The Misfits

"Are ya sure yer alright?" Niall asked, handing me a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

"Yes Niall. Thank you so much." I took the mug and held it in my hands, attempting to steal its warmth. I hated being this girl. I felt like a burden because I couldn’t man up and face my own problems.

"Not a problem...wanna watch a movie or something?"

I turned to see him staring at me with a hopeful look on his face. I managed a smile and asked, "What did you have in mind?"

"Godfather?" He asked hesitantly.

I shrugged. "Sure."

"Really?"

"Yeah I love those movies." I laughed at the look he gave me before jumping to my feet. "Where's the popcorn?"

"Top right cupboard!" He called as I headed into the kitchen. Finding the popcorn I stuck it in the microwave before opening the fridge and taking out two beers. When the popcorn was done I stuck another bag in the microwave while I dumped the first into a bowl.

Harry had been blowing up my phone since I left Calhan’s, but I wasn’t in the mood to talk. It’s probably a good thing that things were over between Calhan and I. I knew the first night back he would try and hook up, but I had used the fight with my father as an excuse to leave. And now that I think about it, the texts from Harry had been an excuse too. An excuse to break up. Maybe I actually owed harry a thank you?

"What the hell are ya doing in there?" Niall’s voice broke through my thoughts.

"Making two bags," I called back, pulling the second one out of the microwave. I gathered everything and slowly made my way back into the living room.

"And why would ya do that?" He asked as he took a bowl.

"Because I can eat a whole bag on my own and I'm pretty sure you can too."

He let out a laugh and threw a blanket over my lap as I sat down. "Always thinking of others aren't you?"

"No, I just didn't want you to eat all my popcorn."

"Hey!" He laughed and threw a few pieces at me. I quickly picked them up and stuffed them in my mouth, which made him laugh harder. We snuggled down into the blankets and started the movie, munching quietly on our popcorn. Halfway through Niall's phone began ringing.

"SHH!"

"Yeah?" He answered as I shot him a glare. "Yer talking too fast I can't understand ya."
I frowned at him and he in turn looked over at me and let out a laugh.

"Don't loose yer knickers she's here with me...yeah...she's fine, we're watching Godfather..."

"Tell Harry he's ruining the movie!" I whispered.

Niall let out a laugh. "Yeah I don't mind. Hey, Lils we're getting your sisters tomorrow right?"

"We better be." I replied before doing the best to block him out and watch the movie. After a while Niall hung up and resumed watching the movie.

"Where are you guys?" I jumped when I heard a voice from the entryway, and turned to see Harry walking in.

"Sup dimples?" I asked before turning back to the movie.

"Not much Tootles," he laughed. He dropped down onto the couch next to me and pulled the blanket over himself. Even though he sat in silence I could see him fidgeting out of the corner of my eye and it was distracting me from the movie. I tried to ignore him but after the third time he nudged me under the blanket I could no longer resist.

“Spit it out.” I whispered, turning to look into those bright green eyes. But right now they weren’t bright, they were sad.

“I’m sorry. About earlier,” He whispered. I didn’t respond, but held out the bowl of popcorn to him. He smirked and took a few pieces before we turned our attention back to the movie. I let my self-cuddle down against his shoulder and felt him wrap an arm around me. My eyes quickly grew heavy as the sound of his heartbeat filled my ears.

-

“Thalia.”

I let out a groan.

“Thalia wake up.”

“Shh.”

“Tootles get your ass up.”

“So mean,” I whined, turning over on the comfy cushion I was laying on.

“But we have to go get your sisters.”

I sat bolt up right to see Harry smirking at me form the other end of the couch. We must have fallen asleep during the movie and judging by the sun streaming in through the windows, it was already past noon the next day. I grabbed my phone, jumped off the couch, and ran over to the door.

“Come on you slow pokes!” I yelled.

“Seriously?” Niall laughed as Harry struggled to pull on his shoes on. I made a move for the door but Niall grabbed my waist and held me back. I frowned before he handed me a pair of sunglasses and put a hat on my head. “Ya almost ran out naked!”

“Aw you were worried about me,” I cooed before opening the door and running out to the car. “I CALL SHOTGUN!”

Before I could reach the door however I was being lifted off of the ground and slung onto Harry’s shoulder. I let out a scream and called for Niall’s help but he ignored me and slid into the driver’s side. Harry opened one of the rear doors and dropped me inside before running over to the passengers seat.

“You suck curly.” I pouted. “I would have given it to you on the way home.”

He turned and wiggled his eyebrows at me as Niall backed out of the driveway. I noticed a few camera flashes and frowned. Good thing Niall had given me my little disguise otherwise my cover would have been blown and the boy’s “little secret” would have been out. I think they liked knowing that the media had no idea who I was. It was like a game to them, seeing how long they could keep me hidden.

We stopped by my dad’s house so I could grab a change of clothes and hug him goodbye before hitting the road. He would be leaving for Ireland today and would be gone for a few days. It felt odd saying goodbye, and I couldn’t help but feel a little jealous that he was off to visit his other family.

“Alright, where the hell am I goin’?” Niall asked when I returned to the car.

I gave him directions before calling Maeve to let her know I was on my way. I hadn’t told her that I was bringing the boys. I wanted to surprise them.

“Hey Lil’s do ya hear what song is on?” Niall asked, breaking me from my thoughts. I frowned only to hear the boys’ “Best Song Ever” blasting through the radio.

“Wanna recreate that dance for us? I can film for you this time?” Harry said, a prominent smirk on his face.

“Ha ha very funny.”

“It was hilarious. Everyone loves it.”

“What do you mean everyone?” I frowned.

“Niall reposted it after I put it on twitter. I bet all the fans have seen it now.”

I rolled my eyes. Fabulous.

“Actually we got in a bit of trouble for posting it. Apparently people are asking a lot of questions…”

“Questions?” I asked, leaning forward so my face was in between theirs.

“Some o’ the fans recognized Paul an’ wondered why the heck ya was with ‘em.” Laughed Niall. “We said we didn’t know, but they didn’t buy it.”

“A few of them realized you were the same one in the photo that Eleanor posted at the game,” Added Harry.

“They’re just jealous cause I’m some nobody who get’s to hang out with you idiots all day,” I said, nudging their heads.

“Oi! I’m drivin’ here!” Niall yelled.

“When are you going to tell them the truth?” I asked.

Harry snorted. “Hopefully never.”

A silence fell over the car after that, only to be broken by Niall turning up the radio. We sang the whole rest of the way, making small talk or sharing funny stories occasionally. As we neared the city I grew more and more anxious. I knew the boys hadn’t been born into fame and had all grown up from humble homes, but I doubt they had ever seen a home quite like mine.

“Take a left.” I said, as we turned onto the street I felt my heart hammering through my chest. To avoid an anxiety attack I began rambling. “We live a block away from the school my Aunt Lucy teaches at. There’s a secondary school five blocks to the east and a park behind those houses there. Oh this is it! You can just park right here.”

We pulled up to the small two-story brownstone and I jumped out of the car. Sitting against the stonewall that separated the house from the street were two trash bags signaling Luca had forgotten to take the trash out…again. A soccer ball sat in the small patio on the other side of the fence along with a few of Millie and Layla’s dolls. I heard a yell from inside and couldn’t help but let out a laugh. Nothing ever changed.

“Be sure to lock your car Niall,” I said, before stepping forward.

"THALIA!" I didn't make it past the front gate before a group screaming primary schoolers burst out of the door and overran me. They giggled and held onto my arms and legs and I tried to regain my balance.

"You're back!"

"Are you here forever?"

"Who're they?"

"OH. MY. GOD." Said Layla loudest if all. She looked from me to them before letting out a small squeak. Tilly stood dumbstruck behind them while Millie stared at them open-mouthed. Tilly is a ten-year old brainiac with an unhealthy obsession of One Direction, she looks up to Elaine and often helps to look after the younger children. Layla is the sweetest 8 year old you'll ever meet, she and her twin Leo moved in a few years ago. And little Millie is the youngest of us all.

"I brought you home a present! Girls, this is Harry and Niall. Guys...may I present to you the lovely Tilly, Layla, and Millie."

Layla and Tilly looked like they were about to start hyperventilating but the little four-year old Millie ran right up to them. Harry scooped her up and rested her on his hip.

"What do you know? There are princesses here!" He said with a smile. Millie let out a laugh as Niall turned to the other girls.

"Come on girls, don't be shy now." He opened his arms and the girls slowly stepped forward to give him a hug. "We don't bite I promise."

"Alright let's get inside before anyone see us yeah?" I laughed. "The boys are here in secret so we can't tell anyone."

"Like a secret ninja mission?" Archie, a blonde-haired seven year-old asked as he threw out some ninja kicks. Archie had come to live with us last year. He was a sweet kid, but often had trouble with authority.

"Exactly!" I laughed, pulling them inside.

I know I had only been gone a little more than a week, but it was good to be home. When we walked in the door we were met with Maeve lugging a suitcase down the stairs. When she saw me she let out a scream, dropped the bag and tackled me.

"THUMPER!" We hugged for a minute while the kids were screaming around us.

"Ew. Look what the trash dragged in." I turned to see sandy-haired Jasper leaning against the doorway with his hands folded across this chest. At sixteen years old, Jasper was well on his way to becoming one of the best soccer players in Britain.

"Ugh so the rodent still lives here huh?" I asked. Jasper broke into a smile and pulled me into a tight embrace. "Jas, this is Harry and Niall. Guys this is Jasper. He's Mackenzie's baby brother."

"Real brother?" Niall asked as I ruffled Jasper's hair. "Cause ya keep telling us everyone here is either yer brother o’ sister?"

"Biological brother," Jasper said reaching out and shaking Niall's hand. "Thank God I'm not actually related to these other maggots. Hold on a sec..."

Jasper paused, staring at them in confusion. Tilly stepped forward, one hand playing with her long brown hair the other still gripped tightly to Niall's left. "Jas! They’re from One Direction!"

"Stay away from my sisters." Jasper replied, causing us all to laugh.

Maeve cleared her throat and stuck out her hand. “I’m Maeve. Thal’s better half. I’m sure you’ve heard all about me.”

“I’m sorry what was your name?” Harry asked, a smirk on his face. Everyone let out giggles, including the younger kids who I’m pretty sure only laughed because we did. “Only joking. Thalia hasn’t shut up about you since we met her.”

“That’s more like it.” Maeve laughed.

"Where's everyone else?" I asked, stepping into the living room and looking around. There was a makeshift bed on the couch signaling Ralph was still crashing at the house. He was a friend of Hugh's who need a place to stay for the summer.

"Hugh's at work," answered Layla. "Luca and Leo are at football practice."

"Guys? Who's here?" We heard someone call from upstairs.

“Take cover!” Archie yelled before jumping onto the couch and hiding under cushions. The other kids quickly followed while Harry, Niall and I frowned in confusion.

“Elaine,” Maeve whispered. We heard some thuds on the steps and Maeve ran over to the kids, “the witch is on the hunt!”

“Thalia?”

I turned to see a freckled ginger staring at me in confusion. I broke into a smile and pulled her into a tight hug. Elaine wasn’t a witch, or even mean for that matter. But she became easily stressed and the kids loved to mess with her. She was the closest thing to a mother to them.

“You’re not supposed to be here for another half hour!” She said, holding me at arms length.

“Yeah well Irish over here drives fast.”

“Wha—”

“MAE WHERE’S MY BLUE DRESS?” We all looked back up towards the stairs.

“Mack get your ass down here!” Jasper bellowed back up the stairs. I hit him on the shoulder as I heard sniggers from the younger children on the couch behind me.

“I’m trying to pack fartface!” More giggles. I stood at the edge of the steps and leaned against the railing.

“Hey! Don’t call me that!” I yelled up. There was silence and then a few thuds before Mackenzie’s face appeared leaning over the railing.

“THALIA!” she screamed, running down the stairs and jumping into a hug. “You’re here!”

“I have a surprise for you.”

“A supri—” I turned so that she should see Niall and Harry. She froze and her eyes grew wide, making her look even more like Rapunzel from Tangled than she already did. Mackenzie loved One Direction just as much as Tilly did, and the two had made us listen to their album for hours on end.

“Hello!” Harry said, still holding Millie in his arms.

“Oh my god,” Mackenzie whispered as Niall opened his arms for an embrace. Mackenzie looked like she might cry. Thankfully the boys knew how to handle this behavior, because I was lost.

“Give them a hug Mack,” Millie laughed. “They don’t bite.”

Notes

Wow. Sorry, so many character introductions. Let's make this a bit simpler...

Elaine, Maeve, and Mackenzie we know from before - Thalia's closest friends.

Then theres:
Hugh - 17
Jasper (Mackenzie's brother) - 16
Luca (not sure if I've introduced him yet, but he's coming) - 13
Tilly - 10
Layla & Leo - 8
Archie - 7
and Millie - 4

So many children so little time.