Written

Chapter 41

HAYLEY

"Liam," I hiss once we are safely closed inside a spacious janitor's closet. "What is going on?" The moment I had walked into the room I could sense that the energy was off, and one glance at Liam showed me the source of the change. When Paul had introduced the new people, I found nothing out of the ordinary until I came face to face with the blonde. Looking at her was almost like looking in a mirror. What had Paul said her name was? Sharon? Oh. Sharon. Liam's voice echoed in my head, the stoy from months ago about the girl who broke his heart and sold him out. "Sharon. Her name was Sharon, she looked almost exactly like you." I put the pieces together immediately and Liam knew that I knew. He would not make eye contact with me or even look in my general vicinity too long. I hadn't been able to stand it, so I dragged him out here with me.

Liam's face drops into his hands. "I don't know," he moans. "I don't know, she's just here and I don't know what happened, and, and, and-" Liam goes into a mini panic attack.

"Hey, hey, calm down," I use my best soothing voice as I rub his back. "Start from the beginning." I can't really have missed all that much, Liam was gone just as long as Harry and I were.

"When I got here today, like earlier this morning, she was just here. She didn't even say anything to me, she just introduced herself like we'd never even met." Liam's voice breaks and it's clear that no matter how badly this girl hurt him, he still isn't over it. "What is she doing here?" he moans.

"I don't know," I murmur, still trying to soothe him. But I am going to find out.

Once Liam calms down enough to head back to the green room, we are met with four pairs of curious eyes. I shake my head fractionally to let them know not to ask, and all four of them avert their eyes and act as if nothing is out of the ordinary. I sit back next to Harry and he pulls me protectively against his side. It takes a lot of strength not to lay my head on his shoulder and fall asleep. No one would probably mind if I did. Paul comes in to alert the boys to show time and to my great annoyance, Sharon lurks behind him with a nasty smile on her face. I watch her breeze past Liam as if she hadn't made an attempt to ruin his life a few months previously. He looks ahead boldly, clearly trying not to let his defenses down. The look on his face nearly makes my blood boil over in hatred. As they file out of the room I am left with Paul and blondie.

"Hey Paul," I say sweetly. "If you have a lot to do, I wouldn't mind showing Sharon around for a while." Paul falls for it easily, he doesn't have any reason to suspect that I have an ulterior motive.

"Yeah actually, Hayley, that would be great," Paul walks out the door with a smile. Silence falls in the room and I walk over to the door with Sharon. She follows behind me, thinking that we're going to exit, but I have other ideas. I walk over to the door and slam it shut, whipping around to face her so fast that she jumps. I am barely two inches from her face when I let her have a piece of my mind.

"Listen to me right now you little bitch," I hiss, poking her shoulder with my outstretched finger. "I don't know who you think you are or what exactly it is that you think you're doing here, but you better watch yourself." Her eyes are wide, she is still taken aback.

"I don't know what-" she starts.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," I snarl. "If I see you so much as speak to Liam outside of your job, I will see to it that your ass is fired. Are we clear?" Sharon suddenly drops her innocent façade and steps closer to me.

"I don't know who you think you are, little girl," she sneers, "but you better watch your back. I know things about this band that would make your skin crawl. And maybe Liam is done with me, but you know Harry hasn't even started." Her smirk makes me want to backhand her across the face, and I come close, too. Instead I back away from her and slam the door in her face once more, hoping maybe her foot was in the way.