Two Pieces

"Who Could Ever Love Me?"

Mr. Payne wasn't talking to Sofia, even after she had come home, despite Liam's protests only a day after falling. It had been a few days now, and he would only speak to her to ask her about training, or to remind her that they were going to the club this week to look into a job. Sofia was used to her father acting like this when he was angry or disappointed, ignoring her or just acting like she was a work asset.

Sofia wasn't expecting the boys to be in the house when she got home. It had been a rough week at school and all the she wanted to do was take a nap, before she had to go out to dinner for her mother's birthday, and say goodbye to her parents for the weekend. Emily and Katie were trailing behind her, having forgiven her, and trying to talk to her about what had happened, but Sofia was hearing nothing of it. She just wanted to be left alone. Walking into the kitchen, all five boys and her father looked up at her.

"Don't you ever stay at your own homes?" Sofia asked, rolling her eyes, before stomping out of the kitchen and towards her room.

"What's with her?" Louis asked Katie and Emily, who exchanged looks.

"She's had a long few days," Katie said quietly.

"That happens when you fall down bleachers," Liam said, quietly, still a bit frustrated that Sofia didn't take more days to rest – or to stay with him.

"I don't even think she's thinking about that right now," Emily said.

"What happened?" Mr. Payne asked, his eyes narrowed on the girls, as though he knew that they were keeping something from him.

"It's just... some people have been starting up with her, especially this week," Katie said, quietly, "Some guys have been having a go at her the last few days..."

"What guys?" Zayn barked

"Over what?" Liam said

"Ryan and Freddy Montgomery saw her at the club with someone, but then they saw her at the rave with someone else. So, they've just been having a go at her... they've been saying some pretty awful stuff," Emily said, quietly, "I don't think she wants to admit it, but I think it's getting to her."

"What kind of stuff?" Mr. Payne asked, looking at the girls. The girls looked at each other, as though they were unsure they should say anything.

"Girls, what is going on?" Liam asked

"I'm sure if she wanted you to know, she would tell you," Emily said, " We shouldn't say anything."

"I want to know what's going on," Zayn growled, standing up, causing Emily and Katie both to step back.

'They've been calling her a whore," Katie admitted suddenly, "And have been asking her how much they have to pay for a night with her. Today she bent over to pick something up, and they asked her if that was her favorite position..."

"It's been awful," Emily said, "Especially since she hangs out with Rob, Sean, and Isaac. They ask her how many guys she's been with, and how cheap she is..."

"THEY DO WHAT?!" Liam boomed, his eyes narrowed in anger, "Why hasn't she said anything? Why hasn't she done anything?!"

"I don't know," Emily shrugged, "That's what we asked her too. But she just ignores them, doesn't even bat an eye. She says it's because she doesn't care, but I think it's because she can't afford to get into anymore trouble this year."

"So, she's just letting them talk to her like that?" Mr. Payne asked, his eyes in anger, "That's ridiculous, I didn't raise her to be so weak..."

He turned to stomp up the stairs, to confront Sofia about how weak she was being, but Sofia was already standing there.

"What is going on with you?" he growled, "We're Paynes! We have pride! We don't allow anyone to disrespect us! Get your shit together, Sofia and show these boys who's boss."

"I'm not the boss," Sofia said quietly, "Especially not in that school. Maybe out here, our name means something, but it doesn't within the walls of that school. Plus, what would I even say when they are telling the truth?"

"They are not," Zayn hissed

"Sofia, you are NOT a whore," Louis growled, staring at her.

"Aren't I?" Sofia asked, "I use my body to seduce boys, just because we call it a job doesn't make it any less slutty..."

"Sofia, stop it," Niall said, staring at her in concern.

"Stop what?!" Sofia cried, "Telling the truth!? That's the truth! I'm the school whore! You think Fred and Ryan are the only ones that have something to say?! They aren't! I know what people say about me! I don't care, and it's none of your business!"

"Sounds like you care," Harry said quietly, looking up at her from behind his eyelashes.

"Well, I don't," Sofia said, turning and walking out of the kitchen. Liam and her father were following behind her.

"This discussion isn't over," her father barked, forcing Sofia to turn around, "You have been all over the place, Sofia. I need you to get your shit together, and stop acting like a child!"

"She is a child dad..." Liam said quietly.

"She's –" her father began to bark.

"She's standing right here!" Sofia barked, catching them both by surprise, "And of course I'm all over the place! I'm never good enough for anyone! You think I'm too weak, Liam thinks I'm a bitch. The school thinks I'm a whore, Zayn thinks I'm supposed to fall in love with him. My friends think I'm an awful friend. I'm either too weak, or too strong, or too bitchy, or too vulnerable, or too much of a child, or too much of an adult! I am all over the place, because I can't figure out what everyone wants from me! I can't be everything you all want me to be! Don't you get that!?"

"I don't know who you think you are raising your voice too," her father growled, "But you will not yell at me, I'll beat the shit out of you!"

"THEN JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" Sofia screamed, turning from him and running up the stairs.

"She's getting too emotional, I have to beat that out of her, or it'll ruin everything," her father growled low, to Liam, catching Liam off guard.

"Dad, maybe it's because you never let her show her any emotion, and eventually it builds up and bubbles over. You really need to re-think how you are going to do this with her. She needs a chance to be a kid, dad. You need to –"

"Don't tell me what I need to do!" Mr. Payne yelled at his son, "You're not her father, Liam. And you are not the boss. You've been pushing it, too. Everyone around here needs to remember their place. I am the boss, I am
the father, I CALL THE SHOTS."

"We're loosing her dad," Liam said quietly, "We're loosing her, and it's like you don't even care."


***


"Sometimes," Eleanor said quietly, as they all sat around Liam's table, "I forget that she's a teenager. She acts so adult and cold most of the time, she does all these adult things, and I forget that she's really just a kid..."

"You could tell she was just gutted by what people were saying about her," Liam said, "She doesn't want to show it, because that makes her weak, but she was devastated."

"When you're that age, your peers opinions mean everything to you," Danielle said, "Even if you don't want to admit it. You want people to like you, you want people to respect you."

"She's never cared what people thought of her before," Zayn said, quietly, "I say we find these guys and show them who they're fucking with..."

"We can't just go around beating up kids," Niall said.

"She's so torn, about who she's supposed to be," Liam said, "And he just doesn't care. He doesn't care how she's feeling – he just needs her to do her job."

"Well, I mean, he is right about that," Zayn said, surprising everyone, "She does need to be tough... and she is a better fighter and baiter without her emotions, it just makes things more difficult for us. What it comes down to, is that she needs to not give a shit about what they have to say – they don't even know what they are talking about."

"No, what it comes down to, is that it doesn't have to be one way or the other," Harry said, "She should be allowed to be a teenager – and teenagers do care. She should be allowed to have bad days, and emotions without getting beat up by anyone. And she needs real discipline, like real discipline. She's out of control and she has out of control emotions that she doesn't deal with – and one day she's going to explode and it's going to be ugly. There needs to be a balance, but your dad just can't find one."

"It's not that he can't find one, he just doesn't want to. The truth of the matter is, if she keeps up like this, you're right, it will be ugly, but she'll be dangerous. And that's what he needs, he need someone as dangerous as him," Liam said.

"You're dangerous," Niall said, raising his eyebrows.

"Yes, but I'm also careful. I have something I need to come home to, Sofia doesn't..."

"Yes she does," Zayn growled.

"Maybe she does," Louis said, "But she doesn't think she does. That's the thing, you're father has created this selfish human being. She only thinks about herself, and cares about herself. And while it might keep her safe, it also makes her very dangerous. Probably, the most dangerous out of all of us. Except Harry..."

"What do I have to do with anything?" Harry growled.

"You're also selfish and dangerous," Louis shrugged, "I think you and Sofia have a lot more in common then you think."

"Sofia is a brat, and she doesn't care about anyone. She's rude and annoying. We have nothing in common..." Harry snapped.

"Except that you're both impulsive, you both are incredibly dangerous, and terrified of commitment – to anyone. You both have your guards up, and you think you're in total control, until you're not," Louis said, ignoring as Harry glared at him, "Besides Sofia isn't that bad. She's actually pretty amazing, when she lets people in."

"You don't really know her, Harry," Zayn said, looking up at his friend, "Not like we do."

"And I don't want to," Harry said, shrugging, "I just think she needs serious discipline and being treated like a kid would be helpful to everyone. Maybe if she was treated like a kid, and given some rules – she wouldn't get called a whore."

"They don't have the right to call her a whore, no matter what she does," Danielle snapped.

"But I agree with being treated like a kid," Niall said, "If she wasn't allowed to do anything and everything she wanted to – with no consequences – it would help. But she doesn't let anyone treat her like a kid..."

"Liam, there has to be something –" Danielle said quietly.

"There isn't," Liam said, standing up frustrated, "She's not my daughter, she's my sister. I'm not the boss. He's raising her the way he wants, to be what he wants her to be. I have no control, I have no say. I have no choice but to sit back and watch..."

"She is really, really good at her job though, you got to give her that..." Niall said, "She always gets the job done... no matter what."

"True," Liam said quietly, "But the way she goes about it... I know they don't have the right to call her a whore, but... I can see why they think that."

"Liam!" Danielle protested.

"It's true!" Liam said, "but that's not even the worst part. The worst part is she believes them, she thinks it's true."

"But, it's not true," Eleanor said.

"Isn't it?" Harry asked quietly.

"Harry, shut the fuck up," Zayn growled.

"Look Zayn, she approaches them like a whore. She goes through them, and kisses them and touches them. No wonder these boys talk about her, and no wonder she thinks it about herself..."

"I'm going to punch you right in the fucking mouth," Zayn spat, standing up.

"Why?" Harry growled, "Because I'm telling you the truth? She acts like a whore on the job, and she doesn't have to! She doesn't have to do the job, the way she does! She CHOOSES to do that, she CHOOSES to act like a whore."

"Fuck you, Harry!" Zayn spat out, lunging at him. Liam stepped in the middle, before either of them could get violent.

"Stop it," Liam said, "You might not like what he's saying, Zayn, but you know he's right. She chooses to act like this. But, Harry, you're also wrong about my sister. Did you ever think she acts like this; because she only thinks she's worth her body? And that belief isn't her fault; it's not her fault. I see where you're coming from, Harry, but don't act like you know her, when you don't. And Zayn, stop getting worked up over the truth."

"There's no point in us arguing about it, and getting angry over something we can't change. Things are the way we are, and the truth is, none of us have the power to change it," Niall said.

"I just wish we could do better," Liam said.

"We can," Danielle said, "With our future, with our kids. We're supposed to learn from our parents mistakes, so that we don't do it the same way..."

"Yeah, but how does that help her now?" Liam asked, quietly.


***


The noise of the club was loud, the beat pounding in Sofia's ear, as she sat at the table surrounded by everyone. Her father was scanning the club, looking for a client that he wanted to have a meeting with tonight. Sofia wasn't sure why she was dragged along, but she couldn't wait to go home, and she couldn't wait for her parents to leave for the weekend. All she wanted was to be left alone.

"You alright?" Louis asked, looking over at her.

"Fine," Sofia said, "I just want to go home..."

"Look, about what you said earlier..."

"Louis, I don't want to talk about it," Sofia snapped, "It's over and done with, and I don't even care."

"It sounds like you care," Louis said, "It sounds like you care what they think, and what they are saying..."

"Why should I?" Sofia asked, "It's just the truth. I am a whore, just because we call it a job, doesn't make me any less of a whore. And you know what? I'm fine with being a whore, at least I'm not a fucking boring house wife."

"You aren't a whore, Sofia," Louis growled, "You're a teenager, and you live a complicated life. You're beautiful. And none of these guys that you trick ever get anything from you. It's just a job, and you have to learn that who you are on the job isn't the same person you are in your life."

"But I am," Sofia said quietly, "Work Sofia and real life Sofia, they are both becoming the same person, and they are both disappointing everyone."

"You're not –"

"Don't lie to me, Louis," Sofia snapped, "I am a disappointment. Of course I am, how could anyone love me?"

"Zayn loves you," Louis said quietly, "And believe it or not, the rest of us do to..."

"Zayn loves the idea of what we could be," Sofia said, her voice beginning to slur from all the alcohol, "He doesn't love me. No one loves me, I don't even love me..."

"Sofia –" Louis said, his voice concerned.

"Just leave it, Lou," Sofia snapped, before standing up and walking away from him. He grabbed her arm, twisting her to turn back towards him.

"You're not going to just ignore this, and you aren't going to pretend you didn't say that, and you aren't gong to go look for a boy or a drink to distract you. You have to deal with this shit, Sofia. You have to, or it will destroy you," Louis said, his voice stern but caring at the same time.

"You know what's getting old fast? You boys thinking you have any control over me," Sofia spat out, "because you don't."

"Oh hey, Sofia," a voice said from behind her, she turned to see Ryan behind her. Her cheeks went red immediately as she looked at him. He glanced between her and Louis.

"Who are you?" Louis asked

"No one, he's no one," Sofia growled, yanking herself away from Louis, and walking away from them both. She needed air; she walked fast towards the back of the club, towards the exit, anything to give her some fresh air.
As she left she could feel the cold air around her, and she inhaled it in, loving the way it felt in her lungs. She didn't even notice that Ryan had followed her out, as she leaned against the brick building.

"How much is he paying for you?" Ryan asked, surprising Sofia. She glanced around, realizing that they were totally alone.

"More then you can afford," Sofia growled at him, standing up, and trying to shove past him.

"You know what I don't like about you, Sofia?" Ryan asked her, "It's not that you're a slutty whore... I can deal with that. I even like sluts and whores, they're great in bed."

"Fuck you, Ryan," Sofia spat, again trying to move past him, but he grabbed her shoving her back.

"My problem with you, Sofia, is that you're a tease too. You think you're too good, you're a picky whore. And that's not how whores should behave. You always blow me off, even when I'm willing to pay... why is that? Am I not good enough for you?"

"You're not good enough for anyone," Sofia choked out, "Leave me alone."

"I don't think so, love," Ryan said, taking a step toward her, "See, I'm sick of seeing you with all these men, when I'm a better man then they will ever be. Let me show you how a real man works, Sofia. Come on, be my dirty whore tonight."

"Get off of me," Sofia growled, fear catching in her voice, as he grabbed her wrist. Sofia raised her arm, to punch him, but it was too late, someone was already pulling him off her and slamming him into the opposite wall.

"Get inside, find your brother, and go home," her father growled at her, as he pinned Ryan to a wall, his hand around Ryan's throat. Sofia didn't need to be told twice, she ran towards the door, hoping to find Liam as soon as possible.

"Listen to me you little asshole," Mr. Payne hissed at the boy, "That's my daughter you're talking to. And I don't know who you think you are, but I'm the most powerful man in this town and I could have you disappear over night, do you understand me?"

Ryan tried to nod, his eyes wide with fear, as Mr. Payne tightened his grip on his throat.

"If you or your friends ever come near my daughter again, if you ever speak to her again, if you ever even so much as look at her in any way, shape, or form, I will hunt you down and I will you kill."

Mr. Payne released him, shoving him hard to the ground. Ryan was gasping trying to catch his breath, and pushing him as far away as he could form Mr. Payne, fear in his eyes and his body as he shook from head to toe.

"She's not a whore," Mr. Payne growled, "She's too good for you, she's too good for anyone. And one day, you'll know never ever to cross her. But until that day comes, just know, that if you fuck with her, you are taking on me. So, go back to your school and spread that around."

He turned from the boy, walking towards the back door, to get back into the club. Ryan had managed to stand, and Mr. Payne turned back to him, causing him to freeze.

"By the way, this is my club," Mr. Payne said, "And you are banned from it."

He opened the door, walking back into the loud, sweaty, hot club, allowing
the door to slam behind him and the boy to walk free, able to spread the message that Mr. Payne had given him.


***

"What do you mean she hasn't picked up the phone?" Niall asked, as Liam drove towards his parent's house, with all of the boys in the car.

"I mean, my parents left Friday night, and none of us have heard from her, and when I tried calling her today, she didn't pick up," Liam said, "It's Sunday. I'm worried."

"Bets on whether she through a party or not?" Louis asked, "She's probably just hung-over or something..."

"I'm trying again," Zayn said, picking up his cellphone, and dialing Sofia's number.

"Have you asked Emily or any of the girls?" Harry asked, "Maybe they know where she is."

"Yes," Liam said, "She's not picking up for anyone. Can we just get there and see what's going on? You guys are making me more nervous. I knew I should have insisted she stayed with me this weekend..."

"She's 16, Liam, not 4," Niall said.

"No answer," Zayn growled, "She never picks up her god damn phone, what's the point of her even having one?"

"Something I ask myself every day," Liam said, as he pulled onto the back road that led him to his parents house.

"I'm sure she's fine," Louis said, shrugging, "And she's going to be pissed that we're checking in on her."

"I don't care," Liam growled, as he pulled up to the house, and pulled into the driveway. It didn't look like there had been a party, in fact the house looked normal; it didn't even look like anything had changed.
Liam sighed as he parked the car in the driveway, turning it off, and stepping out of it, the other boys following. He was looking for any signs of something suspicious, or of distress, but he saw none as he climbed the steps to the back deck, and pulled out the key to get into the back door of the house.

"I hear music," Louis said quietly, and you could hear the pounding of a beat within the walls, "I told you.. .party."

Liam growled, before he opened the door, the music getting louder. The sounds of Aerosmith's Walk This Way covered his eyes, making his entire body pound, as he stepped in the house.

"Sofia!" Liam cried out, trying to reach his voice over the music, though it was no use.

"Sofia!" Liam cried again, walking through the house. Nothing looked out of place, and the house was empty, there was no party going on. The music was loud, and if Sofia were in the house, she wouldn't be able to hear him anyway. He noticed an empty bottle of Jack on the coffee table.

"She better be fucking alive, or I'll kill her," Liam mumbled to himself, and to Niall who was standing beside him,

"SOFIA!" Liam called again, hoping to get her attention, if she was in the house.

"Liam, is she even hear?" Louis called, over the music. Suddenly the song changed, and Rock and Roll All Night came over the speakers.

"I'm going to find the power button," Niall growled, covering his ears,

"Then she'll be able to hear us."

But before he could take a step towards anywhere, Sofia came dancing out of their father's office. Her back to them, as she sang along to the familiar words. She was in an old t-shirt, and yoga pants, her hair thrown into a messy bun. She wasn't dancing like she normally would; there was nothing seductive or attractive. It was silly, as she through her head around, and wiggled her hips, laughter coming from her lips.

"Oh my god," Liam mumbled, not able to control his laughter. He remembered all the times he had walked into her room, trying to get her to turn down the music, and found her dancing around like this. He loved her like this, like she didn't have a care in the world. He loved seeing her silly and happy, like a real teenage girl.

Suddenly she turned, and she caught their eyes, realizing that they had all seen her dancing like a crazy person. Sofia wasn't embarrassed though, her smile got wider, and she danced towards Louis, grabbing him and pulling him to dance with her.

"I WANNA ROCK AND ROLL ALL NIGHT
AND PARTY EVERY DAY!" Sofia sang loudly, her voice just reaching over the music. Louis spun her, and she laughed loudly.

The other boys watched the two of the them, laughing at how silly they were being. Harry couldn't take his eyes off of her; he had never seen Sofia like this. He had never seen her silly and carefree. He watched as she laughed and sung, no make up on her face, no bitchy or sarcastic remark, no job to get done, nothing to prove. She was just being a normal teenager; free to be who she was, because her father was gone.

Instead of clubbing or throwing a party, Sofia was using her parent free time to be silly and to be with herself. As Harry watched her dance, he felt like he was seeing who she was for the first time. He was realizing just how young she was, and just how free she wanted to be. He saw her real smile, as Louis dipped her, and he felt himself wishing that she would always smile that way.

She was just a kid, and it was obvious that as much as she denied it, she wanted to be able to be a kid. She wanted to sing and dance and be silly and laugh without feeing like she was letting someone down. If her father were here, she would be in training or on a job, but he wasn't here, and Sofia was free to be herself. And in those 4 minutes and 24 seconds of the song, her guards were down, and Harry could see exactly who she was. And a feeling jolted within him as she watched her, because she was so beautiful, as she danced around.

She really was amazing. Her smile and her laugh, and the way she teased Liam, and kissed Zayn on the cheek, it was all amazing. She wasn't frigid or cold, it was all an act. And maybe Harry knew that all along, but he told himself that it wasn't, because if he realized how amazing she was, especially when her guards were down, he would be like every other fool that feel for Sofia Payne, and he was determined not to do that.


***


It was late when Liam and the boys finally left with Eleanor and Danielle. Sofia was tired, and her parents would be back the next day, and things would go back to normal. She had recharged this weekend, she was able to relax and to have fun, and to be by herself, and she was dreading the idea of her father coming home and ruining that.

She had just stepped out of the shower, and was getting dressed when she heard the loud banging on the door. She paused, wondering if she was just hearing things, but heard it again, this time louder. Sofia glanced around the room, for the first time, realizing that she was completely alone in the big house.

"I'm coming," she called down; hoping whoever it was would hear her from the front porch. She pulled a shirt over her, letting her wet hair drip down it. She walked down the steps slowly, and carefully, as the banging continued. With each bang, her heart jumped. Something was wrong, she could feel it. Something wasn't right, and she was all alone.

Before reaching the door, she looked out the window, but she couldn't see who was there, it was too dark. Ignoring the pounding, she walked towards the coffee table, reaching into and pulling out a gun, sending up a small prayer that she wouldn't have to use it. The banging on the door got louder and more desperate, leaving Sofia with the impression that she had no choice but to open it.

Walking towards the door, she took a deep breath, placing the gun behind her back. She pulled the door open and she let out a small gasp. Sofia's eyes went wide and her throat went dry as she looked up and saw the police standing in front of her.

"Can I help you?" Sofia asked quietly.

"Is this the Payne house?" the police officer asked, causing Sofia to swallow hard in fear.