Hope in Disguise

It had been a couple of hours since I had been to the bar and I was aimlessly wandering around since I had no place to go to. I was currently walking around a park and the bitter winter wind of London was whistling through every layer I was currently wearing. I had managed to swipe a beanie off of a street vender along with gloves but it wasn’t enough to keep me warm. I was going to call it a night and find a nice park bench when I heard a girl scream. Now normally I was used to hearing those sounds while I was on the run but tonight something didn’t sound right with that scream. It was more of a scream for life. I heard it one more time and quickly figured out that the girl was close. I picked up my pace and looked down every alley I passed. It was my last alley that I looked down that I saw her. She was a tiny little thing with blonde hair and there were a couple of guys who were holding her down while the other one was trying to shut her up.

“Zayn!” I heard her scream as she was struggling.

“Shut up!” I heard the one trying to get her to stop screaming exclaimed.

“Last time I checked that’s not a great way to get a girl to sleep you,” I spoke up and all four heads snapped my way.

“Get out of here this isn’t any of your business,” the same guy barked at me.

“I’m pretty sure this is my business,” I said taking off my backpack throwing it against the brick wall, “She doesn’t want to be around you gentlemen.”

“And how would you know?” the lad with gages asked me.

“Screaming is a form of no in girl language,” I said as they stopped paying attention to her and all turned to look at me.

“Really,” they said as I watched the girl slowly slide past them.

“I know its quiet shocking,” I said I spun around to move towards the corner and the girl slipped out without them knowing.

“Well then why don’t you show us,” the smallest of the three grinned as I as felt the brick wall hit my back.

I could feel the smallest one getting closer at the other two blocked any possible exit and I mentally cursed myself for trying to do the right thing for once instead of saving my tail. I could feel his rough callused hand brush my cheek ever so lightly.

“My you’re a pretty thing,” he grinned at me, “Even prettier than the girl just here.”

He then started trying to take off my jacket when I saw shadows show up at the opening of the alley.

“Step away from the girl Drew,” I heard a familiar voice warn.

“Or what Styles?” Drew barked still smirking at me, “She’s not anyone’s. She’s fresh meat.”

“Don’t make kick your ass for a third time Drew,” Harry said, “Because you know I will.”

I then watched as Drew’s hands clenched into fists and he slowly moved to the side and he spun around and I pictured him glare at Harry. The two goons with Drew moved towards the opening of the alley way and Drew turned back to smirk at me. He leaned down and made sure his lips hit my ear.

“You got lucky tonight princess,” he whispered, “but I will get a chance to see what you taste like.”

He then smirked at me and headed out of the alley. I then looked to see six people standing in the middle of the alley looking directly at me. The only one I completely recognized was Harry from earlier in the night.

“I didn’t need to be rescued,” I replied curtly as I pushed myself off the wall.

“Really because to me it looked like you did,” Harry replied shocked that I wasn’t at his feet thanking him.

“I was fine,” I stated as I grabbed my bag that was a few feet away from me.

I heard Harry snort and I just pretended to ignore it and tried to get out of the alley but Harry’s goons were blocking the way out.

“I suggest you tell your lackies to move,” I replied, “because I don’t have time for this.”

“You know if you knew what we could do to you, you wouldn’t be talking to us like you are,” Harry replied and I just laughed.

“Trust me I’ve met worse people,” I said, “You don’t scare me.”

“Harry,” I heard one of the guys said and I saw the blonde girl standing behind him.

Harry sighed and nodded his head.

“I wanted to thank you,” the guy said and took a step towards me, “You saved my girlfriend.”

“You’re welcome,” I said grabbing the strap of my backpack, “Didn’t need to hear another girl beg for her life.”

I then brushed past the boy and girl and headed down the street away from what I just did.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” I said to myself shaking my head, “Now I’m on the radar.”

I looked behind me to see that the group was now huddled together but they were missing a person. I then looked to my right to see the blonde girl standing next to me and I jumped.

“God damn it,” I mumbled.

“Sorry to scare you love,” she said, “I just wanted to personally thank you.”

“It’s not a problem,” I said, “Trust me you don’t want to go through it.”

I then saw her eyes widen a bit and then I started seeing the pity look.

“I didn’t tell you to take pity on me,” I replied rather harshly and then sighed, it had been over a year and a half since I had any real contact with a real person, “I’m sorry I. . .”

“Haven’t been around people in a while?” the girl asked giving me a knowing glance.

“Scarlett,” I said.

“Perrie,” the girl smiled, “Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure,” I said.

“Do you need a place to stay?” she asked, “Because you’re more than welcome to come home with Zayn, me, and the gang. We have a couch you could sleep on.”

I was about to decline when I looked up to see those set of green eyes watching me very carefully.

“Do I have a choice?” I asked looking back at Perrie.

“Well everyone has a choice,” she said, “but if you don’t want to we can always take you to a place where they let people stay for the night. You won’t survive the cold tonight in just what you’re wearing. I was like you.”

“What?” I asked as I looked at her.

“A runaway,” she said and I just stared at her shocked, “I was running too. Never stayed in one place for too long until I found Zayn.”

She then looked back and smiled lightly and then back at me.

“What’s your answer?” she asked and I sighed.

A couch would be nice. I haven’t spent a night on something soft in almost three months since I slept on park benches, trains, and buses because I was trying to save money. I then decided that I could leave tomorrow after tonight and get on with my life. This was going to be a one night thing.

“Okay,” I sighed, “but for tonight only.”

“Tonight only,” Perrie smiled and we walked back to the group.

We got back to the group and Perrie nodded her head towards Harry and gave another curt nod. We then followed the lads to a couple of cars. I followed Perrie to a black Range Rover and she helped me in and sat next to me. I hadn’t been in a nice car since I had left and I was in awe of how nice it was. I was taking in the scenery outside of the car however obviolous of the fact that I was being asked a question until Perrie nudged me lightly.

“So where are you from love?” I heard Zayn’s voice and I turned to look at him.

“Aberdeen,” I said.

“Scotland?” I heard the blonde one asked and picked up on his Irish accent immediately, “You don’t sound Scottish.”

“I moved there when I was six from Leeds,” I replied and he nodded his head.

That was enough information for everyone tonight. I knew if I spoke too much about myself then that would lead a trail and he would pick up on it immediately and that would be the end for me. I then looked out the window again and I could just tell everyone was looking at each other not knowing what to think. I watched as the scenery changed from being the rough part of town to a decent side but it wasn’t much better looking than the rough part of town. Harry brought the car to park in front of the house and we all got out as the front door opened and I saw three more people came out.

“Oh thank god you’re all okay,” a girl with long light brown hair rushed out and hugged the boy Jax pointed out to me as Louis.

There was another girl who came up to hug Liam and I looked back at the porch and smiled lightly when I saw Jax just smirking at me.

“I figured they’d find you doing something outside the pub,” he said coming down the stairs and I gave him a small smile.

“And who is this?” the girl who came down after the first asked.

“Scarlett,” Perrie said, “She saved me from Drew and his goons.”

“What?” the girl said shocked.

“It’s nothing,” I said for the millionth time.

“When was the last time you did your hair?” the same girl asked and I consciously touched my hair and looked a bit confused since it was up in a messy bun.

“Really Maggie?” I heard Perrie exclaim.

“Why don’t I take you inside,” Jax said picking up on my feeling uncomfortable.

“Good idea,” I mumbled and I followed him in the house.

Harry was also hot on our heels as I heard Perrie pull the girls to the side. We walked in and I was shocked to see that the house was over a decent size. It had two floors and I could tell everyone had enough room here. I was quietly looking around when I heard Harry’s voice.

“She sleeps in my room,” he said, “I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“No!” I said quickly and both Jax and Harry turned to look at me, “I mean I want to sleep on the couch. I really don’t mind.”

Jax was a bit taken back but Harry’s eyes narrowed a bit and shook his head.

“I. . .” Harry started but the girls all came in before he could say more.

“Scarlett I want you to meet Maggie and Eleanor,” Perrie said, “Eleanor is Louis’s girlfriend and Maggie is dating Liam.”

I just nodded my head feeling completely out of place.

“Well we’ll go get you some sheets and a pillow,” Perrie said, “We’ll be right back.”

They then disappeared and I looked to see that Jax had disappeared leaving me with Harry.

“Want to tell me the real reason why you don’t want to sleep in a bed?” he asked.

“I already told you,” I said defensively, “I want to sleep on the couch.”

“Want to tell me your story?” he asked.

“Are you always this nosy?” I snapped a bit looking at him, “I heard you were a hardarse.”

“Not to pretty girls,” he said and I could hear the smirk in his voice and I rolled my eyes.

“Well I’m not going to tell you anything,” I said and for once thanked that the girls had walked in.

Perrie handed me the sheets and I thanked her. I saw out of the corner of my eye Harry was frowning and walked out of the room. Perrie looked at him and then at me and I shrugged my shoulders. I walked over to the living room and started making my bed.

“Scarlett?” Perrie asked and I looked up at her.

“Yeah,” I said.

“Can I ask you something?” she asked.

“I guess,” I said.

“Can you not leave?” she asked, “Stay for breakfast.”

I was completely taken aback by her question I just stood there shocked.

“I know it’s a weird question but I can promise you that the lads will keep you safe. Please just stay for breakfast,” she said.

“Um. . . I’ll think about it,” I said giving her an honest answer.

Apparently that answer was enough because she just smiled lightly and nodded her head leaving me with my thoughts and me trying to piece a new plan together.

Notes

I have one more chapter already written so please let me know what you all think!