Everyone was on the edge of their seat as she began her story.
"My mom's boyfriend was an okay guy. He seemed really nice and my mom really loved him so I decided to push my childish dislike of him to the back of my mind. Something always seemed kind of off about him and it unsettled me as a child." Alice said and took a deep breath. "One night he got completely wasted while my mom was out with some friends. She'd left me with him because she was confident that I would be safe. I was sitting in the kitchen doing my homework when he came in and started to play with my hair in a manner that made me feel very uncomfortable. I told him that if he didn't stop that I would tell my mom. He eventually stopped and everything was normal for a few weeks until one night he crept into my room. He thought I was asleep and he started to touch me and that's when I started crying. He ran out and my mom came to check on me. I told her what happened but she didn't believe me. She smacked me across the face and told me to stop making up lies because I was bitter. He would only come into my room late at night once a week, then twice, and then it was every night. The touching became more intimate and I had to bite my cheek to keep from crying because I didn't want him to hurt me or my mom to smack me. Things got progressively worse. My mom's boyfriend ended up roping her into doing drugs and so I've had to raise myself since I was seven. My mom's boyfriend ended up taking all of our remaining money and disappeared. My mom was broken because not only was she addicted to heroin but she was broke with a child that she had let down. We moved into a run-down house on the bad side of town and that gave me a bad name. As I would walk home I would have drug dealers and gang members pushing for me to buy something or join their gang. I would have to walk home with my head down for fear of angering someone that I shouldn't and being killed. When I went to school I was alone because I lost all my friends. No one wanted their child being friends with a drug addict's daughter. People would bully me at school and push me into lockers. This lasted until I left school but it got really bad my freshman year of high school. People would spit at me in the halls and the girls would tease me. No one physically hit me during school hours but certain girls would pay some of the guys that were strapped for cash to 'teach me a lesson about being trash'. I'd come home with bruises on my stomach and legs but I wouldn't cry." Alice stopped and wiped her eyes carefully. Everyone was staring at her with shocked expressions. Harry sat forward from his position on the couch and gave her a comforting smile.
(BREAK FROM BACK STORY)
"What do you need?" Harry asked softly and Alice took a shaky breath.
"I need fresh air." Alice whispered and stood up, quickly walking through the kitchen and disappearing through the back door. Harry got up to follow her out but Liam stood up, shaking his head at Harry.
"I'm going out there." Liam said in a soft voice and Harry nodded, watching as Liam followed in Alice's footsteps. Liam poked his head out the door and saw Alice swaying slightly on one of the swings of Adaley's playhouse. He sat down next to her and gently bumped her knee with his. "Hey you." He said with a small smile and Alice choked out a laugh.
"Hi." She murmured softly and hesitantly looked up at him with red rimmed eyes. "I'm really sorry that I just ran out of there." She mumbled and Liam shook his head.
"Don't be sorry love. We understand that it's hard for you to talk about your past." Liam said comfortingly and she smiled thankfully at him. "We all have a hard story in our pasts but the fact that we've conquered the demons from them is proof that we really are stronger than we think we are." He gently told her and carefully took her hand in his, interlocking their fingers together. "You don't have to keep telling your story if it's become too much for you. No one would judge you or be upset with you." Alice shook her head and looked down at their intertwined hands.
"I've started it and I'm going to finish it. I've never quit anything before in my life and I don't plan on starting on it now." Alice said with determination in her voice and stood up as Liam watched her with a small smile.
"That's my girl." Liam said softly and Alice blushed slightly, looking back down at their hands.
"Will you keep holding my hand though?" Alice asked unsurely and Liam nodded, gently squeezing her hand for comfort.
"I won't let go until you want me to." Liam whispered and she gave him a shy smile before kissing his cheek sweetly. The couple walked back into the house and took their seats on the couch. Alice glanced around the room and noticed that everyone's face was pale and their eyes were red rimmed. She took a shaky break and Liam squeezed her hand to remind her that he was right next to her and that he would continue to be.
(BACKSTORY STARTING AGAIN)
"Crying in my neighborhood was a sign of weakness and you couldn't show weakness if you hoped to survive to the next day. One day when I didn't want to go home I found myself standing front of the local gym and one of the trainers let me inside. We got to talking and I ended up trading boxing lessons for cleaning the gym after it closed. Mark, the trainer, not only taught me how to box but he also tutored me in my school work. He talked me into participating in boxing matches and I fell in love with it. One day the owner caught me working out after hours and talked to me. He watched me train and attended one of my matches. He decided to let me continue to train but he paid me for each match I won and for cleaning the gym. My mom was so high off her drugs that she never knew that I was gone. When I graduated high school I immediately moved out of my mom's house and never looked back. I moved in with Mark and his family and they helped me get one my feet. I fought with myself for a year over what I should do. I was involved in a few bad relationships that year and did a lot of things that I regret but I never got into drugs. Any time someone would offer them to me I'd walk away because I knew what they do to people. The relationships I was in that year were all abusive and deadly but eventually I ended them and moved forward. After being stuck for that year I finally realized what I wanted to be a teacher so while I continued to box, train, and work at the gym I went to school full time. Every day I would come back to the house with barely any energy but somehow I found a way to do my homework. I kept fighting and now here I am. I graduated valedictorian and a job offer awaiting me." She said, finishing off her story. Everyone stared at her in shock for a while before Harry spoke up.
"May I ask what happened to your mum?" Harry asked hesitantly and Alice gave him a sad smile, squeezing Liam's hand tightly.
"She died a few years ago. She was killed in a gang shooting in Saint Louis. I didn't have enough money to bury her and we had no other family so I just had her cremated." Alice explained and Harry nodded.
"Do you mind I ask what you did with her ashes?" Harry asked, treading lightly.
"I spread them in her most favourite place. The beach." Alice said softly and Harry smiled softly.
(BACKSTORY COMPLETELY OVER)
"I'm very happy that she's finally at peace." Harry said softly and everyone nodded in agreement. Liam glanced at the time and squeezed Alice's hand gently.
"Love, it's almost time for your match. Mark said he wants you there early because he wants to discuss your tactics for this fight with you." Liam whispered in her ear and she nodded, standing up and stretching slightly.
"I need to leave unfortunately. Mark needs me at the gym before my match." Alice said and everyone nodded, standing up and giving her and Liam hugs. "I would love for all of you to come to one of my matches sometime." She said as she slipped her shoes on. Harry nodded and leaned over to whisper in Louis' ear. The couple talked softly for a few minutes before Harry turned back to Alice.
"Do you mind if some of us come to your fight tonight?" Harry asked and Alice shook her head.
"I'd love that but what about Adaley?" Alice asked and Liam helped her slip on her sweater over her sundress. Ali sat forward with a smile on her face as she squeezed Zayn's shoulder.
"I shouldn't go to violent events like that so Zayn and I can stay here and keep an eye on Adaley and the house if you'd like. We can also watch Emery if Tayler and Michael would like to go." Ali said with a smile and Tayler looked over to Michael to see her boyfriend nodding furiously.
"I guess Mikey and I will go." Tayler said and Michael jumped up, yelling in happiness. Harry looked down at Niall and Emma and then over at Breana and Josh.
"What about you four?" Harry asked and the two couples nodded.
"We're in." Josh said and high fived Niall. Moments later Ashton, Luke, and Calum appeared in the doorway and they looked at the conversing group with confused glances.
"What's going on?" Ashton asked and Alice smiled at them.
"Would you boys like to go to my boxing match tonight?" Alice asked and Ashton's eyes widened.
"Really?" Ashton said excitedly and Alice nodded with a laugh.
"Harry, Louis, Josh, Niall, Liam, Emma, Tayler, Breana, and Michael are all going. Would you three like to attend as well? It's on me." Alice said happily and Ashton nodded, answering for the entire group.
"We'll be there!" Ashton cheered and Alice laughed. She gave Harry the address of the gym and Alice and Liam left a few minutes later. Harry gave everyone the address and they agreed to meet back at Harry and Louis' house in half an hour and everyone but Ali, Zayn, and Emery left soon after. Harry smiled widely at Louis and winked at him.
"Looks like we have to get ready for a fight."