The Wanted Girl

Sophia's POV:
I had a meeting with Paul, assumably to go over my termination. I wasn't really upset, except for the fact that I was leaving Brielle. It was more of the closure I needed, signing something that would release me from all of the drama, all of the confusion, and all of the annoyance.

"Hey Paul." I said, sitting down in front of him.

He raised his eyebrows, "No snarky comments?"

I laughed, "Too exhausted. So, where do I sign?"

He shook his head, "You don't. You're staying."

I laughed, "Why?"

He smiled sympathetically, "Louis told us that if you left, he was going to chase after you. Without him, we have no show."

Louis did that?

"But... I thought he WANTED me to leave?" I asked, shocked.

"Sophie, you and Louis fight like cats and dogs. He's so in love with you he'll do anything to get some sort of reaction out of you. It's all he can do. He knows that after yesterday, if you leave, that's it."

I shook my head, fighting tears, "He doesn't love me. He's just trying to torture me by keeping me here."

Paul laughed, "No he isn't. But here's the thing, we have a contract made up for you to sign regarding that kiss between you and Zayn yesterday. We're giving you the benefit of the doubt that this was heat of the moment, 'doing it for charity' sort of thing. But as of now, you are not dating anyone. You can hangout with all of the guys together, but if you hangout with one alone, you need to try and hangout with the others alone as well. This can't look dodgy. No holding hands unless it's with Louis, no late night 'drunk-leaving-the-club-together', and DEFINITELY no kissing. As of now, you're the bestfriend. Keep it that way."

I nodded numbly, "That's all I've ever been anyway."

He scoffed, "Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Two of them are in love with you. I don't doubt that you'll probably end up with one of them. But right now, you need to do what is best for them. You are an employee, remember that."

I signed the contract and took the extra copy, figuring I'd read over it later. I stood up and smiled, "Thank you for giving me another chance."

He shrugged, "I didn't want to. Thank Louis."


I walked up to Louis' door, contemplating whether or not to knock. What if Holly stayed the night? I sort of expected that. I just wasn't sure if I was prepared to see it. I went to knock and stopped myself, cursing under my breath. I repeated this four or five times before groaning and rubbing my temples feverishly.

"Sophia?" Louis asked, walking towards the door.

I stuttered, "Uh... Hi Lou."

He gave me a small smile, "What are you doing here?"

"I.. I don't really know actually. I'm leaving, I'll go." I turned to leave but he grabbed my wrist.

I took in a sharp breath, "What are you doing."

"Let's talk Soph. We need to sort this out."

I nodded and followed him into his suite. He sat on the couch, patting the seat next to him. All of the sudden, I felt shy. Me, shy? Maybe it was out of confusion. Why was he being nice. It was throwing me off.

I figured I'd speak up first, "I'm-"

Lou cut me off, "No, let me. I'm sorry Sophia."

I laughed, "For what?"

He stared at the ground, resting his forearms on his thighs, "For how I've treated you. For pushing you away. For everything. For letting you believe even for a second that I'm anything less than totally in love with you."

I swallows the lump in my throat, "I don't know what I feel anymore."

He carefully put his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his chest. I thought about resisting, but I couldn't. I needed to cry. So I did. I sobbed into his chest and he held me, brushing my hair out with his fingers. I finally felt safe.

"What do I do Louis. I can't make any sort of decision about how I'm feeling and that's not fair to anyone."

I heard him clear his throat, voice cracking, and felt a tear hit my arm. I knew it wasn't mine.

"I'm just worried about you. You're not the Sophia I know anymore. It's not your feelings, it's your actions. Partying every night, smoking weed, like who are you? You used to laugh at people like that, saying they only did that to run away from their emotions. Why are you doing it, I need to know."

I looked up at him and caressed his cheek, giving him a sad smile, "Because I'm a hypocrite. Because I'm trying to run away from all of the things I don't understand and can't handle."

He shakes my hand off, "I can't see you anymore. When I look at you, it's like I'm looking at a shell of you. It makes me sad Sophie."

"I'm sorry." I murmured.

He tilts my chin up so that my eyes are met with his, "It's not your fault. It just makes me wonder how many times you needed me and I wasn't there."

I sobbed even more, unsure of how it was possible to have so many tears.

"Thank you for getting me my job back." I whispered into his chest.

He grinned, "Like I said, I'm not Louis Tomlinson without you."

Our small moment of bliss was interrupted by the door opening, showing all four other members of the band. Oh my God.. Zayn.

Zayn's mouth dropped open and I immediately removed myself from his grip. Zayn shook his head and ran out of the room. I went to get up but Louis grabbed my wrist, "Don't do this Sophie, please. Don't do this."

I looked at him sympathetically and shook my head, "I'm sorry."

I ran past the three other boys and into the hallway, wondering which way he went. I could hear Louis yelling after me but I couldn't focus on anything that he was saying. I ran towards the elevator and put my hand in the door just before it closed. Zayn was glaring at me with the most miserable face I'd ever seen him make.

"Zayn listen-"

He cut me off, "Did you kiss him?!"

"What?! I-"

"Sophia answer the question. Did. You. Kiss. Him."

I shook my head and slowly walked towards him, pressing my body against his, "No I didn't."

He stared at his feet, "Promise me Sophia."

I grabbed his cheeks with both of my hands and met his eyes with my own, "Promises mean nothing without eye contact."

I smashed our lips together and the door dinged open in the lobby. I heard someone clear their throat and turned to see Paul attempting to avert his eyes.

"Sophia, you signed a contract." He mumbled.

Zayn took my hand protectively and pulled me into his chest, "Fuck her stupid contract."

Paul pointed at Zayn, "This is bad for everyone Zayn."

Zayn shook his head dismissively, "No. This is bad for anyone who doesn't want to be happy for me, for US."

Paul sighed and scratched his head, "I'm sorry Sophia but you have to pick, Zayn or your job."

Notes