All Hidden Away

“You see what I mean! She isn’t even using a recipe and it smells so good!” says Niall walking into the kitchen. Luke was helping me cook supper - as apparently he was designated the best cook because he helps his mum in the kitchen - and Niall seemed to walk in every ten seconds to come ‘be the taster’. I had to remind him if he was the taster every ten seconds then there would be nothing left for supper.
“I am using a recipe.” I protest, smiling into the tomato and aubergine mixture.
“Lies! When I asked if you wanted me to add the peppadews you said no, and I said ‘but it’s in the recipe’ and you just-” says Luke pointing at me with a zucchini.
“Luke, not helping!” I say laughing at the tall boy in a girls bright red frilly apron that said “Kiss the chef.”
He pulls a tongue at me before cutting the rest of the vegetables. Niall laughs.
“You’re weird…” he mumbles before going outside to join everyone else.
“Okay, so…” I say thinking out loud. I hear a small laugh and turn around to see Luke smirking into his zucchini. “What?” I ask smiling at him.
“It sounds like you’re on one of those TV programmes.” He says looking at me. I pull a tongue at him.
“I was talking to you, but anyway!” I roll my eyes and turn back to my recipe.
“When I used to cook with mum as a kid, my brothers and I used to pretend we were on a cooking show. And then the boys and I had to actually go onto a cooking show… it was so much fun.” He says like a little kid.
“So, are you a decent cook?” I ask opening the cupboards in search of Italian Herbs.
“Eh, if someone is there to help me I guess.” He says looking over at the stove. “What are you looking for?” he asks as I stand on my tippy toes to peer into one of the higher cupboards.
“Italian Herbs…” I say. I hear him walk over and reach into the cupboard above my head. He hands me the green glass bottle and smiles. “Thanks!” I say taking it from him. “So on tour do you have someone who cooks?” I ask walking back to the stove as he leans against the counters.
“I mean, we normally are in the bus traveling or at a hotel… so it’s mostly take out and room service. But we also sometimes go out to restaurants and things. At venues we get catering as well…” he says smiling fondly at tour memories. I nod my head.
“But I think there is a kitchen in the bus if you ever do want to cook… I don’t think people will object.” He says pulling a funny face as Mikey walks in.
“Wait… This… smells good?” he says laughing. I frown at him and shake my head before laughing.
“Did you not trust my cooking skills, Mike?” I ask stirring in the Italian Herbs before going to grab the chopped zucchini from Luke.
“Well… I mean. No.” he says laughing and crossing his arms over his chest. I throw him a middle finger before adding some more salt and pepper to the brewing mixture. “But clearly I was wrong!” he says walking over to the pot.
“How much longer? We are hungry!” says Cal pouting as he walks into the kitchen.
“Too many cooks spoil the soup.” I say.
“What?” asks Cal pulling a funny face. I turn to look at him and can’t help it.
“It ancient Chinese proverb. It mean –” I say in a bad Chinese accent. Calum loses his grin and looks like I just insulted his mum. He shakes his head. “- Get out of my kitchen before I throw something at you.” I say starting to laugh.
“Ewup… nope… you should not have done that.” Says Luke smiling at me. Michael grimaces and nods his head.
“Now you’re going to die.” Says Mike.
I turn back to my stove and continue cooking until Cal comes up behind me.
“You don’t know Karate right?” he asks. I turn to face him.
“Not really…?” I say confused.
“Good…” he says before picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder. I let out a laugh.
“CAL! I’m cooking!” I say pounding my fist into his back.
“Yeah, well you insulted me and now you’re going to have to go in the pool.” He says walking me out through the patio doors.
“Uh… Cal… you holding the cook over your shoulder.” Says Ashton smiling at us.
“LUKE! JUST PUT THE LID ON!” I scream inside.
“Yeah I know, she insulted me so now she’s going into the pool…” he says calmly before walking over to the pool.
“Calum…” I warn.
“Yes, Natasha?” he says smiling.
“Please don’t throw me into the pool.” I say seriously.
“DO IT! DO IT!” chants Harry and Louis and soon so is everyone. I roll my eyes.
“So much for an over protective brother…” I say trying to look at him from Cal’s shoulder. He laughs.
“Nah, I was wanting to do the same.” He shrugs.
“I’ll pull you in with me.” I warn Cal as he drops me into his arms bridal style. He swings me backwards and forwards.
“No you won’t…” I raise an eyebrow at him. “On three.” He says counting. “One!” he says pushing me over the pool. “Two!” he says pulling me back. “Three!” he says throwing me into the pool. I grab onto his arm and feel him lose his balance. I feel the icy coldness spread all over my body and hear another splash. I raise my head to the surface and see Calum is no longer standing on the edge of the pool and Ash has his phone out recording into the semi darkness with a bright flash.
“That was brilliant! Ahh… now Calum really is going to kill you.” Says Michael while Ashton giggles while still recording. I swim over to the edge and pull myself out… the cool May breeze blows on my body and I shiver, instantly covered in goose bumps.
“Can someone please get me a towel?” I ask, teeth chattering, walking over to the patio but not wanting to wet the floor with my dripping jeans and shirt. Niall jumps up to get me one while Ash makes me and Cal take a pic together.

“I did warn you I’ll pull you in with me.” I say after hearing Cal mumble about getting sick now as I head back into the kitchen.
“Yeah, well… I didn’t think you were being serious…” he says grumbling, making me laugh. I see Luke turned off the stove so it hasn’t burnt and I finish the dish after getting changed into something less wet.

I serve up the ratatouille with some pasta for myself and let everyone else serve for themselves. Luke pulls out his phone.
“Okay, so we are going to try Tasha’s cooking…” he says starting the video. I laugh and shake my head.
“Don’t sound so sad about it.” I say laughing as I sit down next to him and smile into the camera before he points it at Cal.
“I’m going to be honest… I’m scared. It’s probably terrible…” he says shrugging at me.
“You’re just angry that you tried to through me into the pool and I dragged you in.” I say while we wait for everyone to dish up.
“She worked hard and it smells delicious… just eat it, Cal.” Says Luke. I grab his phone and turn it onto them both. They pick up their forks and look at the camera with worry before picking some up.
“If we die-” starts Cal.
“Just shut up and eat!” I say laughing. Luke looks at Cal before shoving his scoop into his mouth.
Cal leans in and also takes some. They look at each other and then seriously at the camera.
“This… is actually, really good.” Says Luke, already helping himself to another mouthful.
Cal nods and gives the camera a big thumbs up. I shake my head and stop the video. Soon everyone is enjoying the food and we sit around the kitchen laughing and joking with each other.

“So wait, you guys did what?” I ask in shock as Michael was telling me about the target market thing.
“Yeah, I mean it was fun.” Shrugs Ashton. I laugh.
“So how did you meet Stu and Jared?” asks Luke who is still eating. I shrug.
“I mean Stu and I became friends right in the beginning of the year, and just clicked. I had a flat and needed a roommate. He needed a flat, so yeah. Harry and mum weren’t too keen about a guy I’d just met moving in with me but yeah, that’s all sorted… But the story on how I met Jared is embarrassing and one I do not wish to remember.” I say taking some pasta and eating it.
“What! WHY?” says Luke in protest. I turn to Louis.
“Shut the fuck up.” I say as I see him open his mouth. He raises his arms in a surrender sign.
“Hey, don’t swear.”
“Let’s just say after not seeing my sis for about, four months was it? I see her being carried into the house by Paul with four stitches on her head, with a slight black eye, followed by Stuart and some Kid I had never seen before.” He says laughing and pulling a tongue at me.
“No! Now you have to tell us!” giggles Ashton. I groan.
“But I don wanna!” I say like a kid. Cal shoots me a begging look.
“No…”I say looking at him.
“If you don’t, I can always inform them…” says Louis playfully wiggling his eyebrows.
“Fine…” I say sighing heavily. “I had just met him after Stu introduced us and I had a light headed spell thingy where I almost passed out, which left me spilling coffee all over the both of us, so I ran to the loo to get clean before my morning lecture. But then at lunch, I walked over to them and I felt sick, and then I like properly passed out, hit my head, kinda all a blur… and he had to take me to hospital…” everyone laughs.
“It’s not funny!” I say crossing my arms.
“You’ve got to stop meeting guys like that!” says Luke laughing. I pull a tongue at him.
“It’s not my fault I’m awkward and claustrophobic.” I say shrugging at him and shoving his shoulder playfully.
“Hey, SpongeBob?” says Michael in a deep voice.
“Yes, Patrick?” says Ashton in a high voice.
“What does claustrophobic mean?” I start laughing and shaking my head.
“It means she’s scared of Santa Clause.”
“HO HO HO!” says Michael walking up to me.
“Stop it, Patrick! You’re scaring her!” says Ashton coming and giving me a hug. I push him away.
“You’re both scaring me.” I say taking my empty plate to the sink.
“Uh, uh… nope!” says Liam taking my plate out of my hand. I look at him questioningly. “You cooked, we’ll clean.” I smile and begin to walk away.
“Hey, I also helped cook!” protests Luke pointing at me.
“Yeah yeah, don’t get your thongs in a twist…” I say smiling at him. I hear someone begin to choke on a drink and look to see Louis being beaten on the back by a laughing Harry while spluttering out his drink.
“THONGS AS IN JANGLES!” says Luke exasperatedly. We all start laughing as Luke and I leave the kitchen to the others to clean up.
“I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help it.” I say as we go to sit outside.
“It’s okay, I’ll tell everyone later about the photo you took of yourself in that really slutty black dress…” he says looking at me evilly and making his eyebrows go up and down. I push his shoulder.
“Shut up…” I say laughing. “How did you know?” I ask laughing as he stretches out on the grass. I lay down and follow him.
“I didn’t… but you just confirmed it.” He nudges my ribs playfully and I swat his hand away.
“Arsehole.” I mumble before looking at the clouds that cover the sky.
“Looks like it’s gonna storm.” Says Luke.
“No shit.” I say smiling and let a little laugh escape. He does as well. We sit in silence for a few seconds.
“So tomorrow, we have the dinner with Mish and the boys, but do you want to go do something in the day? I know Claire would probably love it.” He says quietly.
“Yeah, that sounds good… what did you have in mind?” I ask turning to look at him. In the light his pale hair looked silver and his eyes reflected the clouds giving them a stormy appearance.
“Lunch maybe? We could go to the Eye.” He offers shrugging. I nod and smile.
“Tasha, you’re sure you’re okay to go to the award evening? I just mean, like there are a lot of people and-” I smile at him.
“If I don’t go to it, A. Claire will kill me, B. I will never get over it, Luke.” I say smiling.
“Okay… but if you start to stress we can just come home and watch movies or something.” He offers looking at his hands. I nudge him and make him look at me.
“Sounds like a plan.” I say smiling at him. He returns my smile as the first raindrop hits my forehead. I smile wider as Luke groans when the clouds above us break and pour down on us. He stands up and offers me a hand. I decline it and continue to lay there.
“What are you doing?” he asks taking off his jacket and pulling it over his head.
“I love the rain.” I say as it starts to get heavier and heavier. I’m already sopping wet.
“You’re going to get sick! You’ve already been in the pool today.” Says Luke shaking his hand telling me to get up.
“You go inside then!” I say standing and turning my face to the rain before doing the hectically over clichéd spin while giggling. I couldn’t help it though. Ever since I was a kid I loved playing in the rain. Luke goes over to the patio, puts on his jacket and looks at me before shaking his head and laughing. I sit back down on the grass hugging my legs to myself, enjoying the pitta patter on my head and back. I hear someone come over and see Luke walking over with an umbrella.
“You look like one of those characters from a romantic drama that’s dog has just died.” He says over the rain before opening his umbrella and sitting close to me so it was covering both of us. He shrugs off his jacket and offers it to me. I smile and pull it over my shoulders.
“Thanks.” I say referring to the jacket after a moment or two of comfortable silence.
“What are fake boyfriends for.” He says smiling. I smile but continue to look at the pretty patterns forming on the pool.
“Well, if I was being forced to date a popstar… I’m glad it was a penguin - obsessed – non-punk – punk - rock - star – blue – eyed - friendly - giant – who - is – all – legs - and – quiff.” I say looking at him. He continues to look at the pool but has a lopsided grin on his face.
“And if I was being forced to date some popstar’s sister. I’m glad it was you, the weirdest - friendliest - and - most – caring – claustrophobic - best - artist – and - armature - guitar - playing - chef - that - beats - my - unbeatable - best – friend – at – Xbox - games.” I laugh and lean my head on his shoulder platonically. He shakes his head and rests it on top of mine.

Notes

Hey all, hope you enjoy it! Please vote, subscribe and comment thoughts and ideas, I love the feed back. Hope everyone is doing okay and enjoying it xx love ya. L