The Wanted Girl

Sophia's POV:
I walked into my room, towing Connor's suitcase behind me.

"Welcome home!" I said cheerily.

He laughed, "Soph. This looks like the lads from footballs dorm room. It's musky and filled with trash. Alcohol and cigarettes. Who are you?!"

I groaned, "Sorry! I probably should have picked up, I'll give you that. But it isn't all that bad."

"How long have you been in LA?" He asked, picking up some of the empty vodka bottles and tossing them into the trash.

"A week." I mumbled.

He burst into a fit of giggles, "That's it?! How have you and Brielle accomplished this?!"

I started laughing too, realizing the room is pretty much a disaster. Maybe I had been hitting it a little too hard lately. But what else can I do? Whine all alone in my room? No. Have a calm night in with the boys, talking about our feelings? Aha no.

"So tell me what happened." He said, sitting on the edge of the spare twin bed.

"I went out with all of the boys last night. Everyone else had to leave at like midnight but I wanted to stay and so did Zayn. I drank too much and when we left we were just fucking around holding hands and a pap got a picture. It was stupid, really."

He nodded, listening intently. Waiting for me to continue.

"So then this morning Paul flipped out and asked me if I had feelings for Zayn and/or Louis."

"What did you say? " He asked.

"No." I replied.

"Do you have feelings for Louis?"

"Not after what he said." I mumbled.

"What did he say?" Connor asked, urging me not to leave out important information.

"He said Zayn and I looked 'pretty cozy' and told Paul to get me out of his hair as soon as possible." I mumbled.

He laughed in discomfort, "Oh God. I'm guessing you had a snide remark to say back?"

I shifted uncomfortably, "I said I felt lucky I didn't have to spend the rest of my life with him."

He sighed and put his arm around me, "That might have been the nail in your coffin. You know that, right?"

I nodded, "At least now I've made some sort of a decision."

"You're right. I just want to make sure whatever or whoever you decide on, you don't regret it later on."

I had an eery feeling he wasn't talking about Louis.

"You think I love him… don't you." I whispered, looking at my feet.

He grinned, "I really do. Soph he's defended you nonstop. To everyone and anyone. He looks at you like you're the only girl in the world. I think you'd be stupid not to love him. I see the way you avoid talking about him too."

I groaned and laid back on the bed, "I can't love him. What about Perrie!? Everyone would hate me! I would hate me!"

Connor rolled his eyes and laid back next to me, rubbing circles on my arm, "Perrie wouldn't hate you. In my opinion, I think she'd be happy that two people she loved were taking care of each other. Anyone who knows you two wouldn't hate you. We're not all judgmental asshats you know" He said, grinning.

I smiled, "I don't know what to do Connor. This is so complicated, why don't you chose for me? You like them both. You know be better than anyone. Pick."

He laughed, "You want me to pick your future?"

I grinned and nudged him, "Wouldn't trust anyone else."

"Okay. I will. Gimme two days, I'll choose." He said, smiling.

"Two days. I can handle that."

"But I have one rule, you have to play nice to both of them. I'll play fairy god mother but you can't be a psycho to one and not the other because then it won't be fair." He said, eying me down like a mom.

"Fine mom." I replied, pouting.

"What do you have to do today anyway?" He asked, pretending to sound interested.

I laughed, "I'm getting the boys read for a charity event."

He furrowed his eyebrows, "Why's that funny?"

I grinned, "Because their being auctioned off on dates."


After getting everyone ready, proving to be awkward, I figured I'd leave. Maybe take Connor out to eat or something.

"Ready?" I asked.

He grinned at me, "Nope, I wanna stay."

I scoffed, "Why? Wanna bet on a male celebrity?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "I dunno. Maybe."

I rolled my eyes, but agreed. It might be fun to sit with my best friend and watch the boys get auctioned off like live bait. I also promised Brielle that I'd take a picture of the chick Haz got set up with so she could freak out from hundreds of miles away.

We sat next to Paul at the event, who was clearly making an effort to ignore me. I mean, I didn't want to talk to him much anyway so I didn't complain. The woman speaking was elderly, she apparently was the head of the council for Make A Wish, the charity this was all for. I was endeared by her speech, she was poised and kind, not slipping up on a single word. A blonde girl pushed lightly through the seats as she crossed in front of me.

"Scuse me." She said, completely monotone.

"You're excused." I mumbled, less than enthusiastic.

"Oh my GOD! Sophia?!" The girl said.

I didn't realize until she said my name and my eyes met hers who I was speaking to. I thought I had to be going insane for a moment. But what Connor said next insured I was not, "What the fuck is she doing here?!"

Holly Lattery. Best friends exgirlfriend. Exfiancé's apparent 'nurse'. Arch nemisis since elementary school. In LA. Why?

"My mum ADORES this charity. I've been dying to make a trip out here anyway! Louis told me about it and I figured I'd come to help the cause." She said, taking the seat next to me.

I scoffed, "Let me guess, you're bidding on Louis?"

She looked at me with false concern, "I mean is that alright? I heard you two broke up. I wouldn't wanna step on anyone's toes!"

I smiled politely, patting her knee, "I'd much rather cure childhood cancer than get into an argument with you at a charity function. Please, bid away."

She grinned before looking over to Connor, "Connor honey! How have you been?"

"Up until now, fine." He mumbled.

The horrified look on Paul's face was priceless.

"She's a BLAST. Perfect for Louis, wouldn't you say" I whispered.

He shook his head, "Never in a million years. Who is she anyway?!"

I smiled and stretched my arms out, "She's Louis' rebound. Have fun with that."

The lights dimmed and they introduced the boys.

First up was Liam. Two moms on their phones bid for probably 15 minutes, giving each other death glares. Liam's face was hilarious. He was actually enjoying this! He ended up 'selling' for 13,000. Enough to buy a car. Nice. Next was Niall. Clearly the US favorite, people were jumping left and right to 'purchase' him. He sold for 18,000. Harry was next. It went on so long I stopped paying attention until the gavel hit. He sold for THIRTY TWO FUCKING THOUSAND DOLLARS. I mean, who needs to send their kid to college when she can spend one evening with Harry Styles? The woman was clearly a mother, she didn't give him the sex eye that I saw. So I assumed the date was for her daughter. I texted Brielle to let her know. Louis was next. He grinned at me, raising his eyebrows. That little fucker was hoping I'd bid on him. Not happening honey. Not after the Holly stunt. But of course, that little cunt bid.. OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. Until finally, she won. 12,500.

I leaned over in my seat and whispered in her ear, "Just remember, I didn't have to pay to get a rock on my finger."

She laughed, "No but you're currently paying for the fact that he ripped it off."

I scoffed, "Is THAT what he told you? I'm getting fired because HE dumped ME?! Honey NO. Not what happened."

Connor shushed me but I ignored him.

"It's okay Sophie, I told him you weren't marriage material. Never have been." She replied.

I heard the woman on stage yell "SOLD!" And Zayn give me a bewildered look. I looked around to see Connor Archibald with his number raised high in the air.

"You BOUGHT Zayn?! Why?" I asked, shocked.

He shrugged, "Tax deduction. I'm not going out with him though."

I slapped my hand to my forehead, "Connor now you HAVE to! It's for a magazine! They want photos of the dates!"

He smiled and leaned back in his chair, "I know."

I narrowed my eyes, "Explain. Now."

He shot daggers at Holly before looking back at me, "First of all, that little hooker, my ex, is taking YOUR ex, on a date. Per his request. Two, I made my decision. It's Zayn."

I put two and two together and my mouth dropped.

He continued, "You're going on the date with him, not me. This is going to piss the hell out of Louis. Which is great. You aren't allowed to see the boys except for work. Well now you have to have alone time with Zayn. It's for charity. And Sophia, figure this the fuck out before you lose everything."

I couldn't do anything but nod, looking at two angry faces around me. Paul's and Louis'. This was going to be one hell of a date.

Notes