Made Up

Chapter 16

Charlie POV
I have no idea where I'm going. Paul got me the first flight out of LA that he could. After three connecting flights I'm finally back in Mississippi but I don't know where to go. I signed my apartment over to my roommate when I left to go to work with the boys. It was my college experience and I didn't think I would be going back there. I had my stuff shipped to my parents house but I don't think I can face my mom right now. She's too nice to say I told you so to my face but I know I'll see it in her's.
I know there is only one place to go and almost an hour later I'm at Granny's door. I don't even bother with knocking. I open the
door and she is standing there with her arms open. I let her wrap me in an embrace and for the first time, since I told Louis and Harry I was leaving, I cry. I'm not sure how long we sit there but when I finally calm down my head feels like it's going to explode.
"Alrighty baby, go sit on the couch and I'll bring you something that will help." Granny walks to her cabinet and I make my way to the couch. A few minutes later my sweet, kind, precious grandmother hands me a glass of whiskey straight up.
"Um Granny, how is this supposed to help?" I really do almost want to laugh. This is enough
whiskey to get me good and drunk.
"Well you'll sleep good tonight and tomorrow you'll be so hung over you won't think of anything else. By the time you feel better it will have been at least three days and the shock will be over." What she says makes sense so I bottoms up.

Louis POV
    Girls suck! I know why I prefer guys, because  girls suck.  Charlie sucks! Who the fuck confesses their love for someone and walks out? How was that even an option for her? A lad would never do that. A lad would stay. Harry and I have had our differences over the years, we've had some out right fights but we never left.
    I look over at Harry. He is watching some stupid ass romantic comedy where the stupid
ass girl leaves and the dumb ass lad goes after
her and they live happily ever after. If Charlie thinks I'm going to run after her she's fucking stupid.
     I REALLY WANT TO RUN AFTER CHARLIE AND LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER WITH HER AND HARRY.
    We are supposed to meet with Gwendoline again today and the new person that is taking over Charlie's book. I know the book is supposed to be about us but it was Charlie's thoughts and work that went into it. I don't like the fact that someone else is taking over.
     We get the office building and are ushered into the same conference room we began in just four days ago. I can't believe it's only been four days it seems like months. This time we arrive first and sit in silence till everyone else comes in.
    I know the hurt and loss Harry and I feel over Charlie leaving but I can see Liam and Niall miss her too. Niall has even skipped meals the past few days. All of us lads get on well together but Charlie just added something that we've never had before. Now there is just a whole where she used to be. The craziest part of it all is I don't know if I want that whole to be filled. I don't like the shit feeling I have right now but I don't want to forget Charlie.
    Gwendoline and Paul walk through the door with another man of about forty.  He's dressed in a suit and looks like if he smiled his face would crack.
   Gwendoline turns towards me while she talks to all of us. "Good morning gentlemen." She waves her hand towards the stone faced man. "This is Mr. Steven Jacobs he is the new ghost writer assigned to your book. You will be given time at the end of this meeting to speak with him but we have more important matters. First I have spoken with Mr. Shaw's family and it seems that he has suffered some sort of brain injury that misinterprets social cues. I'm not sure of the details but I've been assured he's getting treatment. Your album release has been pushed back a month, because added six more shows in Japan. However, we do still need a single to release next month if we want it considered for this years award show season."
   "Hold up." Niall has scooted to the edge of his  chair. "Some sort of brain injury. That's the only thing you're going to say. That bastard hurt our friend and you're just going to read it off your check list there like your fixing to buy groceries. Are you even going to call Charlie and let her know why she was attacked, because since you fired her we sure as fuck can't do it. And no we aren't adding any more shows to the tour. We been on tour for three years with barely a break. I don't speak for everyone but I'm tired."
    "Well Mr Horan you are correct you don't speak for everyone and while your opinion does count as much as everyone in the band it is not the final decision." Gwendoline tries to resume ticking things off her list of topics but Harry speaks up.
   "What if everyone in the band agrees with Niall?"
    Harry gets a sharp glare. "Do you all agree?"
Gwendoline's tones reminds me of a a teacher I had in grade three, I sometimes still have nightmares about her.
    Liam and I both say "Yeah" at the same time.
    "Well that does create an issue but you all have a contract to fulfill and it says that you have one more album to complete and a tour that is under my management so I say your doing six more shows."
   "We may have to be there but we don't have to be any good." That is the most ruthless statement I have ever heard come out of Liam's mouth. "You make money because people love us. You've made us play these stupid roles of people we don't even know to make people love us. If we suddenly started to suck as human beings and no one wanted to hear us sing anymore and no one bought your precious merchandise, you'd lose everything. You can make us go on stage in Japan but you can't make us perform."
   I can tell the words Liam is speaking is physically hurting him to say. He can't imagine going on stage and not giving it his all. I can
tell Gwendoline is about to throw some legal bullshit at us but I add to Liam's argument. "Our contracts don't specify that we have to be good. If I suddenly can remember any of the words or Niall gets laryngitis we won't be breach of contract."
   Everyone is silent for a moment and I can tell Gwendoline is trying to keep her composure. "Alright you have made your point. Luckily the new dates have not been released yet so no harm has been done, but you do still have to release your single and it needs to be award worthy. We have several for you to choose from .."
   "No!" Niall speaks up again. "We have to release another album, ok. But we should be the ones to write it. No more bull shit that all sounds the same. We are not sixteen anymore, we can write our own songs. You want award winning singles? We'll write them!"
   Gwendoline looks like her head may literally explode. "If you bring a song to the table that's good enough I have no problem releasing it."
    She thinks she's won. "I have a song! Harry and I wrote it." Harry looks at me like I just slapped him.
   "Alright. Well you can record it to be considered. We will have another meeting in one week and you all will be given a chance to present a song." Gwendoline gathers up her things and stands. "That's all the time we have for today gentlemen." She walks out of the room without another glance.
      We are left with Paul and the human statue. We all look this Mr Jacobs and he finally acknowledges that we are in the room. "Gwen
has given me all the information I need. I really don't need anything from you."
   "How are you going to write a book about us, without us? Liam ask.
   "I'm good at my job I assure you." Mr Jacobs follows Gwendoline out of the room. I wonder what he done to get the privilege of calling her Gwen. I honestly hope I never find out.
    Paul looks as out of place as all of us feel. I know nothing that happened is really his fault but I personally can't help but blame him just a little. None of us have really tried to talk to him and I don't really want to try right now. Harry stands up first and we all follow.
    When we get back to the bus we all find ourselves in the back room. If I'm on the bus this is the place to find me. Charlie didn't leave anything behind for us to remember her by, so sitting in the place she slept most often is the only comfort I have left. Harry wouldn't come in here for two days. I guess what I find comforting he finds upsetting. We haven't really talked about anything, he watches his movies and I just get mad.
     "I miss Charlie!" It's so quite that Niall's voice makes me jump.
     "We all miss her man!" Harry replies.
     "I know! But I just needed to say it out loud. I'm tired of all the silence around here. I'm tired of being here period. We're all supposed to be on holiday right now and now we have a song deadline, and yet another meeting. I'm just tired."
    "Your the one that said you wanted to write our own songs, we wouldn't have a deadline if you had kept your mouth shut!" Missing Charlie has turned Liam into a bad ass, well bad ass compared to what he was before.
    "Well I do want to write more, but I don't like being told when to do it. We are grown men when do we get to make our own choices?"
     "When no one cares about what we do anymore." I say.
     "Great so I may get to pick my own nursing home one day." Niall shakes his head and goes towards the front.
    Harry turns on another sappy movie that
I can't stand to watch so I head to my bunk.