All Hidden Away

The lasagne was fantastic as always, but I think made slightly better by the constant laughter and feeling of family love that was surrounding the dinner table. Harry and Louis were up to their usual antics, telling funny (or not so funny) jokes that after a glass or two of wine and some much needed sleep, caused everyone to laugh and giggle. Niall’s laugh was contagious as ever and Liam’s face whenever someone made a joke literally light up the table. Stuart and Jared already felt a part of the family and mum enjoyed having a full house and everyone eating her delicious food once more. If someone didn’t know any better, it would almost look like one normal family who had all gotten together from a break at a heavy load of studying at varsity… almost.

The nightmare I had earlier this afternoon is stuck on replay in my mind, and every little jab someone makes at me, makes me doubt myself more and more. During the ice-cream phase of our meal Harry caught my eye and immediately picked up something was wrong. His eyebrow raised slightly at the same time he frowns. Of course Louis and Jared pick up on his glance in my direction and too question me without words. I force a smile and shake my head, pointing at my forehead indicating it’s uncomfortable. And of course… Harry wasn’t buying it.

“Wait hold on…” Liam calls everyone’s attention and for the first time tonight the table is silent. “so Tasha, im confused… how did you fall and break your head?” there was a loud groan around the table. Except for Stu and Jared… who were both looking at me and smiling like they knew some huge secret no one else did.
“Well go on then.” Chirps Louis in his seat from across me.
“so I wasn’t woken up and was just abandoned in my own home-”
“Oi! That’s not fair!” Stu cut across me.
“okay fine, so my loving flat mate didn’t wake me up because he believed it was in my best interest to stay in bed as he thought I was ill. So I was running late and didn’t eat breakfast-“
“Which she isn’t supposed to do because she’s got the whole heart beat thingy.” Cut in Harry who I shot a glance at.
“And so on my way to lunch-“
“You’re missing out the part where you practically fell for me.” Interjected Jared which caused Stu and Louis to start to laugh.
“No… I just fell and you caught me. But yeah… okay. So then on my way to lunch where Stu and Jared were, I felt light headed and I didn’t sit down and –“
“Tasha you know your meant to-“
“Yes mum I know. But I didn’t. So then I passed out and woke up in the car and then again in the hospital. Then we drove here and now we eating lovely food and if one more person cuts across me while im speaking I will eat their ice cream or shove it up your nose.” I finished rushing over my words. Everyone started laughing at the last comment.
Louis caught my eye and winked. “Don’t worry luv. You’re not the only Styles that falls down a lot now are you?” Harry pushed him away from him and I started laughing way harder than I should have, remembering the videos I’d seen of harry falling on stage… a lot.

The rest of the night was pretty much the same and ended up being Niall and I washing the dishes.
“So are you enjoying Architecture then?” he asked as I passed him the last spoon that needed to be dried. Our system of me washing and him drying and putting away worked quite efficiently.
“I am, im just needing to be actually drawing the stuff now.” I said draining the sink and putting the cloths away.
“You still do much painting?” he asked. He always loved this one picture I had done at school of Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night. I pulled myself onto the counter and grabbed my glass of coke (no… not Pepsi sorry #1DB basically no one likes Pepsi in the family).
“A bit but mostly focussed on other things. Last time we spoke you said you wanted to do more stuff with your guitar, how’s that going Ni?”
“Yeah, you know, its… average.” He said with a small shrug. “How’s your guitar coming?” Niall and I had so much in common, it was really nice to just be able to chat about stuff other than school to my friends, or how the band or school is going to any of my family.
“Um… its alight I guess.” I mumble. I always feel so inferior when talking about my music to Harry or anyone. I could tell he knew I was blushing which of course made it worse. Don’t get me wrong. I love Niall… but as a brother, or a pet goldfish. There really was ZERO attraction in any other way. I considered myself on sabbatical when it came down to boys. My ex and I didn’t end well and I was still trying to deal with everything 10 months later, and the guys, thanks to Harry, knew this and always tried to ask about it which was just plain awkward.
“You should try play sometime with us.” He offered with all good intentions.

Thank the Pope for Harry who saved me from having to decline by calling us into the lounge where he was with everyone else.
“So now for the surprise I mentioned earlier.” He said excitedly rubbing his hands together and coming to stand next to me. He draped his arm over my shoulder and pulled me towards the empty space next to Stu and Jared on the couch.

I hated surprises and both he and Louis knew it. They tried throwing me a surprise 16th birthday… it did not go well at all.

I glared at him as he, Niall, Liam and Louis stood in front of me.
“I swear if you start singing im going to bed.” I say as the all look at each other while Stu and Jared laugh.
“Give them a chance, Honey.” Warns mum from her position by the door.
I was trying to not get excited. I had learned to never get my hopes up for anything when it came down to One Direction.

“So,” started Liam. “We know you have holidays coming up for about a month.”
“And we know you have nothing planned for said holiday.” Said Niall with a huge smile.
“And we were just wondering…” said Louis looking at Harry who I could tell was nervous. He was biting his bottom lip and his eyes were the size of diner plates… why on earth did people find this awkward-hairy boy attractive? An awkward moment of silence descended on the room as we all waited for harry to speak.

“If you’d like to come and live with us for a bit in London?”

Notes