The Wanted Girl

Sophia's POV:
I sat down at the table, being the first one there, and looked up at all of the empty seats. This would be the first time in awhile that I had been around everyone. I felt immediately out of place. Even if I was around the two people who loved me and my bestfriend, everyone held an opinion.

The only person that didn't have an opinion happened to be Nathan, who Niall probably didn't like at the moment. I don't want to say that it wasn't Nathan's fault, because it definitely was. But Serena twisted the entire story into making Nathan think that Niall wasn't treating her well. In reality, Nathan should have thought more of Niall. But, he didn't. And this was fixable. They were mates. That shouldn't be dropped for a girl.

So I did what any smart girl would do, I called Nathan to invite him to Brielle's impromptu gathering at the little italian restaurant.

"Hello?" Nathan said.

"Hey Nate," I replied.

"What's up, love? You alright?"

I smiled, "Yes I'm okay. Are you busy?"

"Hm.. Nope, not in the slightest actually."

"Perfect, come to the italian place near my apartment. We're having this dinner with everyone and I'd like you to be here."

It wasn't really an offer, it was more of a command. Which Nathan was definitely used to me barking out.

"Sophie... that's not a good idea..."

"It's a great idea. Niall doesn't hold grudges and I'm going to be with Zayn and Louis. Your presence would make this much easier for me."

He stayed silent for a moment so I figured I'd pull out the big guns, "Nate please... I need you right now."

He sighed, "I'll be there in five."

I had downed a pint when Liam walked in. I ran over to him and attacked him in hugs and kisses, missing my little angel more than ever.

"Leeeyumm," I cooed.

"Sophhieeeee," he responded, mocking my voice.

We walked over to the table and he sat directly across from me, "How are you, love? Heard about everything. Can't be easy."

I smiled, "I'm alright. It's just confusing. I'm really scared I'm going to screw it up, you know?"

He nodded, "I know. For once, I'm HAPPY I'm the only super single one. I wouldn't want to be in your position right now, that's for sure."

I laughed, "I'm not going to complain. I'm lucky that they both love me."

He raised his eyebrows, "But one of them loves you much much more."

"Could you enlighten me on who?" I inquired, leaning towards him.

He smiled and shrugged, "You'd know better than I would."

"I hate you. How was Wolverhampton? Did you tell mummy Payne I said hello?"

"Yes I did and she said she needs more of than shampoo you sent her. It really bothers me that you talk to my mum yet you've never met," he laughed.

I smiled, "Well I'm going to meet her and you can count on that. Tell her I'll send it tomorrow and she should get it within a week. Or I can just take a trip there and tell her all of your embarrassing clubbing stories and she can whip out the baby pictures." I nonchalantly offered.

He narrowed his eyes at me, "I hate you."

I blew him a kiss and flipped my hair over my shoulder, "You don't. You wish you did though."

Before our banter could continue, Harry and Brielle came in, followed by Zayn. We stood to greet them and after attacking Brielle and making fun of Harry (for being so whipped that he ended his 'paparazzi free' vacation for a dinner with people he sees every day), I hugged Zayn. Maybe a little longer than I should have. But he didn't seem fazed by it. Brielle smiled smugly when Zayn sat next to me, but Harry scolded him for 'stealing me away from my bestest friend in the entire would who I rarely get to see' so Brielle was forced to switch with him. She kicked Harry under the table so hard that she knocked three glasses over.

Louis came in next, saying hello to all of the boys and Brielle before coming over towards me and engulfing me in a hug, "Hi babe," he whispered into my neck.

I tried to dismiss the butterflies when I responded, "Hi Lou."

He sat down on my other side before Brielle scolded him for stealing NATHAN'S seat. To which Harry mumbled something about how he wished she had a shock collar. I would have settled for being able to keep her mouth shut. Louis visibly twitched at the mention of Nathan's name but moved next to Harry anyways, ignoring Zayn's amused eyes. I was thankful for that. At least there wasn't going to be some knock down drag out fight at our dinner.

Nathan came next, sitting next to me and making small talk with everyone. The boys (other than Liam who didn't know what had happened) were even more stand-off-ish but Nathan shrugged it off. He had only really liked Niall anyways.

Niall hadn't showed yet, and I was beginning to get worried. Niall wasn't normally late. He wasn't like that. Especially when it was a group gathering at a restaurant/BAR.

"So Nathan, how's my favorite boyband?" Louis mocked sarcastically.

Nathan raised his eyes in amusement, "Fine. How's life without your fiancé?"

Everyone, including me, choked on whatever they were drinking and gawked at Nathan's audacity. Zayn was grinning wildly, happy as hell that Nathan was making Louis look back.

Until, that is, that Nathan called out Zayn's smiling, "I don't know why you're smiling, you never had her to begin with. At least this one got a ring on her finger, even if it was only for fifteen seconds."

We all had whiplash, trying to keep up with who Nathan was throwing shade at at the moment.

Louis was now laughing wildly, "I don't know why I didn't like you, you're quite funny. Even if you're just a small, nationally known popstar."

Nathan grinned and put his arm around me, pulling me slightly into him. It was such a small gesture, only Zayn and Louis noticed. Both flinched. Zayn tried to brush it off and look over to pretend to be interested in whatever it was that Liam and Harry were talking about. Louis was glaring into Nathan's soul, determined to send his clear hatred into every inch of his being. Nathan didn't even bat an eye. I couldn't even move. I couldn't even BREATHE. I hadn't said anything since the not-so-friendly-banter began and I didn't intend on starting. This was something that I would only make worse. Whoever I stuck up for, I would hurt the other two. This wasn't my fight and I didn't think it was important enough to get involved in.

I heard Harry and Liam 'woooo' and saw Niall walking in, smiling. A flush of relief was taken back when I noticed he had Serena in tow. Holding her hand. The moment he saw Nathan his entire demeanor shifted from excitement to fury. I had seen Niall upset, even angry. But this pure hatred was something that I hadn't witnessed. Everyone tensed. Everyone.

"I'm going to fucking KILL YOU!" Niall screamed, running full force towards Nathan.

I moved in front of Nathan, almost out of reflex, and my current position (blocking Nathan) made Louis and Zayn grab Niall. Knowing that if Niall continued, he'd hurt me in the process.

Brielle was already screaming in spanish in Serena's face, being held back by Harry and Liam. Serena was just staring blankly at Brielle, as if she wasn't her bestfriend less that a year ago.

"Let GO of me!" Niall screamed.

I clutched onto Nathan, mumbling pointless apologizes about how I didn't know Niall even had it in him to react like this. Nathan just held me protectively, staring at Serena as she ignored Brielle's screaming to glare at me. He was more worried about Serena being rude to me than he was worried about Niall trying to slaughter him.

"Don't you fucking look at her!" Niall screamed at Nathan again.

But that was Nathan for you. Nathan would throw himself in front of a bus for someone he loved. He'd always been like that. He wore his heart on his sleeve. Never expecting more than what he received. Over all of the shit I'd put his heart through, he was content with holding me, keeping me safe from a possible chick fight. Which probably wouldn't go father than yelling and crying. But he needed that. He NEEDED to protect me. So I let him. Because I was selfish and horrible.

"Don't you DARE bring Soph into this by holding her in front of you!" Niall screached.

"Let me go or so help me God I WILL truck through the both of them! Get her away from him because I'm going to kill him either way!" He yelled again.

I felt a bubble of frustration building inside of me. I couldn't understand why Niall was THIS angry. I knew he liked Serena and I knew he wasn't going to be happy with Nathan but the look in his eye was something so strong… I couldn't begin to understand it. It didn't add up to me. And that hurt even more.

"Niall?" I croaked.

"Stay out of this Sophia," he warned.

"Niall…" I reiterated, stepping out of Nathan's arms and walking slowly towards Niall.

"Soph," Louis begged, silently asking me to stay away.

"Niall what did she tell you?" I asked, breathlessly.

"Stay the fuck out of this Sophia!" Serena yelled, Brielle immediately reverting back to screaming.

I shot a deathly glare in her direction, "YOU don't get to speak!"

"Don't talk to her like that," Niall whispered, trying to keep what was left of his sanity.

"Niall," I said again, "what did she tell you."

I was now within a foot of him, reaching towards his shoulders. Louis and Zayn were both staring at me, but I couldn't look at anything other than the pain coursing through Niall's eyes.

He didn't respond, he just squinted his face and turned his head, pushing a memory or thought away. I touched his cheek and moved him to look at me. He tried to resist but eventually moved to look into my eyes. A single tear fell from his eyes and I realized he loved Serena much more than I had expected. I was a shit friend for not knowing that. I was a shit friend for worrying more about my own relationship problems when the one person who had stood by me relentlessly was hurting far more than I had even bothered to know about.

"Love…" I began.

"That asshole," he croaked, barely audible.

I thought the entire would had stopped turning when he spoke again, "He raped my fucking girlfriend."

Notes