The Misfits

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

My alarm clock seemed to blare at me like a siren. Rather than getting out of bed, I rolled over and stared at the ceiling. Today was going to be a bad day. Just like everyday for the past week had been. Pulling the covers over my head I let myself sleep for another hour before my second alarm went off.

Get up.

I needed to get up. I needed to go into to studio today and work on my paintings. I was on my fourth painting, and had hoped to get it done by this weekend. I briefly wondered if I could get away with another hour of sleep, before pulling myself out of bed. I dressed quickly, in my comfiest clothes, before heading down the ladder.

None of the girls were home which I was grateful for. Even though I had been putting on a smile, I was positive they knew I was hurting more than I let on. It’s like they had been walking on eggshells for the past week whenever they spoke to me and it was slowly driving me insane. Grabbing an orange I headed out the door and down towards the tube.

It had been over a week since Harry and I had spoken and I had never felt so lonely. It was unnatural how much I missed him. Since the party when he walked out I hadn’t heard a peep. I knew from Mackenzie that the boys had been in the states the past few days shooting for their new music video. And I was pretty sure she had been texting Niall and hinting at how upset I was, for he would text me every day to make sure I was okay.

Perrie, Eleanor and Sophia had been texting and calling me as well. Apparently both Zayn and Louis had let slip that Harry and I were...well I wasn’t really sure what we were at the moment. Like Niall, Perrie had texted me everyday since she was out of the country on tour. Eleanor and Sophia had taken it one step further and two days ago the pair had practically abducted me and taken me out to lunch.

As I reached the design school I descended into the basement. I had come here every day to escape the world. It was relaxing being able to sit there for hours and push all my thoughts from my mind.

“Hey Thalia!”

I jumped in surprise as Abella, a sweet girl with jet-black hair, greeted me as I walked in.

“Oh! Hey Bells,” I laughed. “I didn’t know you were coming in.”

“I’m only here until one, I wanted to get something done before I went in for work.”

“It looks good,” I said, pointing to her painting. Abella and I were easily the top of the class purely because we were the only ones dedicated enough to come in on a Saturday morning.

“How was your weekend?” she asked.

I gave her a smile and nodded, “Oh you know, same as always.”

I plugged in my headphones and set to work. My newest piece was of a London intersection I passed everyday on the way to studio. For this painting I was using a different technique so it didn’t look as abstract. Once Abella had left I had the studio to myself. I pulled my headphones out of my ears and began singing along to the music.

All I want is nothing more
To hear you knocking on my door
‘Cause if I could see your face once more
I could die of happiness I’m sure

When you said your last goodbye
I died a little bit inside
I lay in tears in bed all night
Alone without you by my side

If you love me
Why’d you leave me?
Take my body
Take my body
All I want is
And all I need is
To find somebody
I’ll find somebody

See you brought out the best in me,
A part of me I’ve never seen
You took my soul and wiped it clean
Our love was made for movie screens

But if you loved me
Why’d you leave me?
Take my body
Take my body
All I want is
And all I need is
To find somebody
I’ll find somebody

And all want is
And all I need is
To find somebody
I’ll find somebody
Like you

“And you always say you can’t sing.”

I turned to see Mackenzie standing in the doorway, typing furiously on her phone. She had her bag slung over her shoulder lazily meaning she had just gotten out of dance.

“That’s because I can’t,” I laughed. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s seafood night,” She said, wrinkling her nose. “I was gonna see if you wanted to grab some pizza or something.”

I let out a laugh and rolled my eyes.

“Oh is this the new one?” She asked, dropping her bag and walking over so she could see it. “That looks really good Thal!”

“Thanks!” I said with a sigh. “It’s taking way longer than the others.”

“Yeah I’ll bet. But it’s definitely worth it. That’s gonna look so awesome in the show.”

“Thanks Kenz.” I began packing up as she continued to text on her phone. “Who are you talking away to miss fire fingers? Would it happen to be a certain leprechaun?”

“Nope. Twitter.” She said. Then she paused and looked up at me. “You ready?”

“Yup. Let’s go.”

We raced up the stairway and made our way towards the tube to take us home. It was raining, per usual for this time of year. Mackenzie was in the middle of telling me a story when the buzzing of her phone distracted her.

“Yellow?” She said, plugging her other ear to tune out the noise of the city. I opened the door of Cat Pizza and we quickly ducked inside. “What! Oh that’s just great!”

“Two number fours please,” I said to the cashier as Mackenzie continued her conversation. We headed over to the table in the back to wait for our food.

“Yep…I promise. You want to talk to her?” Mackenzie asked, rolling her eyes. “Suit yourself….okay. Bye Ni.”

“What’s up?” I asked, drumming my fingers on the plastic table.

“Apparently the media got a hold of Maeve’s photos.”

“Maybe she’ll be famous now. Sell her work to some hotshots.”

“Or the paparazzi. Niall sent me a link to a story. I don’t like that they know so much about us Thal.”

“They don’t know anything about us,” I snorted. But Mackenzie still looked worried. “They know we’re some poor kids from Birmingham who popped into the lives of One Direction. They know you dance, they know I paint, and they know Maeve takes photos. That’s it. They have nothing.”

She nodded slowly. “No, you’re right. I’m just not used to people prodding into my life.”

“Who is?”

“The guys.”

A second later our number was called and I jumped up to grab our food. I set the tray back down on the table and we dug in. So delicious.

“Niall asked how you were doing again.”

“Okay, if anyone’s prodding into my life it’s him,” I laughed. She giggled and agreed.

“He’s just worried you know,” Mackenzie said between bites. “He knows how much you like Harry, we all do.”

I felt a pang in my chest when she mentioned his name, but I was determined not to show it. How could I have let him effect me this much? Pull yourself together Thal.

“Have you heard anything?” she asked hesitantly.

“Nope.”

“Have you tried calling?”

“Nope.”

Mackenzie frowned.

“I gave up after the third day,” I replied. “I’m over his little temper tantrum. If he won’t talk to me how am I supposed to know what to say?”

Before Mackenzie could answer my phone buzzed. My immediate thought was Harry, and I was slightly disappointed to see Maeve’s name pop up on my screen. I read her text and let out a groan.

“What’s up?” frowned Mackenzie.

“Nate and the guys are over.”

“So?”

“Calhan’s with them.”

“Ew.”

“Do you think they’ll let us just hide out here for the rest of the night?”

“Thalia. I am not sleeping at Chinese Pizza.”

We both burst out laughing and finished our meal. As we headed up to the apartment I felt knots forming in my stomach. Taking a deep breath I stepped inside, refusing to let Calhan get to me.

“There you are!”

We collapsed onto the couch and hung out with our friends for a bit. It wasn’t as bad as I expected, but after a few hours I decided I would call it a night. I was planning on waking up early and heading to the studio again. I grabbed a few of the dishes and headed into the kitchen. As I turned to head upstairs I was met with Calhan’s looming figure.

“I’ve been calling you.”

“And I’ve been ignoring you.”

“Just like Curly?”

My head snapped up at the mention of Harry and a smirk tugged on Calhan’s lips. He took a step closer while I took a step back, effectively running into the wall.

“I tried to warn you it would happen.”

“Bullshit. It only happened because of you,” I snapped. “But that’s what you wanted wasn’t it?”

“I’m trying to look out for you.”

“Yeah, well you have a funny way of doing it.”

“Look at what he’s done to you. You’ve hardly said a word to your friends in the past week. You just lock yourself in that studio. We’re your family Thal, we know when your putting on your front.”

“You don’t know shit.” I said, angry that he was right.

“I know I would never hurt you like he has. You were the one who walked out remember? As much as you want to you can’t hold that against me.”

“Walked out? No, see I remember running out after you tried to decapitate me.”

He let out a laugh. “As if you’ve never thrown something at me! Give it up Thal, you’re just as guilty as I am.”

“Fine. You’re right.”

We stood there for a moment before he lifted his hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “I really have missed you Thalia. And I swear to you I didn’t mean any of it – well except that Harry bit – but I’m sorry for my jealous rampage. Will you ever forgive me?”

I let out a sigh, “You know I already have.”

“So can I stay over tonight?”

I shot him a glare. “Don’t push your luck Cal.”

“Oh come on,” He said with a groan, moving closer so our faces were inches apart. “Our make up sex is the best.”

“Goodnight Calhan.” I stepped away from the charming boy and headed upstairs.

Calhan had been right; I didn’t belong in that world. I had been trying so hard to fit into that scene since moving in with my father. But that cute little daddy’s girl wasn’t really me. I belonged with delinquents who accepted my actions and knew the reasons behind them, who didn’t judge when I refused to trust and understood why I couldn’t commit.
I didn’t fit in his world and it was time to wake up.

Notes

ruh roh