Two Pieces

"That's When You Started To Panic"

"If you need a break, we can stop," Zayn said, staring as Sofia gripped the side of the ring.

"I'm good," Sofia said, though her eyes were squeezed shut and she was she looked like she was holding on for dear life.

"Sof, let's just take a break," Zayn insisted.

"I'm good!" Sofia argued, turning toward him with anger, "Let's go again!"

Zayn sighed, but didn't argue. He put his arms back up in defense, stepping back so she could come forward from out of the corner he had put her in. He watched her carefully as she began to circle him slowly.
Louis and Harry watched from the sidelines, watching both of them with narrowed eyes. Sofia swung hard and fast, forcing Zayn to defend by spreading his arms, only before she jabbed him twice in the chest.

"Ouch," Louis mumbled to himself, "That's it Sof! You got it!"

Zayn managed to duck another one of her jabs, before grabbing her arm, and twisting it around her neck.

Sofia looked panicked for a second.

"Come on Sof, think," Zayn whispered in her ear, "Come on, what are you going to do now?"

He was pulling her arm so that it was squeezing harder on her own neck. He was making her choke herself. Sofia couldn't hear him trying to talk her through it, she couldn't hear Louis motivating from the sidelines, she could only feel the pressure around her throat, and her father screaming at her in her head.

She jammed her elbow into Zayn's side, causing him to grunt. She slammed into him three more times, before he stumbled back. Sofia turned quickly, swinging hard into the side of his face.

"CATCH YOUR BREATH!" Louis cried out, but she wasn't listening. She kept swinging, ignoring her heart rate and the pain in her chest. She sent multiple jabs to his face, but Zayn managed to catch her hand, squeezing it, and throwing her back into the side of the ring. Sofia collapsed onto the ground.

"Damn it, Sofia, what the hell was that?" Louis growled and Sofia grunted sitting up.

"You've got to slow down and think!" Harry said, climbing into the ring with water, and helping her up. He took several steps back after helping her up. It had been like this for a week now, them being jumpy and nervous around each other when he wasn't just straight up ignoring her. It was that stupid dance.

"You alright?" Zayn asked, trying to look at her neck.

"Fine," she grunted, still out of breath.

"I'm calling it," Zayn said, "You need a break."

"I'm okay!" Sofia insisted

"You panicked!" Zayn argued, "You're not thinking! You're just going on impulse and you're gonna get yourself hurt."

Sofia leaned against the side of the ring. Zayn's hand found her back.

"It's just an off day," Zayn said quietly, "We all have them."

"I don't!" Sofia argued, pushing away from him, "I don't have off days."

"Well you're having one today," Louis said, "You feeling okay? You look a little peaky..."

"I'm fucking fine," Sofia mumbled, slipping off the ring, "Just not sleeping great this week. Probably doesn't help that Zayn just tried to choke me to death."

"I gave you room to call it," Zayn said, "I would've backed off."

"I didn't need to call it," Sofia snapped, picking up her gym bag.

"Really?" Louis asked, taking the bag from her and putting it on his shoulder, "Then why are you still having trouble breathing?"

"Shut up!" Sofia snapped.

"It's the choking that did it," Louis said, "That's when you started to panic every time."

"I'm not talking about this," Sofia mumbled, "I'll be better tomorrow."

Louis and Zayn shared a look with each other; they had never seen her panic in the ring like that before. Of course, she wasn't going to tell them that her dreams these days always ended up with her father choking her, and that his voice in her head had only gotten louder since her birthday. It was like the more she tried to put him in her past, the more he seemed to haunt her everyday. She didn't have to tell them though; they knew something was going on. She looked paler everyday, her bloodshot and shadowy eyes told them she wasn't sleeping, and there were times where she just zoned out to a completely different place.

Harry had noticed too, of course. But since Liam's warning, he had backed off. Harry saw that Sofia was struggling, and figured that to add himself into the equation when he didn't even know if she wanted him there would make things worse. Liam was right, Sofia's life was complicated enough, and Harry wasn't exactly simple. He was doing what was best for her, giving her space.

"Let's get lunch," Zayn moaned, Louis agreed loudly.

Sofia wanted to tell them she wasn't hungry, but as soon as she opened her mouth, gunshots rang through the air. Sofia turned to see two cars speeding up to them, guns aimed out the window. Sofia watched wide-eyed as the gym they had just walked out of just its windows blown out. Zayn and Louis both reached for guns, aiming for the cars speeding towards them.

Sofia wanted to scream, she wanted to run. But she couldn't move, nothing was moving. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Suddenly, she was being pushed toward the ground.

"Keep your head down!" Harry yelled, his body covering hers. He squeezed her tighter, as gunshots continued to go off.

"It's okay," she could hear him in her ear, "Just stay down. Stay down!"

She was shaking, this could not be happening. She dug her fingers into Harry's hands out of anxiety. She couldn't hear anything but screams and gunshots. Someone was going to get hurt.

She heard tires screech, and suddenly it was quiet. Harry pulled himself off her, helping her off the ground.

"You okay?" he asked, gripping her shoulders, "You hurt?"

"No," Sofia mumbled, as crowds of people started to come out onto the streets. Sofia and Harry turned to see Louis and Zayn quickly shoving their guns back into their jeans. The cars that had sped down the street seemed to disappear in thin air.

"You two good?!" Louis asked, as Zayn got on the phone.

"Yeah," Harry said, pushing Sofia forward to walk with him.

"We gotta go," Louis said, looking at Sofia, "Just in case they're turning around and coming back."
He walked towards an alley, Zayn right behind him; they were hoping to slip away unnoticed. But by the crowd of people, and the fact that it was their gym that had just been shot up, Sofia didn't think that would be possible. Harry pushed Sofia towards the alley, as she tried to glance behind her.

"Don't look back," he said, "Keep walking."


***


"What the hell am I supposed to with this?" Davis yelled, his arms shooting out all over the place, "I mean, God damn it, Liam! A shooting on Main Street in broad daylight?"

"I get it," Liam said, his voice quiet, "I know this looks bad."

"LOOKS BAD?" Davis roared, "THIS IS BAD! I don't know if I can protect you from this!"

"I don't need you to protect me," Liam growled, "I need you to back off and let me handle this!"

"Liam, I can only be in your pocket as long as the town is willing to look away," Davis mumbled.

"We get it," Louis said, "We get that this isn't making us look great right now, we are trying to get it under control."

"You guys were a necessary evil," Davis spat out, "That's the how the town looks at you. Yeah, you do shady things, but you keep the drugs and violence off our streets. You control our streets! And now, it looks like you've lost control!"

"Back off, Davis," Sofia hissed, "I don't any of your guys jumping to find out who these assholes are!"

"Sofia," Zayn warned, gripping her arm.

"No!" Sofia argued, ripping her arm away from Zayn and stepping towards Davis, "You don't get to come into our house and tell us shit we already know!"

"I got this, Sofia," Liam warned, stepping between Davis and her.

"Get it under control, Liam," Davis said, his voice hard, "Or I'm gonna have to make someone take the fall and we all know who looks the most guilty right now."

Davis turned and walked out of the house, slamming the door behind him.

" This is bad," Niall said, from the couch, head in his hands, "If this keeps up, we're gonna lose business. Davis is right; this makes it look like we're loosing control. People are gonna take advantage, take territory, start moving in."

"I got it, Niall!" Liam roared, making everyone jump a little.

"We've never seen anything like this," Sofia said, "People usually bring the fight right to us, but these guys, they're hidden. And they're turning the town against us. They won't even have to fight for whatever they want if the town turns. They're fighting dirty, and they aren't allowing us to fight back."

"What are we going to do, Liam?" Danielle asked, her voice full of anxiety and worry.

"I don't know," Liam said, "They're getting braver and braver with their moves, and they always seem to slip through the cracks. That girl was our only lead, and she's dead."

"Actually, just because she's dead doesn't mean she's not a lead," Sofia said quietly. Liam snapped his head towards her, watching as Sofia bit her lip.

"What did you do?" he asked, his voice low.

"You know how you told me to back off?" Sofia asked, "Because you thought her contact with me made me an easy target."

"Yes," Liam growled, taking a deep breath at Sofia's guilty but stubborn face.

"I didn't back off," Sofia said.

"Are you kidding me?" Zayn spat out.

"No," Sofia said, shaking her head, "If it helps, I wasn't trying to disobey orders, I just wanted to know more about her. And if it really helps, I did most of the not backing off from the comfort of our house on the computer. I didn't have to go far to find out more about her..."

"More about her how?" Louis asked.

Sofia got up, and left the room, going to her gym bag, and pulling out a file.

"I got the report on her death," Sofia said, holding it up.

"How did you manage to do that?" Niall asked, crossing his arms.

"Do you really want to know the answer to that?" Sofia asked.

"Maybe after I kill you," Liam hissed, "I told you to back off!"

"Yeah, I know," Sofia said, throwing her arms up, "I just thought if I could see the report I would have some closure."

"Thought her death wasn't bothering you?" Liam asked, cocking his head at his sister, "Stupid me for believing another lie."

"You want to know what I found out or not?" Sofia snapped.

"I want to know why you didn't back off when I told you too," Liam barked, "Doing stuff like this could get you killed! Don't you use your head?"

"You couldn't have found out much, the report didn't say much," Niall said interrupting whatever Sofia was going to say next, "I mean, she was strangled and took some hits to the face and stomach area."

"Yeah I know," Sofia said, "But she also had a stab wound."

"So?" Niall asked, "That's not what killed her."

"No," Sofia said, "But, it was interesting. And often it's the details in a death..."

"That give you the answers you're looking for," Liam finished, it was something their father had told them repeatedly.

Sofia nodded at him. Sofia opened the file, pulling out some paper, and placing it on the table in
front of them.

"She was stabbed through the tattoo on her shoulder," Sofia said.

"How's this interesting? Or giving us any answers?" Louis asked, picking up the pictures.

"Because a few years ago, a few women were being killed by muggers," Sofia said, pulling out the tablet in her bag, "At least that's what the police were saying. Dad told me about them. He was playing the 'your life could be worse' game. The London police didn't look into like they should've..."

"They didn't look into a bunch of dead women?" Liam asked, skeptically.

"Nope," Sofia said, "Because all the women had something in common..."

"What's that?" Zayn asked

"They were prostitutes," Sofia said, looking up at everyone, "Police just figured it was a night gone wrong, and nobody was asking too many questions so their still open cases. There were 3 women over the course of a few weeks. They were users and prostitutes so they didn't get much coverage."

"But?" Niall asked, pulling the tablet from her.

"But dad had a different theory, he thought it was a terrortorial thing between some of the smaller street gangs. One was taking out the women and income of the other. It's pretty common in city gangs to sell women, so you if you take out women, you take out income. Dad thought it was territory fighting gone bad."

"How'd he get that?" Liam asked, "And why was he discussing this with you? It's not like this was happening anywhere near us."

"Because each of the women had stab wounds. One stab wound, through their tattoos. The report didn't say what their tattoos were, but they were clear – they were stabbed through their tattoos." Sofia said, "Dad said one gang was trying to send a message to another, it made sense at the time. As for why he was telling me, I think it was his way of telling me I wasn't as cheap as I could be."

Sofia looked up at her brother with a hard look, "I mean, sure he was using me and my body, but at least I wasn't being forced to have sex so he could make money."

"I don't remember him making you look at stuff like this," Liam said.

"It's not that you don't remember, Liam," Sofia said quietly, "It's that you weren't around. There's a lot of stuff you don't know about."

"Like?" Liam asked, concerned.

"It doesn't matter," Sofia said, shaking her head, "It was all just apart of training."

Liam bit his tongue in anger. A rush of rage towards his father filled his body as he realized just another manipulating tactic his father used on Sofia. He also felt guilt for not being there when it was happening, and sadness that Sofia still felt so little about herself.

"So they had the stab wounds, you think it's a sign from another gang, nothing comes of it. And then our dead girl popped up," Niall said, looking through the research Sofia had done.

"Yup," Sofia nodded, "And I thought back to these cases, and it made sense. This wasn't a message from another street gang, it was a message from their own crew. These women did something to piss them off, and slicing through their tattoo was how they sent the message to the other girls they had. Before killing them, of course."

"So you don't think she made a mistake by making contact?" Liam asked, "You think she did it on purpose? And they found out and killed her?"

"That's exactly what I think," Sofia said, "When these cases came out a few years ago, The Suns didn't even have a name. They were just a small street gang trying to earn territory. They pushed women and drugs. My guess is in recent years, they've probably gotten a little bigger and braver, and they want their hand in weapons. Geoff Payne getting killed was their way in."

"And the girl who died, you think she was prostitute?" Eleanor asked, leaning over Niall.

"Yeah, I think she's probably been working for them for years. They probably brought her and few other girls that they thought they could trust here. She had track marks on her arms, and I was right about her face. Totally smashed in. These guys, they're getting the girls hooked on drugs, selling them out, and probably have them living in fear."

"How does this help us?" Liam asked, sighing, pushing everything Sofia found away from him, "She's dead. And this is all just an educated guess."

"Yeah, it is," Sofia agreed, "But I bet we could prove it..."

"How's that?" Zayn asked

"By sending some young, single men into London," Sofia said, raising her eyebrows, "Have them looking for a good time...maybe with some hookers..."

"And then what?" Danielle asked, "It's not like they'd give anything up..."

"I don't think she's suggesting we give them a choice," Liam said, looking at his sister, he couldn't hide the disgust, "But how would we even find these particular girls? I'm sure there are a ton of gangs pushing hookers that they use for income. Especially in London."

"Yeah," Sofia agreed, "But our dead girl, her name is Carly Lane. I looked up her name and it didn't take long to find out she has a sister.."

Sofia pushed another news article towards Liam.

"A sister that just got busted on a prostitution ring," Liam said, looking at the paper, and the pictures of girls being taken out of hotel rooms in cuffs.

"Chelsea Lane," Louis said, looking at the article, shaking his head in disgust, "She looks young."

"Yeah, and she's got a real interesting tattoo on her ankle," Sofia said. Both Liam and Louis eyes traveled down the girl's leg to her ankle. There, barely visible, was a sun.

"There may be a few of them in town causing trouble," Sofia said, "But this bust was from 8 days ago. Which means, they're keeping business alive as usual back home."

"So your suggestion is we go cause trouble for them?" Liam asked, giving his sister an annoyed look, "You think we could find this girl? And then what? Force answers out of her? I'm not usually one for kidnapping and torture..."

"You always think the worse of me," Sofia said, rolling her eyes, "No one is suggesting kidnapping and torturing answers out of her. She's a kid..."

"So what are you suggesting, Sofia?" Niall asked, leaning over the table.

"I'm willing to bet that if big sister was making contact, it's because she was hoping we'd put it together and she wanted out. I bet she was looking to be a rat, and hoping we'd be her ticket out of her life of hell."

"You think she shared this want with her sister?" Liam asked, "You think we could make a rat out of the younger one? I don't know, Sof. Girls like this aren't usually one to turn rats. Just because her sister was a rat, doesn't mean she is."

"I think a dead sister might make anyone change their mind," Sofia said.

"You want me to bank on her feelings towards her sister?" Liam asked, skeptically, "That's putting a whole lot of everything on a girl who's hooked on drugs and selling her body."

"Liam," Sofia said, looking him dead in the eye, "Think anyone could ever get me to rat or turn or give something away?"

"No way in hell," Liam said, shaking his head.

"You're right," Sofia said, "I'd die before I turned."

"I know..."

"But I'd also turn burn the whole fucking thing to the ground if it got you killed," Sofia said, keeping her eyes on her brother. And that's when Liam got a glimpse of her, the sister he had lost.

"She's got a point," Louis said, "People will do anything to defend family."

"Or to get revenge," Harry said, looking at the papers in front of him.

"Okay," Liam said, nodding, "Let's find out what we can about the sister."

"Awesome," Sofia said, making a grab at the tablet, but Liam grabbed her arm.

"Not you," he growled, "I told you I want you off this, and you are officially off it."

"I got all of this information!" Sofia argued.

"Yeah," Liam agreed, "So, you can either let us take over from here, or we can talk about just how you got the official report on this girls death. I'm sure it's an interesting story..."

The report on this girls death led to a conversation about Sofia sneaking out, getting Isaac to do her dirty work, and a whole lot of other things Sofia would go to her grave with.

"You're welcome," Sofia said, pulling her arm away from Liam.

"When were you going to tell me you found all this stuff out anyway?" Liam asked.

She wasn't. She was planning on finding Chelsea Lane herself. But she didn't think that would go over well with Liam.

"Uh..."

"Go make yourself busy, Sofia," Liam said, "Before I get too curious about how you got this stuff and what you planned to do with it..."

Sofia glared at him, before getting up and stomping out the back door.

"I keep trying to keep her safe," Liam mumbled, "And she keeps insisting on throwing herself into the danger."

"Well," Eleanor said, "She's not used to being kept on the sidelines for safety. She's used to being thrown to the lions den, no matter how dangerous it is."

"Can't teach an old dog new tricks," Zayn said, going through the papers in front of him.

"We could just beat new tricks into her," Harry mumbled, shaking his head, causing Liam to snort loudly.

"Believe me, I think people have tried that before," he answered.


***


Sofia was pissed. She was pissed she wasn't getting sleep. She was pissed she had just handed Liam the next lead, and he still insisted on treating her like a child. She was pissed that even though Liam gave her orders, she seemed to be acting like she would if her father was still alive. She was pissed she had an off day in the ring. She was pissed her father was dead. She was pissed she had gotten shot at today, and she was pissed that seemed to be the only time Harry paid attention to her. She was pissed Harry was avoiding her. She was pissed she cared. And so she just kept hitting the punching bag in the garage, over and over and over. She didn't know what else to do with everything she was feeling, so she just kept hitting.

"You're good," Eleanor said, stepping into the garage. Sofia paused, before turning to her.

"It's not that hard, you just aim and punch," Sofia answered, "It's not like it's a moving target."

"I meant with everything you found out about The Suns," Eleanor responded, sitting on the step in the
garage.

"Well, nice to know someone appreciates it," Sofia scoffed.

"They're trying to keep you safe," Eleanor said, "They're worried about you."

"They don't have to be, if there is anything I'm good at, it's the job," Sofia said.

"I know, I can't believe you figured all that out off one report," Eleanor said, impressed.

"It was luck," Sofia answered, "I just wanted to see how they killed her, the rest kind of just fell into my lap."

"You remembered those women," Eleanor pointed out.

"Yeah, well, good to know dads constant picking at me got into my head somehow, I guess," Sofia said, shrugging.

"Do you think it will work? If we find this girl?" Eleanor asked.

"I don't know," Sofia said, turning back to the bag, "Most of what I came up with is a guess. It's 50-50 shot. I'd have a better read on the situation if I spent some time with her..."

"You're good at that, reading people..." Eleanor said, quietly.

"If I was that good, I would've picked up what she was trying to do that night," Sofia said, punching the bag hard, "Maybe she'd still be alive."

"Sofia, it's not your fault," Eleanor said, standing up.

"I should've known something was up," Sofia said, shaking her head, "And I should've gone after that tattoo."

"You just weren't thinking about it," Eleanor said.

"I would've a few months ago," Sofia said, turning toward Eleanor with anger, "I've lost my instincts."

"You don't know that," Eleanor said, "She was a random girl in our club, you don't know that you would've picked something up. And I don't think you've lost your instincts. I mean, look at everything you handed the boys today."

"And look at how unhappy they were about it," Sofia said, raising her voice, "I don't know, maybe they want me to lose my edge. Maybe that was the plan all along, maybe they are hoping if they try hard enough I'll become the next you, or Danielle."

"Your brother knows your good, Sofia," Eleanor said, "He wants you on the job. He just is trying to keep you safe."

"It's funny how Liam wants to keep me safe now," Sofia snapped, her frustration getting the best of him, "After all these years, NOW he wants to keep me safe."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Louis said, stepping into the garage.

"It means, Liam took off the minute he could. He
didn't blink or look back. He wasn't concerned about my safety. Until now," Sofia hissed, "I could used his concern a few years ago, I don't need it now."

"He's always been concerned, Sofia," Louis said, stepping toward her, "He didn't abandon you. Or stop worrying about you. You weren't the only one being manipulated by your dad, and you weren't the only one who was scared of him."

"Yeah," Sofia said, sighing deeply, taking the gloves off her hands, "Geoff Payne certainly did a number on his kids..."

And then she shoved past Eleanor and Louis, and back into the house.

"That went well," Louis said, quietly.

"I thought maybe I could get her to open up a bit, I thought maybe if it wasn't one of you, she'd open up..." Eleanor responded.

"I feel like it's always 2 steps forward, a million steps back with her," Louis said, frustrated.

"You know who could probably get her to open up, at least eventually?" Eleanor asked, looking up at Louis.

"Yeah," Louis said, "But he's decided it's best for him to stay away."

"Why? They we're getting so close..."

"Yup," Louis said, nodding, "And I think that scared the shit out of him."



***


"Are you okay?" Emily asked, leaning next to Sofia at the bar. Sofia was rubbing the temples of her head, with her eyes squeezed shut. The music and the crowd were too much for her tonight. She didn't know what was happening to her. She wasn't herself. She just wanted to scream, throw a fit, and run.

"Fine," Sofia mumbled, as Katie collapsed into a seat next to her.

"We should dance," Katie said, her voice excited. Sofia turned to see her friend, sweaty and with a grin plastered on her face.

"Looks like you've been doing that," Sofia answered.

"Yes, but I meant all of us," Katie said, "Come on! You've been sitting here like a Grinch, drinking. Come dance with us!"

"I did get dressed up tonight to have fun," Emily agreed, smiling widely over at Katie.

"You guys go," Sofia said, standing up, "I'll catch up."

"Seriously?" Katie moaned.

"I'll be out in a few minutes," Sofia said, "I just have to use the bathroom."

Sofia left the bar, and moved towards the bathroom. Niall, Louis, and Harry were standing together by the steps, drinks in hand as she made her way towards them, and hopefully past them.

"Where you going?" Louis called, catching her.

"Bathroom," Sofia replied, but suddenly there was a hand on her shoulder.

"Dance with me," a low voice came, Sofia turned to see an older guy, with blonde hair and green eyes looking down at her in a drunken stupor.

"I'm good," Sofia said, stepping away from him.

"Aw, come on," the guy said, "I could make sure you have fun tonight."

"I'm having fun on my own, thanks," Sofia said, narrowing her eyes at him. He grabbed her hands, trying to pull her onto the dance floor.

"I said no!" she insisted, pulling back from him.

"I like it when girls play hard to get," the guy muttered, stepping closer to her.

"I'm playing anything," Sofia hissed, "I'm not interested."

"I bet a drink or two could change your mind," the guy insisted.

"I'm not changing my mind," Sofia argued, pushing him away from her, "Back off, man."

"You're feisty," the guy said with a twisted grin, "I like that too."

"I'm about to get violent," Sofia spat out, her nostrils flaring, "Do you like that?"

"Come on, baby," the guy slurred, "No need to put up this much of a fight. One dance!"

"She said no," Niall said, stepping between her and guy the guy, "So you need to back up."

"Who're you?" the guy asked.

"I'm the guy telling you to back up, before I make you back up," Niall spat out.

"Niall, I got this," Sofia said, putting her hand on his arm, but Niall ignored her.

"Is this your girl?" the guy asked Niall, "Because if not, you got no business here..."

"What did you just say to me?" Niall hissed, straightening up, "I made it my business. One more
fucking word from you, and I'll make putting you the
ground my business."

"Niall, stop!" Sofia groaned, pulling him back.

"You heard the girl," the guy said, grinning.

"Get lost," Sofia said, her voice raised, before pushing Niall back from him, noticing the Louis and Harry had joined them from their spot on the steps.

"You okay?" Louis asked, his eyes behind her, Sofia could only assume he was watching the guy move back into the crowd.

"I don't need you jumping in!" Sofia hissed, shoving Niall.

"He had his hands all over you!" Niall argued.

"I had it!" Sofia yelled, "I'm not some fucking fragile little girl that needs her brothers friends to beat up all the bullies on the playground!"

"No one said you were," Harry said, narrowing his eyes, "But when some guy has his hands on you..."

"I'LL HANDLE IT!" Sofia yelled, "I know you think that I can't handle myself, but believe it or not, I've been dealing with morons like that long before you guys moved into my house and started playing big brother!"

"I just wanted to make sure he backed off," Niall insisted

"Great, you did that," Sofia snapped, "Now, you fucking back off!"

And before anyone could grab her, she had spun around and walked back into the crowd.

"Awesome," Louis mumbled, "Just what we need. A even more pissed off Sofia, surrounded by booze and ready to fight."

"I'll find her," Harry said, rolling his eyes, making his way into the crowd.



***


"There you are," Emily said, rushing up to Sofia, "Madison is here."

"What? Why?"

"I don't know," Emily said, shrugging, "But maybe we should get up to the VIP section."

"I'm not scared of her," Sofia scoffed.

"We know," Katie said, "But we also know you can't afford to kill her right now."

"I'm fine," Sofia argued, "As long as she stays far away from me, no one has to die tonight."

"I don't think that's an option," Emily said, looking past Sofia. Sofia turned to see Madison walking
up to her with a devilish grin on her face.

"I was hoping you would be here," Madison said with a giggle. Sofia's eyes grew hard, but she didn't say anything.

"What do you want Madison?" Katie asked

"I just wanted to be the first to show you Sofia's debut on the Internet," Madison said, pulling out her phone.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Emily asked.

"I guess someone filmed you at Chase's party the other night," Madison said, holding out her phone, "And I just had to see the look on your face when you realized that now the whole school is going to have proof that you're the whore we all thought you were."

Sofia stared at the phone as Madison pressed play. It showed Sofia beneath Chase on the couch at the Pharm party. She was unbuttoning his shirt, and his hands were up hers, which was half way off her body. His head was on her neck, clearly biting it.

"Oh my God," Katie hissed, "Where did you get this?"

"I mean, when you publically put yourself out there, someone is bound to catch it," Madison said with a large grin. Sofia watched herself on the screen as she threw her head back in a moan.

"Give me that" Emily shrieked, pulling the phone from Madison, and stopping the video.

"You can delete it," Madison said with a shrug, "But it's already kind of out there."

"I'm sure I have you to thank for that," Sofia said, glaring at Madison. Madison shrugged again.

"I will rip you to shreds," Sofia hissed, stepping up to Madison.

"Did you hear that girls?" Madison said, "That sounded like a threat."

"Oh no," Sofia said, with a laugh, "I'm not threatening, I'm promising you that I'm about to make your life a living hell!"

"Sofia," Danielle said, appearing next to her with Eleanor, "We just wanted to see if everything was okay down here."

"Fine," Sofia mumbled, not taking her eyes off Madison.

"Let's go upstairs," Eleanor said gently, but Sofia didn't move.

"Sofia, your brother is watching," Danielle said quietly.

"Of course he is," Sofia said, shaking her head.

"Let's just go," Eleanor insisted, "We can walk away."

"Fine," Sofia said, throwing her hands up, and turning.

"That's it, walk away Sofia," Madison said, "With any luck, one of the thugs you hang out with will still want you. And then you can be a married whore, like your sister in law."

Sofia didn't even think, she just spun around, shoving Madison back.

"You want to come after me, Madison?" Sofia screamed, "You go ahead and you take your shots, but don't fucking open your mouth about Danielle!"

"It's okay, Sofia!" Danielle said, grabbing her arm, "I don't even care."

"See? She doesn't care!" Madison said, in a mocking tone, "She knows what she is, just like you do!"

No one could stop her, Sofia lunged for Madison, grabbing her hair to pull her head back, and shoving her into the first wall she could. Madison shoved her knee into Sofia's stomach, but Sofia was too quick, stepping back, and backhanding Madison across the face.

"YOU SLUT!" Madison screamed.

"COME ON!" Sofia screamed, "YOU WANT TO FIGHT!? COME ON BITCH! SHOW ME HOW TOUGH YOU ARE!"

Madison lunged at Sofia, pulling her head to the side, but Sofia had grabbed her head too, shoving her back into the wall. Madison's nails were digging into Sofia's scalp, but she couldn't even feel the burn, she could only feel the rage.

"I will kill you!" Sofia screamed, shoving Madison's head back so it hit the wall again. She went to do it again, but arms were around her pulling her back.

"Come on, Sof, get off of her!" Harry yelled, yanking Sofia back. Sofia tried to fight him, as she watched Louis grab Madison.

"KNOCK IT OFF!" Harry yelled, pushing her back.

"I'm not done with you!" Madison screamed, trying to get past Louis.

"Oh no, bitch! You ARE DONE!" Sofia screamed, trying to push past Harry, who had a tight grip on her.

"Sofia, do not make me pick you up and drag you out of here," he hissed, his voice low and dangerous, "Shut the fuck up, and move! NOW!"

He pushed her towards the exit, but Sofia wasn't moving as Madison tried to escape both Louis and Niall to get back to Sofia.

"3..." Harry counted, Sofia shot him an annoyed glare.

"2..." he said, she tried to move around him.

"1," he said, before bending low and throwing her over his shoulder.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Sofia yelled, hitting his back, "Put me down!"

Harry ignored her, as he walked throw the club, and out the exit.

"HARRY!" she shrieked, continuing to hit him, but he didn't put her down until he had gotten to the car.

"What the fuck was that?!" Sofia yelled, shoving him.

"I warned you," Harry growled, "I told you I would do it!"

"I didn't think you were serious!" Sofia spat out.

"I don't make threats I won't keep," Harry growled, he opened his mouth to say something else, but Liam was storming out of the club towards her, Zayn right behind him.

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!" Liam roared, Zayn holding him back from doing something he'd regret.

"Probably," Sofia said throwing her hands up.

"Get her home," Liam growled, "I will deal with her there."

Harry sighed, before opening the car door and making hand movements for her to get in. Sofia didn't move.

"Really?" Harry asked, "This game again? Get in or I will force you in..."

Sofia looked up at him, and decided in that moment that Harry Styles didn't say things he didn't mean. She was getting in to the car one way or another, so she crossed her arms with a huff and got into the car.



***


"What is with you and this girl?" Liam asked, as he held Sofia down and swung his belt.

"Fuck, Liam!" Sofia groaned as it hit her.

"Shut up!" Liam snapped, swinging again. Sofia bit down on her lip, as he hit her a few more times, before letting her up off the desk.

"Are we done?" Sofia snapped at him, not able to look him in the eye. She was embarrassed, Liam didn't care. He put his belt back on and pointed to the chair.

"Sit!" he hissed.

Sofia sat, somewhat uncomfortably as Louis, Niall, Zayn, and Harry walked in, not even bothering to knock.

"Think we found what the fight was over," Niall said, handing Liam his phone. Liam stared at the phone as a video of his sister and some guy played in front of him. Sofia squirmed as Liam's eyes got darker, before he looked up at her.

"Seriously?" he spat.

"I didn't know we were being filmed," Sofia said, shrugging.

"That's your excuse?!" Zayn demanded, before throwing himself in a chair.

"I don't need an excuse," Sofia said, "I don't have to explain who I'm with to you."

"You're with this guy?" Harry asked, his voice low, Sofia could see anger flashing in his eyes.

"I was that night," Sofia quipped.

"This is on the internet, Sofia!" Liam yelled, "Don't you give a shit what people will think when they see this?!"

"No," Sofia answered.

"Oh really? If you don't care, why did I have to break up a fucking cat fight between you and this girl tonight?" Louis asked.

"I was defending Danielle's honor," Sofia said, cocking her head at him with a hard look.

"My wife doesn't need you to defend her honor, Sofia!" Liam yelled, "She knows better then to listen to some teenager run her mouth!"

"What the hell were you thinking?" Niall asked, his arms crossed, "We already have the town looking at us, I mean, are you stupid? Why didn't you just tell us about the video, we would've taken care of it!"

"Fuck the video! I don't give a shit, so what? I'm a whore on tape now, who cares?! I just snapped! It had nothing to do with the video," Sofia yelled, standing up, "I just went off!"

"You can't just go off, Sofia!" Louis yelled back, "It could get you hurt, or someone else hurt!"

"Oh yeah, cause YOU'VE never just snapped!" Sofia screamed, her hands curling into fists.

"This isn't about us!" Liam said, "This about you! You have no self control!"

"I didn't need self control before you came around!" Sofia screamed, looking at her brother, "I could do whatever the hell I wanted until you let his whole fucking thing fall apart!"

"You're blaming me for this?!" Liam yelled, looking at her like she was nuts.

"The only reason your mad at me for going after her is because we look shitty to town right now. That's my fault! That's your fault!"

"You think I'm mad because this makes us look worse?" Liam sputtered, shaking his head, "You think I'm mad because this affects the job?"

"Isn't it?" Sofia said, "I mean I got into plenty of fights when dad was around, and he didn't give a shit. You're pissed because you're letting things fall apart, and I made a stupid move that makes you look worse!"

"You are so far gone," Liam said, shaking his head faster, "You don't get it at all!"

"GET WHAT?!" Sofia yelled

"YES! WHAT YOU DID TONIGHT MAKES THINGS WORSE FOR US! BUT THAT'S NOT WHY I'M ANGRY!"

"Well, you're always angry at me Liam, so be more specific as to why this time!" Sofia screamed.

"One day Sofia, you are going to get into with the wrong person, and you are going to wind up hurt or dead!" Liam spat out.

"It wasn't going to be tonight," Sofia said, rolling her eyes, "The day I can't take Madison, someone should put me down for good."

"That's not the point," Zayn said, "The point is you don't think! And it's going to get somebody hurt!"

"It's gonna get your hurt!" Niall said.

"Or killed," Louis agreed, "Sofia, you are going to get yourself killed."

"Sofia," Liam whispered, his voice desperate, "I can't loose you."

"I'm still here," Sofia said, shrugging.

"This is going nowhere," Louis shouted, frustrated, throwing up his hands.

"Go to bed, Sofia," Liam said, finally, shaking his head at her.

Sofia got up and left the room, not looking at any of them as she passed. She didn't even hear Harry behind her.

"You've got to stop," Harry said, making Sofia turn towards him, "I mean, do you have a fucking death wish!? You've got to figure out a way to deal with everything, without doing shit like getting high, and hooking up with guys, and getting in fights at bars. You've got to get it together, Sofia. Before you get hurt."

"Are you serious, right now?" Sofia snapped, glaring at him.

"I'm damn serious, and if you don't figure it out – I'm going to –"

"What?" Sofia asked, "You're going to what?
Ignore my existence for another week?"

Harry paused, staring at her silently, she had him there.

"Don't act like you give a shit," Sofia spat out, "Not after ignoring me."

"I do give a shit," Harry argued.

"Really?" Sofia asked, "You could've fooled me."

"Sofia –"

"NO!" she yelled, "You don't get to tell me what to do! You care when Liam wants you to care. That's when you give a shit. You step in when you think I'm a liability to the gang. And then you ignore me. Unless of course, you're trying to tell me what to do. Then I seem to be on your radar. You don't get to tell me what to do. You want to boss someone around? Go find Caroline. But you DON'T get to tell me what to do. And you sure as hell don't get to stand there and tell me you care, when you clearly don't."

Sofia didn't wait for him to respond, she ran up the stairs and Harry flinched as he heard her slam her door.

"I don't want to hear it," Harry mumbled, as Louis came to stand beside him.

"I wasn't going to say anything," Louis said with a shrug.

"I thought I was doing the right thing," Harry said, "It's not fair if I don't know what I want."

"You now you want, Harry," Louis said, scoffing, "You're just scared to do anything about it."



***


"What the fuck?" Liam mumbled as he stumbled down the stairs to the banging on his door. Flinging it open, he saw Davis standing there.

"What the hell are you doing at my door at 5 in the morning?" Liam asked.

"Where's your sister?" Davis asked, pushing into the house.

"Asleep, unless you woke her up too," Liam growled, "Why?"

"I need to see her," Davis said, watching as everyone else seemed to be coming out of his or her rooms and down the stairs.

"What's going on?" Niall asked

"Why do you want Sofia?" Liam asked.

"Liam, just go get your sister," Davis responded, a tight look on his face. Liam nodded at Zayn, who went back up the stairs to go and pull Sofia out of bed.

"You gonna tell us what this is about?" Harry asked.

"I'm gonna tell Sofia," Davis said.

"She's a minor," Danielle argued, "So you have to tell us too."

"What the fuck is this?" Sofia mumbled, coming down the stairs, glaring at Davis.

"Madison Vincent was found this morning," Davis said, "Beaten within an inch of her life. She's in surgery right now for a brain bleed."

"Oh my god," Eleanor gasped, hand over mouth. Sofia froze at the news, as everyone looked at him shocked.

"Is she gonna be okay?" Zayn asked.

"Don't know yet," Davis said, his eyes not leaving Sofia's.

"What does this have to do with Sofia?" Liam asked, putting his arm around Danielle.

"Multiple witnesses saw you threaten her life last night," Davis said, "I need to know where you were."

"You think Sofia tried to kill Madison?" Louis scoffed, "Are you out of your mind?!"

"I think she's the number one suspect," Davis said, "And you can either give me an alibi as to where you were last night, or you can come down to the station with me. Her parents are out for blood, and Sofia is their number one target."

"She was here!" Liam spat, "We got home at 12, she was in her room asleep by 12:45 at the latest."

"That's not a good alibi, Liam," Davis said, "You know that."

"We were all home with her!" Danielle argued.

"Were you in bedroom with her?" Davis asked, pointedly.

"No, of course not," Liam said, "But she was here."

Sofia still didn't say anything, as she stood at the bottom of the steps. Her mind was reeling, figuring out her next move. She had to say something, if she didn't this could get bad.

"Sofia, I have to take you in," Davis said, shaking his head and stepping towards her, pulling cuffs.

"You're not touching her!" Harry said, eyes dark, shoving Davis back, surprising Sofia, "You're not
arresting her!"

"I can arrest you both if you want!" Davis barked.

"You think about cuffs on her, and Madison won't be the only one with brain bleed," Harry growled.

"Harry," Niall warned, although he couldn't help but smile at Harry's reaction on the inside.

"Liam do something!" Danielle cried out.

"Sofia, turn around," Davis said, stepping towards her.

"Are you kidding me with this?" Louis argued.

"Davis, back up!" Harry growled.

"Davis, you can't do this," Liam barked.

"Actually, I can," Davis said, turning back to Sofia who still hadn't said anything or moved.

"Don't make this harder then it has to be, Sofia," Davis said.

"You're seriously arresting me for this?" Sofia whispered.

"I have to bring you in for questioning," Davis said, "Asleep at home isn't an alibi I can work with."

"I wasn't asleep at home," Sofia said, the words falling out of her mouth before she could stop them. Davis stepped back, eyes wide. Sofia's mind was rushing, she couldn't believe this was happening. She was panicking, that familiar feeling of suffocating coming back.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Liam growled, staring at his sister.

"Sofia, what did you do?" Louis asked, eyes wide.

"I snuck out last night," Sofia said, looking at the floor, "I wasn't home."

"YOU WHAT?!" Zayn yelled at her.

"You can't arrest me for this," Sofia said, her voice desperate, as she looked up at Davis.

"I don't have a choice now," Davis said, stepping toward her again, "Turn around."