The Misfits

“Hello beautiful,” Harry said as I climbed into his car. He had his hair pulled back in a funny little bun, wearing a white T and his signature black skinny jeans.

“Hey handsome,” I smirked.

“You know you have paint—”

“I know,” I said with an eye roll. “Don’t worry its dry I promise.”

He looked at me skeptically before breaking into a laugh. I was wearing my painting outfit consisting of raggedy old jeans and a comfy sweatshirt both of which were splattered with paint. Harry reached over and pinched my cheek; “You have it on your face love.”

“Damn it.”

“So colorful.”

“My language or my appearance?”

“Both,” he laughed. He leaned over and gave me a kiss before starting the car. I propped my feet up on the dashboard and ignored the side eye he gave me.

“Where are we going?”

“Back to mine. I have a few friends over.”

“And you just left them?” I laughed.

“They’re fine,” he shrugged. “I wanted to see you.”

“You’re a horrible friend.”

“But a good boy—”

“Don’t…say it,” I growled. He let out a laugh and took my hand in his.

“How’s your painting coming along?” He asked, a smirk still playing on his lips.

“Fine, thank you very much. I finally fixed Kenzie’s hand.”

“She’s not a pirate anymore?” Cried Harry.

“Nope. Thank goodness.”

“What are ya gonna work on now?”

“I was thinking a giant portrait of your face with some bright red hearts all around it.”

“Aw, how thoughtful of you,” He cooed, giving me a cheeky little grin.

“I know aren’t I adorable?”

“Mmm, only a little.”

A second later we both burst into a fit of giggles. I turned on the radio and we both began to sing at the top of our lungs, Harry slightly more in tune. These were my favorite moments with him, when we could just be normal idiots together. I had a feeling he felt the same way. When we pulled up to his flat Harry opened the car door for me with a funny little, “My lady.”

“Why thank you stable boy.” I replied. As we walked up to the flat I jumped on his back. He spun around and nearly toppled over causing me to let out a scream before bursting into a fit of laughs. “Harry Styles you klutz you could have killed us!”

“You’re safe with me love,” he laughed before heading towards the door. As Harry and I entered his flat we were immediately met with the smell of hookah.

"AYE!" Cried a few familiar voices. Niall, Louis, and Zayn were sitting on the couch along with a few other unfamiliar faces. I recognized Nick Grimshaw and Zack Braff, though I had only met them once.

"What's up losers?" I asked. Kicking off my shoes and following Harry into the sitting room. I sank down onto the couch next to him, draping my leg lazily over his. I had given up trying to hid our…whatever we were doing from our friends cause let’s face it, they all knew anyways.

"How's life Thalia?" Asked Nick, passing me the Hookah.

"Not too shabby," I replied. "I didn't know all you lot would be over here!"

"Surprise!"

"Where are the others?" Louis asked me?

"Maeve's hanging out with her boyfriend," I said with an eye roll. "I think Elaine was going to study, and Kenzie...I don't know where Kenzie is."

"Dance," replied Niall. When we turned to stare at him he responded with a shrug and added, "just a guess."

"Probs a good one." I nodded, knowing full well that he had been texting her nonstop since they met. He knew her schedule better than I did.

"Tell them to come over!" Cried Louis. "I want to meet this Nate bloke."

I let out a laugh and whipped out my phone to text them. “You guys will love him. He and Calhan are in a band together with some of our other friends. He’s super chill though, but that might just be because he’s always high.”

“Sounds like my kinda guy,” laughed the kid next to me.

“Right! I love him,” I said, passing the Hookah to the redhead.

He gave me a smile and I briefly wondered if we had met before. Harry had introduced me to so many of his friends I was beginning to loose track. This one had bright orange hair with a scruffy beard, and it took me a moment to realize just whom I was staring at.

"Holy fuck," I said. I turned and smacked Harry on the shoulder lightly. "You didn't tell me Ed Sheeran was going to be here!"

They all let out laughs.

"That was my fault," Ed laughed as Harry pinched my side in retaliation.

"We thought it would be fun to see how long it took you to notice."

"That's not fair!" I laughed. "I need warning! You can't just bombard me with famous people!"

"We bombarded you," replied Harry.

“That doesn’t mean it’s an okay thing to do!” I cried out before turning back Ed. “Hi. Sorry, I promise I’m not crazy. This is just so bizarre.”

“Thalia’s fangirling!” laughed Zayn.

"She only acts this way ‘round other famous folk, never ‘round us," laughed Niall.

"Guess we're not special enough," Harry shrugged.

"Shush. This isn't about you lot. And for the record you are to special enough, I just always forget you're cool celebrities."

“I dunno,” Ed chimed in, looking skeptical. “They’re not that cool.”

“Hey!” pouted Harry, while I let out a giggle.

“Aww poor Walt.”

“Walt?”

“Ignore her,” Harry said to the others. “She thinks she’s funny.”

“I am funny.”

“Not as funny as you think though,” Zayn said, giving me a smirk.

“Hey, watch it Z, I still have your drawing hostage.”

“I’m beginning to think I’m never going to get that,” He laughed, referring to the lion I had drawn him the first time we met.

“She probably has it here.”

Before I could stop him, Harry had grabbed my bag and pulled out my sketchbook. I swear my heart stopped when he tossed it across the room to Zayn.

“Be careful with my baby!” I cried out. They boys let out a laugh as I turned to Harry angrily. What was with him tonight? “You could have killed it! That’s all my work in there.”

“You draw?” Ed asked, changing the subject and saving his friend from my wrath. Before I could answer, Niall cut me off.

“Yeah, she’s amazin.”

“That’s awesome.”

“It makes up for my lack of any musical talent,” I smiled.

“That is a lie and you know it,” replied Harry. But thankfully no one had heard him for at that moment the front door opened and turned to see my friends walk in. Even Nate. He had his usual drug rug on as well as a black beanie pulled tight over his head.

“What’s up motherfuckers?” Maeve skipped over and quickly gave everyone a hug.

“Mae, El. Come meet my good friend Ed Sheeran,” I said, pulling Elaine down next to me.

“Hello,” Ed smiled. Maeve and Elaine’s mouths dropped, but both recovered within a split second.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Elaine smiled and, like the proper woman she is, shook his hand. “So how long have you and Lil’s been friends? I’m a little offended I’m just finding out now.”

“Oh, well shit I’ve known Thalia for a whole ten minutes.”

“That long?”

Ed broke into a smile that she easily matched and the pair fell into easy conversation. I felt Harry begin to play with my fingers and turned so see a sly grin on his face. How was it possible that be grew more attractive each time that I looked at him? I briefly wondered if he knew just how close I was to committing to him.

“So how have you been girls?” Louis asked, shifting the conversation away from the redheaded duo and pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Stressed. School sucks,” Maeve replied. Nate sat down in an empty chair and pulled Maeve onto his lap for protection. I still couldn’t believe they were actually a couple. I had been waiting for this to happen since we met Nate in our first year of Uni. Nick passed me the hookah and took a deep breath, letting the haze fill my lungs.

“You lot are so lucky you’re not in school,” I added.

“Well it’s not like you two need to be,” snorted Nate. “You’re talented enough to go at it alone.”

“Nate, do not encourage them,” Elaine replied.

“He’s got a point though,” shrugged Louis. “I’m Louis by the way.”

“Nate.” The two shook hands.

“Nah, don’t listen to those two. Don’t ever throw away a chance at Uni,” Ed said with a wave of his hand. “That’s one of my biggest regrets.”

“Why are you guys in school?” Niall asked with a frown.

Maeve shot him a glare. “Because we’re smart.”

“Because someone once told us we couldn’t,” I replied. I felt Harry squeeze my hand as I continued, “But I wanted to go anyway. If I don’t make it as an artist I’ll be a teacher.”

“No wonder these lads like hanging out with you all,” giggled Zach Braff. “You’re all so normal…it’s wonderful.”

“What are you in school for Elaine?” Ed asked.

“Psychology and Education.”

“El’s gonna be a school counselor.”

“What would you want to be that for?” frowned Niall.

“Because I know a lot of kids whose lives have changed because of it,” she replied. Maeve and I shot exchanged a look of understanding. My Aunt Lucy is a school counselor at the primary school, that’s how she’s been able to help so many children.

“I think that’s wonderful,” said Ed.

“What about you Nate?”

“Computer science,” answered Nate. The boys all frowned. “I met these idiots through my roommate Calhan. Thank God for him, Ox girls really aren’t my type.”

“I’m an Ox girl,” frowned Elaine.

We all burst out laughing as Harry visibly tensed next to me when Calhan’s name had been mentioned. I discreetly rested my hand and on his knee and gave him a small squeeze of reassurance before saying, “Hey, aren’t you guys playing a gig tomorrow?”

“Yeah you should come!” smiled Nate. “It’s gonna be sick. We’re down in the underground again.”

“Yes! I love that place.” Maeve fist pumped, then she turned to the guys. “And you lot are coming. No excuses.”

“Oh dear,” Zayn groaned.

“Hey, you wanted to party with us remember?” I laughed.

We continued to joke around for another few hours. At one point Niall dipped out saying he was getting tired. However it happened to be just before eight o’clock when Mackenzie conveniently got out of dance and I wondered if that’s where he was really headed.

Elaine and Ed were getting along swimmingly, talking quietly to each other in their own little world. As the others continued their conversation about aliens (don’t ask), I felt Harry gently nudge me. I turned to see him staring at Elaine and Ed.

“I can’t get over how adorable this ginger couple is,” he whispered.

“I know. They’re the same person. Both of their first name’s even start with the same letter,” I replied, cuddling down further next to him so no one would hear.

“It’s meant to be,” he laughed.

“They should probably get married.”

“Oh, definitely.”

“And have beautiful ginger babies.”

“And repopulate the Earth.”

“Ginger army!” I whispered. Harry burst out laughing and I couldn’t help but join him. “Ha! Told you I was funny.”

"Yes, yes. You're right," he mused before kissing the back of my hand and sending butterflies through my stomach. "As always."

Notes

Things are bout to get interesting...