The Misfits

"Thalia!"

I turned to see Liam in his car driving along side me as I walked. I ignored him and continued forward. How the heck did he fine me?

"Thalia, get in the car."

"Just leave me alone."

"Please love." When I didn't respond he tried a different approach. "Thalia get in the car before I get out and drag you in."

I let out a huff knowing he would do it. I slowly walked over to the car and got inside, being sure to slam the door. I sat there staring straight out the window and refusing to look at him.

"We didn't mean to upset you," Liam sighed, giving me a glance. I crossed my arms in response. "I'm sorry."

There was silence for a moment before I spoke.

"When Luca first came forward about his father abusing him, his social worker promised that he would be safe and they would take care of him. They sent him to live at a foster home. He lived there for three years before he couldn't take it anymore. His foster dad beat him worse than his real father ever had, and the social worker had known about it before she placed him there too.”

“Thalia—”

“When Tilly was pulled out of her home and her mum sent to prison, she was sent to a house that made her work to earn her keep. New mom sent her over to other peoples houses to be their housekeeper not caring what happened when she was there, she was eight years old. Her social worker knew about that one too, but it was just easier for her to put Tilly there. Less paperwork...less hassle."

"Jesus," Liam muttered. He had gone pale and turned to look at me with a pained expression.
"These kids have been surrounded by people will use them for their own gain or profit. Because of that they believe they can't trust anyone. Please do not prove them right."

"We won't. Thalia we were only trying to protect them from the media, we didn't think about protecting them from ourselves. I'm sorry we let you down, but you have to know we're going to do everything we can to fix it."

"I know."

Ten minutes later we pulled up to Harry’s house. Liam had continued to talk to me the rest of the way back and had managed to calm me down a little. I was more hurt than angry.

“Thalia!” The second I stepped out of the car Niall pulled me into a bone-crushing hug. “Don’t ya ever fucking do that again. Ya scared the shit outta us.”

When I didn’t respond he released me, looking hurt.

“Thalia. We didn’t mean to upset ya.”

“Thank God,” I turned to see Harry getting out of his own car, Louis with him. His face was ashen and he pulled me into a hug as well. “You can’t just run away on us.”

“You pissed me off.”

I heard Zayn and Liam let out a chuckle as Harry did his best not to break into a smile. He kissed the top of my head and I began to realize I had been a little rash.

“I’m sorry I ran away. I was just so angry that you guys would do that.”

“Thalia, we would never use your family as a publicity stunt,” Harry said.

“You almost did.”

“Thal—”

“That’s how they would have seen it.” I said, stomping my foot.

“We know,” began Louis but I cut him off.

“No you don’t. I know you guys meant well, but…” I ran a hand through my hair and felt a stinging behind my eyes. “But we’re so fucking proud.”

“You don’t need to tell us that,” Louis laughed. I broke into a smile and looked around at all their faces. They were genuinely upset.

“We’re sick—I’m sick of people seeing me as just a poor girl who no one loves and needs to be pitied and—”

Harry pulled me into a hug as I started to cry. “Thalia, believe me that’s not what people see. You are all amazing, and we love you and your family. We would never try to hurt them.”

“No, I know. I just…”

“You’re trying to protect your family,” Liam shrugged. I let out a half laugh half sob and he pulled me into a hug as well, rubbing my back gently.

“We’ll go to the press tomorrow and give them the truth,” Zayn said. “Deal?”

I nodded my head.

“And you have te promise te never run away like tha’ again,” laughed Niall.

“Deal,” I laughed. The boys relaxed having gotten a smile out of me. We headed towards the backyard where we could sit outside a bit more comfortably. I plopped down on the chair next to Harry and stretched my legs over his lap. He began gently messaging my leg as a thought crossed my mind. “How did they know we were from Birmingham?”

“No idea,” Louis replied, as they all shook their heads.

“Hmm. They’re sneakier than I thought, it’s only a matter of time before they figure out who I really am.”

“That’s not gonna happen.”

“Denial is a bad thing Harold. Be careful or it’ll come back to bite you in the ass,” I said, ruffling his curly locks.

“You know Thalia, I’m going to miss having you around all the time,” Zayn said, laughing at my actions. I shot him a smile.

“Diddo Z. What am I going to do without my five favorite idiots?”

“Tear it up with El, Mack, and Maeve,” Laughed Liam. My face lit up.

“OH and its Mack’s first year at Uni!” I giggled evily. “I cannot wait to corrupt her.”

“Jesus,” groaned Niall.

“Come on now,” Laughed Louis. “I think we did a pretty good job at that when they visited.”

“Oh how cute,” I giggled before leaning forward mischievously, “But…you boys have never been to one of our kind of parties.”

“Oh one o’ yer kind a parties?” Niall mocked. “What’s so great ‘bout them huh?”

“When you come back and visit we’ll take you to one.”

“Deal.”

We spend the rest of the afternoon talking and joking around. The boys were leaving in less than a week for tour and this was likely the last time I would see them before they left. It was beginning to hit me just how much I would miss them. After dinner we began to say our goodbyes. I received a bone-crushing hug from each one of them along with the promise of frequent visits.

One they had all left, Harry and I stood there awkwardly staring at each other. I had seen this idiot nearly everyday since I’d met him. And now he was leaving tomorrow for three months. It hit me like a slap in the face. He was leaving.

“This is always the worst part,” Harry said. I turned to him, blinking furiously to keep the tears from escaping. Twice in one day? Thalia, get a hold of yourself.

“Why do you have to be famous,” I groaned, walking over to the couch and dropping down onto the pillows. He followed me and sat down next to me, turning so that we were facing each other.

“Would you rather I be some bread baking nobody back in Holmes Chapel?” He challenged, leaning forward and taking my hands.

“I dunno,” I shrugged. “Although…I couldn’t see myself being bakers wife.”

Harry burst out laughing and I quickly joined him before we fell into a comfortable silence. He took my hand and began playing with my fingers. I couldn’t bring myself to speak so it was Harry who broke the silence.

"Stay the night?"

I shot him a playful glare. "Why do I get the feeling you just want to sleep with me again?"

"Because I do," he smirked. "But I would also be lying if I said I didn't want more."

"More?"

"More than just a hook up."

Holy fuck. Did he just ask me out? I stared at him for a moment, feeling like a deer caught in the headlights. Was he serious? A relationship? He was leaving in the morning! He was watching me closely, and knew what I was going to say before I said it. "Harry-"

"Why not?" He asked. "Give me one good reason."

“I’m still a little bit mad at you.”

“Oh come on!” He laughed. He pulled me onto his lap so I was straddling him. He pulled me into a kiss. “How many times do you want me to say it?”

“One more won’t hurt,” I countered.

“I’m sorry.” He kissed my nose and pulled me closer. “Am I forgiven now?”

I leaned down and kissed him again, wrapping my arms around his neck. He wrapped his fingers through my belt loops and pulled me closer as we engaged in a steamy make out session.

“So now that that’s out of the way…” Harry breathed.

“You are relentless.”

“And you are beautiful.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere.”

“Then stop avoiding my question.”

"My dad would literally kill you. Slowly and painfully."

He let out a laugh, "That’s not a good enough reason."

"Yes it is. How can I be in a relationship with you when you're dead?"

He leaned forward and pulled me into a deep kiss making my brain go fuzzy. "I'm serious Tootles. Why not?"

"Harry...you're in one of the most famous bands in the entire world, you spend a month at home tops out of the entire year!"

"Oh come on. I'll come back for you, and you can come and visit me! Thal-"

"Harry you know that's not realistic. I can't afford to come and visit you all the time! And not just because of money...I have classes starting soon," I argued. The look on his face broke my heart but I knew I couldn't give in now. I wouldn’t let myself give in now.

But isn’t a relationship what I wanted? Reassurance that cared about me more than friends with benefits? But relationship meant trusting. And trusting meant I was opening up myself to heartbreak.

I took his hands in mine and continued, "Harry you aren't one to stay in one place for long. You're always moving always searching for the next exciting thing. And I love that about you. And that's exactly why I'm not going to hold you back. I'm not going to tie you down with a relationship. But I want you to know that when you come home, I will be here waiting for you. I promise."

"How do I know?" He nearly whispered. "How do I know some random bloke on the street won't sweep you off your feet?"

"You don't. Just like I don't know if some model in Miami will sink her claws into you and not let go."

"That's not going to happen!" He protested with a laugh.

"Harry, I can't enter a relationship with someone who will be gone longer than I've even known them."

"Can't or won't?"

"Both."

He let out a groan in frustration and leaned forward so his forehead was resting on mine, our lips inches apart. "You're killing me."

"You're just being dramatic," I said, giving him a peck on the lips. "I promise I'll think about it and we can talk when you get back. Think you can live with that?"

"Barely."

"Good," I smiled, pulling him into another kiss.

“Can you still stay the night though?”

“No.” Harry pulled back, looking hurt. I leaned down and kissed his neck before whispering in his ear, “But I’ll still let you take me to bed.”

Notes

I can't stop writing. I'm obsessed.