*****Elizabeth's POV*****
*****1 and a half years later*****
I run downstairs and see Dad-Dee hugging TayTay tightly. "The kittens are nearly here." I whisper. I've recently started Primary school and nobody likes me. They pull apart and nod. Niall lifts me up and we head upstairs. I'm placed in my bed and tucked in. "Night Elizabeth." Dad-Dee says and leaves. He stopped calling me Elle too, he says I'm too old for a nickname.
I wake up to see Will shaking me awake. Ellie? What's wrong?" He asks quickly. "Nightmare." I whisper. He hugs me close as the door swings open to reveal Louis. "Do you mind keeping it down?! There's a younger child here that is crying from the volume of your voices!" He snaps and slams the door shut. I stare at the door in shock. "Don't worry Ellie. I'll keep the nightmares away." Will says, climbing under the covers and hugging me close.
I creep through the backyard and over to the gate that leads to the forest. I slip out and run for my life.
*****Niall's POV*****
I wake up to William shaking my shoulders. "Ellie. She's gone." He whimpers. I scramble out of bed and run to wake the others.
We gather in the living room and take a seat around the room. "Elizabeth ran off." William states from beside Liam. "We need to think of the reasons why." Taylor says. "She's been quiet since she started primary school." Harry inputs. "We haven't called her by a nickname since she started there." Louis says. "Niall doesn't spend a lot of time with her now." Liam says. "Louis yelled at her last night for having a nightmare." William states. Every stares at Louis and I. "She slipped out the back gate early this morning. I thought it was my imagination." James says.
I run through the forest as fast as I can. I spot a small bag against a tree and pick it up. It was packed fully. I place it back down and follow the footprints in the mud.
I hear the rushing of water and run forward. I look around and see a huge waterfall. "Elizabeth?!" I call out. I hear a bush shake and turn over to it. A white cat walks out and looks up at me, hissing at me loudly. "Elle?!" I yell at the top of my lungs. A hand pops through the water flow. "What do you want?!" Elle cries out. I runs through the water and pull her out. Her face is pale and she's shivering. "Why did you run off?" I ask, holding her closely. "Nobody likes me anymore. You spend all your time with Taylor now and other dads are too busy to notice me. You never use nicknames anymore, only for Sydney. Everyone at school hates me and picks on me." She cries. I run through the woods and over to her bag. I pull the blanket out and wrap it tightly around her small body. "You need to tell us if you want to spend time with us, we'd willingly drop everything for you. And next time someone picks on you, tell us when you get home." I say carrying her and the bag home.
Louis runs out and take Elle from me, hugging her close. Will runs out and takes Elle inside. I signal for the lads to sit at the picnic table. "So, she thinks we don't care about her anymore because we don't spend time with her and don't use nicknames anymore. But also kids are picking on her at school." I say quietly to them. Their eyes widen and we set a few ground rules to follow.
***2 weeks later***
I pull up outside of the primary school and wait outside of the car for the kids. William and James come running over. "Hey buddies! Climb on in!" I cheer giving them a hi five. I look around and see a flop of brown hair walking towards the gate, a large group of kids around them. As the group steps out of the gate, a boy shoves the now noticeable girl into the cement fence and the group runs off. The girl looks up and over to me. Elle. I run over and pick her up, quickly carrying her to the car.
I pull up to the optometrist and let the boys out. I carry Elle inside and I sign them in. "Appointment for the Horan kids." I say. The woman types away and smiles. "Take a seat please." She says.
I lead the kids out to the car, holding a bag that contains their new glasses. I drive back to the house and carry Elle inside. I swing the door and place Elle into Louis' arms. "Eliza! How was your day?" He says, hugging her close. I shake my head at him and he frowns. "What did they do to you, baby?" Lou cooes, taking Elle into her arms and wiping the tears away from her cheeks. "They pushed her into the cement fence at the school when I picked them up." I say, running a hand through my hair. "Do you know if Taylor's here? I was thinking of taking Elle for a big girl night out." Lou says. I nod and run upstairs. "Tay?" I ask, knocking on the door. She opens the door wide and smiles at me. "Lou want to know if you wanted to go for a big girl night out with her and Elle." I say. She smiles and nods. "Just let me get ready." She says. I nod and head to Elle's room to see Lou failing at getting Elle ready. "Here. Let me do it." I say and lift me Elle. Lou nods and heads downstairs. I pick up the dress and stare at it in horror. "This most certainly will not do for my little Elle Belle!" I proclaim and head over to the wardrobe while Elle giggles her head off. I pull out a over sized New Broken Scene Jersey, black leggings, a white tank top and red velvet Taylor Swift Keds. I walk back over to Elle and help her get dressed quickly. I carry her downstairs and pass her giggling form over to Lou. Lou shakes her head out Elle's outfit. I smile at Taylor and they head out.
