Love at the X Factor (on hold) :(

Chapter 21

"What?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"We're engaged," he repeated.

"Oh, I don't need you to say it again," I just stared at him blankly, simmering in my anger.

"Bella, look, before you get mad," he started to speak, but I cut him off before he could even finish his sentence.

"Before!?" I said just a tad too loudly. A middle aged couple with their two kids looked over and glared at us. I turned red and faced my brother again. "It's too late for that."

"I love her, Bells."

"After all the shit she put you through?"

"It was a mistake," he insisted, his voice growing quiet with each word.

"I don't like her."

"She's changed, okay? She feels horrible about everything and I know it's hard for you to get past it, but if I can," he looked straight at me as he spoke. "Then so can you."

"I sure can't," I laughed dryly. "Take me back to the hotel."

I gathered my trash and quietly made my way to the bin, dumping it all. A nice trip with my brother went right into the garbage with it.

I felt him behind me as I climbed into his truck. I saw him stare at me outside for a few moments before getting into truck himself.

"Bella, please," he pleaded. We had been on the road for about fifteen minutes before he tried to speak.

"I don't wanna talk right now," I told him, looking straight ahead.

We were both quiet until we pulled into the hotel. When we did, paparazzi swarmed.

"This is insane," I heard Blake mumble under his breath as we shoved through.

Flashes of light blinded my vision as we finally reached the door. I ended up beating Blake to the elevator, so I decided to just go up alone. Once I saw him get inside the hotel, I closed the door. I held back the tears until I got into my room.

I threw the door open, letting it hit the wall. I immediately felt bad and closed softly, locking it after. When I turned around, Niall and Harry were on the couch.

"Bella?" Niall hopped up and ran over to me.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked, his eyes full of concern.

"What are y'all doing here?" I asked, ignoring their questions and stares.

"Waitin' for you," Niall smiled sheepishly. "We wanted to see if you wanted to catch a film or something."

"Maybe later," I forced a smile and tried to make my way to the door that revealed my hotel bedroom.

"Oh no you don't," Niall pulled me over his shoulder and carried me to the couch, against my protests. He gently sat me down. "Talk."

"Blake is getting engaged to Shay."

"That's not a good thing?" Harry asked.

"She doesn't like her, remember?" Niall elbowed him and Harry winced in pain, but nodded.

"What did she do?" He asked.

"It's a really long story," I chuckled dryly.

"We've got the time," Niall smiled sympathetically.

"So, last summer," I felt my throat close up as I thought about it. I was getting so angry I had to blink away tears.

"It's okay," Harry said. "Take your time."