All Hidden Away

My dark cocoon of warmth and sleep was suddenly stolen from me. I tried opening my eyes but only managed to let out a loud groan. Someone is calling me and knocking on my door but Im not having it. I pull my duvet up to my ears and pull a pillow over my pounding head. I don’t even remember how I got to bed last night. My door opens and I groan again hoping that whoever it is will understand my sleep talk of kindly telling them to fuck off.
“Tasha, come. It’s eight and Gem’s getting here at nine.” It’s Nialler. He walks over and rips off the pillow on my head. He had turned on my light and it really hurts. I groan again and it’s as if he understands and I hear him place a glass on my bedside table.
“There’s some of your meds, you shouldn’t need to take more after today. Now come, Anne’s cooking breakfast and most of us are awake.” I hear him walk away and close my door. I carefully open my eyes and reach out for the meds and glass of water he kindly brought up for me. After getting back with Harry last night, we sat around for a bit sharing a bit more alcohol and I feel like I need to apologise for ignoring Jared’s protests about me drinking with a concussion. Stu had to down 4 beers last night in quick concession because he wouldn’t let me accept his apology any other way. I had 3 and went to be at about 2.

I go to my bathroom and jump into a nice hot shower that almost immediately helps with my headache. I wash my hair and feel ten times better. I brush my teeth and pull my long dark curly hair into a quick bun. A famous Style’s look is the messy bun, yet it never seems to be intentional to most people’s surprises.

I go back into my room and drink some more of my water. I go to my still unpacked bag and grab the first items of clothing I see. A pretty black t-shirt that’s slightly shorter in the front with a semi open back, my comfy pair of jeans and my go-to honey coloured Jeep boots. I apply a small amount of mascara and eye liner and look at my healing cut in the mirror. It looks good, not flaking but just healing nicely.

I walk down stairs and the smell of bacon and eggs makes my tummy rumble. I walk into the kitchen and see mum cooking with Niall trying to steal bacon to no prevail.
“MORNING TASHA!” Liam screams in my left ear. I turn and slap him playfully on his chest.
“Already given her, her meds, you Pillock.” Says Niall turning and smiling at him.
“You take the fun out of everything… really.” He says walking into the kitchen to grab some juice out the fridge.
“Morning mum,” I say walking over and kissing her on the cheek.
“Glad to see you’re awake, it was getting late and Gem will be over soon.” She says with a fake sense of annoyance. She smiles and asks me to set the table.
I bump into Louis on the way to the dining room. He gives me good morning hug and immediately starts laughing when I pull away.
“What?” I ask smiling.
“You’ll see.” he says walking off still laughing.

While setting the table, I hear a lot of laughter coming from the kitchen, mostly from Niall and assume Harry came down and made a few jokes about something. As I walk into the kitchen after setting the table for eight, I see a burst of light and hear the sound of a camera going off. I look up to see Louis laughing silently shaking his head holding his phone up.
“Uhm..?” I ask raising my eyebrow. He looks at me and laughs a bit more before calling in my mum, Liam and Niall. Apparently both Stu and Jared are both still asleep.
“See, I told you.” He says and everyone responds with laughter. “She wears it better… definitely!” this causes people to laugh even harder. Im now getting annoyed that I don’t know what they laughing at.
“What are you on about?” I ask raising my hands slightly while talking. Harry comes up from behind me and gives me a hug.
“We are apparently wearing the exact same things and apparently look like twins…” he says pulling away. I turn around to see Harry has his long hair in a messy bun, wearing his famous black t-shirt and jeans. And he just so happens to be wearing very similar shoes to me.
“No…” I mumble covering my eyes. “Louis, that photo goes nowhere you hear me?” I say still covering my eyes. Everyone’s laughing now.
“Well, are we staying like this for the rest of the day or-”
“I came down stairs first, therefore you change.” I say walking over to mum, grabbing the plate she’s holding and go to put it on the table.
“At least can we get a photo of the two of you together?” she calls after me.
“If we hurry.” I call back.

Just as we finish clearing up breakfast Gemma arrives and it’s like we have never been separated. I always stress about spending time with her, but whenever we are together we just have so much fun. Mum made me change in the end into a pretty navy dress, and then proceeded to make us all take photos together.

We spend the morning catching up with everyone, swapping stories from our childhood and laughing about our inside jokes no one else really seems to get. Time flies by and before we know it, its lunch time. Gemma stays for a roast pork lunch and sits next to me for the meal. Unfortunately she has to rush off somewhere, I think it was to meet her editor and chief about her new article in the Debreif, but the three of us organise a date when we can all go shopping in London together. We hardly do it so that the paparazzi don’t get the idea that we are extremely close to each other, but mum has me stressing as she couldn’t stop commenting how much the three of us look alike.

“We’ll organise something, don’t stress.” Gem says hugging me before she goes off again. I can see she’s sad she has to run off but promises she’ll call after the meeting on Monday. Stuart couldn’t stop commenting on things like Gemma’s hair, her bag and her shoes. He turns to me after she has left and says.
“Why can’t you be more girly! We could have such fun!”
“It’s not me and you know this!” I say back laughing at him.

After clearing up lunch, and sitting chilling with everyone, Stu and Jared are going to go back to varsity to finish a project they had due on Tuesday.
“You have to promise to call us and let us know what’s happening with Modest! okay?” says Stu hugging me tightly.
“Of course! Drive safe.” I say giving Jared a hug. “And thank you for everything guys. See you on Monday night or Tuesday morning, but I’ll let you know.”
They thank the guys and my mum for everything, pack the car and are off, homeward bound.
We all return to the lounge and turn on the TV to sit and enjoy some peace and quiet for the rest of the afternoon and evening, half way through Finding Nemo, Liam’s phone starts to ring. He looks at his phone, frowns, and walks outside in his very professional manor.
“What’s that about?” I ask the boys who didn’t really notice anything. Niall pauses the movie and looks confused.
“Im sure it’s nothing… can we continue with the movie?”
“Just hold on lads…” says Liam walking back in. “Harry, we need to talk… privately please.” He doesn’t wait for a response before walking back outside again. Harry quickly stands up and walks past me out onto the Patio.
I look at Louis with big eyes, a feeling of unease takes over and I know something isn’t right. We can all hear raised voices outside but can’t make out what they are saying. Louis comes and sits next to me, pulling me to his side.
“Im sure they’re fine.” He says playing with my hair. I rest my head against his chest and pray that he knows more than he’s letting on. I think I must have dosed off, as suddenly Harry is walking in cursing about something. He looks more upset than angry. He goes and calls mum from her study were she was sorting out paperwork for the week.
“Guys, we need to talk.” He says coming back in and standing in the middle with mum and Louis sitting next to me and Niall sitting at me feet. I knew something was wrong. Liam comes and stands next to Harry. Shit… it must be something serious.
“Modest! just called…” Liam started and both Louis and Niall quietly groaned. “yeah… and it seems that they’ve changed the meeting times.” I can feel everyone looking at me, trying to gauge my reaction. I just sat there, and slowly started to shake with nerves.
“well?” I ask after what feels like forever.
“Its early tomorrow morning. We have to be at the building by seven, so the meeting starts at eight.” Liam says this looking at me directly. Making sure im okay. Louis puts his hand on my knee and mum starts rubbing my back. My heart is pounding. Im not ready for tomorrow. I was ready for Monday afternoon. Not tomorrow morning. I look at Harry knowing he needs me to be okay with this.
“Okay, well then let’s just make sure we leave at about quarter to seven then…” I say with a frown, trying to prove I could handle this.
“The meeting is in London, Tash. We need to go back to London in about the next 3 hours or so…” Harry says this in just a whisper. So much for me trying to stay calm…
“We’ll fly out tonight, and stay in some hotel or something and just leave with Paul and some other guys… it’ll be okay.” Says Louis, rubbing small circles on my bouncing knee. I can’t keep still when im stressed. I just kind of sit there for a bit trying to stop my hands that are shaking. I know it seems im over reacting, but I hate these meetings, I always feel like im not good enough and like im a hassle for the lads and for their management every time they plan something.
“okay, what should I pack then?” I ask no one in particular. Harry smiles a small reassuring smile and goes to put the kettle on.
“Wear a dress, luv. You looked gorgeous yesterday.” Says Louis giving me a big hug and pulling me up so mum and I can go pack everything I’ll need.

After some comforting words from mum ,we managed to pack all my makeup, 4 different outfits for tomorrow and all the other basic things I need for the trip. I walk down stairs to see Louis and Harry deep in conversation. It looks like Harry had been crying and when he sees me he runs and gives me a big hug.
“Im so sorry, I wish that they’d told us sooner…”
“it’s okay Hazza, im alright.” I lie. Im shit scared and cant stop assuming the worst.
“well the cars will be here in about thirty minutes, so we can make the private flight Liam booked us… what do you feel like doing?” asks Lou as Liam and Niall come to join us.
“Fifa anyone?” I ask making my way to the PlayStation. It’s mine so it’s not the newest but I refused to let harry get me the new one just because he could.

We sit and play, with my team with Louis beating Niall and Harry when Paul comes at around seven to collect us. Mum’s also coming, but won’t come into the meeting with us.
We pack the car, and head to the airport.

Once we land, we are put back into sleek black cars and are driven to the hotel. We are all sharing one big room that’s more like a flat than anything else. I grab my small suitcase and head to bed. I give everyone a good night hug and surprisingly fall asleep almost the minute my head hits the pillow. I don’t think I even changed out of my jeans and oversized hoodie.

Notes