Rene` POV:

"Okay Rene` this is just a photo shoot. They will tell you everything you need to do. They don't know you have amnesia." This manager guy was talking to me like I was mentally challenged but that's not what bothered me. What bothered me was that I was sitting in a room full of people in a weird black corset thing with '1D' sewed into the front. Was it hot? Okay, yes. But it wasn't something I wanted to wear in front of anyone I wasn't about to get naked with. I was fifteen for fucks sake. Wouldn't these people be arrested for taking pictures of me like this? Only…I wasn't fifteen. I was nineteen. And according to this manger I was like a major sex symbol. Not something I was altogether okay with.

"I'm not wearing this in a photo shoot," I hissed as my personal stylist—how fucking cool was that—dowsed my hair in hairspray.

"You have to it's—"

"She doesn't have to do a damn thing she doesn't want to do," Niall had sauntered over and had immediately jumped into the conversation. I was so grateful for his presence I jumped from my seat and ran to his side.

"Niall please, please don't let him make me wear this." My ass was almost fully exposed, my breasts were ready to fall out at any minute, and it was so tight it was hard to breathe. Niall's face softened and he bent down to quickly kiss me cheek.

"Don't worry about it Love. I got it." After that he waltzed right over to the manager. Their voices dropped to angry whispers and when he didn't back down Niall started to get really angry.

"Hey listen, you work for us. You got that? Not the other way around. There are tons of people who want our business so unless you want us to give it to them I suggest you go talk to the stylists and get an outfit change," Niall was snapping. I slunk closer to the girl that had been doing my hair. We were both fighting the giggles.

"God, all those boys are always so damn protective over you," she sighed.

"Oh. Do you like…hang out with us?" Our manager had mentioned the amnesia in front of her so I had to assume she was in the loop. The girl grinned; brushing her brown hair behind her ear and for the first time I really looked at her. She was cute, with black rimmed hipster glasses and a ready smile. She was Hispanic, the skin tone and accent told me that. I was part Puerto Rican but I couldn't place what exactly she was. And she was short, adorably so.

"Yeah. We're actually pretty good friends…or at least I'd like to think so. I don't work for the magazine I am your personal stylist. And Sierra over there," she pointed to a girl with light brown hair, tan skin, and a nose stud. "Is your personal make-up artist." The girl put her hand out and I shook it.

"I'm Gabriela."

"Cool. I was starting to think I didn't have any girl friends." Gabriela smiled and jerked her head towards where Niall and our manger were finishing their argument. Niall had clearly won because he looked massively smug.

"I'm not sure, but I think you may be needed in wardrobe," she giggled.

"Thank God too. Could I look any sluttier?"

"I'm really glad you put a stop to it. It shows that amnesia or no amnesia you stand up for what you believe." Oh wow. Good. I would have done this even before the accident.

"Hey babe, go to wardrobe," Niall ordered me with a smirk. "Oh hey Gabby." He planted a kiss on her cheek and she went bright red. Then her eyes flashed to me and she got flustered.

"Oh um…hey Niall." I didn't wait around to see what that was about. I had to go change. When I got there no one would so much as glance at me. They'd just gotten chewed out apparently. The change of clothes was waiting in the dressing room next to the full length mirror. The change was much more appropriate, a tight black dress with a low neckline—but hey at least it wasn't a corset. As I removed my skanky attire I couldn't help but look in the mirror. I looked so different—and not just because of the scar right over my heart. No, it was so much more than that. I had shed any and all baby fat I'd had left. I was curvy, and legs that seemed to go on for miles. My hair was so much longer and layered…my skin was no longer pestered by acne and looked so flawless I could hardly believe it was me.

I let my hands slide down my stomach, up to my breasts. I wondered if I'd had a boob job. I poked at them cautiously. Nope, still real, just…bigger. I looked good. I felt so vain for even thinking it but I still didn't feel like the person staring back at me was me. Standing there in just my bra and underwear, I looked more like a Victoria's Secret model than the dorky fifteen year old I was in my head.

I carefully slid on the new garment, grateful that it somehow managed to show off my cleavage but hide the ugly scar. My "new" body was awesome, but I was instantly humiliated by the imperfection. Since I was so tan naturally it wasn't too prominent but it was clearly visible and ugly. I shrugged on the dress to hide it and then ran to meet back up with the boys. I reached Liam first. He was dressed in a completely unbuttoned plaid shirt and a pair of jeans. I'd never seen his bare chest before and boy was it a sight. He was bronze and beautiful with abs that made you want to touch so badly I had to actively restrain myself. His gaze hit me, washing over me with a surge of heat. I couldn't shake the feeling that he was undressing me with his eyes. I made a mental note to ask him if he was gay, and if he said no, to ask him if I could pretty please lick his face…and other body parts…

"You look absolutely breathtaking," he said as soon as I was close enough.

"I know right! When did I get this body? And these boobs?" I asked, clutching my chest. I dropped my hands quickly though and blushed. I really, really had to work on the whole speaking before thinking thing.

Liam just laughed that heady laugh of his and gave my body another once over.

"You've been…perfect as long as I've known you," he answered under his breath. I felt my face drop; my hand went subconsciously to the scar.

"Well…maybe I used to be," I whispered. Liam saw the action and stepped closer to me, taking a quick glance around him just to make sure no one was about.

"Rene` you are perfect. That scar just shows that you're strong, and brave." He placed a small kiss on my cheek. "And a fighter." And I think I fell in love with him. My heart started beating too hard in my chest, my stomach turning over as his scent flooded my nostrils.

"You're beautiful," I breathed before he could pull fully away. He grinned in surprise, the look on his face so fond I thought for a moment he might kiss me.

"You're beautiful too." Then I started leaning towards him, wanting to taste his lips so bad the need practically consumed me.

"AYE!" Niall called from across the way. He had on a tank top with the American Flag on it and a pair of khaki shorts. He looked good too, though I had the sneaking suspicion it would be hard to make any of my band mates look bad. He came stomping up to us, eyes blazing and I shrunk back from him. He wasn't even looking at me though. "Can I talk to you a minute Liam?" He spat. I backed away, disconcerted by his attitude. Normally, he was so smiley and happy.

Liam POV:

"Niall listen—" I pled as he stomped me over to the corner of the room. Since he'd shouted earlier many eyes were on us, including Rene's`.

"No you listen mate. I know your just trying to be nice to Rene`— I know you guys are friends but…I've always known you had a little thing for her. Which is fine. But don't take advantage of her when she has amnesia! Honestly man how sick can you get? It's bad enough that she slept in YOUR bedroom, in YOUR T-shirt last night! As long as she is more comfortable with you—which she clearly is—then fine you can spend more time with her. But watch yourself."

"Watch myself?" I growled. "Niall, Rene` is my friend. She's scared and she needs someone." I lowered my voice. "She's fifteen right now. I'm not doing anything. Stop freaking out over nothing." Niall was so trusting. He actually looked ashamed.

"You're right. Okay. Sorry." We nodded, and bro-hugged it out just in time to meet the others for the shoot. The photographer was already mad because we had switched Ray's clothes and now we were late.

"Alright I need this shoot to be sexy and hot. You're not little kids anymore. For that reason we're getting eight main group shots and an individual shot of all of you AND a shot of all the boys with Rene` solo." That made perfect sense to us since we knew about all the "ships" and how they involved Rene`, but she looked totally confused.

"Which one do you want to do first?" When no one spoke he decided for himself. "Niall and Rene` you too first." And suddenly I was nervous. Because the photographer didn't—and couldn't— know that Ray had amnesia. What would he say to the two people he knew to be a couple in order to get a good photo? Zayn and I seemed to be on the same wave length because we shared a look as we backed off the set. This could go terribly wrong.

It started out innocently enough. Ray didn't really know what to do so she just smiled and let Niall lead her in any direction he saw fit. She didn't blink when he put his hands on her hips, or kissed her cheek. It wasn't until the last few frames that the shoot went sour.

"Alright Niall give her a kiss," the photographer ordered breezily. None of us thought to put an end to it because no one thought that Niall would ever actually do it. But then, Niall yanked Rene` to him and kissed her full on the mouth. Her body went completely still, shock apparent even in her stance. The camera clicked away like nothing was adrift, but I knew it wasn't going to be good. It was completely unintentional but Niall was holding her tightly, she couldn't get away and the kiss had come totally out of left field for her. The second she had collected herself she shoved him away with everything she had. Niall stumbled and fell, leaving Ray standing with her hand over her mouth looking completely gob smacked.

It wasn't long before the tears came. She tried to hide them but she wasn't fooling anyone. Harry, Louis, and I were all going forward to comfort her but she was quicker. With a speed none of us were prepared for she ran off the set, through the double doors, and down the stairs. We all followed, knowing it was going to be bad. Before I left I turned around and shot Niall a glare as if to say 'what the fuck did you just do?'

Rene` POV:

It was cold in London. A fact I realized after I ran outside into 30 degree weather in possibly the skimpiest dress on the planet.

"Hiya," a voice called from beside me as I tried to plan my escape route. It was Gabriela, leaning up against the wall with a cigarette in her hands. She was smiling brightly but it quickly faded when she saw my tear streaked face.

"Ray? What happened?" I let out a sob I hadn't realized I'd been holding in.

"I have to go. Can we get out of here?" I asked, sounding more like a child than I had in a long time. Gabriela looked at my face and then back at the building I'd come from. We both heard the noise of pounding feet from inside.

"Sure Honey, let's go." She ushered me into the passenger seat of her car—which was on the right side and totally weird—and she just drove, not asking a question more. I think that was mostly because I'd broken down into tears but I couldn't be sure.

What was I to these people? What had I turned into? Was I a whore that would shed my clothes and kiss anyone for the right price? I didn't want to believe that. This was just too much to handle—and yes the fact that Liam had seen the whole gruesome thing made it that much worse. Would they all have kissed me during their photo shoots? Why did we all live together? Was I in some sick, six way with all of them? I sunk low in my seat, desperate for at least one person I actually knew to come out and tell me this whole thing was some twisted joke.

And it wasn't even the kiss that bothered me. It was the way he kissed me: hard, emotionless, like I had no real say in the matter. Maybe I was "The Rene` Mercer" on the outside, but on the inside I was a fifteen year old kid who had no fucking idea what she was doing.

Gabriela fished in her glove compartment for something and a moment later pulled out a few crumbled tissues. I took them gratefully and dabbed at my eyes.

"Niall kissed me," I finally hiccupped, when she had pulled into the parking lot of this small apartment complex and turned off the ignition. Gabby rubbed my back as I kind of folded in on myself and started to cry harder.

"It just kind of triggered everything. I don't know what's going on. I don't know who I am and I think I've turned into a bad person. I'm just some sell out who will do anything with anyone for my fifteen minutes of fame. I never wanted that."

I could almost feel her smile when she answered.

"You're not a bad person. You're the best person. This is just a lot to take in. Come on inside I'll make a pot of tea." I did as I was asked and found myself inside a charming apartment covered in unicorn figurines. Gabriela immediately set to work boiling the water. I knew she could probably get in trouble for leaving her job early, without telling anyone. I wanted to show her I was grateful but I didn't know how.

"Thanks, for everything," I said lamely when she offered me a steaming mug. She gave me a kind smile, pushing her glasses up.

"You would do it for me." Would I? Well then clearly I wasn't all bad.

"Gabby…I'm totally fucking lost."

"We all are Ray Ray," she giggled, using a nickname that would have gotten her popped if I was back in Detroit. "You'll come back to us soon. And until then it's our job to lead you. Niall was out of line." Her voice was soft as she watched me sip my tea.

"But that's what I don't get. Would he do that? Kiss me? If I had my memory?" Gabby hesitated.

"Maybe. Maybe you would be up for it then…for the purpose of a photo shoot." She seemed to be choosing her words very carefully. I knew I was missing something but truth be told I was missing a lot. I needed to believe her, so I nodded my head and we fell into silence.
"I'm guessing you don't have your phone…and I don't have any of the boys numbers except for Niall's." She blushed really hard when she said that. "I know you don't want me texting or calling him. So we'll let them sweat it out a bit. You can stay here as long as you want."