After my appointment from the Orthodontist, my mother took me on over to the DMV; I was finally about to take my driver's test after months of having my learner's permit. Now I didn't have to depend on anyone for rides anymore. My grandparents were going to drive their used car down from Seattle next week and then I was set for the summer.

Summer was slow and I knew what that meant…I needed a job. My mother spotted several stores with signs for hire, but I wasn't too crazy about them once I saw what they were. I did however spot one not too far from school. A local ice cream shop was searching for a part-time applicant; I was more than happy to tell my mom to pull over and get a form. This would be a nice change, for once.

After a few days they called me back and I was able to start immediately. Sure I was overwhelmed at first, but it was a fun place nonetheless; minus the herds of demanding children or the indecisive individuals. I was destined to see my former classmates. At the same time it allowed me to get further acquainted with them; even the older students began calling me by my first name.

Louis surprised me one day when he came to visit. He had heard by word of mouth that I was working there. When I asked how he was doing, he said just as crappy as the last time I had seen him, but he stayed for a while. He even kept me company as I wiped down the tables and restocked the napkins. I finished my shift, but Louis wasn't done with me yet apparently. We opted to get some Chinese food right down the street to continue our conversations.

"I knowwe used to be close and lately we haven't been but do you mind if I kind of vent on you?" The look of frustration sprung from his face.

"Of course you can. What's up?"

"There was a girl I was kind of seeing for a while, and it's just complicated. I even thought she was out of my league, and not even sure if she was my type to begin with…anyway I don't want to get back together with her. We've actually broken up a couple of times, but then she just persuades me back."

In the midst of Louis's vulnerable confession, I recognized his confused state. I was always in a sea of confusion. Now I did get a little jealous; wanting desperately to know who this tramp was. Who had stolen away my chances of being with him? However, I was glad he came to talk to me.

"It's like I shouldn't be with her but I want to still. Does that sound crazy?" he asked.

"No. I found myself in a similar situation. But I can't tell you what to do. You have to make that choice, but the longer you wait the harder it gets. At least that's what I'm always told… Are you going to tell me who she is?"

"I'd rather not," he smiled nervously. "You wouldn't know her."

Hmmm, this led me to believe that she could possibly be older than him. That would explain her toying with his feelings like she did. And maybe this girl went to the same college that Niall did and that's why he was so eager to go to this party. Yes, my problem solving skills were blossoming but I had no evidence to back myself up. Truth was I wasn't the only one keeping secrets around here.

We finished our meals and he offered me a ride home. And while during the summer time, every day of the week was supposed to feel like a Saturday night, mine always seemed more like a Monday. Izzy wasn't available much to hang out and I believed she was getting bored with me. She on the other hand, was going out on several dates. Where is the parental control? How would there be any if they lived in their office though?

On the bright side, I saw less of Niall. It was safer that way because the times that I had seen him, when Izzy wasn't looking, he'd slip a seductive stare my way. Like a vulture, waiting and lurking for a moment alone, to remind me that he had seen me semi-naked. Elizabeth was unaware and still oblivious to what had happened between us. I hated him less but at the same time that worried me.

---

"I got us some hot dates for tonight," Izzy blurted out on the phone once I picked up.

Oh joy, so this meant I wouldn't be the single 5th wheel anymore. I wasn't about to put my heart on my sleeve and hope that my date would turn out to be prince charming, but a fresh face to talk to wouldn't hurt.

"Who are they?" I asked somewhat interested.

"They are actually friends of Niall. I met them at the party."

Splendid, I couldn't wait to meet these guys of such excellent standards…I'm sure. I had a gut feeling that I just couldn't ignore. Regardless it had been a few weeks since I last slept over Izzy's house and I missed that. All I had to do was lock the door when showering and I'd be fine right?

I wore my short jeans and a striped navy blue and white shirt with sandals. I thought I looked casually pretty. I wasn't focused on winning any hearts. Like I said, a new face to talk to. I heard a car horn and was utterly disappointed to see Niall's Jeep outside. I knew we were going to meet his friends but Izzy didn't mention that he would be joining us too. Oh well, let the good times roll…or not.

Niall's date was sitting in the front so I climbed over into the back seat with Izzy. She told me our dates were going to meet us there. Unlike my nautical theme, Izzy looked like a Spanish diva wearing a bold purple beach dress and flower in her golden hair. I didn't like to compare myself to her but sometimes her outshining me got tiring.

Walking up to the front entrance of the movie theater, we met up with our dates. I didn't know if Izzy remembered my preference or not, but I got stuck with the blonde guy while she took the dark haired cutie. Dang it! She'll always have her way won't she? Luckily, this was a nice guy with actual manners. There wasn't a spark or any tickles of any kind, but he was fun to talk to.

Niall and his date sat in the row before us while I sat next to Izzy with our guys on either side. We voted on a thriller, meaning the room would stay dark throughout the majority of the movie. I sat silently with my date but noticed the flirting foreplay between my friend and her rookie. Niall of course was way ahead of the game, arm around his girl and the whispering and giggling.

I thought I would throw up once he started kissing her, it made it impossible to focus in on the movie no matter how dark it was. My body stiffened when I caught Niall staring back at me while kissing her. I wanted to look away but I was enticed to stare on. He was doing this on purpose and although my hatred for him didn't increase, something else sure did.

After the movie we hung-out back at the house, but I faked that I wasn't feeling well so I could go lay down in Izzy's room. I was tired and sure that if I closed my eyes I would fall asleep, still I didn't want to just yet. I felt lonely and very emotional. I kept staring at Harry's text and wanted to write him again so badly. I thought that if I text him and then said that I was drunk…no, that wouldn't make me look good.

I know what I saw and all I needed was for him to apologize for leading me on. I didn't need the influence of alcohol to make me do this. I sat in the dark with only the light from my cell phone to illuminate the keys on which I typed the following message:

"I was hurt because I saw you with another girl and I thought that we were becoming something more than just a game," I said while typing.

Just then I realized that I hadn't searched him on my Facebook and hoped that maybe I would find him right away so I could see his face again. I rolled out of bed and on to Izzy's chair and computer. Shaking the mouse brought me to her desktop. I clicked to open the browser and enter the website but realized it was already logged on.

I saw a funny picture that was taken not too long ago of Izzy and I at the mall, which led me to look at other pictures. When taken to her albums page, I found 2 albums that I hadn't seen before. I looked closely to find that they were set on a private only mode. I should have stopped there. But put temptation on a plate before anyone and I bet you they would take it.

I was too blood thirsty not to sink my teeth into these photos. So I became the bad friend and clicked on one of the albums titled My Cutie. A lot of pictures were out of focus and had too much movement, as if she had taken the pictures while jumping on a bed.

Then I stumbled upon a cute picture of a guy kissing her forehead with her pointing the camera from above. She cut off his head in this picture and in the next I could only see the back of him while she shot one of them hugging. Basically she was the star in all these snap shots so I don't understand why it was so private.

The next picture was of Louis smiling straight into the camera, and I smiled back. I clicked for the following one and saw Izzy standing behind him kissing his cheek. WAIT. A. MINUTE! LOUIS?! I looked back at all the pictures and saw the same colored shirt in all of them. Elizabeth was the tramp that had stolen Louis's heart? She was the one toying with his feelings. She was the one going on several dates while keeping Louis on a leash. My gut feeling didn't fail me that was certain, but now my stomach felt like it might hurl.

I kept torturing myself by looking at the rest of the pictures. They had different shirts in the rest of them and they were kissing in many of them as well. I could hear my heart shatter against the floor. This house was evil. Izzy and Niall were little demons. I exited the page and turned off the computer. I stood in the darkness that was this place. I had nowhere to turn, no one to trust.

I stepped back to sit on the bed. Tears began to streamdown my eyes effortlessly. This wound was bone deep and I had no way of holding back the hurt. All that time that I had confessed my undying feelings for Louis to her and she swallowed it up to spit it out once I turned around. No wonder he distanced himself from me.

The only thing that mattered to me now was Louis not being the victim here. He didn't know of my feelings for him, so he's not the one to be angry with. But Izzy, he needed to know the kind of slut he was running back to. How could I prove it? Still gripping tight to my phone the bright idea hit me.

I crept outside the room, careful not to make the slightest noise and blow my cover. I tip-toed downstairs and didn't see anyone in the living room but there were lights outside in their back yard. I walked closer and saw Izzy sitting on the bench with her date. I waited for something to happen. I had my camera ready to capture whatever proof I needed.

Falling perfectly according to plan, they began to kiss. The area was sufficiently lit; recognizing her face in the photo wouldn't be a problem.

"What are you doing?" A stern voice asked.

I jumped up and held on to my phone for dear life.

"I don't have to explain anything to you," I mumbled fearfully.

"You are sneaking around taking pictures of my sister and that guy, that's a bit suspicious don't you think?"Niall crossed his arms and began to walk closer to me.

Mind you it's fairly dark as all the lights inside were turned off; the sight of his serious face was starting to scare me.

"I thought you were busy with your date," I stepped around him to make a slow escape.

"I took her home ages ago. So are you going to tell me what you're planning on doing with that picture or should I just tell her that you would like to take some more?"

I felt a rage start to burn inside me; between the lies, the acting and my plain ignorance. My tears rolled down again but I was angry, no longer sad and no longer willing to put up with this bull crap.

"She lied to me," I said in a low voice.

"Who lied to you? Izzy?" He asked confused.

"Shhhh! Yes," I probably shouldn't have opened my mouth but I had too much bottled up to keep it to myself.

Izzy stood up outside and I was afraid she would come in in the middle of this awkward conversation. Niall was not ready to let me off the hook just yet, but he heard their voices say they were about to go inside.

"Quickly go to my room," he motioned.

This wasn't part of the plan, however, I wasn't ready to face Izzy yet. Perhaps I needed more time to cool off, because honestly I was torn between acting as though I hadn't seen anything or confronting her about it. But now I had Niall hot with intrigue thanks to my stupid mouth. I had to make something up and fast. I couldn't tell him the truth; that would mess up my plans of exposing Izzy to Louis.

Well Niall had me right where he wanted me, alone in his room and in the dark. He turned on the ceiling lights but lowered them to an uncomfortable dimness. I just kept telling myself no matter what happens don't sit down, that's the trap.

"What's happened between you and Izzy?" He began.

"I'm busted," I chuckled. "I was planning a prank and you caught me in the middle of it," I lied.

"Oh, so why did you say she lied?" He wasn't convinced yet.

"I'm not sure; it was the first thing that came to mind. I panicked."

Niall shook his head, deep in thought. That didn't explain why he had to take off his shirt.

"What are you doing?" I questioned.

"What? I'm in MY room. Feel free to leave if you want," he then proceeded to take off his pants.

Modeling in his boxer briefs, Niall Horan was clearly trying to pull something here. I turned to face the wall but it just so happened to be the mirrored closet doors. There he sat on his bed with his back against the wall. Legs extended, relaxed and him looking straight at me. I felt trapped, like I couldn't trust myself with his musk in the air.

"You're doing this on purpose," I now crossed my arms.

"Then why are you still here? You are obviously hiding something. Maybe I should let Izzy in on your little prank."

Was he blackmailing me now? I needed to get out of here even though I didn't know where to go. It was too late to walk home. And I doubt Niall would take me home now that he was undressed. I had only one option left.

"Good night," I walked out.

I'll admit that Niall is dangerously attractive but not enough to make the same mistake twice. I sent a quick text to apologize for the late hour but that I desperately needed a ride. It was around midnight, and I managed to creep my way through the house to collect my things and wait outside. I couldn't find Izzy which was probably for the best.

The car quietly pulled up and I got in immediately.

"Thank you so much Louis, you're a life saver."

"Yeah anytime. But you had me worried, everything alright?" He did look concerned.

"No, my world has been turned upside down. One minute it was perfect, and then one by one I began to lose it all."

"Huh? This sounds more serious than I was expecting,"he said puzzled. "Does this have anything to do with Izzy?"

"Yes!" I looked him straight in the eye. "You lied too."

Louis hung his head, realizing that I knew about them. But what he failed to realize were my hidden feelings.

"She told me not to tell you,"he admitted.

"And why did she tell you that?"

"One day, she said that you used to like me but that she had always liked me way before you came to our school."

"That sneaky whore of a …!" I mumbled. "I had the hugest crush on you, but somehow she failed to mention the mutual feelings," I stared outside the window, observing my house. "I just want to scream!"

"Wait, so you did have a crush on me for a long time?" Louis paused.

What did it matter now? I no longer felt the same way about him. He was tainted…by her. That whole family was bad news.

"And why are you calling her a whore? What else happened?" He insisted.

My brain was on overload, there was just too much to process and I couldn't handle it anymore.

"Not now, Louis." I barged out the car, not caring who I woke up. "Thanks for the ride." I needed the comfort and safety of being in my own home and my bed.

---

My phone kept buzzing from all the missed calls and texts from Louis, Niall and Elizabeth. All I wanted was to disappear. All I wanted was my mom. I called in sick to work then called my mom to ask her if we could have lunch together. I needed to be reminded that I was only 16 and didn't need all this drama and craziness in my life.

It was hard to play normal, especially in front of my mother. We ate at the food court in the mall and then planned to stop by one of her favorite stores, since she didn't come to the mall as often as I did. But before we went off window shopping I had to make a quick stop at the restroom.

Busy washing my hands, one of the stalls opened and I saw a beautiful blonde girl come out. She looked disturbingly familiar. And then all of a sudden I felt a sharp blade to the stomach. It was the girl that was with Harry that day. I couldn't ignore her presence, being that close. I feared I might say something stupid, but there was no taming my tongue.

"You look familiar, have I seen you before," I played it cool.

"Really? I don't think so, but I have a bad memory anyway," she smiled brightly. Her sweetness disgusted me.

"Oh, I wonder…did you date Harry Styles?" I continued.

"Harry? Oh gosh no! He's my cousin; though we act more like siblings," she laughed.

COUSINS?!

Kill me now!

Notes

You gals have been so awesome with your comments and votes. THANK YOU! xo
I'll be updating tomorrow. So what did you think of the revelation? :)