All Hidden Away

Considering I was riding my bike, the cars were moving at a snail’s pace. Up ahead was a massive road block protecting some famous people or something. Stuart - my roommate and best friend - had mentioned this to me last night. He had also forgotten to wake me up this morning and so I missed his lift. I had my licence, just no car yet. A part of me really hoped that it was my brother and his friends, but I knew that the next time I was scheduled to see them was in June – for my birthday - so I doubted it and didn’t want to get my hopes up.
My curly long hair - clearly a family trait – was flying out behind me as I flew down the hill from my small flat that I shared with Stu. My legs were aching to move faster down the hill and throw my hands in the air but I was already running late and couldn’t waste the time having fun.
My first year at UCL had been hard, but filled with fun memories I knew I could never forget. But I knew from the moment I woke up late - had no time to eat or anything other than get dressed and brush my teeth – I knew that today was not going to be a great day.
As I entered the UCL building and headed up to the bike rack where I parked my bike every day, I got a message on my cell. I locked my bike in place and pulled out my cell to check the message.
“Let me know if you can come home for the weekend xx Mum”
Home was roughly three hours away but the architect students had the week off to study for a final we had coming up, but it would be nice to go home and see mum, even if I couldn’t stay long in my room due to the large crowds that the paparazzi seemed to always form outside home.
I typed: “I’ll see what I can do, love you mum x” and grabbed my bag to walk inside the main building. I met Stu at the usual place and quickly ordered a cappuccino to sustain me through to lunch. My blood sugar levels and blood pressure was always something I had to remember. I wasn’t diabetic, but I had a heart condition were my heart missed every sixth or seventh beat which sometimes caused complications.
“How you?” Stu asked giving me a huge hug.
“Peeved you didn’t wake me up…” I grumbled while death staring him and sipping my coffee.
“Sorry, I thought you were sick, I tried waking you and you wouldn’t even acknowledge me…” he trailed off. “Saw you checking your cell, from your … family?” he asked.

Stuart knew about my family only because the one day Louis was in town and decided to pop by and surprise me - obviously he didn’t know I had a flat mate. So Stuart got one hell of a fright and nearly punched Louis straight in the face for even thinking it would be a funny prank. But now everything was sorted out and Stu and Lou were actually great mates.

“Mum wants me home for the weekend.”
“Specific reason?”
“No…”

We talked as he walked me to my first lecture of the day - Maths 101. I was perusing my lifelong dream of becoming an Architect.

I remember the first time I knew it’s what I wanted to do. I was about eight or nine and Harry was about twelve or so and Gemma was nearly seventeen. The three of us were walking down the street singing some tune I can never quit remember when suddenly I stopped to look at the most beautiful church I had ever seen. It was situated next to the ‘Old Red Lion’ the kitchen where we were to meet mum and a friend for lunch. As usual the adults asked all the children what they wanted to be over the famous Sunday Roast. I think Harry said a police man and Gem said a teacher… but I know I said a building maker - which I was then told was an architect. Even though I had a bit of a lisp at this stage and said something more like “arkadect” that was when I realised it’s what I wanted to do.

Before I even got to the lesson, the curse of the bad day had begun. My shoelace had become undone while walking through the quad to get to my lecture and before I knew what was happening I was about to kiss cement, but I never did.

I opened my eyes to see the ground about 5 centimetres away from my face.
“You ok?” an obviously male voice asked. It wasn’t Stu.
“Umm…” I pulled myself up with his help. I looked into his eyes and for a moment thought he could have been Harry.
“Ah Tasha?” Stu asked.
“Um… yeah, I’m ok. Thank you” I looked at him and down at the ground. He was very good looking. With dark hair and a very open and friendly face.
“Tasha this is my friend Jared, Jared , Tasha.” Stu introduced us as the bell for first period rang.
“Hey.” I greeted with a warm smile, “I’ll see you guys later!” I cried out as I turned to run to my first lecture on Thursday morning.

The morning went by rather quickly without interruption, and by one o’clock my stomach was digesting its self it was so hungry. I quickly went a bought a chicken-mayo sarmie from the canteen by the field and then met up with Stu and Jared.

“Aahhh! There she is!” Stu screams making me shake my head. Both boys were sitting under a tree by the side of the field.
“Oh shut up Stuart…” I mumble taking a bite of my sandwich. “How were your mornings?” I ask after swallowing,
“Good good. Can’t complain.” Jared said eating what looked like a burger. “Yours?”
“Pretty much normal…” I trailed off as I took another bite. I looked back up and noticed the world starting to spin.
“Tasha? “ Stu asked looking at me with concern. I suddenly did not feel like eating my sandwich. “Whoa… you’ve gone really pale! Are you ok?” he said standing up. I really didn’t want to cause a seen, especially with Jared around, so stupidly I too stood up.
“Yeah, I’m ok, I just need to...” everything spun a second this time. But instead of regaining alignment with the world, everything started to turn grey, and then black.

“Natasha? Tasha?” I could hear Stu calling me. I was incredibly dizzy but I could tell we were in a car. “Come on Tasha, wake up!” I heard him growl at me. I was lying down and felt someone’s legs underneath me. I tried opening my eyes and was rewarded with blinding light giving me an immediate splitting headache. Some incoherent moans left my mouth as I realised what had happened. I had passed out while having lunch with a totally gorgeous stranger. Great going, Styles… great going.

I tried sitting up, and the world spun again making me incredibly nauseous.
“Careful now, I think you might be concussed.” I realised that someone had to be driving, and realised that Stu was in the back of the car with me, and it was Jared who was driving. I also realised that the car was not in its usual mess…and therefore, not Stu’s car.
“Careful Tasha, take it slow.” The two boys were not the only ones telling me to take it slow. My stomach was doing a whole gymnastics floor routine and I sure as hell did NOT want to throw up in Jared’s car.
“Where we going?” I asked turning to face Stu and finally sitting up fully.
“We think you may need stitches for that head wound, and we think you may be concussed as I already said.” Jared seemed like the type that if when confronted with worry he turns his emotions off and states things bluntly. Like Niall often does.
I reached up and felt where the pain was just above my left eyebrow. It was sticky with blood and felt bruised. My figure tips came away red with blood and my stomach did another backflip.
“I think I’m going to be sick.” I mumbled and closed my eyes.
“Try not to please love, I’ve just had the car washed and we nearly there.” Said Jared leaning backwards and patting my knee.
“Hmm…k” I said leaning back into Stu’s shoulder with my eyes still closed.

I think I may have fallen asleep on his shoulder because the next thing I remember is being half awake and being carried into A&E wing of the University College Hospital, and then everything went black again.

Notes