I wanted to spend the entire day sulking in the safety of my bed, but no, whoever is in charge is intent on making me even more miserable. Even though I had woken up hours ago because of my nightmares, I was still annoyed when Jackson knocked on my door and instructed me to meet him in his office immediately.
I felt like I was in high school again and I just got called to the principles office. I really hoped that Jackson didn't know about Harry and I, especially now that there is no Harry and I anymore. At least that's what I'm assuming after yesterdays events. I lazily brush my teeth and throw my hair up in a messy bun before going downstairs in the shorts and t-shirt I slept in. I grab myself a cup of coffee before knocking on Jackson's door.
“Come in!” he calls out. I open the door and am surprised to see Niall and Harry sitting in chairs. “What's going on?” I ask, closing the door. Harry won't look at me, so I share a look with Niall. He shrugs his shoulders, clueless as well.
Jackson sits down in his desk chair and a moment later projects tabloid pictures on the different security televisions. There is a picture of Niall and I dancing, of Harry's arms around me when he told that guy to back off, of Harry getting friendly with that stupid slut, and pictures of us in the booth drinking.
So much for Jackson not knowing I drank on the job. I hope Ben didn't get in trouble for that.
“Holy shit,” Niall breathes out. We're all staring wide eyed at the screens, all of these pictures are so bad. So very, very bad. We do not need this publicity right now, we are trying to keep Harry out of the public eye until the death threats stop or the person is caught.
“Do you mind explaining yourselves?” Jackson asks us, reminding me of when I was in trouble with my father. Those stern looks made me feel like he was looking straight through my soul, making it impossible to lie.
“What does it look like? We're obviously having a night out.” Harry snaps. My eyes widen and I glare at him, but he won't look at me. This is not the time to be a jealous child.
Before Jackson can respond, I rush out, “Honestly, it looks really bad but its all actually very innocent.”
He raises an eyebrow, “Is that so? Please, do explain.”
I gulp, “Well, I will admit I shouldn't have been dancing like that with Niall. It's unprofessional of me.” Harry snorts at that. Are you fucking serious?
I ignore it and continue, “However, Harry was actually telling some creep to back off me. He acted like he was my boyfriend, that's why his arms are wrapped around me.”
Jackson just stares at me, studying me and looking for lies. After making us wait in excruciating silence for a few minutes, he finally sighs before saying, “I know you all are young and rich and want to have fun, but you need to remember that you're famous. You need to be more careful so things like this don't ruin your image not only individually, but the band as a whole. If this doesn't go away within the next few days, something will have to be done to counteract this little stunt.”
Great, he's not that mad. This is good. He looks at Harry who is pouting in his chair. “Harry, I don't give a damn how many women you fuck a week, but for the love of God, stop making out with them in public.”
I involuntarily laugh out loud at that before covering my mouth, trying to stifle my giggles. Jackson's hard stare turns to me, “You think that's funny? Do you know what they are saying about you?”
My laughter abruptly stops as he shows me just exactly what they are saying. One tabloid says, “Is Liam's childhood friend actually a band slut? Max was seen at a club looking awfully close with both Harry Styles and Niall Horan! Will she be caught making out with Zayn next? Hold onto your men, 1D girlfriends. It looks like Max Johnson is making her rounds. How do the fans like these photos, I wonder?”
I cross my arms over my chest and sit up straight, “Wow, great first impression I've made.” I don't look at any of them, I can't.
“You are free to go, boys. I'd like to have a moment alone with Max.” Jackson instructs. Niall hasn't said a word the whole time and now that I think about it, I'm not even sure if he was awake. They shuffled out of the room and closed the door behind them. I waited for Jackson to fire me or yell at me, something.
Instead, he sits in a chair next to me. “Usually I don't care if you're out with the lads and want a drink or two, all I ask is for you to be able to do your job properly. You are about to get a lot of hate from 1D fans, my dear. I suggest not going on any social media until this has all blown over, people can be mean.”
It's amazing how different Jackson is with me when nobody is around. He will treat me like one of the guys when they are around, but he is more gentle when it's just us. He reminds me of my father a lot and I respect him for that.
“I want you to take the rest of the day off, I know all of this can get overwhelming. If Harry wants to go out, I'll have someone else escort him.” Jackson tells me, walking towards the door. That's my cue to leave. I smile faintly at him, “Thanks, Jackson. And I'm sorry.” He just nods and smiles back and I exit his office.
I am incredibly happy and thankful that I have the day off, now I can avoid Harry all day. I still haven't talked to Zayn about him knowing my dirty little secret, but I'll wait until he's awake. I go into my bedroom and put on my running attire, I might as well use all this anger I have to good use. I grab my phone off my bedside table before stopping. I stare at my laptop sitting on my bed. I know Jackson told me to stay off the internet, but I'm simply too curious as to what everyone is saying about me. I know this can't end well, but it can't be any worse than being a band slut, can it?
I log into Twitter for the first time in a good three years and am shocked at what I see. Insult after insult, accusation after accusation. Not only am I a band slut, but I'm also a dirty whore who is probably giving Harry and Niall an STD. I read and read and read for almost an hour straight. I probably would have kept reading if someone didn't start banging on my door.
I take a deep breath to calm myself and I wipe my cheeks of the tears I didn't even know I was shedding until a moment ago. I clear my throat before opening the door. A pissed off Harry barges through without a word and I shut the door behind him, also quiet.
“How can you even live with yourself?” he suddenly asks me with venom in his voice. “Excuse me?” I retort. He snorts, “I was stupid to think that you actually liked me. Did you know who I was when we met? Did you want Niall the whole time? Or do you want to fuck every one of us? That's what a band slut is, right?”
“You think I fucked Niall.” I said with a small voice. It was a question but it sounded like a statement. He gets in my face, “I know you did! I saw you two snogging in front of his room.”
“You fucked Brittany.” I countered.
“Niall is my best friend!” he nearly yelled at me. “I should have known you were just like all the other sluts when you let me fuck you the first night we met.” He spits angrily at me.
Holy fucking ow.
His green eyes are dark with rage as they leer down at me. There's no use in telling him I didn't fuck Niall, he won't believe me anyway and the damage is already done. I can't speak, I know my voice will break and I'll lose all the composure I can muster up right now. I don't say anything as I walk around him and out of my bedroom.
Once I was out of the house, I ran. I ran until my feet were throbbing and my knees were weak. I ran until I couldn't breathe anymore. I ran so long it had begun to rain. I don't even know where I am anymore, and I didn't care. All of the hateful comments began to swarm through my head, but I didn't start to cry until the scene with Harry replayed in my mind. Out of every insult I read today, his by far hurt the worst.
Am I really a slut?

~Zayn's POV~

It was almost midnight and everyone else was sleeping, except for me. I'm in the living room on the phone with Perrie, this is the only time I can talk to her because of the time difference. I haven't told Perrie about Harry and Max because I haven't had the chance. Besides, I don't even think they are together anymore.
“I miss you baby.” Perrie purrs into the phone.
I smile, “I miss you too. When do you think you can come see me?”
“Hopefully by the end of next week I can take a couple days off. It's been crazy around here lately.” She says.
I was about to reply when Max comes trudging through the back door soaking wet and freezing. “Uh babe, I'm really sorry but I need to go. Max just got in and she doesn't look well.”
I can practically hear her frown, “Oh, okay. Tell her I miss her, I hope shes okay. I love you.”
“I love you too.” Thank God I have a wonderful girlfriend who doesn't get jealous when I hang up on her to help another girl. I'm lucky.
I quickly run over to Max who is slowly climbing the stairs. I don't know if shes trying to be quiet or if she is too frozen to go any faster, but I run a couple steps ahead of her.
“Max, you okay? Have you been out running all this time? It's been raining for like three hours.” I ask her.
“I-I'm f-f-fine.” Her teeth clatter together, lips turning blue. I frown, “You are not fine.” Without warning, I pick her up and put her over my shoulder, carrying her to her room. She doesn't even protest, so I know for a fact something is wrong now.
“We need to get you warm. Can you take off your clothes, love?” I tell her softly. Her eyes are puffy, her nose red. She's been crying. She starts to take off her shirt and I turn around to rummage through her clothes. I gather her undergarments and warm pajamas. I walk back to her with my hand over my eyes.
I hand her her clothes and feel her ice cold hand touch mine before grabbing them. After a minute or two she says, “You c-can look now.” I uncover my eyes and see that shes fully clothed and cuddled under her blankets. She looks better already.
“Thanks, Zayn. You can go now, I'm fine.” She says, sliding further down in her bed. She looks so depressed. I sigh and climb into bed next to her, but a considerable distance apart.
“Tell me what's going on, love.” I order her softly.
I didn't think she was going to answer me, until she says, “Do you think I'm a slut? A band slut?”
“Absolutely not.” I answer her straight away, voice firm. She turns to look at me, “Why not? Everyone else does.”
“Did you look at your Twitter?” I ask her, putting the pieces together. She just nods in response. I sigh, “They don't know shit so don't listen to them. They just like the drama. I thought you didn't look at any social media shit anyway?”
She shrugs, “I do now.”
“Why did you start now? Horrible timing, by the way.”
“Because of Harry.”
I had almost forgotten that Max and I haven't talked about me knowing her and Harry's secret fling. “What happened? You might as well just tell me everything because I already know the big secret.”
She sighs and takes a couple deep breaths before launching into the story of her and Harry.

~Two hours later~
“You made out with Niall?!” I yell at Max.
“Shhh!” She puts her hand over my mouth, wide eyed.
I smile sheepishly and whisper, “Sorry. So do you like Niall now?”
“No. I mean, I don't think so?” Her face scrunches up in confusion and thought. Had she really not even thought about it until now? We are sitting on her bed, various junk foods surrounding us.
“You don't think so?”
“I...ugh. I don't know! Niall is great and hes cute, and a really good kisser, but...” she trails off.
“But you like Harry more.” I state.
She sighs and looks at her lap, “Yeah. I met Harry first, I've known him longer and I'm more emotionally invested in Harry. This all just fucking sucks.” She tosses her head back in frustration and throws a pillow across the room.
I chuckle lightly, “Okay, want my advice?”
She nods at me, listening intently. “You need to tell Harry how you feel and you need to tell him you didn't sleep with Niall. Talking is key. Whenever Perrie and I fight, we'll give ourselves time to think before talking to each other again. Get your shit together, Max, then talk to him.”
“How long do you and Perrie usually wait?”
I shrug, “It depends on how bad of a fight it is.”
She stares at the wall for a moment before sighing deeply, “Okay, you're right. I need to get my shit together. Thank you, Zayn. You're a good friend. I'm actually glad you know, and you can tell Perrie if you want. But please, nobody else.”
“Oh, good. I really hate lying to her. You're secret is safe with me, love.” I stand and say as flamboyantly as possible, “Tomorrow night we can have another girl talk and I'll tell you all about Perrie and I's problems.”
She laughs, “Okay, sounds good chica.” I wink at her. She walks me to her door and gives me a hug before opening it. “Night, Zayn.”
“Night, Max.”
Walking to my room, I can't help but shake my head at this situation. It's extremely ironic that Max ended up being Harry's bodyguard after their little one night stand. It all makes sense now, though. After that trip, he was different. He zoned out more than usual and wasn't bringing any more girls home. I just figured management told him to cool it on bringing birds back. I think Max will be good for Harry.
And Niall! I knew that he thought Max was hot but I didn't think he would actually go for it. Good for him, in a way. Hopefully, he isn't looking for anything serious with Max.
I don't care that its almost three in the morning and I have to be up in six hours. (Okay, maybe that's not entirely true.) I think of Max as a little sister, especially after tonight and I'm glad I was able to be there for her. I do kind of feel like a girl for just talking for two hours straight, though. Which is why I made that girl comment to Max before leaving her room.

Collapsing into bed, I take out my phone and text Perrie, “I love you, have a good day.” Perrie is always the first person I think of in the morning and the last person I think of at night. I set my alarm and put my phone on the charger before falling asleep almost instantly.

Notes

thank you all for being so patient! ive been busy.
so, yeah. I did a Zayn POV? that was kind of weird to write, i hate writing guy POV's. ._.
anyway, you're all amazing and sorry if this sucks k thanks bye
ill probably update on wednesday. :D