Two Pieces

"You Don't Know Me"

Sofia rolled over, hoping that if she rolled further into the pillow, her eyes would no longer see the light, and she could fall back asleep. She had returned to school earlier in the week, after 10 days of her brother and the boys making her absolutely miserable. Zayn was refusing to talk to her, and had made it his priority to spend as much time with Perrie as he could. Sofia wasn't sure if he was trying to distract himself, or to make her jealous, or maybe it was both. Everyone tried to get Sofia to talk to him, to make the first move towards reconciling, but Sofia was stubborn, and as far as she was concerned, she had done nothing wrong. She didn't belong to Zayn, she could be with whomever she wanted, and it was none of his business. As far as Sofia was concerned, if he wanted to crawl back to Perrie, that was fine. It would never last, she knew that, and it was only a matter of time before they knew that too.

Deciding that the sun was not going to let her sleep, she groaned, throwing the blankets off of her. She was returning to the club tonight, not on a specific job, but to watch someone who had come under suspicion. Everyone was suspicious these days. They hadn't been targeted, everything had been quiet since her parent's death, and it had put everyone on edge. It was like they were waiting for the first attack. Who was going to try and take down the Payne's first?

As she made her way down the stairs, she could hear voices and laughter. For years she had been used to a quiet house. Liam moved out at 17, and left her alone with her parents. She was used to her mornings quiet, she was used to being alone. Now, everywhere she turned there was someone around. There was always noise, and it was never quiet. It was driving her a bit crazy, Sofia liked being independent, and she liked the quiet. She hated knowing that someone was always watching her; someone was always on top of her. Things had changed fast in her life, and she wasn't sure yet how she wanted to handle the change.

Walking into the kitchen she came to a halt, Caroline was at her stove, next to Danielle, and Perrie was sitting on Zayns lap. Everyone else was scattered around the kitchen, eating or talking. It was too many people, and she wasn't thrilled about the guests this early.

"Good morning!" Caroline greeted, a little too happily. Sofia glanced at Harry, and saw he felt the same way. Sofia assumed that he didn't mean for Caroline to stay the night, but as usual, she was like a bug he couldn't get rid of.

"I bought some bagels and muffins, would you like one?" Caroline asked, a wide smile. Sofia realized it was probably because she had managed to stay the night, instead of getting kicked out of his bed. Caroline probably thought her and Harry were making progress towards a stable relationship, Sofia knew better. She blinked a few times at Caroline, not quite sure how to respond to the pathetic girl.

"No, uh, thanks," Sofia said, sliding by her and towards the coffee pot. Quickly she poured herself a cup, before turning towards the full kitchen and taking a sip. Her eyes landed on Perrie, she knew that Zayn and her had gone back to seeing each other, although this was the first time he was brave enough to bring her home. Usually he went there, and came home with his hair and clothes a little too messy, a clear indication of what he been up to the night before. She watched as Zayn kissed Perrie's shoulder, but his eyes never left Sofia's. Sofia tried not to roll her eyes at the clear move to make her jealous, and then tried not to gag on her coffee as Perrie giggled, a little too loudly.

"You know, it's a little too early for all this," Sofia said, walking towards the door, "I think I'm going back to bed."

"Sofia – what about breakfast?" Danielle asked, standing up, "I can make you something."

"I'm not hungry," Sofia said, "Loss of appetite, actually."

"Sofia, don't start," Liam groaned.

"I'm not, I'm just going back to my room," she said, turning her back to everyone.

"You don't have to leave," Perries voice rang out, causing Sofia's nose to flare as she turned back to her, "We can be civil, you know. You don't have to go anywhere..."

"Did you just tell me I didn't have to leave my own kitchen?" Sofia hissed at Perrie, trying to control the urge to lunge at her and rip her throat out. She didn't care that Perrie was sitting on Zayn's lap, she didn't care that they were hooking up again, she didn't even care that Zayn was trying to make her jealous. But, she didn't like the fact that Perrie had made herself a little too comfortable in Sofia's territory and was now trying to tell her what to do.

"I'm just saying –" Perrie said.

"How about you don't just say?" Sofia snapped, "I'm leaving because I like my mornings quiet, not because you're here. This my house Perrie, I'll stay where I want, and go where I want – without permission from you..."

"I was trying to –" Perrie tried to argue

"Sofia, knock it off," Liam growled.

"You've turned my house into a fraternity party," Sofia growled back at him, "Don't tell me to knock it off."

"Sofia, if your uncomfortable," Eleanor said quietly, trying to stand up.

"I'm not! I just want to go back to my room!" Sofia barked, "Bloody hell, you are all a piece of work..."

"You're getting brave," Liam said, quietly, his eyebrows raised. Sofia opened her mouth to respond, but the kitchen door opened before she could, Emily and Katie walking in.

"Holy shit, are we just an open house now?" Sofia hissed, "What are you doing here?"

"Well, we were here to see if you wanted to get breakfast," Katie said, "But uh, we ran into someone on the way."

"Who?" Sofia asked, as Katie and Emily stepped out of the way. Jacee Adams stepped forward, her hair still frizzy and her glasses on. She looked nervous as she usually did in school, and Sofia couldn't help but show how surprised she was that Jacee was in her home. Jacee and Sofia weren't friends, most of the time they didn't even acknowledge each other. Jacee was smart, and hung out with her academic teams. Her teachers loved her, and Sofia wasn't sure she knew how to hold a conversation that wasn't about school. They were exact opposites, and Jacee had never been to her house.

"Hi," Jacee said quietly, her eyes giving away how nervous she was,
"Sorry to interrupt."

"She wanted to talk to you about something," Katie said, trying to hide her amusement. Jacee was the girl they all avoided and made fun of. Sofia sent Katie a quick glare, before returning her attention to Jacee.

"That's alright," Sofia said, surprising both Emily and Katie. Maybe they were expecting Sofia to laugh in her face, and show her the door, but Sofia was playing nice, surprising all of them, including Sofia.

"Do you uh, need something?" Sofia asked.

"I was wondering if I could talk to you about something," Jacee asked, "in private."

"Jacee anything you have to say, you can say to us," Katie said, "And if this about your hair, we can't help you." Emily nudged Katie in the ribs, while Katie looked expectantly at Sofia to make a remark, which she usually would have.

"Shut it, Kate," Sofia said, "You two wait here. Come on, Jacee, we can use the office. Although, if you're here homework, I got to tell you, I'm not the one you want to talk to. That's more Emily's area of expertise."

Jacee didn't say anything as she followed Sofia out of the kitchen, looking at the floor instead of at all the eyes on them.

"Who is that?" Louis asked, "She's an odd little thing isn't she."

"Jacee Adams," Katie said, "I wonder what she wants with Sof, and why Sofia was actually giving her the time of day..."

"Maybe Sofia was expecting her," Emily said shrugging, "I like Jacee, she's nice enough." Katie snorted, before climbing onto the counter.

"Think she wants something?" Liam asked

"I don't know," Katie said, shrugging, "Maybe she was sent over by the school, try and help Sofia catch up."


***

"What can I do for you?" Sofia asked, turning to Jacee was she entered the office.

"I saw you take down Brooke the other day," Jacee said quietly, as she played with a ring on her finger.

"Not my finest hour, but if you're here to give me some morality speech, I already got it..." Sofia said, her eyes narrowing.

"I'm not," Jacee said quickly, shaking her head, "I um.. well, I guess I'm here to ask a favor."

"A favor?" Sofia asked, "I don't really do favors, Jacee. I'm not really a favor kind of person."

"I know," Jacee said, "And if I wasn't desperate, or if I thought there was someone else..."

"Good to know I'm your first choice," Sofia said sarcastically.

"It's just –"

"Skip the part where you plead your case," Sofia snapped, "I'm not really interested. Just get to the part where you tell me what you want, I don't have all day..."

"I need fighting lessons," Jacee said, looking up at her, "Or you know... boxing lessons or whatever it is that you do."

"I don't really take lessons," Sofia said, "Nor do I teach. Can I ask why?"

"I just need them," Jacee said, getting anxious.

"That a lie," Sofia said, "I'm not saying I'm interested in helping you, because in all honestly, I'm not. But, if I were to help you out, I would need to know why. You're not exactly Rocky material, Jacee."

"You know Mark Linley?" Jacee asked

"Yeah, he's a dick, a hot dick, but still a dick," Sofia said, "And he hangs out with your brother, who is not a dick."

"Yeah, him and Chase are like, best friends," Jacee said, "Anyway, Mark and I have been um, hooking up I guess..."

"What?" Sofia gasped, trying not to drop her coffee cup.

"He said he was interested in me, but wanted to keep it a secret," Jacee said, her feet moving out of anxiety.

"Well, that's clearly a bullshit line,' Sofia growled, "I hope you didn't fall for it."

"I did," Jacee said, "And now it's less hooking up and more, me doing work and him using me to cheat..."

"Not to be a bitch, Jacee, but you should've seen that coming."

"Yeah, I guess a nerd like me doesn't deserve someone as popular as him, I guess I was just hoping he really wanted me..."

"I didn't mean you didn't deserve him," Sofia said quietly, "I just meant, you're smarter then that."

"Yeah, well I tried to get out of it a few weeks ago, and he practically busted my head open, shoving me so hard," Jacee said, "And now every time I get uncomfortable or say no to something, he gets aggressive."

Sofia's eyes narrowed on the nervous girl, "How aggressive?"

Jacee slowly lifted her shirt to show an arrangement of bruises lining her ribs.

"Mark did that?" Sofia asked, her voice calm and casual, she had seen worse. But, she could feel the anger boiling in her. Sure Jacee was a nerd, and a little bit of a teachers pet, but she didn't deserve to get beat up for it. An anger she couldn't explain built up in her, she was just seeing red. It wasn't all directed at Mark, the anger came from nowhere, but somewhere within her. Sofia kept a calm exterior, but all she wanted was to explode.

"Because I wouldn't use my tutoring key to get him test answers," Jacee said, "I need to know how to defend myself."

"You wouldn't be able to do it," Sofia said, "You don't have it in you to take on Mark. You're not a fighter, Jacee. Even if I could teach you something, you would never win."

"You don't know that," Jacee hissed, desperately.

"Yeah, I do," Sofia said, "Believe me, if I know anything, it's about winning." Me teaching you how to fight won't mean anything, you don't have the guts to take him on."

"So that's it?" Jacee snapped, "You're not going to help me?"

"I didn't say that," Sofia said, "I said you couldn't do it."

"So what?"

"I'll take care of it," Sofia said.

"What?" Jacee asked, in shock

"I'll make sure he doesn't touch you again, I'll take care of it," Sofia said.

"You're not going to have him killed are you?" Jacee asked, taking Sofia by surprise.

"I don't know what kind of rumors you've been listening to, Jacee, but I don't have that type of power," Sofia lied smoothly, "I'll take care of it. Follow me."

Jacee followed Sofia back out to the kitchen, which was now a little less full. Zayn, Caroline, Harry, Niall, and Perrie had all disappeared.

"Katie, Emily," Sofia said, "I need you to take Jacee and get her ready to go to the club tonight."

"What?" Katie and Emily barked, shocked.

"You heard me," Sofia said, "And uh, make sure her brother and his friends get on the guest list and are there tonight too. Tell them I personally invited them."

"What's going on?" Emily asked, looking between Sofia and Jacee.

"Jacee just wants to go to a club before her school career is over," Sofia lied smoothly, "Trying to be little less of a nerd, and I owe her on from doing my history homework last year."

"Are you being serious?" Katie asked, while Liam looked on, also suspicious.

"Dead serious," Sofia said, before turning and leaving the kitchen, "I'll see you girls later."


***

"So you and Caroline, huh?" Sofia asked, as leaned against the gym wall, taking a sip of water. Harry glanced at her, while Louis tried to control his laughter.

"Shut up," Harry mumbled.

"She's nice," Sofia said, "I could see you settling down with her. She'd buy you all the baked goods in the world..."

"Seriously, shut up," Harry growled.

"I thought you were over her," Louis said.

"I am," Harry said, "I mean, I'm not ... it's not ... she doesn't ... it doesn't mean anything."

"Yet, she's sleeping over," Sofia said, snorting.

"That wasn't supposed to happen," Harry growled.

"But it did, and it clearly means something to her," Sofia said.

"You're one to talk," Harry said, "How's Zayn?"

"Touché," Sofia said, as wiped the sweat off her face.

"Are you ever going to talk to him again?" Louis asked, "Just apologize."

"For what? I didn't do anything wrong!"

"You hurt his feelings," Louis said

"What is he? Five?" Sofia barked, "If Zayn doesn't want to talk to me, I'm not going to beg him to talk to me."

"He's your friend, Sofia," Louis said, "Plus you two are like miserable when you don't talk."

"He made it clear we were over," Sofia said, shrugging.

"I don't think he meant the friendship," Harry said, "I think he still wants to be friends. He just wants you to own up to being a bitch."

"Fuck you, Styles," Sofia hissed, "I'm not a bitch."

"Really?" Harry asked, "Using people for your own needs isn't a bitch move?"

"Aren't you doing the same thing with Caroline?" Sofia asked, her eyebrows rose.

"It's different with Caroline," Harry said, "She's not my friend. I'm not betraying her."

"You're using her feelings to get laid," Sofia said, shaking her head, "It's exactly the same thing... and it's not like she's only one you've lead on and fucked."

"See?" Louis asked, smiling, "I told you, you two had more in common then you thought."

"Shut up," both Harry and Sofia snapped, causing Louis to laugh and walk away.

"Think you'll ever go back to Zayn, settle down?" Harry asked, glancing side ways at Sofia as Louis walked away.

"Do I look like a settle down kind of girl to you?" Sofia asked

"No," Harry said, shaking his head, "But things change when you get older, you want different things..."

"Do you want different things?" Sofia asked

"Not really," Harry said, "I think relationships can be..."

"Distracting?" Sofia asked

"Yeah, but that's not why I avoid them," Harry said, "I avoid them because it scares me, and I think that's why you avoid them too."

"You think I'm scared of commitment?" Sofia asked, snorting, "Don't push your issues off on me, I'm not scared of anything."

"I don't believe you," Harry said, "I think you're scared about to lose people, just like the rest of us are."

"Losing people is apart of life, Harry," Sofia said, shrugging, "I just don't want the hassle of a relationship. Don't read too much into it."

"So, you're totally okay with losing people?" Harry asked, turning towards her, "Doesn't bother you at all?"

"Why would it?" Sofia asked, "That's what happens, especially when you live this life. If you let it effect you, you'd lose everything. Not worth it."

"Then why don't you talk about your parents?" Harry asked, catching Sofia off guard.

"What?" she asked

"If you're so unaffected by it, why don't you ever talk about them?" Harry asked, his eyes piercing hers.

"What's there to talk about?" Sofia asked, before turning and walking away, Harry grabbed her before she could get far.

"You know, you're going to have to deal with them being gone someday," Harry said, "You're going to have to talk about it, and mourn them."

"I went to the funeral," Sofia said.

"That doesn't mean you mourned," Harry said, "I remember, I was there."

"I've dealt with it," Sofia growled.

"No you haven't," Harry said, shaking his head, "I'm not stupid, Sofia.
Maybe you have everyone else buying that you're completely unaffected. But those two people were one constant in your life. I don't care how trained or prepared you are, losing people that close to you, it changes you. It affects you, whether you want it to or not. You can keep trying to avoid the hurt and pain and anger and sadness, but one day it's going to catch up to you..."

"You sound like my brother," Sofia growled, "I didn't strike you as an emotions kind of guy, Harry."

"You don't know me," Harry said, shaking his head.

"And you don't know me," Sofia said.

"Actually, I do," Harry said, taking his arm away from her, "Because once upon a time, Sofia, I was you. I was angry and lost and confused. I was selfish and living for myself."

"You still seem angry and selfish to me," Sofia growled, her defense going up, as Harry's words pierced her.

"Well, I'm not perfect," Harry said, shrugging, "But I also let people in now, realize I don't have to face everything alone."

"People like Caroline?" Sofia asked, raising her eyebrows. Harrys jaw clenched, because she was throwing his shortcomings in his face.

"Never mind," Harry growled, "I don't know why I bother with you." Though, he knew exactly why he bothered with her.

"I don't know why you bother with me either," Sofia said, before turning and walking away from him.

***

"What's the game?" Liam asked, as he stepped in front of Sofia at the club.

"What are you talking about?" Sofia asked

"I mean, that poor girl, who clearly has never been to a club before, just showed up with Katie and Emily," Liam said, narrowing his eyes at his sister.

"She wanted to go to a club, Liam. I told you that this morning," Sofia said.

"I don't believe you," Liam said, "You don't just do things for people. You don't grant wishes. What's going on?"

"Nothing is going on," Sofia said.

"Does she need drugs? Are you selling?" Liam growled, "Because if that's what this is..."

"Does she look like the person who buys drugs?" Sofia asked, trying not to laugh, "Will you relax?"

"I can't relax, this doesn't make sense," Liam growled, "And if you are trying to do something to that poor girl..."

"Why do you always assume that I'm planning something awful?" Sofia growled, "Why do you always assume I'm playing a game?"

"Are you kidding?" Liam asked, "I've come to expect the worst from you, Sofia. That way I'm surprised when it actually happens."

"That's nice," Sofia said, deadpanned, "Sweet of you, really." The words hurt her, though she would never admit it.

"Look, whatever you're up to tonight with that poor girl," Liam said, "Leave it."

"Chase and the boys are here," Katie said, walking up to the siblings. Sofia glanced at her brother, before smiling.

"Great, let's go find them," Sofia said, before turning to Emily, "You go find Jacee, I want her to see this."

"See what?" Liam growled, trying to grab his sister, but it was too late, Sofia was too fast and disappearing through the crowd.

It wasn't long before Sofia and Katie had all of the boys, including Mark, up and dancing. Sofia could see Emily and Jacee watching from the VIP bar. Jacee looked just as uncomfortable as she always did, sipping on soda, while Emily looked confused.

Sofia pulled Mark towards her, grinding against him, as she saw Jacees look of shock. She pulled her eyes away from the girl, she knew what this must look like. She was grinding against the same guy that had hit Jacee, and Jacee must've been confused as to why Sofia would do that. Sofia turned to Mark, smiling widely, as he smiled back.

"It's good to have you back," he shouted over the noise of the club.

"It's good to be back," Sofia shouted, her eyes glancing over at Chase, who was at the bar.

"You should let me take you home tonight," Mark said, his hands getting tighter on her waist. Sofia smirked at him.

"I don't know about that," Sofia said.

"Come on," Mark said, his fingers digging into her skin, as his jaw locked.

Sofia could see danger flash across his eyes, and suddenly she realized what Jacee must see every time. Unlike Jacee, it didn't scare Sofia. Danger never scared Sofia, if anything, it excited her. She craved it, loved it, most of the time, she asked for it.

"I know about Jacee," Sofia said, causing Mark to pause.

"What about her?" he asked, catching himself in time.

"You know what about her," Sofia said.

"Are you jealous?" Mark asked, trying to flirt his way out of the conversation, "Because she doesn't mean anything, she's no you, Sofia."

"Well, that's true," Sofia agreed, "But I didn't mean, I know about you two hooking up..."

"What did you mean then?" Mark asked, his eyes narrowed, and his hands tight.

Sofia shoved him forward, surprising him. Before he could react, she grabbed his head, slamming it down on to the nearby bar. She heard his nose crack, and everyone around them suddenly stopped moving.

"I know you've been hitting her," Sofia hissed quietly in his ear, "And I know that that stops now."

"Fuck you!" Mark barked, shoving her off of him, "You stupid bitch!"

"I'm not Jacee, you don't get to call me names, or shove me," Sofia growled.

"I'll kill you!" Mark growled, trying to grab her, but Sofia was too fast, slamming her elbow into his mouth, before slamming her knee into his stomach, causing him to stumble to the floor. He barely had time to react before she used her fist, punching him square in the face.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Chase called, pulling Sofia off of Mark, as Mark tried to catch his breath on the floor. Suddenly they were surrounded.

"Sofia!" Liam screamed, pulling her away from Chase, "What the hell is going on?"

"Are you okay?" Louis cried

"Help him up," Niall said to Harry.

"Don't fucking touch him," Sofia hissed. The club was quiet, the DJ had turned off the music, and everyone was staring at her for an explanation.

"Are you crazy?" Katie asked, staring at her with wide eyes.

"What the fuck, Sofia?" Chase barked.

"Your friend here left bruises all over your sister," Sofia growled at Chase, as she looked up at the VIP balcony, where Emily and Jacee were staring in shock, "You should probably pick better people to hang out with."

"What?" Chase asked

"I was making sure he never did it again," Sofia said, shrugging.

"She's lying!" Mark barked, standing up. Sofia lunged at her, grabbing him
by the throat, slamming him into a wall.

"If you ever go near her again, I'll tear you in half, do you understand me?" Sofia growled

"Sofia, get off of him," Liam hissed, trying to pull his sister off of the boy, but she would not move.

"DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME!?" Sofia yelled, leaning on his neck with her arm.

"Yes," Mark hissed, quietly.

"Good. Now the hell out of my club, you little bitch," Sofia hissed, stepping away. She watched as Mark straightened his shirt out, before walking away. She noticed that Jacee and Emily were making their way towards her.

"Oh my God," Jacee said, as she reached Sofia, "You almost killed him."

"He'll be fine," Sofia said, moving away from her brother, glancing at Chase, who was staring at his sister in shock.

"What the hell is going on?" Chase asked, "Did you ask her to do this? To go after Mark?"

"I needed help," Jacee choked out, as the music in the club went back on, "I needed serious help."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Chase asked, staring at his sister in shock.

"It's not always easy asking for help," Sofia said, "Especially from family. It's not her fault, I said I would do it..."

"What do I owe you?" Chase asked, stepping up to Sofia, "I know you don't do stuff like this for nothing. What did she offer you?"

Sofia glanced at Jacee, before looking back at Liam and the boys who were still staring at her, wondering what was going on. He was right, she usually never did something like this without wanting something in return. But she didn't want anything, she had already gotten what she needed out of this.

"You don't owe me anything," Sofia said quietly, before she walked away from them all, out of the club, and into the night air.


***

"You just beat someone up to help out a stranger," a voice said from behind her, Sofia turned and saw Harry.

"She's not a stranger," Sofia said, "And she needed help."

"So you can help her out, but you can't even apologize to Zayn? Or cut Liam a break? You give to a complete stranger, but you can't give to your own gang? Your own family? You were selfless in there, but you're selfish with us. Why is that?"

"You think I did that for her?" Sofia scoffed.

"Didn't you?" Harry asked

"Why are you so determined to get inside my head?" Sofia asked

"Why are you so determined to keep me out?" Harry asked

"I don't think you want inside, it's kinda fucked up," Sofia said quietly, her eyes vulnerable.

"Try me –" Harry said, stepping closer to her.

"Are you okay?" Danielle said, surprising them both, as she walked towards them, everyone else following her.

"I'm fine," Sofia said, causing Sofia to step away from Harry, "Not a scratch."

"Sofia, you could've been seriously hurt," Liam barked, "What the hell were you thinking?"

"I wasn't," Sofia admitted, shrugging, "I was angry. And he seemed like a good person to take it out on."

Liam glanced at Harry, his eyes wide. This was exactly what Harry predicted would happen. Harry told him Sofia's anger and feelings were going to get the best of her, and that she was going to start acting out in ways they couldn't predict.

"Let's just get you home, okay?" Danielle said, quietly, guiding Sofia away from the boys.

"Tonight she took it out on someone who deserved it," Harry said quietly,

"But... if she keeps this bottled up, one night it's going to be someone doesn't deserve it..."

"Or someone who fights back," Liam said, before swallowing hard.

"Or herself," Harry said, staring at Sofia as she walked away.

"What are you two whispering about?" Zayn asked, stepping up to them.

"Sofia," Liam said, "I don't care what that kid did, she could've been seriously hurt. That could've gone a totally different way."

"Maybe she hoped it would," Harry said, shrugging.

"You think she's dangerous? To us?" Liam asked Harry.

"I think she's a serious liability if she doesn't get her emotions in check,"
Harry said, "But I think she's more dangerous to herself. She used this as an excuse to do something she knew could spin out of control."

"You think she'll do it again? Or something worse?" Zayn asked.

"I think she'll do anything to get rid of what she's feeling," Harry said, shrugging, "I know I did."

"Think she'll talk?" Liam asked.

"I think she wants to," Harry said, "I just don't think she knows where to start..."

"I can't lose her," Liam said, looking at Harry and Zayn, "I've lost too much."

"You won't lose her," Zayn reassured Liam, "We won't lose her."

Harry stayed quiet; there was vulnerability in Sofia's eyes when he followed her out of the club. He almost had her talking, she almost opened up. But, they were interrupted, and she put up her walls again. Harry knew he could get through the walls, he told Liam he could.

"I'll try again," Harry said.

"Why are you trying to help her?" Zayn asked, his eyes narrowed, "What's in it for you?"

"She's a liability to this gang, Zayn," Harry said, "By helping her I'm helping us, that's all."

Harry was lying. In the beginning, it was about the gang. He knew the faster he got Sofia to break down, the faster she was no longer dangerous. But, now she intrigued him. Now, he was seeing what Louis pointed out. They were a lot alike. She had all the same fears and insecurities he did once. And she dealt with her feelings the way he did. He knew he could understand her on a level that no one else could. He would never admit it to any of them, but he felt connected to her in some way. Something inside him told him he was supposed to help her. He tried to ignore the connection, and to deny it, but he couldn't. There was just something about Sofia Payne that drew him in, and he was determined to find out what it was.