The Boy Next Door

Jess Has a Secret

Jess dropped the phone, her mouth hanging open in shock. The boys stared from me to her, before Zayn finally reached forward and grabbed the phone. He gulped and Niall looked over his shoulder. Liam took it and Louis and Harry both looked over. When they had seen it, they all began looking slightly sick. 

Niall was the first to react. He ran over and hugged me tight. Zayn had started to reach out a comforting hand to Jess. Knowing Zayn, he probably had meant it as comforting. I flew out of Niall's arms and gasped, trying to get Zayn to move away. Jess had a wicked temper. 

Jess growled at Zayn, still looking murderous. If looks could kill, we'd all be six feet under. Zayn still refused to move. Did he not see how angry she was? If he came closer to touching her- Oh no. He had gone to close.

"Louis, Liam, get Zayn away." I ordered, my voice slightly shaking. They looked at me strangely, but none of them made an effort. This annoyed me. I was dead serious!

"NOW!" I screamed, and they jumped. Liam took Zayn's left and Louis took Zayn's right side, and together they dragged him away. When they had gotten through the door, I turned to Niall and Harry.

"Leave." I said. They made no move to leave. "Leave." I repeated. They still didn't even take a step. I pointed to the door, and finally they trudged out.

When they were gone, I slammed the door and walked cautiosly over to Jess. She was still trembling with anger. Jess clenched a fist. I could tell she was going to lose it in about a minute, so I ran downstairs as fast as I could to get her punching bag.

The boys all crowded around me, wondering why I had kicked them out, what was wrong with Jess, and all that.

"NO!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. "I'M NOT TELLING YOU! NOW MOVE, SO I CAN GET THROUGH!" They all looked shocked. Without a word they moved away. I grabbed the punching bag and her boxing gloves and ran upstairs as fast as I could. 

See, here's the thing. I love Jess, but she has a ferocious temper. Like, huge. The boys didn't know that side of her, but I knew it all too well. She was on the breaking point. 

Harrys POV:

She wasn't going to go beat up Jess, was she? I mean, I haven't known Jess that long, but I have known Bella for a little bit over a month. She had never screamed at me, not once. What was she hiding? And why did she scream at us to leave? What was going to happen?

Bellas POV:

I barged into the room. I threw the boxing gloves at Jess and set up the punching bag while she put them on. Jess started screaming, and I walked over to her calmly. I wasn't going to hurt her. As fast as I could, I reached up and took off her necklace, bracelet, and earrings. 

Jess was still shrieking like a banshee, but she was crying as well. I left the room, running out. I heard smashes and more screams and cries. I darted into the room next to it, wanting to be close incase something happened. 

Harrys POV:

I heard screaming and crying coming from upstairs. It was followed by loud smashing noises. Me and the lads took off running upstairs. About halfway up the staircase, the smashing noises stopped. The screaming did too. All that was left was crying. 

The lads and I continued charging up the stairs. A blond head whirled around, holding Jess' jewelry. Bella smiled wearily at me, but I continued staring at jess' things. Zayn put a hand on the doorknob, but Bella reacted defensively. She hit his arm away. She met all our questioning eyes with a sharp glare. 

I decided to try and reached out too. She punched my arm away, all traces of a smile gone.

"Go back downstairs," She said in a determined, quiet voice. I shook my head unsurely. Her face turned so angry it was shocking. She looked very close to screaming again. What was wrong with her today? "Go." She said in a commanding tone. Liam, Niall, Zayn and I went down. None of us noticed Louis slip away, but when she heard the click of a lock she screamed in terror. What was she trying to hide?

"Go get an ice pack and gauze, Harry. The rest of you, get the couch in the room next door ready." Why was she telling us about Jess up NOW? I fled, knowing Jess was probably hurt and would need help. 

When I got back with the supplies, Bella was shouting,"Louis! Get out!" and pounding on the door. I heard a girl screaming and Louis shouting. Not words, he was just shouting. It sounded like he was hurt. How could he be hurt? Jess was just a girl, and if it was a fight, he WOULD fight back. Louis started groaning. 

Bella was looking very very very worried, trying her hardest not to cry. "1,2,3" She muttered and hauled back. She kicked the door so hard it bounced out of the hinges and into little splinters. Bella immediately ran to Louis, helping him up. I couldn't see Louis just yet, but when I did, I got a massive shock. He had big bruises everywhere, and cuts up and down his arms. 

I jumped and grabbed him, helping Bella pull him into the room with the bed. The rest of the lads gasped at the sight of Louis. Bella handed him to me before running out. 

"You need to be more careful!" She screamed, presumably to Jess. Jess promptly started crying.

"Give me this." Bella snapped. Why was she being so mean? 

"You need to fucking be more fucking careful before everyone finds this fucking out. You WILL stay in my room tonight, and I don't care what you have to fucking say about it. You are NOT coming out. Now get the hell off to bed." Jess muttered something.

"I know, and I'm sorry." Bella responded. "But unless you don't keep your mouth shut, they WILL find out." With that, she slammed the door. What was Bella hiding?

Bellas POV:

I knew I couldn't tell the boys, and it was killing me, but I respected Jess. I wasn't going to tell them her secret. She had trusted me, and I was not going to betray a confidence.

"Harry, I know you were listening." I said, trying to sound confident.

He simply blew up. "Why were you beating up Jess? God Bella, I thought you were nice!" He thought I was beating up Jess?! My eyes widened and I took a step back. 

"I'm not!" I responded, as calmly as I could. 

"Well then, what is going on?" Harry demanded. 

"Jess is-" I stopped myself. "I can't tell you. I wish I could, but I can't. Goodnight, Harry."