I am so glad to be back and finish this book! For whoever waited for this: love you, thank!!!!

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CHAPTER 8: Despite all the shit
PRESENT - 17, 18, 19

⚠️trigger abuse⚠️

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17

"There! Think he'll notice?" Lottie patted the sheets, straightening them.

"I think that is alright." Niall said, skimming his eyes through the room. He had been munching on Liam's protein bars all morning. Last night had worked his appetite. He was munching his way through the fourth right now.

"So we are on for tomorrow, right?" She gulped, looking up. Her eyes were bulging. Stress filled the tips of her fingers.

"I feel guilty." He sat down on the bed and took the last bite of the bar, setting the wrapper down next to him.

"Why?" Lottie asked.

"Because this was happening to Liam and I wasn't there for him. I thought we were best friends. But after our dads died, it wasn't the same..." Niall took a long exhausted breath. He removed the glasses off his face and rubbed his temple.

Lottie had a lot to think about at the moment. Her mom in the hospital, Zayn being hooked on heroin, and now Liam's life being threatened. But she looked at Niall and it ached.

She sat next to him on the edge of the mattress and put her hand down on his. "You're here for him now." Her chin laid on his shoulder. "We're gonna see this through." She smiled softly.

Niall turned his face to Lottie's. "Yeah, I guess you're right." He beamed. Lottie's hand was actually holding his. He could feel her breath fan his face. Niall hummed, closing his eyes. He was actually getting too comfortable. "You have to go."

"Yeah." Lottie whispered. Niall opened his eyes, she was still as close as before. He looked down to her lips.

Never again, he remembered her words from earlier. "I can take you with my car... if you wanna." He offered.

"Really?" She jolted back, a smile on her face. Her hand gripped his wrist in excitement.

Niall's eyes followed Lottie's red lips as they distanced themselves from him. "Yeah, it's an hour drive. We'll pick up Louis on the way."

"Thank you." She threw her arms around his lanky frame. Niall was taken by surprise, but soon he was burying his nose on the crook of her neck.

"Your hair smells nice." He whispered against her blonde locks. Oh, that was a risky thing to say... Niall thought.

"What?" She asked.

"You're welcome." Niall saved quickly.

18

Harry's house was an old one. He had much care for it.

It was the only thing left of his insane family. He felt comfortable in it, like his grandma was still there, alive, taking care of him.

He didn't change anything about that house. He dreamed that when his sister got out of prison she would come home and feel like not even a day had passed. That if mama's spirit haunted these halls she would feel all her memories still around each decorated corner.

He didn't plan to get a boyfriend, and neither did he plan to live like this. His life had happy moments, and numb ones. Godfrey could either make his day or tear him down completely. Harry knew this relationship was toxic and abusive. He knew he was the victim.

So many times did he try to get out of it, but that was the thing about toxic relationships. They are addictive. You get stuck in a loop, thinking you'll never get someone better, addicted to fighting and then riding sky high, dangerous sex, amorous beating. Abuse and pain. Care and attention. Cycles of affection and then disaster.

Godfrey had been knocking on the door for the two hours now. It wasn't an incessant knocking. Or an aggressive one for that matter. It was soft and pleading and followed by loving words, or promises. "Let me in, baby. It's so cold out here.", "I know you look beautiful this morning and I have not seen it yet.", "Please let me in.", "Let me in and I'll cook that meal you'll like.", "Why don't you put on something nice and we'll go out to dinner tonight.".

Harry was so tired and sad. Love was not like this. This could not be love.

"Harry, I'm getting impatient! Open the damn door!" Now it was angry yelling.

The curly boy looked down at his cup of tea. He had been crying over his breakfast.

"Harry, I'm sorry I yelled baby, please let me in."

Harry huffed. He got up and went into the hallway. "Godfrey, go away. I don't have the strength to fight this. Please." He talked through the wooden door.

"Baby, baby, I love you. I can't stand being mad at you. I know you're sorry." Godfrey said. "Please open the door so I can kiss you... please..."

"I'm so tired..." Harry cried.

"Baby, I'll forgive you. I won't hit you. I promise. I just wanna love you, and be good to you." The door opened. Harry was sobbing uncontrollably.

"I don't want you to touch me." Harry said when Godfrey approached him. "But you can stay."

"That's okay, dear. I won't for now."

19

The sky had turned cloudy and dark for a good twenty minutes before it started pouring down on Louis' forehead. His leg was still hurt like a motherfucker even though the throbbing seemed to have stopped.

Louis had finally decided to pick up the phone to one of his sisters and was now waiting by the alley's corner of his building for Lottie to pick him up. He was not sure how yet since Lottie did not own a car.

But it was not like he had any place to go. So there he was. Stressed over the fact the police may be searching his flat right now, afraid for his mom, and wounded.

A car pulled up down the alleyway. He could see Lottie getting out of it. "Louis!" She yelled.

"I'm here!" Louis answered.

Lottie came to him as soon as she heard him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Who is driving the car?" Louis scratched the back of his neck, confused. Lottie put an arm around him, trying to help him walk.

Louis, in spite of usually being way too proud to accept help, leaned into her and accepted it. Exhaustion could cause people to act in completely uncharacteristical ways. "Niall is..." Lottie answered.

"N-Niall?" Louis chuckled in disbelief.

"Yeah, what's the big deal." Lottie's tone was underwhelmed.

"You didn't come home last night!" Louis said.

"So?"

"So... you two slept together!"

"What? No!" Lottie retorted.

"Okay, then where were you all night?" Louis asked.

"I... That's none of your business!" Their pace on the way to the car was slow due to Louis's injury and Lottie was wishing this conversation could be over already.

"Lottie!" Louis laughed out loud. An actual laugh of joy. His eyes crinkled. "You actually did!"

"You're a delusional twat, brother!" Louis rolled his eyes at Lottie's comment. "But I'm glad you're in a good mood despite all the shit."

"Must be the lack of sleep." Louis shrugged. "So is it true what they said in highschool?"

"I don't follow-...." She commented.

"That he's got a great tongue." He explained.

"What?" Lottie was confused and a little intrigued.

"A great tongue."

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Well, some girls in highschool used to say he had bonkers stamina for you know-..."

"I don't think I do." Lottie started to contemplate the previous night.

They got to the car and Lottie helped Louis onto the back seat before getting inside the car herself.

"Hi Tommo." Niall chirped.

"Hi Nialler! Heard you had sex with my sister last night. What up, mate?" Louis frowned mockingly.

Niall's eyes widened. He blinked repeatedly, shocked. "Why would you tell him?"

Lottie facepalmed and huffed. "I didn't."

"Oh, my god! You horny motherfuckers just made me lose a bet to Liam! Don't tell him or he'll actually charge me for it." Louis smiled.

Niall turned around and looked at him. "You're not mad?"

"Mad? I mean, no... more like- finally you know..." Louis kept on chuckling. "You two were like-... obsessed about each other in high school. I just thought none of you had the guts! So when's the wedding?"

"Louis!" Lottie yelled for him to shut up. "Niall and I are just friends, stop intruding into people's lives, nothing happened last night and you..." She pointed to Niall. "Start driving, we have urgents issues to attend to."

Niall had a small smile he couldn't contain. Lottie Tomlinson... obsessed with him? "Thank you for not being mad at me, mate."

"Niall, drive!" Lottie yelled.

It was going to be a long ride to Doncaster.

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A/N: Hello you guys!

I'm so glad to be back! I am in fact going to finish this book. I hope you stay for the rest! So much more story left. We are not even close to the middle!

QUESTION 1: What kept Lottie and Niall from admitting their feelings in highschool?

QUESTION 2: Why did Harry let Godfrey back in?

QUESTION 3: I have been thinking, would you guys like if I made an audiobook for THEFT?

See you next time!