Louis' POV:
After Niall and Harry took their birds away from the situation, and Zayn stormed out, I was left alone with Liam. Normally, this would be great. Liam and I were close. But that night? Liam wanted nothing more than to let Zayn kill me like he so wanted to. Liam said it was because of Perrie that he got so upset. But Zayn even admitted it wasn't about her. Which only made everything I said even less forgivable. Not that I cared at this point. Throughout everything in my life, I wanted to love someone so unconditionally I would give up anything and anyone for her. What I didn't know then, was that to have the girl I so desperately wanted, I would have to do just that.

I walked into the convenient store to get some bandages and alcohol for my busted lip. Pulling the hood of my sweatshirt over my head, I was praying no one would notice me. I looked like a complete and total thug, so I somewhat knew that wasn't going to happen. I directed myself into the first aid section and allowed my eyes to wander aimlessly around the shelves.

"You'll want those." A girl said, pointing to the butterfly bandages.

I looked up to see a petite blonde girl, probably in her early 20's, smiling sympathetically at me.

I cleared my throat, "I.. um... thanks."

She crossed her arms and smirked, "You know how to do that?"

"Do what?" I replied.

"Fix a busted lip. Because from the looks of it, you might need stitches. And from the looks of YOU, you can't do that."

I rolled my eyes, "What are you? A nurse?"

She smiled politely, "I am. You look familiar? Have we met?"

Great. A fucking fan.

"I uh.. don't think so?"

"Have you been at Park Creek hospital lately?" Funny because I had. Twice actually. For Zayn, then again for Max and Nathan.

I nodded, "Yeah actually, I have?"

She took the box out of my hands and placed it back on the shelf, "Come on, my bags in my car. I can fix you up in no time."

I gave her a bewildered look, "You sure you wanna take a stranger to your car?"

I decided to be polite, insisting my concern was for her safety. When in fact, it was mostly for my own. Strange girl claiming to be a nurse abducts international boyband member? Sounds like the basis for a great book series.

She just rolled her eyes and laughed, "You're either famous of a mobster. Because there's a large man in all black waiting outside of your incredibly expensive car. If I were going to stab you, I'd be better off doing it here."

My jaw dropped. It's like she was reading my thoughts. Who WAS this girl?

She extended her hand, "Holly Lattery."

I shook it and felt butterflies in my stomach, "Um.. hey."

"Are you going to tell me your name? Because but withholding basic information like that leads me to believe you're a mobster and you're going to sell me into white slavery so.."

I laughed a little, "Louis Tomlinson."

---

Harry's POV:
Brielle was angrily pacing the room, screaming in spanish. When I said that Portuguese women were scary when mad, I hadn't met a mexican. Brielle was so terrifying, I didn't move an inch. I just sat there, worried if I gave her the wrong look she might rip my arm off and eat it.

"What an ASSHOLE!" She finally screamed, in english.

"I.. I see both sides of it." I muttered quietly, immediately regretting speaking in the first place.

She sighed, pulling her hair into a ponytale before sitting down next to me on the couch.

"Please explain Louis' side. Because I don't know him and right now I don't want to."

"Louis is a nice guy, even if he comes off like he isn't. He's very territorial and protective and now that he and Sophia are engaged, it changes everything. She's no longer our friend. She's our best mates fiancé. Something must have struck a jealous nerve at the hospital because when Zayn said 'our Sophie' he was referring to everyone, not just him and Lou. But Louis was already too pissed off to see that. He shouldn't have brought Perrie up. But I think he did need to draw a line for Zayn. Because I can see it in his eyes, he has some sort of weird crush on her. The fight was unnecessary, but that's how those two have been communicating lately."

She just shook her head, "Why is it a 'weird crush' again? Why is it so strange that Zayn might actually like Sophia?"

"You're kidding right? He was engaged to her bestfriend who DIED. They could never be together. And now she'd be engaged to his bestfriend. That's one fucked up full circle. Zayn wouldn't do that. Neither would Soph." I explained.

"You think that Perrie would hate them if they were in love?" She asked.

"No, of course not. I think Perrie would want them to be happy."

"Well I see something that no one else does. There's this crazy tension between them. Zayn is her protector, while Louis is her possessor. There's a difference. Louis looks at Sophia and wants to pull her away from anyone who will possibly take her away from him. Zayn wants to pull her away from anyone who will hurt her. He doesn't care if he ends up with her, he just wants to know someone has the right intentions. He can see that Louis' are fuzzy. Especially considering the amount of shit he's done to deserve her distrust. Zayn looks at Sophie as if she's the only one in the room, while Louis is too busy making sure no one else is looking at her first. She's like property to him. That's a horrible basis for a relationship, trust me.." She shook her head at the last words.

She looked hurt. As if Bri had been there before. In that situation. But how could Zayn love Sophia? And even if he did, how could Sophia ever love him? Louis loved her. Sophia loved Lou. They were perfect together.

"But look at how in love they are. I can see it!" I said, thinking back to the interview she had on tv.

She just shook her head, "She's a fighter. She loves the fight. Soph knows that being with Louis is a challenge and she's taking it head on. She loves the idea of their relationship being so 'forbidden'. Not to say she doesn't love him, but I don't see the passion Sophia has when she fights for Zayn. She would skin someone alive if it would reduce the pain he's been feeling. She fights for him like a warrior. She doesn't have to do that with Louis because he's a lot more egotistical than she is. Sorry he's your friend, but it's true."

I couldn't even believe she was saying that.

"So if it came down to it, in a perfect world, who would she pick. Zayn, Nathan, or Louis?" I asked, rolling my eyes.

Without skipping a beat she replied, "In my opinion, Zayn."

"But we don't even know if he likes her! And we know that Louis' in love with her! He has been since like forever!" I argued.

"He cheated on her multiple times." She responded, rolling her eyes.

"But he wouldn't ever do that again!" I argued back.

"And really? Because I can see it written all over Zayns face that he's in love with that girl."

Brielle is an idiot. It's official. The girl I'm dying to impress is dumb. Zayn can't like Sophia. Sophia definitely can't like Zayn. Where does Louis fit into that equation?

---

I sat in my bar stool, stunned as Zayn walked towards me. Tom actually liked Zayn now. More than he liked Louis at least. He called for the bartended to get us three more Irish Car Bombs, stating the night had 'just gotten interesting'.

"Sophia.." Zayn said, shaken up.

"Tell me this wasn't one of The Wanted boys... please." I begged.

Not that that made much of any sense. Zayn was the most liked one, next to Niall. Two of five were in the ICU and one was next to me. Siva and Jay weren't much of fighters, more like the peace squad.

He rested one hand on my lower back and the other caressed my cheek, "You can't marry him."

That being the second time I've heard that in second hours, I felt like I was losing my mind.

"Wh... why." I muttered out.

Zayn being mere inches away from my face was making my heart pound. He was staring into my eyes like they were the only thing left for him.

He didn't even skip a beat, "Because I'm falling in love with you."

Notes