The next couple of days were pretty mellow and boring. There was a lot of sleeping, and a lot of take out and tv. Julie seemed to be healing well with only a few side effects of the concussion. Her bruising was definitely in the worse before it gets better stage, but the pain was subsiding. Things seemed pretty normal. It was strange. Two of the most famous men in the world staying in a small apartment with two extremely average nurses. And it all seemed normal.

Amanda stood back in her doorway and watched JJ and Harry. JJ was sitting on one end of the couch writing in her notebook, and Harry was sitting at the other end eating popcorn and watching tv. Every time Harry went in to try and peek at the notebook, JJ would just take her hand and push his head gently back towards his side of the couch. She watched Harry start to throw popcorn at JJ and laughed. JJ just ignored him. Every time a piece landed either on her notebook or close, JJ would just pick it up and eat it. She never acknowledged him or said anything. It was completely adorable. After a while JJ put her notebook up, picked up the popcorn from the floor and threw it away. She climbed up by Harry lifted his arm and put it around her as she cuddled up to him. Amanda smiled. This is how it should be for them. She had never seen JJ, nor Harry for that matter so calm and relaxed. She knew it wouldn't last forever, JJ or Harry or both would get bored, but for now it was great to see. She looked back when Niall wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Hi babe. Did you enjoy your shower?"

"I enjoy them better when they include you." Niall said kissing her neck. "What are you doing stalking in your doorway?"

"I'm not stalking." She looked at him. "Ok maybe I am. I'm watching JJ and Harry. It's nice to see."

"It is. But it's kind of boring when we don't have to deal with their drama." Niall laughed when she gave him a look.

"Well the drama we just dealt with I hope we never have to see again." She kissed his chin and then took a deep breath.

"But you're worried. Why?" He asked.

"I'm trying not to be Niall. Really I am. It's just she hasn't dealt with it. She seems content and I'm grateful for that, but she hasn't talked about it, or had a meltdown, or cried about it. And I'm sorry but all those things should have happened." Amanda said.

"Why? Why can't it just be this way? Why can't she have just realized that she has people here for her, and people who want nothing other than to protect her. Why can't it be that simple." Niall asked.

"Being a boy must be so easy." Amanda said shaking her head at him. "You know how much I've talked about it. How much it affected me, and none of it happened to me. Imagine her head Niall. Imagine everything going on in hers. If it's because you and Harry are here, then what's going to happen when you're gone?"

"I wish you wouldn't want to find trouble Princess." He said to her.

"It seems to find her, and I'm not going anywhere so I'm going to be there to help get her out of it." Amanda said.

"You're such an amazing friend." Niall said kissing her. "Let's go bug them though. We've all kind of spent the past two days to ourselves, and trust me I couldn't have asked for a better two days in your bed; but I know you want to see how she is, and I know I wouldn't mind knowing she was ok."

"Yeah I'm starting to think, though, that you're trying to steal my best friend." She raised her eyebrows at him.

Niall laughed. "No just want you to share."

"Hmmmm, not sure I wanna share my best friend especially with my boyfriend." Amanda laughed at him. She kissed him and then started towards JJ and Harry. She jumped on them. "Hey! I've missed you guys."

Julie wrapped her arm around Amanda. "We've been in the same apartment as you for two straight days."

"Yes, but we've all been doing our own thing." Amanda said as Niall came and sat right next to her.

"Geez, could you guys get any closer?" Julie asked. "You've been the ones stuck in your room for two days. We've been out often."

"Only because you're still recovering so you couldn't..." Amanda started.

"Oh jesus I was teasing we don't have to go there in detail." Julie said covering her ears.

Harry laughed. "Yep, sounds about right. It's not a secret babe what happens between them and even us..."

"Oh shut up! I hate you people." Julie said squeezing out from between Harry and Amanda. She watched Harry wrap his arm around Amanda. "I see I'm not needed anyway. I'm going to the grocery store." She walked over to get the keys.

"Wait." Niall said. "Since they seem pretty comfortable cuddled on the couch, I'll go with you."

Harry laughed. "Hey wait. What is happening here?"

"Sharing." Niall said laughing.

"Niall." Amanda said. "What did I just tell you about that?"

"You have to learn to share Amanda." Niall said leaning over the couch and kissing her. He then playfully smacked Harry's cheek. "Watch your hands buddy."

"You watch yourself Niall, you're the one who's going out with my girlfriend." Harry said.

"Yes I am." He took the keys from Julie. "Let's go."

"Why do you both do that? I can drive myself ya know." Julie said shaking her head. "Niall just wants to go because it involves food."

"Yes and you cooking, I remember my birthday breakfast. I can't wait for dinner." Niall said.

Julie laughed. "Oh good god, it wasn't that good."

"It was." Harry said looking back at her. "Come give me a kiss goodbye."

"No, you're cuddling with Amanda. Get one from her." Julie said.

"Alright then. If you insist." Harry leaned down and kissed Amanda quickly.

"Enjoy." Julie said walking out the door.

Harry just shook his head. "She's something else."

"Yeah, but no more of that." Niall said waving his finger at them. He turned and left with Julie.

Amanda sat up and looked at Harry who rubbed his face. "Hey, you ok?"

"Yeah I should be great. Things have been calm and amazing. She's been easy and loveable."

"And that's the biggest problem." Amanda said. She couldn't help but laugh. "Easy and loveable are not words we use when we describe JJ."

"Right. So as much as I'm enjoying the calmness I'm afraid of what she's been pushing aside. I know she doesn't want me to worry, and I know she doesn't want anything to take away from you and Niall's time together; so I'm afraid she's putting on a show for our sake. Part of me hopes that I can make her feel that safe and comfortable. But seeing her face, and watching all that happen, I know it can't be that easy." Harry looked at her. "Sorry I didn't mean to bring you down."

"Oh no, I was just talking to Niall about the same thing." Amanda said. "Seems you and I are more alike. No wonder we both care so much for her. I'm hoping she opens up soon. Niall doesn't think I should borrow trouble, but I can't help it."

"Cause you love her. You've told me before we just have to be here for her. So that's what we'll do." Harry said putting his arm around her again.

Amanda leaned against his shoulder. "Maybe she will open up to Niall. He seems to get her pretty well. He wants me to share her with him. I always wanted them to get along, guess that happened." She laughed.

"Yeah." He laughed. "I question their relationship sometimes."

Julie searched for her big pair of sunglasses as Niall drove to the store. She put them on to see how much of the bruise it covered. Wasn't great but it did cover some. "You know Niall this will probably start a whole new slew of rumors being seen out with me."

"Yeah well too bad. I can be seen with friends. How are you doing? For real? Harry and Amanda aren't here to protect. So truth." He said glancing at her.

"I'm fine." She said simply.

"Yeah, figured that would be your answer. Too bad I know you're lying." He said to her.

"I'm not lying. I'm fine. Look it's not easy. It's tough but I'm doing it. I don't want to freak out. I got you, and Harry, and a locked door. What else could I ask for?" She looked at him. "Nervous about him figuring out I'm in LA though, and pics of you and I in a store in LA could prove problematic."

He sighed. "Yeah guess I didn't think of that."

"Any pics of Amanda or I anyway will cause the same problem. I think its beyond my control at this point. I'm afraid of what he's gonna say to everyone. I'm sure he's going to have some stuff to sell to the magazine's and gossip sites." She said.

"Yeah, so apparently you've thought about this more than you let on." He looked at her as they got out of the car.

"Of course I have. But why have everyone worry. I worry enough for all of you." She said walking into the store with him.

"Amanda wishes you would open up to her. She's worried." He said as they walked around the store.

"Right now, I'm ok. I can't explain it. I don't know if it will last. I'm a little nervous out of the apartment but when I'm there I feel ok." She started putting things in the cart.

People started to recognize Niall. It made Julie nervous and he could tell. "Hey I want to buy the groceries if you have everything you need go to the car I'm going to grab a few things, pay, and I will meet you there."

"Ok. Just need white potatoes yet just grab a bag." She gave him the cart and happily hurried from the store.

Niall came out and put the groceries into the trunk. He noticed Julie didn't look at him when he got in the car. "Hey are you ok?" He grabbed her hand and pulled on it to get her to look at him. She had her sunglasses on but he saw a tear escape below them. "Ok, time to be honest now."

"Niall, let's just get out of here before people come out of the store." Julie begged him. "Please?"

"Yes, of course." He drove out of the parking lot but he wasn't going to take her home just yet. "Talk to me."

"I'm scared. I'm scared he's going to come back. I'm, I honestly don't even want to say it." She said looking out the window.

"Say what?" He asked her.

"I'm not sure staying here is a good idea. I'm not sure staying with Amanda, while she's with you, is a good idea. Or being with Harry, because there will be no privacy. He's going to find me, it's only a matter of time. You saw all those people in the store. I bet it's all over social media already." She wiped her cheeks. "I hate it. But I'm so scared. I've been trying to just prove to myself it's right the past few days. Harry makes me feel safe, but I'm scared he's going to realize it's more trouble than it's worth to be with me. Who would want to always look over their shoulder. Plus, he's got so much going on."

"So that's what you've been doing? You're trying to prove to him that your worth it by being what? Overly calm and easy? JJ, Harry adores you the way you are. Why would you want to change? We like you being you. And that's a smartass. It's not a bad thing." Niall said to her.

"No, Niall, I'm sure he's wondered more than once why he bothers. Who wouldn't? Hearing what Johnny said. I just wonder...." Julie started.

"No! Don't you do that." Niall interrupted pulling the car over. He turned in his seat so he was facing her. "I get it now. You believe what came out of that lying bastards mouth. Don't you do that!"

Julie couldn't look at him. She kept thinking back to that alleyway. When Johnny said she wasn't anything more than another bitch to fuck. It was running through her brain constantly. She believed that at the beginning, but she was starting to believe Harry truly wanted her. Then she heard it out loud. As much as she knew Johnny was a bully, she just kept going back there.

"JJ, I swear to you there is nothing that he said that is true. Nothing." Niall said. "Please we could all tell you were off since it happened. But I had no idea this is why. I thought it was because of your head."

"Just, let's just go home. I need to start dinner." Julie said still looking out the window.

"Damn it, JJ." He grabbed her and pulled her to him. He hugged her. "You will not do this."

She just laid on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She knew he meant well. She was growing really fond of Niall. But nothing he could say right now would be able to change her mind. After a few minutes, she sat back up. "Ok let's just go home. Dinner remember."

"Right." He started driving. Damn it, Amanda was right. He didn't want there to be trouble, but there was. He had to tell Harry and Amanda, but he couldn't do it with JJ around. He didn't want to go behind her back, but they had to pull together to get through this.

*if you are enjoying the story please vote/comment/share. I would love to be able to respond.

*the story is complete fan fiction