Minus Something Great (Sequel to Adopted By One Direction)

Chapter Four: Like A Brother

"What does Niall have that I don't?" Harry pouted.

"He's not a miserable little loser like you," I shot back moving towards the back of the bus my fingers already dialing El's phone number from memory.

"We're sorry. The number you have dialed cannot be reached. Please hang up and try again," the robotic voice spoke through the phone as I sighed.

Where are you El?

[ANGELICA'S POV]

Things had been awkward ever since Harry was back on the bus. We had all decided to watch a movie for the sake of nothing better to do. I sat on one end of the bus' couch next to Niall while Harry sat on the floor in a corner away from everyone else. No one wanted anything to do with him.

Well...maybe that isn't exactly right. Maybe there was one person who seemed to be okay with him.

"Hazza want some popcorn?" Zayn asked holding the bowl out to Harry. "It's your favorite. With that cheese powder stuff."

"N--no thanks," Harry stuttered. "I'm okay."

"Come on Hazza," Zayn cajoled him. "If you don't eat Niall will eat everything."

"Fuck you Zayn!" Niall shot back throwing a pillow at his head. "I don't eat everything!"

"My hair!" Zayn called out jokingly. "Someone find me a mirror stat!" We all burst out laughing at that one finally relaxing. For just a minute there it was like old times. No drama. No crazy love triangles. No hidden pregnancies. We were just a family like always. Why couldn't we have that back? It was like someone pressed some crazy drama button.

"Why don't I go make more popcorn since we are almost out," I suggested grabbing the bowl and racing for the kitchen before anyone could protest. I needed a minute to breathe. I knew i was the source of all the tension in that room. If I wasn't here then they could finally be happy and friends again.

But how exactly could I disappear?

"Angie?" Niall called out springing me from my thoughts. "Are you okay? I just wanted to check on you." I turned and tried not to let any tears slip. Why did Niall have to be so sweet and caring? Now I felt even worse about that kiss earlier with Harry. Plus I promised to join him in his bunk. What was I thinking? I had sweet Niall here, and I was cheating on him?

I really am the Yoko Ono of the band. I was going to destroy the next Beatles.

"I'm fine. Just a little tired," I replied. "I was just going to make up some popcorn, but maybe I will just head to bed."

"Why don't I join you?" Niall suggested. "Just in case the nightmares come back?" I swallowed hard. I had been having horrid nightmares ever since Harry left. Most of them involved a mob of their fans tying me to a wooden stake and cheering while I burned alive. All because I destroyed One Direction.

"You are enjoying the movie and the guys," I replied as I pulled out another bag of microwave popcorn setting it in the microwave and shutting the door. "I don't want to break that up."

"I'd rather not spend a bunch of time with Harry because....well you know," Niall shot back. I stared at the microwave rather than him.

"Niall, you have to stop punishing him. He made a mistake."

"He hurt you Angie. We were all lucky to get you back."

"I let him hurt me Niall. That was my choice. I chose to grieve for a relationship that wasn't as solid as I thought it was."

"Not like ours," Niall replied as I felt his arms snake around my waist. "Angie, I--I need to tell you something."

"I really need to go to bed. I'm so tired." I faked a yawn.

"I love you Angelica." I froze feeling my heart sink. Niall was an amazing, wonderful guy, and here I was with the ability to hurt him. To devastate him. "Angie?"

"I love you too Niall," I softly replied turning in his arms and kissing his cheek. "I really need to go to bed. Will you take the popcorn to everyone else?" He nodded looking at me curiously.

"You mean that? That you love me?"

"Of course Niall. I love you," I said as I walked further back into the bus toward the bunks. Like a brother.

[ELEANOR'S POV]

"Miss we are closing. You can't stay here," the teen recited to me yet again.

"I heard you the first time," I snapped as I slowly sipped my coffee.

"If you heard me the first time then why are you still sitting there?"

"Look buddy! I don't need your attitude today. I have already put up with enough shit!"

"I--I just--my manager gets really mad if I don't close on time and--" he burst into tears and I sighed. It wasn't his fault I was here in a Starbucks at closing with a dead cell phone after a fight with my family.

"Kid relax," I replied tossing the remainder of my coffee into a garbage can. "I'm out of here. Stop freaking out. I didn't mean to yell at you. I've just had a long day."

"O--okay," the teen replied wiping his eyes like a three year old and looking at me hopefully.

"Look are there any hotels around here?" I asked. I had left so quickly that all I had was my phone on me, but maybe I could talk my way into a motel room?

"The--they're all pretty full because of the One Direction concert. But my aunt down the road sometimes takes in boarders." He rushed over to a stack of napkins hurriedly scribbling on one before handing it to me. "It's four blocks up. Tell her Daniel sent you."

"I don't have more than ten pounds left on me kid. Do you really think she will take me in?"

"Aunt Rose isn't really my aunt."

"I don't follow."

"Aunt Rose takes in people who have nowhere else to go. We are a family. There are lots of us around here. You look like you need a place to stay while you figure things out."

"I have a family already."

"Yeah," he nodded. "We all did once." I shook my head clutching the napkin as I made my way out front. I guess the kid was right. I had a family, but they didn't want or need me. I thought Louis had stopped treating me like a second fiddle to Angelica, but I should have realized I never meant enough to him. And Angie was just pretending to like me. She just wanted to make her dad happy. Anna was more of a mother to her than I was. I had spent the last few months fumbling around irritated at the attention Angie received all because she broke up with Harry. Why couldn't she just get over him?

I sighed as I started to walk towards the address the teen in the Starbucks gave me. At least it would be someplace warm for tonight. Then in the morning I could decide what to do about everything because I couldn't go back. I just didn't belong.

"Eleanor?" I whipped my head around in the direction of the soft voice calling my name. I was miles from Harry's house so no one should have been able to find me here.

"Eleanor. It is you. Dad has been searching all over for you." Dad? I finally found the source of the soft voice.

"Angelica?" I breathed out as I saw her small form huddled in the corner of a storefront. "What are you doing out here?"

"I--I was fixing the problem," she chattered through her teeth obviously feeling chilled. "Y--you can go back now because the problem isn't there anymore. Everyone will be happy now."

"The problem? Angelica what are you talking about? What problem isn't there anymore?"

She shifted slightly and sniffled choking back tears before answering my question.

"Me."*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There it is. I hope you guys liked it.

Please comment and vote and tell Bekah to clean up her drama! :P

Love you guys lots! Thanks <3

Jordan