Better Together - (One Direction fanfic by Kaitlynn)

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

Jackie didn't even realize she'd been shaking until Josh had to squeeze her shoulders gently to keep her steady. "It's okay, Jackie," Josh was stroking her hair, "She can't hurt us," Jackie just nodded, though it lacked conviction. She didn't know exactly what Scarlett was capable of, but it would definitely be directed at trying to hurt them. She tried to smile, but her cheek was growing numb, "Haha actually she can," Jackie gestured at her face. Josh's laugh was tinged with worry. "Oi!" a deep, out of breath Irish voice came from the end of the hallway, "What's going on?!" it was Paul, who looked like he'd been running to try and find them. Josh opened his mouth as if to say something, but nothing came. More voices were coming down the hall now, "You heard screaming too?" it was the boys, Liam was speaking, "Yeah, definitely over here." As the boys  saw Jackie and Josh holding each other in a corner, they stopped short, confused. It looked like they were all freshly out of the shower, their hair was wet and Harry's kept falling in his face. "Um...so basically," Harry said in his slow manner, "we like, heard some like...yelling?" Paul crossed his arms and nodded, "I thought someone had gotten hurt," he said a little sternly. "Oh by the way uh Josh," Liam glanced awkwardly at Jackie, "Scarlett was asking for you," he looked a little guilty, "I kind of pointed her in this way. Hope she uh, found you." Of course, Liam just HAD to help any poor creature that came his way. Not that Scarlett was anything REMOTELY CLOSE to poor. Josh finally found his voice, "Yeah she...did," he cleared his throat and took a deep breath, "But um--" "Whoa whoa," Niall interrupted and rushed over to Jackie, inspecting her face, "that's a nasty uh--oh it sorta looks like a hand..." All the boys, including Paul, crowded around her curiously, "Oh damn, someone slapped you pretty good," Louis remarked as Paul reached a hand out to touch her face gently. Jackie flinched and winced in pain, the left side of her face throbbing. "What happened?" Zayn looked questioningly from Jackie to Josh. "Uh, well..." Jackie pointedly looked at Josh as if to say, this is actually YOUR story to tell. Josh bit his lip--shit, he looked so hot right now--Jackie blinked rapidly, clearing her head. Josh was still chewing his bottom lip, "So um," he looked so torn, probably deciding whether to give them the truth or not, "Basically I've done something horrible," he sighed and took Jackie's hand in his, making the butterflies flutter in her stomach, "But unfortunately...I don't regret it at all," he looked up cheekily at the boys. Jackie managed a small smile through the dull pain in her cheek. Everyone was silent, staring uncomfortably at their interlaced fingers and starting to make a connection. Jackie could practically see the lightbulbs going off in their heads. "So...Scarlett found you..." Liam said slowly, "and um, what exactly did she say?" Now it was Jackie and Josh's turns to be uncomfortable, "Uh well she didn't exactly say much..." Josh paused awkwardly. "Nice," Niall groaned loudly, "Josh, you retarded load of shit." Josh looked taken aback, "Hey!" Louis snapped his fingers at Jackie, "Oh, so SCARLETT banged up your face then love?" he rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly, "Jesus Josh, you've got yourself quite a...pickle." Paul shook his head, "You've really dug yourself deep lad," his deep voice was reprimanding, but still compassionate, "The hell are we gonna do when Mr. Kingsly gets angry?" Josh's face fell, "Agh, I don't know," he groaned and Jackie squeezed his hand reassuringly, "But what I DO know is that I'm completely and totally head over fucking heels for this girl, not Scarlett," he smiled at Jackie and the boys, who were groaning at his cheesy language, "And I've decided that Scarlett's not worth worrying about, I mean, what could she possibly do, mates?" The boys exchanged glances, obviously Josh hadn't seen her true colors until tonight. Just then Kaitlynn ran in hurriedly, panting and out of breath, "Ohmygod...Jackie...I just talked to...SIMON FUCKING COWELL...Godammit I've been looking...for you guys!" she said between breathes, "He's on the phone, they uh, sent me to get the boys." Everyone just stared at her, "Simon HIMSELF called?!" Zayn said, surprised, "He never does that unless like--" "Yeah, it's urgent, some guy, uh...oh right, Mr. Kingsly, wants to talk with the boys," Kaitlynn gestured frantically to hurry, her bracelets and dangly earrings tinkling to fill the silence. Kaitlynn must not have recognized the name. Mr. Kingsly...Scarlett Kingsly. Oh, shit.