Riley's POV:

"Niall... I can't keep doing this." I sniffle, settling my face between my hands. I can't believe Harry did that to Seth's sister... I knew he messed up with Eric but this was just another thing that was straight up evil.

"Ri, he told you he had a past--"

"I didn't know it was like this. What if he had done that to me?! Just another innocent girl to fuck around with for a few months and then--"

"He loves you, he would never have done that to you. Hell, if it wasn't Seth's sister I don't think he would have done it period." Niall tries to reassure me.

"He threw a book at me when I was trying to get this out of him," I chuckle at the unfunny memory, "he must've really not wanted me to know this." I sigh. Harry's not a dumb ass, he knew how upset I would have gotten if he told me.

"He's probably going to hate me for telling you." Niall sighs, shaking his head in frustration. I look around the room, not responding to his statement.

"I need to clean up my life, Niall. What have I become? My boyfriend is a monster and I'm still the school joke. I cannot live like this anymore." I groan. It's almost funny, I started this week feeling that Harry was the only source of positive energy in my life and just like that he comes the biggest dick on the planet.

"Well what are you gonna do? Break up with Harry and start dating Nick again? Real good plan, Riley." Niall chuckles, and I shove him playfully.

"Do you think I should break up with Harry?" I ask, and he rolls his eyes.

"Obviously not, you big idiot. This was all in his past, and he's a better person now." He tries to make it seem so simple, so easy... but for me, it's the farthest thing from that.

"Yeah, a better person who kicks Seth's ass. I can completely see why Seth hates him!" I say, and immediately realize what I'm doing. I'm taking Seth's side when I should be hating him for doing this to me... but even though revenge is wrong, I see his point.

"You can't be serious." Niall nearly shouts, standing up from the edge of my bed and pacing around the room. "After what Seth did to you, you're gonna take his side? This is bullshit and you know it!"

"Niall, I'm not saying I all of the sudden like Seth or anything... All I'm pointing out is that he had every right to go for revenge even though he could have just let it go. It sucks that he did it to me but if anyone fucked with my little sister they best believe I'm not gonna let it slide." I sigh.

"Riley, Harry never--"

"You know what? I'm so stupid." I have a sudden revelation. "I was so upset over my perfect life when I first met you guys that I didn't even listen when one of you said 'we're the bad guys'." I groan, flashing back to that moment at my party in the beginning of the year.

Flashback:
"So tell me what made you get kicked out of your old school." I said scooting over a little bit. If I wasn't so tipsy, I probably wouldn't be going near them.

"We're part of gang as you could probably tell." Liam joked from the lower steps. "We just got into a bunch of trouble with another gang in town, so they asked us to leave." he shared.

"So who's the bad guys... You or the other gang?" I asked, and the three of them chuckled slightly.

"We're the bad guys, love. But I'm starting to think you don't mind that so much." Harry smirked. Oh.
End Flashback

"So what are you going to do?" Niall breaks me from my thoughts. My mind is rattled with ideas and ways to fix things, but only one sticks out in my mind.

"I'm going to get my old life back... Make new friends, and keep the old." I smile, and Niall shakes his head while I lead him down the stairs of my house.

"You mean you're going to dump us and go back to Dixie?" He gasps, grabbing a hold of my hand.

"Obviously not, I love you guys!" I laughed, wiping underneath my eyes. "But I need to make a few changes... Harry can't be a part of them. If you love someone, let them go." I sigh, and Niall shakes his head.

"I think you're making a mistake..." He sighs, swinging open the front door.

"The only mistake I made was getting involved with Harry. I never realized what a bad boy he was until you told me that, and until the whole thing with Seth. I don't want to be his next heartbroken ex, and I can feel it headed in that direction." I sniffle.

"Come here." Niall sighs, wrapping his arms around me waist and pulling me in for a tight hug. "If you need a friend, I'm here. I know I don't seem like I would be but--"

"I know." I sigh, pulling away and nodding as he heads down my steps.

I close the door and slide down it, pulling out my phone. No new messages from Harry, even though I slightly wished there would be. My brain is so fried I decide to do the unthinkable. There is somebody who doesn't know the whole story, and maybe it will change their mind. If not, I gave it my chest shot.

Me: I think it's time we talk.

I send, and quickly regret it. One minute passes, then five, then twenty and my hopes diminish into nothing at the hour mark until I finally get a reply.

Dixie: I can spare an hour, I'll be over in fifteen.

My heart nearly pounds out of my chest and I have hot tears in my eyes. Never did I ever think Dixie and I would stop being friends, and when we did I never thought she would even try to be civil with me again.

I'm scared out of my mind for what could happen, if she will turn against me... but I need her. I hate this whole situation, and I hate that I'm not strong enough to deal with this on my own. Perrie is great and I adore her, but she's not Dixie.

In twenty minutes I hear the doorbell ring and I can't hide my surprise. She actually showed up. The only question I have now, is what the hell is going to happen when I open that door?


Harry's POV:

"Don't say anything." I growl at Niall who is sitting beside me on the floor.

"I'm sorry mate--"

"Did you suddenly go deaf or something?" I say, and watch as his posture sinks a lot lower than it was. I can tell by his demeanor he spilled all my dirty secrets to Riley, and that she probably hates me.

We sit in silence for maybe 45 minutes, passing a bouncy ball back and forth like nothing even happened. Finally, my curiosity gets the best of me when the sun goes down.

"So do I even have a shot?" I ask, and Niall looks down. "Great." I murmur, slamming the ball against the wall and watching it bounce all around the room.

"Don't give up on her Harry, I really think she's worth it." He sighs.

"She hates me and I'm no good for her."

"She's good for you, and if that's me sound selfish than so be it. She just wants things to go back to normal... she wants her old life back." He explains, and I roll my eyes.

"You mean before she met us?" I ask, and he nods.

"She thinks Seth had a good reason to do those things to her, even if she wishes he hadn't." He cringes even saying that, as do I when I hear it.

"Despicable. I mean I know I messed up in the past, but I'm better now!" I shout, feeling enraged.

"She doesn't think she can get over the whole thing about you and Celia... She's just confused and sad." He admits, and I nod.

"I can't blame her." I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "Do I call her? Do I go over there and try to explain myself?" I ask, and he shrugs standing up from the ground.

"The only thing I wouldn't do, is throw another book at her. She was only trying to help, to fix you. I don't really know what else to say." Niall explains.

"You've said enough." I chuckle, and he heads towards the door.

"See ya around, mate." He sighs, and I nod.

"Thanks, Niall." I try, and he rolls his eyes giving me a smile.

"You'll get her back, you always do." He laughs before walking out the door.

I sit on my bed and wonder about what Riley's thinking... what she's doing. How badly does she want her old life back? How badly does she want me out of her life?

I listen for Niall's car door to slam which it does, and I hear him pull away. What surprises me is the sound of another car pulling up, and the tiniest clicking of heels outside. I decide to scope it out myself, and I need to look twice just in case my eyes deceive me.

Dixie.

Riley is so fucking stupid sometimes... Dixie is trouble, and she doesn't get it. I don't even know what to do at this point, so I decide to sleep. I'm exhausted and I know there isn't anything I can fix right now, so sleep is the best and only option.

I pray that Riley doesn't fall for any of her shit and that Dixie has good intentions for once... because if not, I'm gonna have another persons blood on my hands.

Notes

what do you guys think?! comment & VOTE!

i head back to prison tomorrow (school) so I won't be updating as frequently!!

i love my readers, thanks so much! xx :)