We had just a day before we all were parting our separate ways. No one in the house had any words for each other. What we had all hoped would be a joyous, laughable, and sweet dinner was as cold as the middle of winter in the most terrible blizzard. What the worst part was, Louis, Liam, and Niall were completely clueless as to why the room was divided.
Harry sat close to me, glaring a death glare to Cierra. Cierra kept her head down as she played with the food on her plate. Niall, being who he was, tried to break this complete strange silence. He cleared his throat. We all looked at him.
“Guys,” he raised his glass. “I just want to say this. After two and a half months of getting to know new people, hanging out with old friends, and discovering new things, I’m sad to go. I really don’t want to get back to touring, even with just five shows.”
Louis raised his glass and clinked it with Niall. “I feel you, bro. I was just getting used to sleeping in whenever I want, and now, I have to get up at three a.m or four to get ready for signings.”
Liam chuckled under his breath. He didn’t say anything. I suppose he could feel the tension better than anyone. He was, after all, the only ‘outsider’ to know about the secret somewhat. The looks he gave the last weeks weren’t that of a clueless man. My mind told me that he knew, but he also knew better than to make a scene out of it.
I felt my stomach churn in knots. Harry rubbed his hand three times slowly over my stomach as he spoke up. “I’ve had a great time too, guys. I’ll miss this place.”
I looked up at Harry speaking to the people. Cierra made a face and muttered something under her breathe. I could hear a car pulling up in the gravel. I was nervous to the point of nausea now. This was the moment. Harry’s hand was tight and firm around mine. The clunk of the shoes seemed to not phase anyone at the table, except me. Maybe Harry heard them too because his breathing was short and staggered. What felt like years was seconds. There were three loud taps on the door.
Cierra shot up so fast that no one knew was happened. She offered to get the door, and I just knew that it was my father at the door. Of course, my suspicions were true. Within the first three seconds, Cierra returned with that face I hated more than anything.
“Mitchie?” he asked.
I kept my face turned down to the table. “I have nothing to speak about with you.”
“Young lady, you will speak to me!” He demanded. It wasn’t long until I realized that he brought that woman with him. I looked up to find her standing there, his arm around her. I shot up, ran over to them, and slapped my father across the face.
“You’re nothing but a fucking asshole who married a whore!”
“Don’t speak to your father like that, young lady!” The woman snapped at me, pointing her finger in my face.
Harry tried pulling me back, but I wasn’t allowing it. My anger fueled the adrenaline in my body. I glared at Cierra, who stood there with a smug look on her face. Then, I looked back to the woman. I spit in her face.
“You’re nothing to me. All you are is a tramp my father married. You don’t control me, nor my family.” I turned to look at my father. “And for you,” I said, shoving my fist near his face. “If you come near me, or MY family one more time, I’ll beat the shit out of you. You’re not my father. A real father doesn’t abandon his family because he thinks his wife is going to die.”
“I only did what was best for everyone, Mitchie,” He said with a gasp of air.
I scoffed and laughed hysterically. “You think that’s it? You did what was best for everyone? Bullshit, you dick. You did what was best for you.” The last two words were a low, acidic hiss.
“How would you know? You’re just nineteen,” The woman said.
I turned to her, and I shoved her so hard, she fell back. “You have no say in this!”
“That’s your step-mother, young lady!” He yelled at me.
My head shot to him. My cheeks were flushed red. I could feel my skin burn with rage. “You listen to me, you backwashed son of a bitch! She’s not my step-mother. You’re not my father. You have no say over me anymore. You left! If I catch you near mom or Kayla again, I’ll file for a restraining order and have you sent to jail! Remember this, you didn’t pay child support for years. You even fled the country! Some father you are. Now get out. GET OUT!”

My father and his tramp wasted no time running out. I stood there motionless for the longest time. I looked around, breathing heavy, at the people who were surrounding the table. I saw Perrie on the brink of crying. She shot a look at Cierra. A look that was almost saying ‘I can’t believe you would stoop so low.’ Zayn shook his head. Louis’ mouth was opened as wide as it could be. Niall was speechless, he just looked on at Cierra and I. Liam, he seemed to understand why I was angry.
I looked at Harry last. He was pained. Looking at the look on his face made my heart twist. Within seconds, I was crying my eyes out. I turned to face Cierra one last time. I never wanted to see her again. She knew I hated my father. She knew that would be my breaking point. I gave a breath and let the tears roll from my face. Her smirk faded, showing complete defeat.
“Mitchie…” She tried to reach out for me, but Harry shoved her from me.
“You’ve done enough, bitch.” He growled.
I was running now. I was running for the room that had my things. I was leaving tonight, no ifs or buts about it. I heard Harry calling for me in the background, but I ignored him. I was going to be gone by the morning. I wasn’t about to stay.
******
I was done packing by three in the morning. I was burnt out with the tears. The knocking on the door had ceased about an hour ago. Everyone understood my anger. I heard Cierra weeping in the other room. It served her right to feel so horrible about herself. I never did anything like that to her.
I was zipping up my bag when I heard the door creak open. “I don’t want any visitors.” But someone was already in. I swore it was Harry, but when I turned to look, it wasn’t him. I saw Liam’s frame in the doorway.
“Are you alright?” He asked me.
I went back to holding my case. “No, I got to go home.”
“You have another day. Why not just wait?” He asked.
“I’m not staying in this house or country one more minute with that man here!” I cried out.
Liam walked over to me and embraced me in a hug. He rubbed my hair. “Harry’s on his way, okay? He told me everything.”
“He did?” I was puzzled. I thought we were keeping it a secret. However, I suppose the cat was already out of the bag. I looked at him as he nodded. Harry was in the room a few moments later.
“Sorry I’m late. Are you ready to go, baby?” He smiled at me.
I looked at him and Liam. “You don’t have to do that for me, Harry. Go tour.”
He shook his head at me. “The lads understand. They told me to go.”
I sighed, and I took my bags, “Then we better go.”
Before we were even a foot out of the door, I heard the phone ring. Liam picked it up and answered. He went wide eyed. He said something slow, then he put it back on the receiver.
He looked at me with a blank expression. “You better go now. Your mother’s in the hospital. They think she’s going to die.”