You're So Pretty On the Outside

*Lee*

Kean and Nicholls had been gone for at least a half hour. I was getting worried. I glanced out the window several times, checking to see if they were there. The car was still there so they’d walked. I was worried about how Bear had reacted. I hadn’t meant to piss him off like that. If it even was my fault, that is.

The door opened and slammed shut, making me jump. I looked over at the person and found it to be Nicholls. I got up and walked over about to ask what had happened but stopped when I saw his red cheek. My jaw dropped.

“Matt, what the hell happened to your cheek?” I exclaimed.

Kean walked in just as I asked. Matt glared at him but Kean kept his gaze on the floor,
seemingly ashamed. I frowned and looked between them.

“Ask him,” Matt hissed before walking into the kitchen.

I heard him rummage through the freezer and take ice. I turned to Kean who was still staring firmly at his feet.

“What happened?” I asked, confused. He shook his head.

“It’s nothing,” he murmured.

“Like fucking hell it’s nothing!” I snapped. “Did you fucking punch him?”

Oli and Angel entered in time to hear the last part. Oli frowned, looking at Mattie and me.

“What’s going here?” he asked.

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” I growled. Mattie flinched.

“Why are you so pissed?” Angel frowned.

“Nicholls, get out here!” I called.

Nicholls came out a few minutes later with an ice pack pressed to his cheek. He glared at Mattie again, waving at the two who’d just joined us.

“Back so soon?” he asked.

“Matt, we’ve been gone two or three hours,” Oli replied.

“Oh,” he nodded.

“What happened? Why do you have ice on your cheek?” Curtis asked from the staircase,
Sarah behind him.

“Like I said earlier,” Bear replied. “Ask him.”

He jabbed a finger in Kean’s direction before grabbing the keys to the rental.

“I’m leaving,” he said. “Anyone want to come?”

All the guys nodded. Curtis sighed and turned to Sarah, kissing her, before walking to
Nicholls and talking to him quietly. The two waved to Angel as they walked out of the house.
Oli hugged Angel tightly and turned to Kean and me, gesturing for us to follow him out which we did.

I looked at Matt but he kept his eyes down as we moved to the car. I got in next to Curtis with
Matt while Oli took to driving, sitting next to Nicholls. It was silent the entire car ride. We got to the hotel and moved up the stairs to my room. Mattie was about to walk to his room when I caught his arm and pulled him into my room, the others following.

We sat the two on separate beds and crossed our arms, staring them down. Oli's expression was the most intimidating of them all. Bear ignored us, holding the ice pack to his cheek. Oli growled and walked to Kean.

"What did you fucking do to him?" he snapped. Kean sighed.

"I punched him," was all he said. Oli growled.

"No fucking shit, we sort of noticed that one!" he snapped. "Why?"

"Because he pissed me off!" Mattie snapped back.

"What the hell did he do to deserve a fucking punch to the face?" I screamed.

"He fucking jumped to a conclusion, that's why!" Nicholls exclaimed.

"I didn't fucking jump to a conclusion!" Mattie retorted.

"Yeah you fucking did, you bastard! Don't even try fucking denying it! I got freaked
because you gave me a peck on the cheek and you immediately believe I'm a damn
homophobe!" Nicholls screeched.

"It was a barely even touching kiss! I barely fucking touched you!" Kean snapped back.

"Guys!" Oli screamed. "You need to fucking grow up! Nicholls, it was a simple peck on the
cheek, no need to freak! It's not like he raped you and Kean? Don't jump to stupid
conclusions! Okay?"

The two looked up at him before glaring at each other one last time. OIi sighed as I motioned for them to leave. Curtis, Kean and Nicholls stood, leaving the room. I fell back on the bed I'd claimed.

Oli sighed next to me as he watched them go. They were getting extremely ridiculous with their attitudes. It didn't surprise me that Kean mistook Bear for a homophobe, though.

"Is it just me or has there been more drama these past two weeks than we have ever had in
a fucking year?" Oli groaned. I nodded.

"I agree," I breathed. “Although, the assumption would be making sense, don’t you think?”

Oli glanced over his shoulder at me, frowning. “You’re taking sides? Lee that never
works, remember? If anything, things just get worse!”

“No,” I sighed. “Look at it this way; Nicholls gets kissed on the cheek all the time by girls, right? But he completely freaked out after Kean kissed his cheek. He actually left the
house!”

Oli looked up at the ceiling, breathing in deeply. “Malia, you already know no one in this group is homophobic. Why would Nicholls just end up disgusted by homosexuals in one day? He’s probably one of the most open minded guys in this band, too. Keep that in mind next time you try accusing him.”

I sighed. “But why did he freak out like that then?”

“He has his reasons, Lee,” Oli replied, giving me a firm look. “Just leave him be.”