A few hours later, Louis and Zayn began to feel hungry.

"Should we order something, or..?" Zayn suggested.

"Nah, I think I'm gonna eat in the cafeteria. Rumour has it that they're serving spaghetti today, and honestly, I don't wanna miss that." Louis chuckled.

His eyes crinkled and his mouth opened and exposed his white teeth. Louis laugh-face was more of a huge smile, which was more than adorable.

"Okay, I'm coming with you. O-or, if that's okay..?" Zayn asked towards me.

I was just about to answer that I didn't really care, that it was no problem. But then I looked into his big, dark, but innocent eyes, and died inside. Not for the many negative reasons people would assume, but my heart ached - in a way that was more than great. I realized that whatever I would be going through, he would always be by my side. I guess I just realized that I needed him in my life, forever.
I didn't need him now though, I thought after a small giggle. He was just getting food.

"It's fine, go and eat. I'll see you later." I smiled.

And from having the most serious face ever, that only Zayn could pull off while he hundred procent meant it, Zayns numb face burst up in a light smile that could melt anyone.

"Okay, see you." He blushed.

"See ya, love." Louis said and hugged me.

"Hey!" Harry shouted and pulled me away from Louis. "I'm not blind, and I'm not deaf either. I saw what you did there.."

"Harry, it was just a hug!" I laughed.

"But, it's my wee-"

"It's fine, I get it." Louis chuckled and left the room after Zayn.

"Harry, you gotta let her hug other guys.." Niall said after a quick tap on his shoulder.

Harry turned to Niall.

"No, I don't. And you know why? I happen to know that things can be all innocent and friendly between Kath and guys, but I also know that.."

He slowly turned to me with a smirk on his lips.

".. things with Kath can get out of control, and one thing leads to another, and.."

"Oh, shut up!" I smiled and punched his arm playfully.

The three of us laughed, but when I looked over Harrys shoulder, and saw Liam. He sat on the couch with his face buried in his hands. His elbows was leaning upon his knees, and he scratched through his hair from time to time. He seemed pretty overstrained, and sad. It sure as hell made me sad, seeing him like that. He had agreed with Harry eventually, sure, but he didn't show much agreement out of his stressed body-position. Of course I got it, I would be terrified if something like this happened to me. Frankly, I didn't know how he held things together. I was proud of him, but at the same time very concerned.
I stared so long at him, that both Niall and Harry slowly turned around to follow where my gaze led. Harry sighed.

"Kath, I hate to say this, but.. We still need to tell him what happened, you know, the other day.." He said low.

I nodded.

"Yeah, I know. I just don't know if we should do it now.. I mean, look at him.."

"Yeah, I know babe, but we're gonna keep postpone it if we don't tell him now.."

I once again looked at Liam, and then at Harry.

"Wait, what happened?" Niall asked.

"Nothing." I smiled at him. "Okay, let's tell him."

Harry smiled and gently kissed my forehead. We walked towards Liam.

"Hey, Liam." Harry said and cleared his throat.

He looked up. His eyes were filled with tears.

"Uhm, we.. We need to tell you something.." I mumbled.

"You need what?" Liam asked.

"Can you come with us outside?" Harry asked.

He nodded and stood up.

"I wanna know what happe-"

"Shut up." Harry hissed at Niall.

He closed the door. Now was the time, now or never. Harry and I exchanged a quick, scared look, and then Harry began.

"Uhm, it was this Monday..We, kinda.. We didn't tell you, because we didn't think they would bother us again, but they clearly have.." He said and laughed nervously.

"Wait, you met Mark and his gang this Monday?" Liam asked.

Damn it, Harry, I thought. He was so slow to get to the point, that even Liam figured out what this whole thing was about. Of course he would, Liam is the smart one.

"Uhm, well.."

"Yeah, we did." I said.

Liam realized that Harry was pointless, he seemed too nervous to even explain it, so Liam turned to me instead.

"Okay, then I have a few questions.." He said.

Shit, this doesn't sound good, I thought.

"One, why didn't you tell me? Two, what did they say, or do? And three, what did you guys do?"

Crap, he asked the last sentence with so much "I know you did something, so spit it out"-pressure, that I just couldn't avoid it anymore.

"Harry punched Mark." I hurried to say.

Harry shot a accusatory look at me.

"W-wait, you did what?!" Liam asked.

Poor boy, I thought with honest grief. Lately, Liam had been going through a lot. He didn't deserve it, thinking about everyhting else he had gone through.
Harry was speachless, he just kept pointing at me with an open mouth, trying to get out words to explain.

"He punched him, but it was only to protect you!"

"What, he felt the need to protect me, while I was here, safe?" Liam asked.

"Y-yeah, but.."

"No, just.." Liam sighed. "Just give me a minute.."

But the strange thing was, he didn't leave the corridor, he just closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Okay, I understand.. He's Mark, I think everyone just wanna punch him really.." He said. "I just need to know why you punched him. Because I know you Harry, when you punch someone, it's because they set you off about something."

Harry sighed.

"Fine, I went to get coffee, and when I got out, Mark was forcing Kath near him, and how he was looking at her was disgusting.. It just.. happened.. I'm sorry.."

"Don't apologize.." Liam mumbled. "Really, it's fine. But what did he say, Kath?"

"Stuff that you already know.."

Liam nodded, with no other words. But I still felt that I needed to explain myself.

"Look, all I did was telling him to stay away from all of us, and when he started getting creepy, Harry just tried to save me, but.."

I took a step towards Liam, and layed one of my hands on his shoulder.

"That fist contained more than anger, it was a desperate attempt to really get him to understand that we don't want anything to do with him. He was really trying to protect you." I smiled.

"Exactly!" Harry said eagerly.

Liam smiled too, and my whole belly was filled with warmth. He was finally back to his forgving self again.

"I know he was." He said.

We all looked at each other.

"Just come here!" Liam said with open arms.

We all hugged. Harrys hand suddenly found my butt, and he slightly tapped it to get my attention.

"God, I love girls who are good with words.." He smirked.

Notes

Hi! It was so long since I wrote, don't you think? Well, it's good to be back behind the rudder again. I will write at least one more chapter tonight, so stay tuned! By the way, tomorrow (in the fanfiction), something about Mark will happen. Just sayin'. Love, A.

What do you think will happen?

Do you blame Harry for punching Mark, like, do you think he made everything worse?