All Hidden Away

“So you’re just abandoning me then?” asks Stu interrupting our hug, which was okay with me who was stuck in the middle.
“Oh come on Stu, you’ll be fine.” I say before I see that he’s joking and has a huge smile on his face. He wanders over to a couch as we all take seats around the room.
“No man.” He says smiling at me. “Don’t be ridiculous! You’ve been needing something like this for a while. Just concerned who’s going to do the cooking from now on!” He shoots me a wink and I think of how much he’s supported me when I’ve been having a “oh woe is me!” moment.
“Wait… you cook?” Niall asks, his eyes growing at the prospect of it. I shrug my shoulders and make a small nodding movement with my head. “She any good?” he asks turning to face Stu sitting on his left.
“Good? Good doesn’t begin to describe the flavours this little girl can put in a dish! And her desserts! Always said she should give up on this Architecture shit and become a chef with her own restaurant…” Niall looked like someone just told him he won the jackpot. His eyes had grown and his mouth was hanging open slightly.
“Oh shut up.” I mumbled in Stu’s direction my cheeks starting to go red.
“No Tasha. I’m being serious.” He said with a dead straight face.
“If this wasn’t mum’s living room I would through a pillow at you right now.” I said
Returning the look with a glare.
“Well that’s final then… Tasha, when you staying with us you have to show us some of your meals… deal?” Niall pleaded with me.
“Yeah… okay. If you teach me some guitar?” I say raising an eyebrow.
“It’s a deal!” he said with a huge smile on his face.
“And what about you lot, why should I cook for you?” I say sticking my tongue out at Louis, Harry and Liam.
“Well it was my idea for you to come stay and you’re my little sister... You have obligations.” Said Harry laughing his curls falling in front of his eyes which he pushed away with his right hand.
“I’ll take you to get your first tattoo?” said Liam looking at Harry rather than at me. Harry’s eyes grew to the same size as Niall’s while he was talking about food but not for a good reason.
“That is not okay! Even as a joke you tit!” he let out in a strangled cry.
“You can’t anyway...” I mumble so only Jared sitting next to me can hear.
“Wait…What was that?” he asks looking confused. I shoot him a look telling him to shut up.
“What did she say?” asked Louis, his eyes blue filling with mischief and laughter. I looked at him with eyes begging him to shut the fuck up.
“Natasha Louise Styles…” says Harry in a flat tone forcing me to look at my feet. “What do you mean… Liam can’t take you to have your FIRST tattoo?” Stu was trying to hide the smile on his face and was failing dismally.
“Because…” I say to no one in particular.
“Because what?” says harry coming and kneeling in front of me. He looks like he could kill someone right there.
“I’ve already got a tattoo…” I trail off only looking up at the last second to see Harry with wide eyes and gaping mouth looking at me like I’ve punched him.
Liam was laughing his head off with Louis and Stu who obviously thought this was hilarious.
“MUM!?” Harry screams in my face.

We hear footsteps running in our direction. Mum runs into the doorway.
“What’s wrong? Who’s hurt?” she asks assuming the worse.
“Do you know...” Says harry standing and walking next to mum to look at me. “That your little daughter… the Baby of the family. Do you know that this little darling of yours-”
“Oh hurry up Harry my bath’s running. Just tell me.” She said impatiently.
My heart was racing and I didn’t know what to do.
“She has a tattoo!” he half screamed.

There was a silence that filled the room and no one moved.
“Yes, she’s got a couple I think, right love?” she says looking at me.
I couldn’t help but laugh at Harry’s expression. It was of pure horror!
“Three, mum.” I correct standing up and walking towards where they were standing.
The room was full of laughter all aimed at Harry.
“But-” mum walked away as Hazza turned in confusion. “You told mum and not me?” he really looked hurt.
“Hazz… how was I going to tell you and explain what they are without being in person?” I smile at my idiot brother.
“But-” Harry is still muttering when he goes to sit next to Lou.
“There there love. Don’t cry. Look how many stupid tattoos we all have. She was bound to get one eventually.”
“Yeah, but mine aren’t stupid.” I say under my breath.
“Well what are they?” asks Niall like it’s the most obvious question in the world. I look at him and a small smile spreads across my face.
“The one’s quite stupid really...” I mumble.
“Oh God! It’s a tramp-stamp isn’t it?!” Harry buries his head in his hands while Lou and Liam rub his back trying to not laugh while comforting him.
“No! Have some faith!” I laugh at his over-reaction. I move to lift my shirt up to show them. On my rib cage on the right hand side is a small tattoo with the words “Little Things…” written in fancy lettering. Harry and the Boy’s smile.
“Was that the first one?” Harry asks much calmer now.
‘No…” I say blushing again. “This one was.” I say showing them the small dot I have just below my thumb.
“… That’s a dot…” says Louis with a very confused look on his face.
“No shit hey?” I say laughing.
“She didn’t want a big one that she would get asked about a lot.” Explains Stuart who went with me to get it.
“So why a dot?” asks Jared who now as walked up behind me. I can feel him breathing on the back of my neck giving my goose bumps.
“Uhm…” god this was so embarrassing. “it’s quite a philosophical reason really…”
“yeah right…” mumbles Stuart. I shoot him a death stare.
“Because I got scared when I saw the needle and wouldn’t let them do anything else…” I say not meeting anyone else’s looks. Everyone was laughing as we took our seats.
“Okay but seriously…” I say looking at Harry who sat opposite me in the room. “How in hell’s name are you planning for me staying with you guys to work without…” I started counting on my fingers, “one, someone seeing me at your place or coming and leaving, two”
“We’ll sort all of that out in the meeting on Monday.” Louis cut across me. “Really Tasha, it will all be sorted, okay?” he said comforting me with his brilliant blue eyes.
“Are you both going?” asks Liam.
“Yeah. Part of the agreement.” Says Harry looking over at his friends.
Niall looks at me with his baby blue eyes full of pity and concern. “Want me and Liam to come too?” I look at Harry to see what he thinks.
“It’s your meeting Tash, I’d say the more the merrier, but im not sure what they want to also discuss… they sounded pretty serious over the phone the other day.”
“Well if it’s something that serious, it may be nice to have us all there, you know, to support you luv.” I look at Louis and nod in agreement.
“Yeah. Liam, Niall?” I ask looking at them. Liam smiles his huge Liam-Grin.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world!”

Notes