I Cannot Hide This Even Though I Try ~ A COMPLETED One Direction Fanfic

20 - Endings and New Beginnings

“Are you insinuating what I think you’re insinuating?” Zayn queries with a grimace.

“She definitely just called us slow and childish,” Liam confirms, frowning in the dark-haired girl’s direction.

“Well, at least Mikayla’s on my side,” Rayne mutters. “None of you can deny it, either, because your millions of fans would agree with us!”

“They might think we’re childish, but I doubt they’d call openly admit that we’re stupid,” Liam tries to defend.

“But they do! I did, even before I knew you,” the redhead admits, literally biting her tongue when she realizes what she has said.

All of the members of the band stare at Rayne with wide eyes, surprised by her confession. None of them knows what to say until Abby bursts out laughing, diffusing the tension instantly. “I’m sorry, but I probably would have said the same thing,” she explains. “No offence, but you lot act like idiots all the time, so especially when your fans are watching,” she adds, noticing the look of hurt on the boys’ faces.

“Oh,” Niall mumbles, “that makes sense.”

“I still don’t think I’m childish,” Lou grumbles. Everyone starts laughing, but he just continues to frown.

“Aww, does Lou-Lou need a hug?” Harry coos, gently poking his boyfriend in the ribs. Without waiting for an answer, he wraps his arms around the older boy’s waist, holding him tightly for a brief moment before letting go again.

“I want a hug,” Rayne whines.

“Seriously, again?” Morgan asks. She rolls her eyes in frustration before turning towards the rest of the group and shouting, “Can someone please hug Rayne already so she can shut up about it?”

Rayne is so busy glaring at her best friend that she doesn’t notice the boys moving toward her until it’s too late. The next thing anyone knows, all five boys are on the ground in a dogpile with Rayne at the bottom. “I change my mind,” her muffled voice drifts out from under the pile. “I don’t want hugs from you guys anymore.”

******************************************************

(the next day)

“Inside Source Tells All About Niam’s Early Days”

Liam reads the headline over again just to be sure he understands what it says. He clicks on the link and starts reading anecdotes about his and Niall’s friendship back when he lived in Mullingar. No one knew those stories aside from Niall, Liam, and Greg, but Greg would never share their personal stories like that. Greg would never tell the media about the problems Niall and Liam had in the past, would he?

Instead of jumping to conclusions or worrying his boyfriend with the article, Liam pulls out his phone and calls Greg. After three rings, someone picks up: “Hullo?”

“Greg? It’s Liam.”

“Oh, hey, long time no talk. What’s up? Is my baby brother treating you alright?” the older boy inquires.

“He’s treating me perfectly, Greg, but that’s not why I’m calling.”

“What is it, Li?”

Liam hesitates, before asking, “Did you tell anyone about mine and Niall’s past?”

“No, I swore to you that I wouldn’t speak a word of it to anyone,” Greg states. “You’re like family to me, Li, and Niall is family to me. You know I would never do that to either of you.”

“Well, apparently someone spilled our few private stories with the world,” Liam grimaces. “I don’t know anyone aside from you and Niall who could have done it, other than myself of course.”