The Misfits

I sat in the small seat and drummed my hands on the armrest, my feet bouncing as well. I was on a plane…on my way to meet my father’s new family. To say I was anxious was an understatement. Visiting my replacement family would have been nerve-racking enough, but did we really have to fly there too? I had never been on a plane before and to be completely honest, the idea scared me to death.

“Thalia, relax.” My father chuckled beside me. “There’s nothin’ te worry about.”

“I don’t like planes.”

“Have ya ever been on one?”

“No. But I still don’t like them.”

“It’ll be fine. D’ya how many times the boys an’ I have flown?” He asked. I shook my head and he frowned. “Neither do I, lost count after the first month o’ tour. You’ll be fine.”

I was distracted from my father’s pep talk by my phone buzzing. Harry and I had been texting nonstop since we spent the night together a week ago. He was slowly becoming my best friend apart from Maeve, and I found myself wanting to spend more and more time with him. We had decided to keep the hook up a secret from the rest of the boys, knowing if my dad even suspected something he would kill us both. How cliché my life was turning out to be.

The seatbelt sign lit up and I nearly jumped out of my seat. I ignored my dad’s laugh as I quickly buckled the strap around my waist. With my last few remaining seconds of WI-Fi I texted Mave and Harry telling them to remember me when we crashed into the ocean. I could feel the plane gathering speed and a sudden rush of excitement hit my stomach. This is was it. As we lifted off the ground I couldn’t resist leaning to look out the window as the city I knew disappeared below us. It was surreal watching the landscape transform into what looked like a model set, with tiny cars the size of ants.

“Lia, if ya hold that chair any tighter yer fingers’ll fall off,” my dad smirked. I shot him a glare and turned back to the window.

-

In some miracle we had survived, and two hours later were safely on the ground in Ireland. My dad continued to laugh at my amazement as we headed through the airport and I saw the city for the first time through the large glass windows. It was amazing and I felt the familiar sense of adventure growing in my stomach.

I turned to see my father’s eyes trained straight ahead, the biggest smile I’ve ever seen plastered on his face. I followed his eyes to see the family I recognized from the photos on his walls. Clodagh was tall and beautiful with long black hair and tanned skin. The little boy in her arms I knew to be Paul Jr., their youngest child. He was beaming as he furiously tried to escape his mother’s arms. MJ and Claudia, their other children, ran forward to embrace their father. He quickly scooped them up and gave them each a kiss before greeting his wife.

Not knowing what to do, I stood silently behind him and watched them. I would be lying if I said it didn’t hurt to see them all so happy. I immediately felt like an intruder and began fidgeting with my bag.

“And you must be Thalia,” smiled Clodagh, pulling me into a hug. “It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

“It’s wonderful to meet you too,” I managed. “Thank you so much for having me.”

“Alright, now that we’ve got the whole family I say we get outta here,” my dad said, ruffling his MJ’s hair only to receive giggles. We headed out to the car as I quizzed the kids on their age, favorite class at school, colors, and games. As MJ began telling dad all about the past few weeks, I turned to admire the countryside. Ireland was a truly wonderful place.

“So Thalia,” Clodagh said, pulling me out of my thoughts. “You live in Birmingham?”

“Yes, my mum and I live there with my Aunt Lucy,” I answered.

“MJ, Claudia, guess how many brothers and sisters Thalia has,” Dad said, shooting us glances in the rearview mirror as Clodagh turned to face us.

“Five!”

“Seven!”

“More,” I said with a smile. They frowned.

“Eight!”

“Keep going.”

“Nine!”

“Ten?”

“One more.” Clodagh gasped dramatically for her kids as they both yelled, “ELEVEN!”

“Ding, ding, ding! You guys are so smart!” I laughed. “I have a little sister whose four years old, just like you Claudia!”

“Really?” She gasped. I heard my father telling Clodagh about my family as I distracted the kids for the rest of the drive.

We pulled up to large house on the outside the town and I felt another pang of jealousy. It was a beautiful home. The kids jumped out and I followed the little family inside.

“Come on Thalia! Your room’s this way!” Claudia said, grabbing my hand. Together, she and MJ led me upstairs to the guest room.

“Wow! This is lovely, thank you!” I smiled. There was a piece of paper laid out on the bed with a picture of a house and six people. When I recognized one of the stick figures drawn was supposed to be me I felt yet another pang in my stomach. “Did you draw this? It’s beautiful!”

“Mommy and I drew it together,” she replied, twirling innocently.

“Well thank you very much.” My phone buzzed on the bed and all three of us looked down to see a text from Harry.

“Who’s Hazza?” MJ asked.

“Can you two keep a secret?” They both stepped in closer as I lowered my voice to a whisper. “It’s Harry Styles, your daddy’s boss.”

“Oh we know him!” Claudia cried, jumping up and down with excitement. “We go visit him and Louis, and Niall, and Liam, and…Zayn on vacation!”

“Don’t brag Claudia,” Her brother scolded.

“Oh I bet they’ll be real jealous that I get to hang out with you guys,” I smiled. “Wanna take a picture with me? We can send it to them and say hi!”

They both jumped in excitement and leaned in next to me to take pictures. They giggled hysterically upon seeing our funny faces before I sent it to the boys. A second later dad’s voice traveled up the stairs to let us know it was time for dinner. We raced downstairs and into the kitchen where Clodagh had prepared a wonderful meal for us.

“Daddy guess what!” Cried Claudia. She was kneeling in her seat, unable to contain her excitement.

“What darlin’?”

“Thalia knows One Direction too!”

“Really?” her mother asked excitedly, while Dad let out a chuckle.

“They pretty much kidnapped her on ‘er first day in London,” He laughed to his wife.

“They did not!”

“I’ve gotten used to it by now,” I waved.

She let out another laugh before frowning and adding, “Oh that’s right. You went to the charity game with them did you? I remember seeing that hilarious video of you and Paul.”

“Oh no,” Dad groaned, while I burst into a new fit of giggles.

“What video?” cried MJ and Claudia?

“You’re daddy dancing! And singing!” I smiled evilly. I took out my phone and pulled up the video while MJ and Claudia giggled excitedly. When I showed them the video they laughed even harder, Clodagh joining them while my father glared at me playfully from across the table.

“Yes, yes yer dad made a fool o’ himself,” Paul waved. Then he frowned. “Lia what happened te yer phone?”

Crap.

“Oh…I dropped it.” I responded quickly, but I knew he didn’t believe me. Thankfully he dropped the topic and began talking to his wife once more about what they had been up to since he left. As I watched I realized I envied their relationship. They were best friends, and always had that adorable doting look in their eyes when they spoke to each other. I never remember him acting that way with my mother.

After dinner we all headed into the living room to watch a movie before bed. I attempted to help Clodagh with the dishes, but she stubbornly refused and my dad pulled me away to the movie. The kids decided on Despicable Me and within minutes the movie was started. I attempted to watch, but was constantly distracted by my phone vibrating in my lap.

From Hazza: you three are adorkable ;)

To Hazza: You just wish you were as kool as us

From Hazza: This is true

From Hazza: Hows it going with the family tho?

To Hazza: Gooooood

From Hazza: Tootles.

From Hazza: Tell the truth.

To Hazza: They’re perfect. His family is beautiful and perfect.

From Hazza: And so are you love xx

“Lia,” my dad whispered. I turned to him with that I hoped was an innocent face. “Tomorrow we’re takin’ ya te get a new phone.”

“Dad it’s fine, really.” I laughed. But he gave me a stern glare.

“Don’t be silly Lia. You’ll cut yer fingers on that.”

I rolled my eyes and gave up arguing with him. We continued the rest of the movie and once the kids had gone upstairs I sat with my dad and Clodagh. She wanted to know everything about me, and it felt like I was being interviewed by the boys all over again. A few times she asked about my mother and what she was doing now. I wish I could have told her that my mother moved on, found love, and was happily married. But that wasn’t true. My mom had never gotten over my dad, nor has she let her guard down around another man since. She doesn't allow herself to trust or to love for fear of being hurt. And what’s worse is that I’ve realized she's taught me to do the same.

Notes