The Misfits

“What do you mean he’s gone?”

“Like gone, gone?”

I felt like I was being pulled in all directions. The boys were yelling for answers, El was still on the line, and Mackenzie was now having a full-blown anxiety attack. I desperately tried to drown out the boy’s questions and concentrate on Mackenzie. She was hyperventilating and shaking uncontrollably. I took her hands in mine and held them tightly. She was shrinking, closing herself off. She had pulled her knees up to her chest in attempt to become as small as possible.

“Kenz you gotta calm down. It’s going to be fine, just breathe babe.” I cooed, taking the phone and pressing to my ear. By this time Niall had snapped out of his own stupor and run over to help me calm her. “El, it’s Thal. What’s happened?”

“Shh Kenz, just try an’ calm down,” Niall whispered, he had wrapped his arm around her in an attempt to comfort her. “It’s going te be alright.”

I tried to focus on what Elaine was telling me, but my head was spinning. The room was silent except for Mackenzie’s sobs and the occasional attempt to calm her. How could this have happened? Why weren't we there? I could feel my face growing paler by the minute as I attempted to listen to the message.

“Thal? Thalia you need to come home,” Elaine begged, snapping me out of my thoughts. I nodded before realizing she couldn’t see me.

“Of course. We’ll leave as soon as we can,” I heard myself say. After saying our goodbyes I dropped the phone and turned my attention back to Mackenzie. “Kenzie you need to calm down.”

Her hands were over her head as she shook back and forth, muttering to herself. I gripped my hands tightly in hers and forced her to look at me.

“Kenz he’s going to be okay. He’s smart. He knows what he’s doing. We’re going to get him back I promise.” I said firmly. She nodded her head slowly, but was still sobbing uncontrollably. “Kenzie, hey Kenz. What are five things you can see? Right now. Five things you see?”

“Y-you.” She breathed. Her now dull blue eyes moved to Harry and she gulped before continuing, “H-Harry…the hotel r-room…N-Niall…L-Liam.”

“Five things you hear,” I said, giving her hands a gentle squeeze. I needed to stop her from closing off. With each answer she was focusing more us on, on what was happening around her rather than reverting back to the trauma she had faced as a child

“Y-you…N-Niall…L-Louis. Um…the fan,” she whispered.

“One more Kenz.”

She looked around the room before adding, “I can hear the fans outside.”

“And what can you feel?” I asked.

“Niall. You. The floor. The wall,” she answered. She let out a half laugh half sob and said, “Niall again.”

“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered, shaking her hands lightly. Her breathing had somewhat returned to normal. And while there were still tears, she didn’t look as though she would pass out anymore.

“Thal, will you tell us what the fuck is going on?” Louis asked.

“Jasper’s been taken.”

Hearing myself say the words made it real and Mackenzie burst into another round of tears. Niall pulled her even closer as silent sobs wracked her body.

"Taken by who? How? Why?"

“My father.” Spat Mackenzie. The boys all turned to look at her, frowns spreading across every one of their faces. “It’s him. It’s always been him. I was stupid t-to think we were s-safe. We'll never b-be safe.”

“He was a no good drug-addict who took his anger out on his kids,” I explained to the boys. “Mackenzie and Jasper were taken away and put in a foster home but—”

“He followed us,” finished Mackenzie. Her voice was hoarse from crying, and she quickly wiped her tear stricken face. Her initial shock was now turning to anger. “He always follows us. One time he broke into our room at Miss Kate’s and dragged us out. We were caught at a local diner and he was sent to prison.”

“That’s when Kenzie and Jasper ended up at our home,” I added.

I felt Harry sit next to me on the bed, and I welcomed his gentle touch. I was doing everything I could to keep it together for Mackenzie and the guys. I knew if they saw how scared I really was all hell would break loose.

I took a deep breath and continued, “He was supposed to be in prison, but apparently he was just released on good behavior. Can you believe that? And they didn’t even warn us or anything!”

“You think it was him who broke into your apartment?” Asked Liam. I nodded slowly and we sat in silence for a moment.

“So when he couldn’t get me…he went after Jas,” whispered Mackenzie. “How did he even find us?”

“Kenzie you’ve been hanging out with One Direction,” Sophie replied gently. “He probably saw you in the news.”

“After you visited with the family,” Harry muttered. I turned to see the color draining from his face. “The article the next morning. It practically blasted your whole life on the front page! That’s how he knew you were in Birmingham staying with Thalia’s mom and Aunt.”

Mackenzie let out a hallow laugh as she pushed her long blonde hair out of her face. The two of us locked eyes and I could see the fierce determination in them before she said, “We have to go home. I have to find him.”

“Hold on,” Louis interjected. “Your psycho father’s out looking for you too remember, wouldn’t it be best to stay as far away as possible? Like on a different continent far?”

“Yeah Kenz there’s nothing you can do there that you can’t do from here,” agreed Eleanor.

“I can’t just sit here!” Kenzie argued.

“Well you’ll have plenty of time to make your decision,” Liam said, his eyes trained on his phone as he scrolled. “The next available plane out to London isn’t until tomorrow morning.”

“We could give them the jet?” Harry offered. I noticed both Niall and Louis shoot him a look before Zayn replied, “We can’t. We’re heading out tomorrow morning too remember? Even if they left right now it wouldn’t be back in time.”

“Then we’ll leave tomorrow.” Said Kenzie. “I’m going to go call Elaine and see what else I can find out.”

She stood up and we watched her leave the room in silence. She had none of the usual bounce in her step instead she appeared almost defeated. I knew she was going to go cry. After her initial shock she was trying to be strong in front of the guys, but I knew how much her father terrified her.

The second the door clicked shut all eyes turned to me. Louis was the first to speak, his brow knit in concern. “You can’t just leave. She’s in danger!”

“We need to go home.” I replied. “We can’t just sit here doing nothing. Even if we can’t help the police, being back with the family would be good for her.”

“Not if she get’s kidnapped,” Louis sassed.

“So you’re going to keep her hostage instead?” I snapped back. “How is that any better? Lou, trust me. Being here will only make her feel worse.”

“Thalia, this is our fault. You have to let us help,” Harry said, taking my hand before I did anything rash. “Please.”

“This is not your fault. You didn’t know about Mackenzie’s dad, and we didn’t want you to know.” I replied, looking around the room at the depressed faces. Harry, Niall and Zayn were furiously blinking back tears, while Louis and Liam stared at the floor in silence.

“You should have told us,” Louis said, shaking his head.

“It wasn’t my secret to tell.” They returned to their silence and I let out a huff before saying, "I told you we were too proud. Kenzie didn't tell you because she knew you would have tried to protect her. We're sick of being treated differently just because we have a few more family problems than most."

"A few?" snorted Liam. "And we would not have treated you any different."

I shot him a look in response.

"Thalia, how can you expect to be normal when you hang out with abnormals?" Liam continued. "We're all a bunch of abnormal people in an abnormal situation pretending that we're normal."

I broke into a smile at his words. “You're right. You want to know how you can help? Stop moping around. Let me worry about Kenzie's tears, you lot need to make her laugh. You’re the only five people I know idiotic enough to make her smile right now.”

They all chuckled despite themselves and nodded in agreement. Harry’s hand was still tightly gripped to mine, and I looked down at his watch. “Shit. You guys have to get down to the stadium!”

They all looked down at their phones before jumping up and heading out of the room. Harry remained seated next to me, still whipping tears from his eyes. I repositioned myself so I was sitting cross-legged and facing him.

“What if something happens?” He croaked. He looked back up at me; his eyes and nose were red from crying. I realized this was the first time I had ever seen him like this.

“Harry,” I said, feigning sternness. I took his face gently in my hands and wiped away the tears. Then I leaned forward and kissed each cheek before kissing him lightly on the lips. “It’s going to be okay.”

“But what if—”

“Stop. It will be fine. Jasper’s a smart kid. He knows what he’s doing.”

“But after everything you guys have been through—”

“Harry this is hardly the first…incident we’ve had, and I doubt it will be the last.” I half laughed.

“How do you do it?”

“What?”

“How the hell do you all manage to stay so happy and positive when all of this is going on?” he asked. He had stopped crying, but now a frown had appeared.

“Well we can’t all be crybabies like you,” I smiled. He shot me a look before breaking into a laugh. “Trust me I’m scared too. But I know Jasper and I sure as hell know Mackenzie. Everything will be fine.”

-

Better than words
More than a feeling
Crazy in love
Dancing on the ceiling

I cheered loudly with the others as Harry danced down the giant catwalk while he sang. After a half-hour of talking I had convinced Mackenzie to come with us to the concert. Still reeling from the news of her brother, she had locked herself in her room all morning and refused to come out. Now however, she was dancing and smiling like her old self.

Every time we touch
I’m all shook up
You make me wanna

We all screamed at Liam’s pelvic thrust and I couldn’t help but laugh at Sophia’s reaction.

I don’t’ know how else to some it up
‘Cause words ain’t good enough
There’s no way I can explain your love, no
Woo
I don’t know how else to some it up
‘Cause words ain’t good enough
I can’t explain your love
It’s better than words
Better than words

I failed at suppressing another laugh as Harry and Niall jumped across the stage like idiots. But the fans loved it, and I danced around like the rest of them. As Louis began his solo I looked over to Eleanor who had the biggest grin plastered on her face.

Better than words
Drive ya crazy
Someone like you
Always be my baby

It was then that I noticed Louis, Niall, and Harry all point to us. Harry had a mischievous little gin on his face like a five year old that was about to do something bad. He began singing along as Niall stepped up for his solo.

Best I ever had
Hips don’t lie
You make me wanna

“OH MY GOD!” Cried Mackenzie, her eyes wide as both Niall and Harry grabbed their crotches.

The stadium erupted and even from here I could see Niall shoot Mackenzie a wink. I was now laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. These idiots sure knew how to put on a show, and I was surprised half the stadium wasn’t passed out after that little stunt.

My eyes were trained on Harry for most of the night. How was it possible that he made a white T and jeans look so damn good? Every time he pranced or danced around onstage I couldn’t help but laugh at him. After more songs, dancing, jokes, fireworks, and selfies the show finally ended with What Makes You Beautiful.

“I think that was one of the best shows I’ve seen,” laughed Eleanor as we were escorted out of our special booth.

“Did you get it all?” Mackenzie asked me, bouncing up and down excitedly just like her old self.

“Yep.” I had been charged with filming the whole thing so we could show it to our siblings when we returned home tomorrow. “Where are we headed now?”

“Back to the hotel,” Sophia answered. “The boys will need to beat the crowd otherwise they’ll be mauled.”

I gripped tightly to Eleanor and Mackenzie’s hand as we were lead out of the building. I could hear the fans screaming around us, some of them calling out our names to get our attention. I guess since they couldn’t get to the boys we were the next best thing.

Eventually we made it back to the hotel. The energy of it reminded me our first night here and it was hard to believe that we would be leaving in the morning. I tried to push the thought, and with it the knowledge that Jasper was still missing, out of my mind.

“Tootles!” Harry cried, running over and tackling me. I let out a scream as he rubbed his sweaty body all over me.

“Get off you brute!” I laughed. He pulled me up as the other boys ran in.

They were all shaking with adrenaline and began talking and joking loudly. The boys went above and beyond in their promise to cheer Mackenzie up, and by the time we all headed to bed she was in stitches.

“Lia!” My dad pulled me aside while the others got on the elevator. I felt Harry’s arm wrap around my waist for comfort. My father shot him a small look before continuing, “We have the tickets fer you and Kenzie. Yer plane leaves an hour after we do. We’ll drop ya off at the gate and I can see ya through security, but after that yer on yer own. How ya holdin’ up?”

My father’s expression paired with the concern was enough to break my heart. But I held back the tears, knowing if I cried neither he nor Harry would let us leave. “I’ll be alright.”

“Good. Now get te bed,” He replied, kissing the top of my head. Harry nodded and led me over to the elevator, as we stepped inside I heard my father yell. “Te SLEEP Harry!”

“Why would we go to bed to sleep?” Harry frowned. He had a mischievous glint in his eye and I couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

Notes

Okay be honest...
What do you think of all of this?
I'm serious.
I'm feeling unsure about it and need feedback.
Please!! :)

Also did you guys see the whole feud on twitter again?
It's killing me that the guys are fighting like this. I don't know what to do.