Two Pieces

"You Need The Truth"

Liam slammed the door of the car loudly, as he jumped out and raced towards the police station, the rest of the boys behind him. His worst fears running through his head, he couldn't picture anything but the absolute worst. Liam could see parents picking up teenagers, and police officers were explaining the situation, but he didn't care about them, or the party, he rushed by them all, he only thought of Sofia. He felt a rush of every emotion possible when Emily and Katie sitting in chairs by the wall.

"Em, Kate," Liam sighed, relief taking over him as he approached them, they both looked up at him with wide and fearful eyes.

"Where's Sofia?" Harry barked at them with anger, looking around.

"Are you okay?" Liam asked, ignoring Harry, "You're okay right?"

"Yeah," Katie said quietly, nodding, "We're okay."

"Okay, that's the important thing, I'll deal with your idiocy and what the hell you could have possibly been thinking later," he said, in his sternest voice,

"Where's Sofia?"

"They have her in a back room," Emily said pointing, her face flushed and swollen from tears. Liam shook his head in frustration, before glaring back down at the girls.

"I don't know what happened, everyone else was told to call someone and sat out here, but they have Sofia back there," Emily explained, "They won't even let us see her."

"Niall, get these two out of here," he directed.

"Come on girls," Niall said, reaching for them. They both stood up, a little shaky on their feet.

"Get them some food and water," Zayn growled, looking annoyed at their condition. Both girls were smart enough to look sorry and ashamed.

"Got it," Niall said, ushering the girls out. The other boys could hear him lecturing them on their way out.

"Liam," Davis called, approaching the boys.

"You arrested my sister?!" Liam roared, coming toward him, "Are you out of you mind?"

"We weren't there to arrest anybody, we were there to break up a party and get everyone home safely," Davis snapped.

"Then why isn't my sister out here with the rest of the drunk morons??" Liam barked.

"Like you don't know," Davis scoffed.

"I don't know!" Liam yelled at him, catching Davis off guard. He sighed heavily.

"Follow me," Davis said, turning and walking towards his office.


***


"When we showed up at the Pharm party," Davis started.

"Farm party?" Liam asked, "Like cows and shit?"

"Pharmaceutical," Davis corrected.

"What the hell is that?" Liam asked.

"Part of the cover is to throw a bunch of pills into a bowl," Harry explained, "Then they pass the bowl around all night."

"You're kidding me," Louis said, eyes wide.

"I wish," Davis said, "It's a dangerous game played at these things. We showed up to break it up, and get everyone home. We were only going to arrest the kid throwing it, everyone else just got cuffed so we could call parents, and make sure no one got killed in an overdose or a car."

"Great!" Liam said, throwing his hands up, "Then where the hell is my sister?"

"When we pulled up, your sister was in the parking area with two hooded guys. They took off. When I approached your sister, she had this bag on her."

Davis threw the bag on his desk, opening it, showing the boys a bag full of cash.

"It's got 2,500 dollars in it," Davis growled, "And these baggies full of coke were at her feet."

"What?" Liam asked, his voice quiet and dangerous.

"Coke?" Harry spat out, grabbing at the baggies, "That's not possible."

"What? You didn't know?" Davis asked.

"You think I sent my sister out on a drug deal?" Liam scoffed, "Drugs aren't my game! I control the drugs, I don't dish them out."

"I don't think she was selling, Liam. I think she was buying and when her friends ran off, they left her with the drugs."

"I don't fucking buy drugs either!" Liam snapped.

"And if we did, we sure as hell wouldn't send Sofia in for them," Zayn growled, looking more angry and dark then he usually did.

"Well then why the hell did she have a gun on her?" Davis spat, "I can look away from a lot of things, Liam! A sixteen year old girl with a gun, and fresh coke, I can't exactly look away from that!"

"She had a gun?" Louis asked, stepping between them, his eyes full of concern and confusion.

Davis pulled the gun that Sofia was carrying, and placed it on the desk. Liam's eyes went wide as he recognized the gun as his father's. Sofia must have taken it from the safe in his bedroom.

"This would be the time to be honest with me, Liam," Davis barked, "Because if this was you, we're gonna have to go over the game rules again!"

"It wasn't fucking me!" Liam roared, "And you don't tell me the fucking game rules! I tell you the rules, remember?"

"What's she saying?" Zayn asked, putting his hand on Liam to calm him before he actually killed the chief of police. Davis just laughed loudly at him, shaking his head in disbelief.

"She's high out of mind," Davis responded, "And even if she wasn't, Sofia would never talk to us, we all know that."

"She'll talk to me," Liam growled, "Where is she?"

"Holding room," Davis said, "We're trying to get her to come down a bit."

"She's that bad?" Harry asked, fear and anger all over his face.

"She's not good, and when she does talk, she's not making sense," Davis said, quietly. He felt bad for these guys, they were obviously being blind sided by this.

"Keep the money, and I'll throw you an extra 2,500 for your trouble tonight," Liam growled.

"What do you want me to do with that?" Davis asked him, glaring.

"I want you to forget my sister was ever here, and that we ever had this conversation..."

"Who's gonna handle your sister, Liam?!" Davis barked, "What she did tonight was fucking dangerous! She could've gotten herself killed! Or killed someone else!"

"I WILL HANDLE MY SISTER," Liam roared, his face going red, "NOT THAT IT'S ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS!"

"Nothing like this will happen again," Louis assured him, his eyes on Liam with caution.

"It better not," Davis spat out, "Because there isn't enough money in the world that will get me to cover for you if things like this, and the explosion, and the shooting keep happening."

"I got it, I will get it under control," Liam hissed through thin teeth, "Take me to my sister."


***


Sofia's head was lying on the table. Her cheek on the cold metal table, because she felt so hot, she was just so hot. Her thoughts were fuzzy, almost as though there was nothing there – but everything was there. She took a deep breath because even though she was lying still on the table, it felt like she was spinning. The door banged open, and she looked up slowly to see Liam racing toward her.

She flinched as he came toward her so fast, towering above her. But instead of hitting her, like she assumed he would he got down on her level, taking her head in his hands.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked quietly, both concern and relief rushing over his face as he finally got to see her.

"There are two of you," she answered, "I thought just one was bad."

Liam's eyes searched her face, and he saw how pale and out of it she looked. Her words were muddled together, and her eyes were blood shot. She was totally gone. The water sitting on the table next to her wasn't even open. Liam reached over, opening it.

"Drink this now," he said, "And don't make fucking jokes."

Sofia noticed that Louis and Zayn were walking in, with Davis. They both had dark looks on their face as they saw her.

Sofia's heart stopped when Harry stepped in last. His face was the angriest of them all, but that quickly turned to fear and concern when he took in Sofia's state.

She stood up so fast, that the room started spinning. Liam grabbed her quickly, and she fell against him.

"Hey!" he spat out, "Relax."

"Harry, you have to go to Holmes Chapel, you have to go now," Sofia said, words rushing out of her mouth.

"She said that earlier too," Davis muttered, "She's totally out of it."

"You have to go check on Gemma," Sofia said.

"Gemma's fine," Harry said, stepping forward cautiously.

"DON'T!" Sofia screamed, "Don't come near me! Just leave and go to Holmes Chapel and see Gemma!"

"Gemma is fine, Sofia!" Harry responded, his face full of confusion.

"No, I think I just got her killed," Sofia said, her eyes moving back and forth like a crazy person, and she was talking like she was on speed, "Actually I think the police got her killed because they drove up when I was trying to help her. But really I guess it's you that got her killed..."

"You're high, Sofia," Louis said, trying to calm her down, "You're just high and worked up. You're not making sense."

"NO! I mean, yes," Sofia gasped, "I am high but I'm serious about this."

"We believe you're serious," Zayn answered, calmly, like he was talking to a child, it was frustrating her.

"Harry, you have to listen to me," Sofia begged.

"I am listening to you," Harry said, stepping forward with his hands out, as though approaching a hurt animal.

"NO! NO!" Sofia screeched, causing her to get dizzy and Liam to hold her tighter. She didn't want Harry to come near her. He scared her, and she didn't trust him. He had killed someone's sister.

"Don't touch me! JUST GO SEE GEMMA! She's going to be killed in Holmes Chapel!"

"Gemma's on holiday, Sofia! She's not even in Holmes Chapel!" Harry spat out, ignoring her as he stepped forward.

"What?" Sofia said, her voice barely there.

"You're high and you're upset," Harry said, "Gemma will be fine, let's just get you home."

"No she won't be, because you killed Johnny's sister, and now they're gonna kill yours. And I don't need to feel guilty about something else so you need to make sure she's safe!"

Liam froze at the word guilt, he had never heard his sister say something like that before. Her guard was down because of the drugs. He wondered what she felt guilty about.

Harry froze when he heard the name Johnny, his face grew dark and his eyes narrowed. Every bone in his body went cold at the name, and as he registered the fear on Sofia's face.

"How do you know about Johnny? Have you seen him? Did he do this?" Harry growled.

"What does this have to do with Johnny?" Louis asked.

"Sofia, what happened?" Harry asked, taking another step closer to her.

"DON"T!" Sofia screamed her fear obvious, as she struggled to step back, but lost her balance instead,
"DON'T COME NEAR ME!"

"Harry, back off," Liam snapped.

"How do you know about Johnny?" Harry asked again.

"I guess I'm not the only one with secrets," Sofia said, her voice barely above a whisper, her expression hurt and confused.

She was out of breath, and she felt this wave of exhaustion come over her. The room was spinning now, but she could only see his face.

"Sof?" Louis barked, stepping forward, "Sofia?!"

But it was too late, she had already collapsed in Liam's arms.

"Shit!" Zayn growled, lunging forward and helping Liam hold her up.

"I gotta go," Harry said, "I gotta find Johnny."

"What?!" Liam growled, "NOW?!"

"That fucker did this," Harry growled, pointing at Sofia, who was opening her eyes again, "He got to her! I don't how, but this all goes back to him! I'm making sure he never does it again!"

Harry didn't wait for a response, as he ran out of the room.

"BACK HIM UP!" Liam yelled, shoving Zayn towards the door.

"But Sofia –" Zayn argued.

"I'll get Sofia," Louis said, coming forward and propping her up, "You make sure Harry doesn't get himself
killed."

"I'm so high," Sofia mumbled, as Zayn ran from the room after Harry.

"Yeah, I noticed," Louis said.

"Come on, Sof," Liam said in a gentle voice, helping prop her up, "Let's get you home."

Liam and Louis carefully guided Sofia through the police station and out the door. Liam ran ahead to get the car, while Louis stayed with Sofia on the steps. It didn't escape Sofia that they were being kind and gentle, not the response she was used too. They were so good to her, they shouldn't be she thought.

"What the hell were you thinking, Sof?" Louis asked, looking down at her, "I could kill you right now if I wasn't so happy you were alive."

"I don't think I was," Sofia said, a laugh coming out of her. Louis shook his head, "It's nice not thinking."

"I'm so high," Sofia repeated, still laughing.

"This isn't funny," Louis replied in a growl.

"No, you're right," Sofia agreed, her voice now quiet and serious, "Nothing about my life is funny." Her words caused Louis pain, he just wanted her to let him in, let them all in. In her high she was giving them a glimpse of what must go on in her head all the time, and he hated what he saw.

Sofia watched as Liam climbed out of his car, and opened it. Louis helped her down the steps, one at a time, supporting most of her weight so she didn't fall.

"Liam, there's a sun on your car," Sofia said.

"What?"

"She's high," Louis reminded him.

"Yeah, I am. But there's still a sun on your car," Sofia said, pointing to the side of the car, before looking around quickly.

"Holy shit," Louis hissed, also looking around and holding Sofia tighter.

"They were here," Liam growled.
"Jesus FUCK!" he yelled, before hitting the sun scratch on his car in frustration.

"Let's go," he barked at Louis, helping him get Sofia into the car, while trying to see if they saw anything suspicious on the street. His hand was on his gun the whole time.

HE climbed into the front seat, as Louis sat in the back with Sofia lying on his lap.

"They're following us," Louis said, his voice serious and low.

"Yeah," Liam agreed, nodding his head.

"What the fuck do we do now?" Louis asked.

"We get Sofia home, then we find out where the hell Harry rushed off too," Liam said, "One problem at a time, okay Lou?"

Liam turned to look down at Sofia, who was now falling into what Liam could only assume would be a black out.

"Dad," she mumbled as she faded, surprising both Liam and Louis. They looked up at each other in concern. She was seeing her father.

"He's haunting her, even from the grave," Liam mumbled, the thought had crossed his mind more then once tonight. His face wasn't angry, or upset anymore. It was just worried.

"She'll be alright, Liam," Louis insisted.

"Will she?" Liam asked, desperate, before turning around and starting the car.


***

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?" Liam screamed, as his sister threw up in the toilet for what seemed like the hundredth time that morning.

"I MEAN, REALLY SOFIA?! DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU PUT ME THROUGH LAST NIGHT?!" he screamed, even louder as Sofia stood up and washed her mouth out.

"ON WHAT PLANET DID THAT SEEM LIKE A GOOD IDEA?!"

"Liam," Sofia hissed quietly, pushing past him and walking toward the kitchen, "Can you scream at me when my head doesn't feel like it's been run over 90 times..."

"YOU'RE LUCKY ALL I'M DOING IS SCREAMING AT YOUR HEAD!" Liam roared, following her into the kitchen, "I WANT TO BE POUNDING IT IN!"

"THEN DO IT!" Sofia screamed, turning towards her brother, "FUCKING HIT ME LIAM! DO IT IF IT'LL MAKE YOU STOP YELLING!"

"Don't fucking curse at me," Liam growled, his voice low and dangerous.

"Listen, you're pissed, I get it," Sofia growled, waving her hand as though she were trying to brush him away.

"I don't think you do!"

"If you're going to hit me, get it over with," Sofia spat at him. Liam grew still, staring at his sister. She didn't get it at all. He clenched and unclenched his fists several times to stop himself from just lunging at her. He was angry, yes. But he was more concerned. He was worried about her.

"Yeah, because that'd be easier for you, wouldn't it?" Liam finally said, "If I just beat the shit out of you and we just moved on like nothing happened? Instead of talking about it."

"Talking about what?" Sofia scoffed.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Liam roared, "DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND HOW FUCKED UP LAST NIGHT WAS!?"

"I had it under control!" Sofia spat.

"UNTIL THE FUCKING COPS SHOWED UP!" Liam roared.

"WELL I WASN'T EXACTLY PLANNING ON THAT!" Sofia screamed, throwing her hands up.

"WHAT WAS YOUR PLAN?!" Liam screamed back, shoving her into the kitchen wall, breathing heavily in anger, "GO AHEAD SOFIA! TELL ME YOU'RE FUCKING PLAN!"

"I –"

"WHAT? YOU WERE GOING TO KILL BOTH OF THEM WITH A GUN WHILE HIGH OUT OF YOUR MIND?"

"You think I couldn't?" Sofia spat out, pushing him off her.

"I don't think anyone can shoot a gun when they're that fucked up!" Liam spat out, "You could have been killed, and you could have hurt someone!"

"But I wasn't and I didn't!" Sofia yelled.

Liam had to bite down on his lip hard to control himself from totally going off. He was angry, but if he didn't approach this the right way, he was going to lose her forever.

"Then what was your plan, Sofia?" Liam asked, stepping back, "Let's say you actually pulled off killing them while that high out of your mind... what were you going to do with the bodies?"

Sofia froze, her eyes shifted up towards her brother. She didn't have a response.

"Yeah," Liam said, nodding his head, "That's what I thought."

Sofia looked away from him.

"Sit down," Liam barked, pointing to the kitchen table. It wasn't a request, that much Sofia knew. She sat down carefully, her eyes still not on Liam. She heard him sit next to her.

"You know, you scared the shit out of me last night. When I got that phone call, I didn't know what the hell happened," Liam said, his voice quiet and calm now, "And then when I saw you, and how fucked up you were... I ... it killed me."

"Liam, I'm fine," Sofia said, finally glancing up at him and shrugging, "I'm still standing."

She didn't get it. He didn't know if she would ever really get it.

"You're not fine," Liam said, shaking his head, "And I get it."

"Get what?" Sofia spat.

"We were raised by the same father, Sofia," Liam growled, "I get why you didn't tell anyone about Johnny. Because that would make you weak."

Sofia's breath hitched, and she bit her lip, looking away from him.

"There wasn't a second last night, that I didn't understand why you did what you did. How fucked up is that? I understood your reasoning. I mean, what you did last night, it was exactly what dad would have wanted you to do. Whether you survived it or not, at least you didn't need help. At least you weren't weak. At least you were trying to solve the problem on your own."

"What are you getting at, Liam?" Sofia asked, rolling her eyes.

"I'm not dad," Liam said, "You don't have to deal with blackmail and bullshit or any of it on your own. You could've come to me, and I would've handled it."

"Because you think I can't!" Sofia barked pointing at him, "You think I can't handle it!"

"No Sofia!" Liam barked, "It's not that I think you can't, it's that I don't want you too! I don't want you to have to kill somebody, you don't know what it's like to have that on you. And I don't ever want you to know what it's like! And I don't want you walking into dangerous situations on your own! I want you to come to me! You're not in this alone, Sofia! Why can't you get that? You are not in this life alone!"

"What would you have even done, Liam? If I came to you?!" Sofia screeched, "He was threatening Harry's sister!"

"Well," Liam said quietly, sitting back, "The first thing I would've told you is you were being played."

"What?" Sofia growled, looking up.

"Johnny played you. He played on the fact that you don't have all the information."

"What information?" Sofia barked.

"Well, first of all, I paid off Harry's debts to Johnny years ago. It was bullshit, and Harry didn't owe him anything, but I paid him anyway so he wouldn't be anymore trouble."

"What?" Sofia said, her mouth open in shock.

"Yeah," Liam said, nodding, "And then I would've told you that Gemma was safe. Because we have eyes on her at all times. We would be the first to know if she wasn't safe."

"Are you serious?" Sofia asked.

"Yeah," Liam said, nodding.

"I didn't know..." Sofia said, quietly.

"I know, and I could've told you, or Harry could've told you," Liam answered, "You know, this thing isn't gonna work if we can't be honest with each other..."

"Okay," Sofia said, shrugging, "We'll be honest."

"I don't think you know even how to be honest anymore, Sofia," Liam said, his voice quiet and gentle, his hand reaching hers, "I don't even think you're honest with yourself."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Sofia snapped, pulling her head away, and looking up at the ceiling.

"It means you're not fine, Sof," Liam said, "And if you don't start talking about how not fine you are, it's going to kill you."

Her eyes snapped back down at her brother, and her mouth open in shock, as he stared at him.

"And that would kill me," he said, "So you gotta figure this shit out. I don't care who you talk to, it doesn't have to be me... but you have got to pull yourself together."

"Okay," Sofia agreed shrugging, "I'll pull it together."

"Yeah," Liam said, nodding, seeing that she was saying anything to get him to shut up, "Starting today. You're on lockdown. Home, school, that's it. And when I decide to let you out of the house again, you will have someone with you until I decide I can trust you again. I believe it's called grounding."

"What?" Sofia growled

"Yeah, and if you step even a toe out of line, Sofia," Liam growled, "I will make sure you regret it."

"You're grounding me?" Sofia scoffed, "I have never been –"

"I know," Liam said, "I think it's about time you realize that you're actions have more consequences then someone just knocking you around."

"This is ridiculous," Sofia hissed, rolling her eyes.

"No, this next part is what your going to find ridiculous," Liam said, "You have 10 minutes to get ready to go to the gym."

"Your making me train today?" Sofia gasped, looking appalled.

"Yup," Liam said, "Niall, Zayn, and I are going to take turns kicking your ass in the gym. And I promise you every time you have a hangover, the same thing will occur."

"What about Louis?" Sofia asked hopeful, Louis always took it easy on her.

"He's with Harry," Liam said, looking away. Sofia froze at his name.

"He found Jonny didn't he?" Sofia asked quietly.

"Yeah," Liam said, nodding, "And he needed to blow off some steam today, Louis went with him..."

"Did you know he killed Johnny's sister?" Sofia asked.

"I never asked about the story with Johnny," Liam said, looking his sister square in the eye, "I didn't
need to know what went down."

"You're not curious?" Sofia asked

"I trust Harry," Liam said confidently.

"Even if he killed a innocent girl?" Sofia asked.

"I trust Harry," Liam repeated.

"Well, I don't," Sofia spat, crossing her arms.

"Yeah, we all picked up on that last night," Liam said, "I don't think Harry took it very well..."

"I don't give a shit about Harry," Sofia growled, standing up.

"Okay," Liam said, shrugging.

"What? You don't believe me?"

"I saw you last night, Sofia," Liam said, "And in all your confusion, and anger, and totally intoxication – you were just hurt. Because you care."

"You're out of your mind," Sofia spat.

"You have 10 minutes to get ready for the gym," Liam said, ignoring her statement and standing up, "I would suggest you eat something because if you throw up in my gym, you're cleaning it up."



***


Sofia could barely move when she stepped back into the house with Niall, Zayn, and Liam. Danielle and Eleanor both sat at the kitchen table, with Louis leaning in the doorway.

"You look like shit," Louis announced, as Sofia shuffled in.

"Yeah well, I was just forced to work out for two in a half hours, and then I had to go five rounds with
Zayn," Sofia snapped, filling a glass of water.

"One for each pill she swallowed last night," Zayn said, with a smug grin on his face. He was really pleased with results of all five rounds.

"Got your ass kicked then?" Louis asked, stepping toward her.

"Yeah, pretty much," Sofia mumbled.

"Serves you right," Louis barked, his eyes narrowed.

"Louis, I think she's had enough," Eleanor warned. Louis backed off, but his face told Sofia the conversation wasn't over.

"I'm going to show –" Sofia began to say, but her voice caught as Harry stepped into the kitchen. His eyes went dark when he saw Sofia, and Sofia stepped back on instinct as she took in his disheveled state. His lip was cut, and he had a bruise about his eye.

"What the hell happened to you?" Liam barked, his eyes wide in shock.

"Harry here decided to start a fight with some boys in the pub," Louis answered, his voice tight.

"What? Why?!" Liam asked, although he knew why. Because that's what Harry did when he felt things were out of his control, he picked fights and fucked girls.

"It wasn't a big deal," Harry growled, his voice low. He was still staring at Sofia, who was trying to look anywhere but him now.

"I beg to differ," Louis said, rolling his eyes, hating that Harry had gone to his dark side in response to the night before.

"Harry, what the fuck?" Zayn asked, his voice laced with concern. He hated this version of Harry. Harry opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Caroline came stumbling in.

Sofia's eyes snapped back and forth between them. They both looked a bit disheveled and the tension in the kitchen rose about 15 levels. Everyone looked uncomfortable as they realized that Harry's hair and wild look in his eyes wasn't from a fight, but from sex. Sofia felt a rage go through her, but bit her lip and looked away from the pair.

"I just wanted to say goodbye," Caroline said, her voice sickening Sofia.

"Well, you've said it," Harry said, gruffly, shocking everyone, not taking his eyes off Sofia. Caroline looked hurt, but she kissed him on his cheek.

"I'll see you later," she said quietly, as Harry pulled out of her grasp. Seeing that she wasn't welcome, she whispered a rushed goodbye and quickly turned around to leave through the front door.

"Are you kidding me?" Niall asked, looking at Harry with a what the fuck look on his face.

Everyone in the kitchen seemed to understand what was going on with Harry, except Sofia. Sofia who was trying to push the thought of Caroline and Harry out of her head and convince herself she didn't care.

"Fuck off," Harry spat, his eyes still trained on Sofia.

"What does everyone want for dinner?" Danielle asked, trying to change the subject.

Everyone seemed grateful for the cut in the tension, and began responding with over eager suggestions.

"I'm going to shower," Sofia announced, shoving past everyone in the kitchen, and making sure not to make eye contact with Harry.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Harry roared, making everyone freeze. Sofia looked up at him, eyes narrowed.

"Problem?" Sofia asked, keeping her voice casual.

"Many," Harry snapped.

"Harry maybe you shouldn't –" Louis began to suggest, but Eleanor hushed him.

"Let them fight this one out," she said in a hushed tone. Everyone in the kitchen looked anxious, because this was going to be ugly and they all knew it.


***


"You should've told me," Harry growled, glaring at Sofia in anger. Sofia didn't say anything, as she looked at the floor.

"Don't look at the bloody floor!" Harry yelled making Sofia jump, "Look at me!"

"I am not doing this with you," Sofia hissed.

"I beg to differ," Harry growled, taking a step forward to grab her. Sofia took a big step back, causing Harry to freeze.

"You're scared," he said, hurt evident in his voice.

"I'm not," Sofia scoffed, her eyes narrowing.

"Yeah, then why can't you look at me? Why wouldn't you let me near you last night? Why won't you let me near you now? Why are you shifting from foot to foot like nervous wreck?!"

"Fuck you," Sofia whispered, looking away, and forcing her legs to stop moving.

"Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you fucking come to me?!" Harry spat out, "I thought we were getting somewhere, Sofia! I thought we were making progress! I thought we were becoming friends! I'm pretty fucking sure I should've been the FIRST TO KNOW! So I'm trying to wrap my head around how you couldn't fucking tell me about this!"

"Harry, seriously –" Louis began to say, but Liam held his hand up for quiet.

"BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW!" Sofia screamed at him, her voice hysterical, catching everyone off guard, "I DIDN'T WANT TO FUCKING KNOW!"

"Sofia, it's okay," Danielle said, in a calming voice, putting a hand on her shoulder. Everyone now understood what was happening. Harry and Sofia weren't angry. They were hurt.

"I THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING SOMEWHERE TOO!" Sofia screamed, tears forming in her eyes, "I TRUSTED YOU! I FUCKING TRUSTED YOU! AND THEN THIS GUY FROM YOUR PAST SHOWS UP WITH ALL YOUR SECRETS AND TELLS ME THAT BITCHES THAT HANG OUT WITH HARRY STYLES END UP DEAD!"

Harry's face went pale with her words, and he looked like he was going to be sick. Louis stood up, wanting to separate them before this got too ugly, but Eleanor pulled at him, shaking her head.

They had to do this, they had to be honest with each other.

"AND I DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW!" Sofia screamed, "THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T COME TO YOU! BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH! IT WAS GOING TO CHANGE EVERYTHING!"

"Ask me," Harry said, his voice quiet again, not taking his eyes off her. No one in the kitchen was moving. No one could take their eyes off of what was happening in front of them. They had never seen Harry hurt by a girl, and they had never seen Sofia express so much real emotion.

"Stop it," Sofia hissed, turning her head.

"Ask me, Sofia," Harry repeated.

"No."

"ASK ME!" Harry barked, louder

"I don't care."

"JUST FUCKING ASKS ME!"

"Stop, just stop!"

"ASK ME SOFIA!" Harry yelled, stepping toward her.

"DID YOU KILL HER?!" Sofia screamed, tears streaming down her face, she looked like the answer might kill her. She trusted him, and this might kill her.

"No," Harry answered, his voice quiet again. Sofia's breath caught, and a relief rushed through her. Harry took a cautious step toward her, and she let him. Tears were still pouring down her face.

"No, I didn't kill her," he said, his voice confident and steady.

The sob of relief that came from Sofia shook the kitchen, and Danielle wrapped her arms tighter around Sofia.

"Her name was Ashley," Harry continued, "And I was selling to her. And sleeping with her."

"I don't want to know –" Sofia said, holding her hands up.

"You need to hear this," Harry snapped, "Because I can't stand the thought of you being scared of me, or not trusting me. You need to hear this."

"I really don't," Sofia scoffed, "But I'm sure if you want to tell someone, Caroline would love to know."

He looked like she had just slapped him, and Sofia cursed herself for being jealous, especially now in this moment.

"What happened today with Caroline didn't mean anything," Harry said.

"You don't owe me an explanation!"

"I was just pissed and upset and I needed a distraction."
Sofia didn't say anything, so Harry decided to push her.

"That sounds familiar right? I guess that's why you swallowed all those pills last night."

" You don't know anything," Sofia growled, scowling at him as she wiped her face, determined to pull herself together.

"Yes I do," Harry said, shaking his head at her, "I know you, Sofia! You're angry at the world, and you're confused. And you just lost your parents, and you're not quite sure where you fit in anymore. You're lost, and you sit alone with your thoughts and you keep your secrets, and you look for distraction after distraction so that you don't have to deal with everything you are feeling inside."

"I don't have to listen to this –" Sofia snapped, pushing past him. She hated listening to him, she hated that he knew her so well after so little time. She hated it, she hated him.

"Sofia, don't walk away!" Liam called after her, because he knew she needed this confrontation and Harry was the one willing to do it.

Harry grabbed her and spun her back toward him before she could get far.

"I hate you!" Sofia yelled.

"You don't hate me," Harry said, he was calm and trying to act like her words didn't hurt, "You hate that I tell you the truth. You hate that you can't pretend with me. You hate that I see right through you. You don't hate me, Sofia. You hate that I know that you hate yourself."

"Fuck you," Sofia shrieked, tears shooting down her face again, pulling away from him.

"I know," Harry said, quietly, "Because I hated myself too."

Sofia stood there, looking away from him again, tears still falling down her face. Harry hated seeing her like this, he just wanted her to be honest with him, with herself, with everyone else. But, he had to be honest first. She needed him to be honest.

"I hated myself," he continued, "And I looked for every distraction in the world. And I found one with Ashley. She was easy, and she was destructive. And she enjoyed sticking needles in her arms. And I let her, because I was selfish and I didn't give a damn about anyone else. So, I sold her the drugs that I knew were going to kill her one day. And I walked out every time she needed me to stay. And I let her get into the car the night she died, knowing that she wasn't okay to drive."

"So, no," Harry said, shaking his head, "I didn't kill her. But I might as well have. I gave her the drugs, I refused to let her stay with me that night cause I never let them stay the night, and I handed her the keys to the car she wrapped around a pole that night. And Johnny never forgave me. And a week later, I left Holmes Chapel and never looked back."

"Harry –" Sofia said, her voice barely above a whisper as he moved towards her, his hands on her shoulders.

"Johnny was right. Bitches that hung around with that version of Harry Styles ended up dead. But I'm not him anymore, and I'll be damned if I stand around and watch anything happen to you."

"What do you want from me?" Sofia whispered.

"I just want you to be okay," Harry answered, sighing.

"Well, I'm not," Sofia snapped, stepping away from him, and looking around at everyone in the kitchen, "Is that what you all need to hear? You need the truth? Fine. I'm NOT OKAY."

The relief that rushed over everyone's face as she finally said it surprised her. It was like she was telling them something they already knew. Maybe her secrets weren't that secret. Maybe everyone saw what she had been hiding from this whole time.

"Yeah, we know," Liam finally said.

"So? So what?" Sofia asked, "It's not like now that I've said it out loud, anything's going to change."

"That's not true," Harry said, "Saying it out loud changes everything."

Sofia sighed before pushing away from him, and walking out of the room quietly. If it changed everything, how come she felt exactly the same?