All Hidden Away

As we walked into the house I pulled of the bag on my shoulder and put it down and hug up my jacket. I walk towards the kitchen but bump into Liam.
“Oh hey! How was it?” he asks smiling. I laugh.
“It was good thanks, had lots of fun.” I say looking at Luke and continuing into the kitchen.
“Anything interesting happen?” asks Mikey as I walk in, raising his eyebrows up and down.
I think about Zayn and if I should tell the lads, but even I am not sure how they would take the fact he gave me his number to keep in touch. It was a sticky situation. Clearly it was obvious to Ashton I was thinking. He was making a toasted cheese sandwich with Niall and looks up when I don’t respond, lost in my thoughts.
“Clearly so!” I am brought back to reality and force a laugh.
“Shut up… nothing happened… why are you making a toasted sandwich? It’s like ten?” I ask stepping closer and leaning over the granite counter.
“Because, all the time is cheese toasties time!” he says giggling and offering me one. I kindly refuse and hear Harry and Louis coming in.
“Wow, someone’s home early! What happened?” asks Lou smiling his devilish smile.
“Oh my god!” I laugh. “Nothing happened! We played laser tag then went out for supper!” I say in exasperation.
“Tell me,” says Harry turning to Luke who freezes. “Please tell me you beat her at laser tag?” he says. I’ve always beat him when we play and he does not enjoy losing to his little sister.
“I won one game…” he says smiling proudly.
“That’s because you cheated!” I accuse, pointing at him laughing. Harry’s phone vibrates and he quickly answers it. He stays silent but looks at me and frowns, listening to the person talk. I frown back at him as Ashton starts singing about his cheese toasties and Niall joins in, both stuffing their faces. Harry quickly turns to Luke and gives him a huge smile and thumbs up.
“Yes. Thank you, Claire… No I actually agree with him. Great, thank you.” He hangs up before nodding at Luke.
“Good call, I’m impressed… thank you.” Luke nods back and smiles awkwardly. Clearly it was about the kissing thing. I think back on the date and suddenly my mind jumps back to Zayn… he wants to keep in touch? Shit. I wanted to tell one of the guys, there are so many pent up emotions and frustration… maybe I shouldn’t mention it.
“Woah… earth to Tasha?” says Lou playfully. I look up and smile.
“I’m going to go chill in my room for a bit…” I say awkwardly, walking past Lou who grabs my arm. I look at him, tilt my head to the side until he lets go and I continue upstairs. I open my bedroom door and jump onto my bed heaving a heavy sigh. I grab a pillow turn over and cover my face before letting out a frustrated sigh. I sit for a few minutes like that until I decide I need to stop thinking and just do something. I sit up and see my old acoustic guitar in the corner. Niall and Liam gave it to me for my birthday two years ago. I smile as I open the hard, black case and pull my beautiful wooden baby onto my lap. I quickly tune it and place my fingers on the first set of chords for playing House of the Rising Sun by The Animals. I smile at the familiar feeling of the strings biting my calluses. I get so into playing and humming along I don’t hear the nock on the door until Niall is standing in front of me. I quickly stop the song and look at him.
“You’ve gotten so much better since the last time I saw you.” He says smiling proudly.
“Yes… well I had a great teacher.” I say smiling. He scoffs and comes to sit down next to me.
“No you didn’t, you had a shit Irish boy who thinks he can play guitar.” He says laughing as he lays down.
“Yeah, you’re right. You have absolutely no hope in a music career…” I say rolling my eyes and placing my hands on the next set of chords. But before I play the opening chords to Come as You Are by Nirvana, Niall turns to me.
“What had you so stressed when you came home?” I frown and look at him.
“I don’t want to tell you…” I say awkwardly but being honest.
“Oh come on… I’m your best friend! You can tell me anything.” He says poking my side playfully. I ignore him, start playing and I sing quietly and soon he is singing next to me. I hit the chorus and see he didn’t close my door and Mikey is standing there staring at us. I stop the song and turn to Niall, hitting him on the arm.
“Ow! What was that for?!”I point to the door.
“You know to close the door!” I say putting down my guitar and slapping him again.
Mikey comes inside and stands in front of me.
“IT ISNT FAIR!!!” he screams loudly, causing Cal to stick his head in as he walks past.
“What’s going on?” he asks laughing as Mike stands still pouting at me.
“SHE PLAYS THE GUITAR!” he screams causing Niall to laugh.
“So do you?” I ask confused. He scoffs and looks at Luke and Liam who have also just joined us.
“Yes but… you’re good at drawing, you’re pretty, you can dance apparently, good at gaming… like… FUCK CHILD!” he screams the last part and soon my room is filled with all the members of 1D and 5SOS.
“What’s going on?” asks Louis confused.
“He’s freaking out because she was playing her guitar.” Explains Niall sitting up and laughing manically.
“NO! Like Luke.. she was like… playing really well!” he says turning to his friend and pointing at me. By this point I’m as red as a tomato and everyone is in hysterics. No one really knows I play guitar, other than Harry and Niall.
“Yeah… sorry… Tasha, you have to play for us.” Says Ashton, stepping forward and picking up my guitar.
“Guys…” I try protesting. But soon everyone is pulling me down stairs. My stomach turns. “Please… I don’t like playing for people…” I explain as I am forced to sit on the couch and my guitar is passed to me. I frown and beg Harry with my eyes. He just smiles evilly and shrugs. I scowl at him.
“See Niall, this is why I have the closed door rule…” I say grumpily as I place my figures on a G chord.
“What do you want me to play?” I ask Mikey. Who looks at me shocked.
“Uh… how about… uh anything really.” He stutters, clearly surprised I agreed.
I sigh and look at Niall for help.
“Play Over Again… you’re good at that one.” He says smiling. I roll my eyes and start playing. I play the introduction without any mistakes.
“Wait… you have to sing with us.” Says Harry smiling. I stop and look at my older brother.
“You better sleep with one eye open, Styles…” I turn to Niall. “You too, Horan.” I go back to the introduction and after the introduction when Liam joins in so did I, quietly but enough so they could hear. Liam smiles when it’s Niall’s turn. It feels good to be playing with everyone but there is an uneasy feeling in my stomach which I just put down to nerves. Louis sings loudly and smiles at me as I hit the chorus, I normally don’t play in front of people, but everyone here felt like family. I awkwardly sing Zayn’s part by myself.
“You’ll never know how to make it on your own, and you’ll never show weakness for letting go, I guess you’re still hurt if this is over, but do you really want to be alone?” I finish and do not look at anyone but focus on my fingers as I feel my face heating up. We finish and everyone stars clapping. I stand up and pull the middle figure at everyone before heading back upstairs.
“Taaassshhhhaaaa!” moans Louis before coming up behind me and picking me up, dragging me back to the lounge. The extra pressure on my stomach makes me feel nauseous.
“Louis…” I moan as he puts me down.
“Now that is no way to walk away from such a performance…” he chides playfully.
“Fine…” I mutter. Before taking a small bow and everyone starts clapping again.
“Now you also need to sleep with one eye open…” I say walking past him and up to my room, still feeling slightly sick.
I flop onto my bed and Niall comes in but again doesn’t close the door. I shake my head.
“Didn’t think you’d get out of it that easily did you?” he asks sitting down next to me. I cover my face. He will literally pull it out of me. I turn to look at him.
“I saw Zayn at the restaurant. Well… he saw me but didn’t recognise me… and he kind of checked me out, but then apologised when I went over to say hi… he gave me his number and told me to keep in touch…” I say quickly and quietly. He frowns.
“Oh…” he stays silent.
“See! This is why I didn’t want to say anything!” I say standing up. The room tilts and spins and a wave of nausea hits me.
“Woah… Tasha? What’s wrong.” I close my eyes.
“I think I’m going to be sick…” I say trying to get my stomach to settle.
“HARRY!” Niall calls out. I hear footsteps running at the same time I run to the bathroom. I make it just in time as my stomach decides it did not like my ravioli. Harry is rubbing my back and I’m glad my hair is still in its plait.
“Hey, just breathe… you’re okay.” he says. “Guys just give her some space…” he says closing the door.
“What’s wrong?” asks Louis still in the bathroom. He wets a face cloths and puts it on the back of my neck as I violently eject all the contents of my stomach. I lean my face against the cool toilet seat, flush the loo and sit there for a few seconds.
“I think it was supper…” I say quietly.
I turn to stand to brush my teeth but feel another wave of nausea… I groan and sit back down.
“LUCAS! Where did you take her for supper!? It looks like she could have food poisoning!” screams Lou.
“Lou, it’s not his fault. It was a nice place.” I say quietly as Luke opens the door looking concerned.
“And how exactly do you know that?!” he screams getting protective over me.
“Because… there were reputable people there…” I say vaguely. Still lying on the floor.
“Oh really?” he says rolling his eyes sassily.
“Yeah, I’d hardly call your brother’s ex band mate who openly checked you out while on a date a reputable guy, Tasha…” says Luke. My eyes fling open as I look at him and groan again.
“WHAT?” says Harry angrily. “He did what now?!” he says looking between the two of us. “Fuck!” he says kicking the vanity in my bathroom.
“Harry…” I try to say.
“No! Don’t ‘Harry’ me!” he says before I turn, throwing up again. I lay against the toilet seat, enjoying the cool feeling on my face. I don’t have the energy to explain to Harry that afterwards he seemed… almost sorry he hadn’t already given me his number. “That is not cool! Imagine how Gigi felt! What a fucking wanker! Liam, there is no way I’m going to stand up for him on Ellen tomorrow… son of a bitch deserves what’s coming.” He says before sitting down next to me and rubbing small circles on my shoulders, clearly angry. I turn to him.
“Harry…” I say slowly, trying to make it so I can see only one of him. “We are all still upset he left…but he’s gone. There is no reason to be angry anymore. You’ve dealt with that already. Just, think about it like - ” I trail off as another wave of nausea hits. I close my eyes, take deep breaths and continue. “Like at least you don’t have to deal with it anymore… You wouldn’t want him to bash you guys given half the chance.” I say into silence. I open my eyes and the room swims slightly but all the Aussies have gone downstairs or elsewhere, and my boys stand there looking at me, realising I’m right.
“Just, laugh it off…” I say again before turning back to the loo and being violently ill. I groan and Harry once again rubs my shoulders.
“Well… this will make for an interesting interview…” says Liam sarcastically.

Notes