"Leah! Get down here!" I heard Robert call from down stairs.

I can't remember how much time I've already spent researching all these schools and yet had no luck. This is hard. Sometimes I wish I had someone to help me, to support me. My Mom.

It's become harder to actually believe that she's going to be gone for a while now. Robert is always busy, and Niall has to get himself into a school. I'm completely alone on this, and it sucks... A lot.

"Hurry before we finish the pizza!" Niall joked calling out after Robert.

I sighed, closing the packet I had open on my lap and dropping it on a side of my mattress before standing up. Running a hand through my damp wavy curls, I walked up to my door. My vision darted down to my phone held in my hand to read a text I just received from Ivy as I gripped the door knob and swung it open.

I started to reply to her, taking a step out into the hallway. Almost immediately as I took that second step, I felt my body crash into something hard. Or better yet... Someone.

I darted my vision to look up at who I crashed into, beginning to apologize but instantly taking it back as I noticed who it was. Harry.

"What are you doing here?" I asked a bit annoyed as I looked up to his eyes, noticing he didn't see me either as he stepped out of the bathroom, also on his phone.

"Calm down, I was just using the bathroom." He chuckled.

"Of course you were." I rolled my eyes, continuing to turn around so I can walk away but he didn't let me.

Grabbing my arm and pulling me in by force, he pinned his eyes at me.

"I don't know what your problem is, sweetheart, but you better stop acting like the tough girl you're not." He almost growled, his voice dripping venom with every word.

He scared me, there was no doubt about it. But I wasn't going to let him keep doing this, I'm much better than this.

"You don't even know me." I growled back, "And don't call me sweetheart ever again."

He looked up, an evil looking smirk curving up to his lips as he leaned back down. "I don't want to know you, and I don't want you to know me, I'm worse than what you think. So if you want to play it safe, then I suggest you tone it down."

I looked into his eyes. They've changed into a dark color, almost black.

"Let go of me." I almost growled.

He didn't.

Pulling me even closer to his body, I became aware of his dark gaze. He really want going to let this go?

"I don't think you understand." He growled.

Our heads immediately flickered to the left where we heard someone come up the stairs.

The dark hair made it obvious who it was standing on the other side of the hallway.

"Wow! I was um--" Zayn interrupted, looking back at the stairs and us.

Harry didn't let me go, his head turned back to look at Zayn and back at me. Without saying a word, he let me go, swiftly walking past me and and Zayn to jog down the stairs.

I was completely speechless.

"Hey, are you okay?" Zayn asked walking up to me.

I remained looking at the stairs, still paranoid about what he did. My hand gripped the one Harry held tightly, gently rubbing out the irritation I started to feel.

"Leah?" His hand placed over my shoulder, curiously looking down at me.

I glanced back at him. His expression was worried.

"Yeah, yeah." I nodded my head.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked.

I immediately nodded my head in disagreement. "No it's okay." I forced a smile.

I really wasn't.

"Come on, let's go eat." He gestured, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and moving us forward.

What the hell just happened?

*NEXT AFTERNOON*

School came and went. Before I knew it I was already in sixth hour. Great, my first day of culinary.

I entered the wide, vivid classroom. Tables of two were evenly aligned into rows and columns. A chef's table in the front and center of the class.

I wasn't the first one in class, but I wasn't the last either.

Moving my bag over my shoulder in a better position, I walked over the man dressed in the chefs outfit with my schedule in my hands.

"Um? Excuse me?" I asked stepping behind him.

"Eh, yes?" His French accent clearly noticeable.

He was chubby, a black beard growing around his mouth.

"Are you chef Bonney?" I asked.

"Why yes!" He exclaimed, "Are you a new student ma'dem?"

"We." I smiled.

"Ahh. Accueil." He smiled, "Welcome. Please, take a seat next to..." His eyes skimmed the classroom before spotting a seat.

"Liam!" He smiled.

I turned around, looking at the tall and masculine guy sitting in the front row on a stool, a book in front of him.

He raised his head, dark brown eyes looking at the chef.

"Liam, please raise your hand so the new girl can sit next to you." The chef asked with a jolly smile on his face.

Liam raised his hand, lightly chuckling at how stupid he must be looking.

I smiled back at the chef before walking up to where he directed, "Merci."

I stood next to Liam, dropping my books on the table and sitting down on the stool.

"Hi." I smiled.

"Hey, I'm Liam." He smiled congenially.

"Leah." I replicated the look on his face.

"So are you from around here?" He asked.

"No, I came from California."

"California!" His eyes widened. "That's so cool. I've always wanted to go there."

"You never went?" I asked.

"I never left the state." He replied.

"Never!" I gasped.

How could anyone never leave a state? Sure feel bad for him.

"Nope, my parents came here from England before I was born and they just settled here." He replied.

"That explains the accent." I joked.

Liam was really good looking, there was no doubt about it. He wore a black leather jacket over a red plaid hoodie, black jeans adored his legs along with a pair of white low top converse.

"That sucks." I tried to smile.

"Eh... It's all good. I like it here." He smiled nodding his head. "So what brings you here, California?"

Wow, it's not even been a minute I've been talking to this stranger and he already gave me a pet name.

"Not much really. My Mom wanted to finish college so she went to London and now I'm here with my brother living with a father I've never met before."

There was more to the story, obviously, but I didn't feel like explaining it all to him. If I did then we'll be here till graduation.

"Wow, sounds interesting." He smiled, "Does your brother come here?"

"Yes. His name is Niall." I smiled.

"Wait, Niall Horan?" He asked.

"Yeah? How did you know?" I asked.

"I have him first hour." He smiled brightly.

"That's cool." I smiled.

Our conversation took a sudden stop as I noticed a figure step in the class from the corner of my eye. I turned around, eyes starting to light up as I saw the handsome guy walk in.

He had blue green eyes with light brown hair. He was incredibly tall and strong looking. Were all the guys that came here extremely good looking?

He made eye contact with me, playfully giving me a smirk as he took a seat in the far back row.

"No way." I heard Liam speak behind me.

"What?" I spun around, smiling at his facial expression.

"Don't tell me you're in a budding romance with Luke Ocasio!?" He chuckled.

So that's his name.

"I've only been coming here for two days? How on earth am I going to be in a budding romance ?" I pointed out sarcastically.

"Hey, you never know." He joked, "I even heard you and, what's his name? Harry? Are in a little something too?"

"Okay, no!" I exclaimed, "We hate each other. The only reason he ever talked to me is because he works for my father along with his little friends. Not even my bother is that close to him and he's just as stubborn as Harry is."

Liam busted out laughing, closing the book on the desk before pushing it aside.

"Alright, calm down girl, I was only joking with you." He smiled, "You're way too nice to be with a guy like Harry."

"Let me guess, you know about him too?" I asked sighing.

It's no surprise. I'm sure he knows all about him. Though I'm not sure anyone knows about the part that he grips girls wrists and growls in their face!

"Everyone knows about him. Did you know he used to be in a gang?" Liam asked.

"What!"

"Yeah, him and his boys. They ran these parts of town. Now, no one even remembers their name." He explained.

"Oh my God, how do you know this?" I curiously asked.

Harry! In a gang! With his boys!

This all adds up now. I mean, I'm not so surprised he was in a stupid gang, especially with the guys he works with I'm suspecting. They ask looked like bad asses from the moment I met them. This is also probably why Harry is always so angry all the time.

"Anyone knows that." He smiled. "While everyone else is busy being terrified of them, I look more into their mystery."

"What are you talking about!" I exclaimed, "No, stay away from people like that."

"I should be telling you the same thing." He smiled.

Oh no, Robert has hired past gang members to work in our house!