Sophia's POV-

"Soph.. Nathan is asking for you." Jay said gently.

I attempted to swallow my anger after everyone, including Max, told me to cut him some slack. Not that Nathan deserved any, but I couldn't cause more drama and angst right now than already present. I walked into his room and crossed my arms, coldly. Waiting for an explanation. Not that whatever he was going to say would matter. There's no excuse for it.

"I guess I deserve that." He said, barely audible.

He didn't sound like my Nathan anymore. His voice almost didn't exist. It sounded like one of the people on the smoking commercials. Raspy, robot-ish, and quite honestly scary. I always said that Nathan had the voice of an angel. He had the most adorable, heartmelting voice. It was almost as if the Nathan in front of me wasn't the Nathan I fell in l- the Nathan I knew. The voice was just the cherry on top to the monster he'd become in my eyes.

"I'm sick and tired of losing people Nathan." I said fiercely. I wasn't cowering down to anyone. I wouldn't be weak.

"I know.." He replied.

"Why would you put my brother and yourself in that position. God Nathan! Yourself! You could have fucking DIED!" I screamed.

"You're really going to marry him?" It was as if he hadn't even heard what I said. My engagement was the only thing on his mind. His eyes were filled with pain and worry. For myself, not him. He looked genuinely concerned that I was marrying Lou.

I went to say yes, but something in the back of my throat stopped me. It was as if my entire body was frozen.

"Sophia, don't. If you've ever loved me, don't." He pleaded.

The machine attached to him began beeping loudly. He was fading out of consciousness. A team of nurses ran in, shooing me out.

"Sophia, DON'T. Please!" He whimpered, before slowly falling out of reality.

'If you've ever loved me, don't.' Something about the way he said it.. as if it were the biggest mistake I'd ever make. I walked numbly into the waiting room, everyone's eyes landing on me. I couldn't see straight, everything felt foreign. Louis came to my side, wrapping his arm securely around my waist. I cringed, removing myself from his hold. I looked at Tom and felt tears pool in my eyes, "We need to talk."

He nodded, taking my hand and leading me into a separate waiting room across the floor.
"I know how guilty he feels Sophia. He was writing over and over again, 'I'm sorry.'"
"Writing?" I asked, confused.
"With the white board? He can't talk. They said if he speaks he'll further damage his vocal cords, possibly to the point that they can't be recovered."
Siva came and sat down next to me, putting his arm protectively around my shoulders.
"He needed to say it out loud to her, even if it was the last thing he'd ever say." Siva said, with a hint of proudness in his voice.
" Say what.." I whispered.
"He needed to tell you not to marry Louis. He thinks you're making a huge mistake."
I began fiddling with my fingers, "What do you guys think?"
Tom raised his eyes with curiosity, "Why does it matter what we think?"
"Because you're family. And I'm doubting everything I've done in the last year as of this moment."

I was. I wondered if I hadn't met Louis, maybe half of these things would have happened. Maybe Perrie wouldn't have been so stressed. Maybe Zayn would have gotten to marry his true love. Maybe Louis would have found a girl with less strings attached. Maybe Nathan wouldn't have drank and drive with my brother in the car. Maybe The Wanted would have their stylist back on their tour. Maybe Nathan Sykes would have had the chance he was so obviously begging for.

---

Louis' POV-
I walked into the apartment and all of the boys, plus Serena and Brielle, were sitting in the livingroom talking. Soph decided it was best to send me home right after she talked to Tom and Siva. I figured giving her a little time alone with them would be good for her. Even if it meant she would be with Nathan. Even if he's in the hospital, she's going to be my wife soon. So he should know to keep his hands off of her. In the beginning, I loved that everyone loved Sophie. She was a likable person, hence why I wanted to marry her. But the boys especially.. I'd never brought around a girl that every single one of them liked. Plus Perrie? Unheard of. But Sophia did that. She had that special connection that even if she didn't want to, she drew people in. She had a pissed off charm to her, and it worked for her. Then it dawned on me, if I weren't with Sophie, I could name 4 people that would be fighting for her heart. Zayn and Harry included.

"Hey mate, how's our girl?" Zayn asked.

"MY girl." I responded hastily.

I'm not sure if it was the look on Sophia's face when she left Nathan's room, or the smirk on Siva's when she told me to go home, but I wanted it to be clear to everyone that Sophia George was mine. And that wasn't changing.

Zayn rolled his eyes, "Whatever mate. How is YOUR Sophia?"

"She's fine now that they're fine. She needs to be with family, I guess." I mumbled.

"But we're family?" Harry said, in a childishly confused voice.

"No we aren't lad. Not like those boys are." Zayn said, knowingly.

I knew he was right. But all of my pent up aggression towards everyone being Sophia's friend came out, right then and there.

"And how the bloody hell would you know that?" I said, nearly screaming.

Brielle's eyes shot up at mine, and I could tell she knew exactly why I was cracking.

Zayn stood up and threw his hands out at me, "Whether you like it or not, those boys won't be going anywhere. So get over it before you ruin your relationship with her!"

"Why do you care so much about her?!" I screamed.

It didn't have anything to do with the current argument, but it was bound to happen eventually.

"Because you're an idiot and everytime she's in trouble, you make it one hundred times worse! I care about her, I want to see her HAPPY!" He screamed, getting dangerously close.

Liam stood up, waiting for a punch to be thrown so that he could break it up.

"Let me make this clear, She's. Not. Your. Fiancé." I spat. I was in the tone of my voice that everyone knew exactly what I meant by that. The lowest blow I could have possibly thrown. I indadvertedly brought Perrie into it. And made the comparison of the two.

---

Sophia's POV-

Four pints and three irish car bombs later, I was just that. Bombed. Tom had convinced me that going out with 'your favorite boyband member' was a good idea. Not that it took much convincing. My mom had opted against it. I knew that Max would have too, if he had had a say in the matter. Although she wasn't incredibly fond of Louis, she was strict with her morals. Dating a boy? Do what you please, especially if she didn't like him. Engaged to a boy? Going out to a bar was a no. Especially with another man who wasn't my fiancé. But the more I thought about it, the more I didn't like it.

Yes, I loved Louis. But after just a year, the butterflies slowly subsided when we kissed. They were still there, but they weren't the same. Brielle blamed it on the 'honeymoon phase'. Saying that we were so used to eachother that the fireworks wouldn't always be there. But was it normal to go through the honeymoon phase before you're even married? I mean really.. If this was a year before the wedding, what did that leave us to later down the road?

"So what's your thoughts on whatever the hell Sykes told you?" Tom asked nonchalantly.

I shook my head, "No idea. Making me question my engagement, thats for damn sure."

That was the one thing about my relationship with Tom that was so different to my relationship with everyone else. I could tell him things that I hadn't even fully agreed to myself. And he'd always just get it. He knew that didn't mean I wanted Nathan. He knew it didn't mean I was leaving the bar to tell Louis I didn't love him. It just meant that maybe this wasn't the greatest idea.

"Well, something makes me think he might have the same idea that you do." Toms said, pointing behind me.

I turned to see a bruised face and soft brown eyes walking towards me. What the hell was he doing at a dingy bar on the other side of London? He looked nervous, but calm. Effortlessly gliding. Or maybe it was the car bombs. Somehow bruised looked hot on him, WHAT THE FUCK AM I THINKING RIGHT NOW?

That didn't answer my original question.

What in the hell was Zayn Malik doing at this bar.

What I didn't know that night, was that he was about to change the game. And no one was safe.

Notes