The Misfits

I woke up feeling sore all over. Yesterday One Direction had taken my siblings and I to a football match at Wembley stadium, even getting us a special pass to meet the team. Just remembering the look on Jasper and Hugh's faces brought a smile to my face. I rolled over and immediately frowned. Maeve was laying face up and staring at the ceiling looking deep in thought.

"Isn't this a little early for you?" I yawned. But she didn't respond, instead she rolled over to look at me. That's when I knew something was wrong. "Alright spill it."

"We made the news."

"What?" I frowned. She held out her phone to show me an article detailing our eventful trip. I took her phone and began reading:

“This weekend our five favorite hotties made our hearts melt as they became the personal tour guides to some adorable children in need. (Aww!) Originally from Birmingham, the large family of foster cuties was brought out to the city via private jet for a trip of a lifetime. The gang was spotted throughout the city sightseeing tourist hotspots such as the London Eye, The Science Museum, and even Wembley Stadium to catch a football game! Even some of the lad’s girlfriends joined for the fun, catching Broadway’s The Lion King with the kids. To top it off, there have been reports of the family actually staying at Harry’s house (how lucky!).

“It was heartwarming for the boys to give these kids this opportunity,” says a source close to the boys. “They never could have had this chance without them.”

Those boys’ charitable hearts just keep getting bigger and bigger. Keep your hopes up Directioners; looks like dreams can come true!”

"That's disgusting," I groaned, suddenly feeling sick to my stomach. How could they know we were ‘charitable children from Birmingham’? And what did they mean by ‘they never could have had this change without them?” Our budgets tight but we’re not poor, it’s not like we’ve never done anything fun before.

"Should have known they would just use us like everyone else," Maeve spat. She had been betrayed, and now her wall was up. Because of our histories, we were no strangers to abuse and exploitation. They were all very sensitive to the issue and I knew most of them would be upset over this. Just like Maeve was. "And you know I almost thought that they cared too."

“There has to be some mistake,” I said, shaking my head. I won’t lie, I was pissed. But I couldn’t believe the boys would ever tell anyone we were charity. Maeve snorted in response and for a moment we sat in silence.

“You like him don’t you.”

“What?”

“Harry. You like him.”

I shrugged, and she rolled her eyes.

“Don’t deny it.”

“I slept with him the after that night at the club.”

“I knew it!” She cried before whacking my shoulder for not having told her sooner. We fell into another silence and I turned to see Maeve’s bright blue eyes boring into me once again. “You don’t believe that article do you?”

“I don’t want to,” I sighed. “I don’t think they did it for publicity. And I can’t picture them referring to us as ‘children in need’ either. I can’t picture them being that low.”

“Then why do the papers think we’re some charity case? And who’s that fucking source who said that?”

I shrugged.

“…It wouldn’t have been your dad would it?”

“No. He wouldn’t do that. He’s not that bad you know.”

“I know,” She said, turning to stare at the ceiling. “I just don’t want you to get hurt. These people live in a whole other world…and we don’t fit.”

“They didn’t used to either,” I pointed out. “And I know they miss it. I think that’s why they like hanging out with us so much. Cause we’re normal.”

“I don’t know about normal…”

We shot each other a look and burst into a fit of giggles. In that moment I realized how much I missed my mornings with Maeve. When we were little we used to share a bunk and would start every morning like this, sharing our secrets and talking about the world. How I wish I could go back to that.

“RISE AND SHINE SLEEPING BEAUTIES!” screamed Mackenzie, causing both Maeve and I to jump.

“You scared the shit out of me!” Maeve laughed; shooting her the best glare she could manage. I prayed Mackenzie hadn’t seen the article yet.

“Sorry. But I need your help. Louis and Niall are threatening to extend our visit until they leave!”

“What!” I cried out.

“Help! I don’t know what to tell them! Niall—”

“Niall just wants to fuck you before he leaves for tour,” Maeve interrupted. I immediately burst into a fit of giggles.

“I think you’re confusing Niall and I with Thalia and Harry,” Mackenzie shot back. Maeve lost it and let out a loud laugh, which I couldn’t help but join her in. Mackenzie had a lip once you pissed her off; it was a rare occurrence but always worth it. A second later we heard a yell from down the hall and all three of us let out a groan. Pulling myself out of bed and throwing my hair in a bun, I headed out to investigate.

Everyone, including all five of the boys, was in the living room. Archie and Leo had been showing off moves of some sort while the boys watched on with amusement. When they saw me walking down the hall they froze.

“You boys are in big trouble,” I said sternly.

“We didn’t do anything wrong,” Archie said with a well-practiced innocent tone. Leo nodded his head quickly.

“Are you sure?” I asked, before bending down and lowering my voice. “Because I think you woke the beast!”

“WHO’S YELLING?” Maeve boomed from the other rooms. Archie and Leo let out screams and quickly dived behind the boys for protection as she walked into the room. This quickly began a game of hide and seeks, giving me the opportunity to interrogate Louis and Niall.

“So what’s this I hear about not leaving today?” I asked. The both froze and gave me innocent smiles as I walked behind the kitchen counter to help Elaine with breakfast.

“Just tossing around ideas,” Louis shrugged.

“They have school and sports starting soon,” Elaine chimed in as she worked. “Besides, I’ll bet Miss Lucy’s going mad with boredom.”

“Or relishing the quiet while it lasts,” I giggled. Elaine joined me before sliding some food on a plate and passing it to me.

Somehow we managed to get all the kids fed and packed by noon. Which was just in time, for the car Harry rented was set to leave at one. As the luggage was loaded into the van we began our goodbyes.

Maeve, Mackenzie, and Elaine would be returning within the next week for classes, but the others I wouldn’t see until my first break of school. I pulled all the younger ones into tight hugs and warning them to behave or I would have to come back to Birmingham to whip them into shape. And before giving Hugh and Jasper bear hugs I made them promise to watch over the family, since even Mackenzie would be gone now.

“Miss Lucy said you have to come and visit again,” Archie said after hugging Niall goodbye. “She said we can return the favor and take you around!”

“Sounds like a plan Stan,” Laughed Niall.

“His name isn’t Stan!” Cried Millie.

“It’s not?”

“No it’s Archie!”

“Oh o’ course! How silly of me,” Niall said, tickling both of them until they collapsed into a fit of giggles.

Watching them made my heart hurt. These kids have never opened up to anyone so easily before, even Luca had begun to trust them. There was no way the boys had anything to do with that article this morning. They couldn’t have.

I had tried to forget about what it had said, but the words had stuck with me all morning. As the car pulled out of the driveway I turned to the boys with my hands on my hips. Time to find out what that article this morning was all about.

“What did we do?” Louis asked hesitantly.

“Maeve showed me something interesting this morning. An article…about us…being charity cases you all so kind heartedly bestowed your money and time upon.”

“Thalia—”

“Please tell me that it’s not what it sounded like.”

“It’s not. But we did have our manager tell the media that it was just for charity,” Louis replied.

“What!” I yelled, making a few of them jump. I was hit with an influx of emotions not believing what I had just heard. For charity? Did they even care about them at all?

“We don’t want them to find out who you are. We don’t want you all to get any hate,” Harry said, attempting to take my hand.

But I stepped back, distancing myself from them. “Are you going to tell the media you invited them down here for charity?”

Silence.

"Oh my God."

"Thalia, just listen," Zayn tried again. "It's only for the press, we don't feel that way at all!"

"That's not how they're going to see it. When were you going to tell them?"

“We have an interview today. We were just going to say we heard about them and wanted to help, that they're great kids-”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I yelled, running my hands through my hair. I couldn't believe this. “You’re going to write us off as a charity case?”

When the boys didn’t respond I grew reckless with anger. My blood was boiling. How could they do this to my family? Did they even realize how much this would hurt them?

“No. Fuck that. We don’t need your bogus protection. These kids have been through hell and back. And because of it they are the strongest people I have ever met and they can take whatever the media or your fans dish out at them. What they can’t take is being looked at as some poor, broken children. They can’t take being used. And they sure as hell can’t take betrayal. You let them think that you actually cared about them and now you’re just going to say it was only for charity? How could you? Those kids trust you. Don’t you fucking dare let them down.”

"Thalia!"

"Wait, Thalia!"

But I was already gone, too angry to stay and listen to their excuses. Within ten minutes of walking I had made it more than several blocks from the house. They were going to be furious with me, but right now I didn't care. I heard my phone going off and looked to see Harry calling. I immediately declined the call only to have it ring again a moment later. I turned off the phone and continued walking.

After bringing those kids out here and giving them the time of their lives, making them think that the boys actually cared about them, the guys were going to tell the media that it was only for charity. That they were only worth their time because they were poor and pitiful. That they didn't really care about them. The kids thought they were their friends. They had trusted them. I trusted them.

This whole thing was fucked up. How was hiding behind a charity protecting us? We knew who we were, even if the boys didn't. We were the kids who had been abused, battered, and betrayed by everyone we had ever trusted. We were fighters who've seen blood and stared monsters in the face. We were survivors and we were proud, and we only had each other. We were the misfits.

Notes

Don't hate me plz