The Runaway - N.H.

[19] Again

"Braeden I-" Harry is cut off when we - once again - hear yelling. We look at each other before jumping to our feet and rushing inside.

"That's a joke! She's been alone for an entire year!" I know it's Louis yelling.

We get to the doorway in time to see Calum start laughing. "A year!" He screams. "How about four god damned years mate? You abandoned her!" Louis stands there, silent. "That's what I thought. You have no idea what she went through because of you. That's bullshit."

Cal turns slightly and sees me and his mouth falls open when he sees me coming toward him.

"What the fuck did you just say? What I went through because of him?" I say through my teeth. I'm still reasonably calm but I know it won't stay that way for long. "What about what I went through because of you! How dare you come in here after a whole fucking year and start blaming him for your mistakes. That's bullshit."

He looks at me the way he used to right before he would start crying. He turns to Louis again and then back to me.

"Braeden, you made yourself sick because of him." He gestures to Louis. "You can't seriously be sticking up for him." His voice has cracked but he's not crying, not yet.

"I'm not 'sticking up for him'. But I sure as hell am not sticking up for you either." I wait for him to say something but he doesn't. "Do you even care?" I start laughing. "Do you even remember what you did to me?"

"Of course I do, Braeden." He whispers, now he's crying.

I shake my head. "Then why are you here? Why are you trying to ruin my life again?"

"I... Braeden, you leaving was hard on me too you know. Especially when these three give me shit every single day for what I did to you." He says, his tone heart breaking and gestures to Luke, Ashton and Michael.

"I told you... You were the only one who... You..." I'm lost for words. I want to scream at him for everything he did to me but I have no energy left and I just want to go home. "I'm going home." Is all I say before I grab my bag and walk out the door.

----

I'm halfway home when I notice I have four cars following me. I consider trying to lose them but remember that half of them already know where I live.

I continue to drive home, hoping they will leave me alone but I pull into my parking lot and so do the other four cars. I stay in my car for a while debating whether or not I should call the police. I decide against it and get out of the car. Almost simultaneously the other twelve get out of their cars.

Without a word we all walk up to my apartment and when we get to my door I stop and turn around. They all stand there patiently waiting for me to open the door.

"Fucking hell." I mutter before opening the door.

We all go in and try to crowd around my tiny living room. I turn on the stereo and play the Arctic Monkeys album waiting for someone to speak.

"Anyone want a sandwich?" I ask, it's two o'clock and I'm starving.

I few of them mutter yes's and I get up to make them sandwiches.