed down. Didn't mean I couldn't tell El and Dani! Oh my gosh, I needed to tell Mica and Skylar too... This was going to be an interesting week.

Sorry guys! School started, and I lost track of time. I'm back, and I'm writing again, so new updates will be once a week at least! Do you want to have interviews every few chapters again, or was that annoying? <3