~~Claire's POV~~

"Did you hear?!" Ashley comes up and asks me.

"Hear what?" I ask.

"Louis and Payne got in a fight," Ashley exclaims.

"What?!" I half-yell.

"Zayn made them stop, there are rumors of the Wolves splitting up. People are saying either Payne trashed Louis's motorcycle or that you're dating both of them," She says and laughs.

"Why would they think that?" I ask, not laughing. She stops and shrugs.

"You have been hanging around Louis a lot," Ashley says.

I shrug, "Not too much..."

Before she can say anything, Harry comes up to us, "Hey, beautiful," and kisses Ashley's cheek.

Ashley smiles, "Hey."

They start talking about things as I stand there awkwardly.

"Can I give you a ride home, babe?" Harry asks Ashley.

Ashley looks toward me, "Go, Ashley. I'll be fine." I say.

She smiles and they make their way to Harry's car.

I get a text from Louis, "Hey, love. I'm in after school detention. Youre gonna have to ride the bus. Sorry.oo"

I get on the bus and sit down. Multiple people stare at me. Some whisper to others. I feel very... very uncomfortabe. I sit alone and sigh. As I head home, I think about what Niall said. It really bites me in the butt. I feel as if I care abou LIam in some way shape or form, but I can't put my funger oh how. It's almost like Liam himself is a huge book, waiting to be read and unfurled. Discovering everything piece by piece. I don't know, maybe I'm just ibsessed with books, but it surely does feel like I'm living in one.

The next morning I wake up feeling like I just got run over by an 18-wheeler. My head is pounding, my throat feels as if someone took a knife to it. I grab my phone, and text my mom from her room.

Me-Mom?

Mom-Hey, Honey. You know you don't have to call me. I'm just a few rooms over.

Me-I feel terrible.

Mom-I'm so sorry, baby. Do you want to take me to take you to the doctor?

Me- I don't want to move.

Mom-Okay, understandable. You can stay home today. If you don't feel better by tomorrow, I'm taking you.

Me- Okay. Thanks, Mom.

Mom- You're Welcome. Get well soon.

I lay in my bed attempting to fall asleep. I can't though with the vague sounds of my dad getting ready to head back to work after his break home. Then the sound of my mother getting Avarie out if bed and off to daycare, as she goes to another job interview. Before my mom leaves, she comes in my room and hands me some advil. I take it.

"I'll be back around twelve. You should get some rest, okay?" My mom tells me.

"Okay," I croak. I sound like a frog.

Around 10 I gain the strength to leave my bed. I head to the livingroom and start watching whatever's on. I feel my phone vibrate and notice a few other texts that I'd missed before.

ashwee-second day in a row missing the bus? where are you, nerdy birdy?

niall- please don't tell me youre out with liam again? you know hes bad for you. i really wanna talk with you about a few things. text back when you can.

mom- Change of plans. I just got the secretary job! I'm having lunch with my new boss. They want me to start today. I won't be home till around 4.

liam-skipping without me, are you?

I look at them all and decide to answer Niall first. The poor boy seems so distressed.

me-no, i just feel like someone murdered me this morning when i woke up. my throat hurts and i feel like a total wreck

Then Ashley.

me- sick. im home :(

I send my mom a quick okay. I hope she likes her new job. I debate whether or not to respond to Liam. It's making me think of what Niall and Ashley have been warning me about. I just simply reply to his message with

me-no, sick.

I honestly don't know what else to say to him,

The first person to reply is Niall. It's weird, normally, Niall won't touch his phone in class. Much less, text people in it.

niall- i really need to talk to you in person about this stuff. about liam, about louis, about someone else too.

me- wanna come over after school? im still sick but if you wanna come at your own risk, it's fine.

niall-ill be there around 2:30-ish? is that okay?

me-perfect.

The rest of the day I start to feel a little better, but not much. I start thinking about what Niall will say when he gets here. I've never really seen him get so serious about something. About 2:30, as expected, I hear my doorbell ring. When I open it, I see Niall there holding a tub of chocolate ice cream.

"I didn't know what flavor you liked, so I thought, 'Who doesn't like chocolate?'" He says with a grin.

I smile, and reply with, "Chocolate's my favorite."

We head into the kitchen and I get some bowls out the cabinets. Niall and I each have a few scoops, then I ask, "What did you want to talk to me about?"

Niall's face drops at my question. He puts his bowl down and sighs, "I really don't know how to say this to you."

"What do you mean? What is it?" I utter, starting to get worried.

"Claire... This is going to hurt both of us, I know it will. I It's already killing me and I hate that it does. And.. I honestly hate being the one to tell you, especially since you're sick..." he starts.

"Well.. say it," I state, my heart pounding out of my chest, now.

"Claire... Demi and Liam... they're officially a couple now..."

My heart completely shatters. I feel as if my world has just come crumbling down. Tears fill my eyes as I feel Nialls arms engulf me in a hug. I feel as if I've been used, worn down... and I just cry. I don't know how long I cry, I just cry, and cry until I can't cry anymore. Was all Liam and I did worth nothing to him? Was I worth anything to him?How could someone you've known for only one or two months affect you this much? How could he...?

The next day I head back to school with a mixture if feelings. Some, I've never felt before. Others, I know all too well. I head to my locker and put my combination in angrily.

"So, you won't talk to me on the bus, nor will you speak to anyone, besides Niall, and you seem pretty angry. Whats wrong?" Ashley asks.

I sigh, "I told you. My dad had to go back to work and I'm just a little stressed out, Okay?"

She frowns, "I'm sorry. Having a father in the army must suck."

"Tell me about it," I say using sarcasm.

Louis walks up to me and Ashley. He smiles at first then, reads my emotions. "Whats wrong, babe?" Louis asks.

I look up at Louis and his sympathetic face. I wanna just pour everything out about Liam, about Demi, about Niall, just everything. But, Ashley answers for me, "She's just stressed because her dad had to go back to work."

Louis gives me a hug. He's really, really strong. From some angles, he might seem a bit scrawny from some angles, but when he's holdong you, you can tell, he's strong.

I hug him back. Maybe the truth is, I really do need someone just to hold me, even for a little bit. Just.. Someone you feel as if could take all your pain away...

"C'mon," Louis starts, "I'll walk you to first hour and we can talk about it."