Niall's View:
"I just don't understand what went wrong. You told me that she and I could be together. What the heck changed?" I stood with my arms in the air trying to figure things out with Harry. I was just glad it was sort of calm for the time being and we weren't beating the crap out of each other.
“Yeah but you agreed to let her choose, we both agreed that that was for the best. Not this Niall, as you can see, this has gotten us nowhere.” Harry yelled back sternly.
"Hey guys?" We both turned to Claire, she looked cold. I instinctively took my jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders. Harry scoffed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I just wanted to say I'm really sorry, I..." Claire looked to the ground shamefully. I felt my ears grow hot with anger, so I interrupted her before she had a chance to continue
"Claire, stop! None of this is your fault. It's between me and Harry, and..." This time she got angry and I could tell when she started to breath heavily.

Claire's View:

I felt myself breathing heavier as the anxiety of it all became much too real.
"Shut up!!! Niall, this is all because of me, can't you see that? You two are fighting over me. I hate to say this, I really do, but maybe it would be best if I just left." I rubbed my shoulder awkwardly at my courageous outburst. I felt bad for yelling at Niall, but I also knew what I had to do. I loved Niall, he was apart of my life and I would never forget that. However, I knew that in order for all the guys to get along, I couldn't be there. It had to be without me. I just didn't know how to say that to their faces.
"Claire, what are you saying?" Niall said. This time I looked to see that I had them both paying attention with wide eyes.
"My whole life all I've seemed to do is get in the way and cause problems. One Direction is one of the most famous boy bands in the world, you guys are close knit and the best of friends and I've been proved of that. So, for you guys to be fighting and arguing and beating each other over me, little me who shouldn't even be here where I am today, that's not right. I have to fix things because I made them worse. I have to leave, I don't know where, maybe back home to live with some friends in North Carolina. All I know is that if I stay here any longer, who knows where your relationships with each other will end up, I can't have that much grief on my shoulders. I just can't!" As I finished choking out my last few words, tears stood at the surface of my eyes, threatening to escape once again. This time I couldn't hold it back, I broke into a full sob and fell to my knees.
Niall’s view:
I stood staring in shock at the words that just left Claire's mouth. She never felt this way before. She never said this to me. Even when she questioned it being her fault back at the hospital, I reassured her that this was between Harry and me. I looked over to see my friend with tears streaking down his face. He turned around and wiped them away. I on the other hand cried as I bent down and picked up Claire. Her shaking body emotionally broken and full of anxiety, she didn't deserve to feel such things. If I couldn't reassure her of this situation, maybe all the lads could. I knew that Liam and Zayn heard her because I could see them in tears over by the car that was dimly lit by Claire's phone flashlight lying on the hood.
"I'm s-so sorry guys, Th-this is all my f-fault, it’s my fault!" She was bawling, I could tell she really believed this. I didn't know what to say, so I just held her tightly and whispered in her ear all the sweet things I could say to make her feel better.
"Don't blame yourself for our mistakes darling, maybe you were what we were fighting over, but we made the choice to fight. You couldn't make us do that." I took deep sharp breaths as I calmed myself down. Liam and Zayn came over and hugged us. Claire smiled while she cried. She reached a hand out and grabbed Harry by the arm.
"Come on ya big softy, you can't hide those tears anymore." I laughed at her humor; I hoped and prayed she wouldn't leave. I waited too long to be with her, she couldn't just get up and go. Not to mention the competition, it was too important to her and to me. Harry turned to show his tear stained face. His lip quivered as we all huddled together, crying and sniffling in the drizzling rain. I took in the scene before pushing all thoughts to the back of my mind. I tried to focus on what was happening now. We were together, all of us, except Louis who was still with Jess and Justin. I knew that Harry and I could work through our problems together, he knew how much Claire meant to me, but I knew how long she and Harry had been together. This was going to be difficult, so maybe the best thing to do would be to let her decide like we said we would in the first place.

Claire's View:
We all settled down and spoke a few kind words before heading back to the cars. Niall and Harry took the van while the other guys and I took the SUV. I hoped that they were figuring things out, I didn't want to leave L.A., but if that's what it came down to, then I would have no other choice. I would quit the competition and take my Nan... NAN!!
"LIAM!" I screamed unintentionally, he jumped and swerved before taking a deep breath and looking back at me while stopping the car.
"What did ya do that for? Dear lord Claire!" He laughed before looking at me with concern. Zayn turned around after noticing the sudden fall of silence. I couldn't breathe, this whole day I knew that my Nan was in the hospital, I told myself I wouldn't go see her because I just couldn't, but I had to, for her and for Grandpa.
"Claire, are you alright?" Zayn asked while putting his hand on my knee.
"Guys, what's going on?" I heard Niall yell out the window when they pulled up beside us. I took out my phone, jumped out of the car, and took a few steps the opposite direction for some privacy. Something in me didn't want the compassion from anyone. I just wanted some time to think about what to do. I pulled up Justin and Jess's home phone number and gave it a call. Justin reluctantly picked up; I didn't want to worry Jessica with anything.
"Hello?" He sounded worried.
"Justin? It's Claire, have you heard anything from Nan?" I didn't know why I was asking him that, he would've called me if he heard anything, at least I think he would've.
"No, not yet, but I do think it would be wise to go see her, what's going on, is everything alright?" He was such a worry wart.
"Well, we found Harry if that’s what you mean. Things didn't go well at first and sadly I may be forced to make some pretty drastic decisions because of it. But I'd rather talk to you in person about that, for now I was wondering if you could tell me Nan's hospital room number, I'd like to go see her. I know it’s late but as long as I can see her, I'll be relieved. I was thinking of having the guys drop me off so I can stay the night with her." I had a lot to say, but Justin understood. He told me the room number and told me that if I was going to stay with Nan, he didn't want me to stay alone, just in case. I decided I would just go home after I visited. I didn't want anyone with me while I was with her, it would be too painful and I just wanted it to be me and her. I told Justin I'd be home later, said goodbye and hung up my phone, I turned around and headed back to the car. I tapped on Liam's window and he opened his door instead. He jumped out and gave me a hug.
"Is everything alright? We thought you were having another mental breakdown?" He had the biggest heart, his concern made me smile.
"I'm fine, but…my Nan isn't. She was admitted to the hospital this afternoon, I would've gone to see her sooner but it was too much to handle. I need to see her today, just in case she... In case…her..." I took a deep breath and held back the tears; I swear I should've been severely dehydrated from all the crying I'd done.
"Absolutely, yeah sure, do you want me to tell the other lads Orr....?” He looked unsure if I wanted Harry and Niall together with me. I wanted Niall, I honestly did, but I couldn't cause any more drama between the two so I decided to just have Zayn and Liam take me. That way Niall and Harry could have time alone to talk while I was away.
Liam went and told them to head on home, that he was going to take me somewhere really quickly. Niall tried objecting but Liam persuaded him otherwise. We drove to the hospital and Liam pulled around the front. I shivered at the front doors as I remembered just being here yesterday. I told them I'd be a few minutes if they wanted to park and shut their eyes for awhile. I didn't want them to come inside and risk getting seen by the press. I ran inside to escape the rain. I walked to the front desk across the clean marble floors. I waited for a woman in a polka dotted shirt to get off the phone and turn her attention towards me.
"Yes, how can I help you?" She asked politely in a quiet voice.
"I'm here to go see Edna Chasez, I know her room number, can I go up?" She told me to sign in then told me to go to the third floor and turn left. I did as she said and went to the elevator. Luckily I was the only one in so I could be alone and think on the way up. I let a few tears fall at the feeling of some needed quietness, but I knew I should save it for when I got to her room. The elevator dinged as the doors slowly slid open and I walked out and turned left. The fluorescent lights hurt my eyes, I saw a few nurses walking the halls with patients and clipboards. I walked impatiently as I made my way to room 149. I slowly twisted the handle and made my way through the door. Her lights were off and she was sleeping. I went to her nightstand and flipped on the small light then turned back to close the door.
I sat down in a plastic chair beside her, I observed every inch of her; her cold pale hands that I gently took in one of my own and rubbed. Her wrinkly worn out face, her little old body hugged by the wool blankets. Her arms were already bruised where she had several IV's. I laughed as I realized where I got my easy bruising from, but my small realization didn't last for long as it was replaced by a sudden burst of tears.
I started remembering how she used to look, she was strong and beautiful, and she would take me on hikes through the woods and teach me about the different plants and flowers. She would go horseback riding and taught me how to run without falling off. She did everything with me, she took care of me and I loved her for that. I looked to the bottom of her bed where a clipboard was hanging; I lifted it up and looked at the details of her health. I couldn't understand half of it, but I did know that she had a heart attack and apparently it wasn't going well for her.
I cried harder and laid my head down beside her, I suddenly felt a gentle touch on my head and looked up to see her awake with tears slipping from here eyes. She had a breathing mask on so I couldn't hear what she said. I risked gently taking it off so I could hear the last few words she may have for me.
"Hello my dear. Oh please don't cry I can't stand to see you upset." She lifted her frail hand from mine and gently wiped away my tears and stroked my face. I reached up and held her hand in place on my cheek.
"I'm so sorry I didn't come sooner. I know you must've been worried after what happened, but I was so exhausted and I couldn't stand to see you like this." I sniffled over and over as I talked. She turned the corners of her mouth up into a small smile.
"But you're here now aren't you? Oh my goodness, I was so worried about you. Your grandfather was too, he's coming up tomorrow; he was finally able to quit his stupid job and convinced the bank to take care of our house. He'll be living with us ya know, or at least with you." That's when it did me over. My mouth went dry at the realization that my only living family member was going to die. She was going to leave me like all the others did. I tried not to be angry at her; I tried not to be angry at God or even myself. Because this was life, all life ends in death and I had to learn to accept that.
"Why does everyone I love die Nan? Why?" I looked up hopelessly as her dull eyes suddenly sparkled with wisdom, the kind she spoke to me with often.
"When your father passed away, I was so angry. I wanted to find the man that hit his car and kill him with my bare hands. Human beings are a strange sort of animal. We can feel all emotions and when we care for someone deeply, we trust them and depend on them with a lot of those emotions. So, when the person we care about dies, we feel anger and grief. Emotions that we want to disappear and have replaced by something better. But what I realized through the years, as I slowly lost my friends and family one by one, is that there's one emotion that will never go away, one emotion that never fails, something that outlives any human being… love." She spoke rehearsed like she's been waiting to tell me this my whole life. I sat crying in shock, that's why I never can forget any of my family members, because that love is still there for them. That's why I'll never forget my Nan, because I love her so much.
"Thank you Nan, that's exactly what I needed to hear. Before I go, I have one other question. I've been struggling with this since day one of moving here. You know Harry? The curly headed one?" I smiled as she realized who I was speaking of when I described his hair. "Well, I thought he was the one for me, I thought we would date and I would further in my career. The night of the competition, I picked Niall's team. I'd met him before, sort of, and so I just decided that getting to know him would be a privilege. That same night that I was attacked," my Nan cringed at the mention of it and I squeezed her hand, "it was Niall who saved my life. He risked sacrificing his own life for me. He never left me side unless I asked him to and even then he questioned my safety. We talked and hung out, we kissed.”
I smiled when I remembered our shore side kiss. “But now Harry and Niall are fighting. Apparently they've been fighting for much longer then I knew, even before I met Niall he was fighting to be with me. I have the worst feeling about them fighting though. I can't help but grieve over the fact that I caused this. I think I should leave, but at the same time I can't imagine life without Niall, or a life without my music career." She smiled, probably reminiscing about her own romance problems she had when she was younger. I knew it was smart to ask her first before I let Justin know about this.
"Let me share a little story with you, it's a very short one I promise, I wouldn't want to bore you." She laughed a little before breaking out in a fit of coughs. My breath caught in my throat and I quickly brought a glass of water to her lips and let her take a few sips. She cleared her throat and continued talking. "Ahem, 'scuse me, anyway, there was this boy in my graduating class, he was a cutie. His name was Danny Baloosky. He was tall, muscular, captain of the football team and King of the homecoming court. I was a ‘nobody’, I was captain of the math league, I was leader of the Science and Olympiad team, and I got A's in all my classes. I even graduated with the IB diploma. All my 13 years of school I looked to him with heart shaped eyes hoping one day he would notice me. I spent all those years drooling over this, this Ken doll, that I never noticed little Ronny Chasez.
“Now, Ronny had asked me out several times, to be honest he was cute and I questioned my motives behind declining him over and over. Even though Danny never noticed me, none the less spoke to me, I was determined to date him. So, finally graduation day came, we were all sitting down waiting for our names to be called. Ronny was called to the front to get his IB diploma, we had similar schooling goals. He grabbed the microphone and he stood center stage, which immediately stole my attention. He stood there for 10 minutes talking about a beautiful, smart, sophisticated, and funny girl who he had fallen in love with. He didn't have to say a name because everybody already knew it was me. I almost gasped at the sudden laughing coming directly behind me, it was Danny.
“I turned around with a solemn expression because he was being so utterly rude. He leaned forward and touched my cheeks and kissed me. I was dumb founded and Ronny Chasez ran off the stage broken hearted in a fit of tears. I never thought that this would happen to me. He let go then laughed at my shocked expression. But I will always remember what he said as he let go of me, 'who cares about love when you can be in my arms everyday whenever you want.' I was so disappointed in myself. I was so naive in not knowing that Danny was like this. So, after we grabbed our diplomas and headed out the doors, I was faced with a decision. Danny and Ronny stood in front of me, Danny's arms crossed with a smile stretching across his face. Ronny's arms down looking at me with his little glasses and big brown eyes puffed red and filled with tears.
“I had to decide between the two. I was so unsure. I sat crying in front of them for several minutes. I didn't know what to do, Danny was willing to be with me, but Ronny wanted to be with me. Now I had to evaluate them, somehow, I managed to take a deep breath and choose. Now obviously I chose Ronny, but why? Well, I realized that, just like someone who dies, in order for you to be with them in the first place, there had to be a certain level of caring, a certain level of love. Ronny wanted to be with me and for some reason I chose him and let hot Danny run away with my best friend. Even though it was a hard decision in that moment, I never regretted it because I realized that Ronny and I were happy together, and despite Danny's efforts, I realized that true love overrules all." She was breathing heavily by the end of her story. I gave her another glass of water. I stayed there thinking, pondering over and over, and flipping ideas like a pancake trying to decipher what this means to me. I kissed her cheek, told her I loved her, and said goodbye. I turned out the light and shut the door. When I got back in the elevator, alone, that's when I made my decision.

Notes