Five Little Liars (One Direction/ Pretty Little Liars)

22: Lights Out!

HARRY

I was sipping punch and being antisocial when the lights when out. All at once, the music stopped, the lights went off, and all the talking elevated to shouts and loud complaints. I paused, waiting for the lights to flicker back on, but when moments passed and nothing happened, I sighed and tried to navigate my way to the door through the blackness.

The blackness reminded me of the newspaper articles, detailing the entire story of Lars' tragic death. Us finding him wounded in Ashlee's house. Then, him disappearing from the hospital. Then, his arm being found. Finally, Louis, Zayn, and Niall finding him at the circus. They told the story as if it were the plot of some poorly-written teen novel, but that was rude; this is my life they're talking about it, and they threw it out there like it was some silly scary story you tell your kids as a cautionary tale.

It was ridiculous, too, the conspiracy theories everyone was pedaling about it. Lars was suicidal and cut his arm off, but it didn't kill him, so he tried again years later. Lars was on the run from a gang he owed money. We killed him, after having him locked up in the Payne's basement all this time.

I was living in a nightmare, and this was only making it worse. Just like it had that day in the cafeteria, there was a wave of lights and noises; everyone's mobile went off at once, it seemed. Some messages came later than others, but the room was lit up again by the light from everyone's screen. I didn't dare check my phone, because I already knew who sent it, and he wasn't worth my time.

"Harry," Eleanor said, holding me by my arm. I jumped at her touch, but quickly recovered, turning to face her. "We've got a problem."

Without another word, she held up her phone to me. The light burned my eyes a bit, but I adjusted, blinking a bit. Just like the last time, there was a picture, but this time the picture was not harmless. In this picture, clearly taken tonight, Louis and Liam are kissing on the bleachers, all dressed up (although Louis is wearing his beaten up Chucks, not proper shoes). The room is exploding in conversation. "Gay." "Louis." "Liam."

"Shit," I said. I don't feel like worrying about Adam, suddenly. I am frozen, which sucks, because I really should be checking on Louis and Liam right about now. Eleanor seems to get it, as she tugs me along after, using her phone as a flashlight as we weave through the crowd. I bump into several people, all of which curse as me, or bump me right back. I couldn't apologize fast enough, evidently.

We run into Zayn, Niall and Knitting Club Katie, and Perrie, but Louis and Liam are nowhere to be found. I start to think that they've left, because I would've left if I were them. Just when I'm about to suggest that they're gone to Eleanor and the others, someone shouts, "Look, it's the happy couple!"

There are whoops, hollers, and whistles exploding from right near us, where the jocks without dates were moping around. I assumed they were still there, and they were bullying my friends. My first instinct was to charge, but I decided against it. If the jocks had the upper hand in the light, what made me think I had a chance in the dark? Harry Styles, who trips over his own feet and knocks over his friends with his arms when he turns around. Of course I can't take on two fifths of the rugby team and a quarter of the footie players.

"Harry, calm down," I heard Zayn say. I almost scoffed at him. Since when was Zayn the voice of reason? Since a few days ago when Liam gave up that job and somebody had to take over. 

"Calm down? While they're making fun of Lou and Liam?"

"He's right, Haz," Niall said. "One thing at a time. Do we chase after King while we know he's here? Or do we go help Louis and Liam, even though we know they can take care of themselves?"