Pain is Just a Simple Compromise (One Direction Fan Fiction)

Chapter 3: Why is this Happening to me?

I just stand there, shocked into complete zombie mode. Harry pulls me into a bone crushing hug, and Louis rubs my back reassuringly, whispering things like "it's okay." A sudden thought hits me like a ton of bricks, and I abruptly pull away and spin round to face the officers, who are still stood awkwardly in the doorway.

"But why are you here? That means..." I trail off, unable to speak the words. Harry starts to shake his head in denial.

"Can we come in?" The first officer asks me. I'm annoyed by his evasiveness, and I start to demand an answer, but Harry puts a finger to my lips and shakes his head. He leads the officers into the family room, and I start to follow, but Louis stops me.

"Are you okay with me being here; do you want me to leave you with Harry?" I nod, and I'm surprised to see a brief flash of hurt in his eyes; he obviously had a whole different scenario in his head, and I regret my answer immediately.

"Someone needs to tell the boys what's going on, and Harry's already in there, so..." I pause, and he starts to walk away. I act on impulse, and say "Come back though, yeah?"

"Yeah, of course." He smiles. He kisses my forehead and then heads towards the kitchen. I compose myself and head towards the family room. I think there's something going on between me and Louis... but he has a girlfriend? Okay, this is going to have to wait. I take a deep breath and walk into the room, afraid of what I'm going to be told...

As I walk into the room Harry takes my hand, moves up to the edge of the sofa, and pulls me down next to him, still not letting of my hand. The officer begins to speak, but stops when Louis walks into the room, followed by the rest of the guys. Louis sits on my other side and puts his arm around my shoulders, Zayn and Niall sit on the arms of the sofa and squeeze my shoulders reassuringly, and Liam sits on the floor by my leg and smiles up at me. I've known the guys for an afternoon and I already feel like part of a gang. Maybe it has something to do with me being Harry's best friend... and ex-girlfriend...

"Miss Jones?" The male officer interrupts my train of thought and nods to his partner, who looks at me intensely.

"Are you sure you want all of these people here, Miss Jones?" she asks, her stern eyes melting into concern.

"Yes, they're friends. Now can you get to the point please?" I don't mean to be rude, but I just want a bloody answer.

"I'm sorry, but your mother didn't make it; she died on the scene." I know the answer before she speaks it, but when she does the words hit me like individual daggers, and I bring my knees up to my chin and wrap my arms around them, trying to keep myself from falling apart. My mum is dead? She can't be!

"Oh, God." Harry sighs like a broken man and pulls me into a tight embrace. He was like the son my mum never had, and he's loved her like a second mother since we first became best friends at primary school when we were 4. He must be hurting as much as I am... no, I don't think that's possible; losing a family member is awful, but the pain of losing a parent is indescribable- losing a parent is one of those things that you can't even think "what if that happened" because it pulls you into a black hole of inescapable pain. I abruptly walk out of the room, not wanting them all to see me fall apart.

I silently stand in the hall facing where I came from, unsure of what to do, and a lone tear slowly glides down my cheek.

"JJ." Harry approaches me carefully like I'm a time bomb just waiting to explode.

"She can't be gone." I manage to find my voice, and regret it instantly; not speaking was the only thing keeping me together. I try to stop the tears but they fall uncontrollably, and I turn away from Harry, attempting to hide my pain.

"But she is, JJ. I'm so sorry." He puts his hands on my shoulders and turns me around.

"Jordan?" Louis walks up to us, and when he sees our pain, he holds out his arms and says "You guys need a hug?" I nod and lean in to him, and he wraps one of his arms round my waist and his other around Harry, pulling him into our hug. Zayn, Liam and Niall come out and join in our group hug, and I cry softly on Louis shoulder, hoping nobody else notices. I feel a hand squeeze mine gently and let go, and when I look up Niall smiles at me sadly and mouths "it'll be okay." I know the guys don't know me very well- Harry got them all to follow me on Twitter, and I've spoken to all of them a few times on the phone- but Harry must have said some really good things about me, because they all seem to genuinely like me. That's what I need right now; friends.

"Miss Jones?" The policewoman tries to get my attention, and I disentangle myself from the group and wipe my eyes. "I know this is difficult, but obviously we are unable to get hold of your father, so you need to come with us." I nod, even though I really want to scream "NO!"

"Why can't you get hold of her Dad?" Louis asks. Harry grimaces and mouths "he doesn't know, sorry!" at me.

"Well, I'm sure they can get hold of him, but there's not much he can do from a prison cell." I spit out sarcastically.

"Oh Christ... Sorry." Louis hits himself on the forehead.

"It's okay; you didn't know." He shakes his head, embarrassed, and I place a hand on his arm. "It's okay."

"Miss, are you okay to come with us?" The male officer asks me, his deep brown eyes filled with sympathy.

"Um... yeah, I guess..." I look down, not wanting to go but knowing I'm the only one who can. I wish I had a big brother.

"I'll drive you, if you want?" Louis offers me his hand.

"Thank you." I smile at him tentatively and take his hand. Then I turn to Harry and hold out my other hand. "Coming?"

"Yes." Harry grips my hand, and I look at all the guys, and when they smile I realize; it's going to be okay.