Home is Where I Belong
Chapter One
(Willa’s POV)
Music has the capability to ease your mind, but damn, not when it’s heavy metal and three in the morning. Groaning, I sat upright and turned on the lamp next to my bed. As light illuminated the room, my eyes wandered over to my best friend, Juliana, standing at the door. The poor soul was slapping her cheeks in order to properly wake up.
“That dude’s voice sounds like a squirrel dying,” she half-yelled over the muffled music.
“Should we go kill the dudes’ who decided their dying squirrel was better than our sleep?” I asked, as I tried to run a hand through my tangled up hair, but miserably failed. Juliana wickedly smiled before running back to her room.
Jumping out of bed, I grabbed a hoodie sitting at my messy desk. I made a mental note to clean it up tomorrow. As I pulled on the hoodie, Juliana, who was now wearing a sweater, opened the door and motioned for me to hurry up.
I closed the door behind me and followed Juliana into the hall. Other residents in their sleeping attire and messy hair, groaned as they march towards the same place: Apartment Number 1809, home to the apartment building's most renowned party animals.
“Hey, girls!” a familiar voice called out to us.
“Who could be this chirpy at three a.m.?” Juliana inquired hoarsely.
“Only one person,” I started as I turned around, “Quinn!”
“Willa, Juliana, you guys alright?” she asked as she joined us.
“It’s not like an asteroid hit the building,” Juliana mumbled before I lightly hit her arm.
“Yeah, we’re perfectly alright. Just wish those idiots had better timing with their parties or whatever it is they’re doing.” I answered as I offered her a small smile.
“And how the hell do they even host parties in these tiny hell holes?” Juliana asked as we climbed up the stairs.
“They’re not that tiny, but I get what you’re saying. Maybe they invite a few people over, you know, kinda like a sleepover.” Quinn shrugged as Juliana and I stared at her blankly. “Sorry, I get super weird when I’m deprived of sleep.”
“I understand your pain, but for now, we’ve got to make those jerks suffer.” Juliana stated as she dramatically waved her hands.
As we inched closer towards 1809, the music intensified and my ears began pounding. We were met by a few other residents who we had seen on our way here. As no one seemed to want to be the one to face the lunatics inside, Juliana began banging on the door.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Julie and her little clique of losers!” Leonard, one of the infamous ‘party animals’ slurred as he opened the door.
“It’s Juliana and I can bet you all of Willa’s belongings that you can’t even spell ‘clique’.” the blue-head looked him dead in the eye.
“Why all of my stuff?” I whispered to Quinn, who just shrugged.
“Whatever. Anyway, I want you’re little protest groupie to leave. Right now.” he rolled his eyes as he waved us off. His tone was filled with arrogance as if he had no respect whatsoever for everyone else.
“For God’s sake, you can at least turn that pathetic music down.” a new voice entered the conversation. It was best mates Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne, strutting confidently towards the small crowd.
“Like your pathetic voice is gonna make me do anything!”
“Oh, God, mate. You’re drunk, you don’t know what you’re saying. Louis here has a great voice.” Liam piped in. Louis tried to suppress his laughter, but his eyes twinkled as he cocked his head sideways.
Before anyone else had a chance to say anything, the building’s owner, Mrs. Howard’s voice boomed in our ears.
“That music better be turned off in two seconds or else I’ll have you packing and back at your mother’s place!” she barked at Leonard, who obeyed her commands. She then turned to everyone else and apologised for her nephew’s behaviour.
“I have never loved Mrs. Howard the way I loved her right now.” I said as soon as we got back to our apartment. Juliana laughed as she double checked the locks. We said our goodbyes, once again, and went to our separate rooms.
>>>>>>
The sun was hidden behind the white cotton candy-like clouds as Juliana and I made our way over to the our favourite breakfast place. We didn’t have to wait long for our turn as only a few people were here yet.
After paying for our meals, we took a seat at our usual booth near the window, which happened to be right behind the one where Louis and company sat at. Today, we were here before them, much to my relief. I didn’t have a problem with them, it was just that for today I wanted no obnoxious noises. Once a morning was my limit.
“So, where are you headed to after breakfast?” I asked as I stuffed my mouth with the delicious sandwich.
“You already know where.” Juliana said as she raised an eyebrow.
“Come on, I was just trying to make conversation,” I rolled my eyes as she snorted.
“All lame jokes aside, I need to tell you something. Something really important.” she whispered as she leaned closer. I cocked my head to the side, confused.
“The Blazing Times has found their most amazing story yet and they want me to get them their photos!” Juliana beamed, her eyes shining bright with determination. The Blazing Times was our town’s local paper and they were having some issues with sales recently.
“Oh my God, that’s so awesome!” I exclaimed a little too loudly, earning annoyed glances. “Sorry. Anyway, what’s it about?”
“They haven’t told me the details, but it’s supposedly about some mysterious thingy. I just think they’ve been watching too much Riverdale, but whatever, as long as it keeps me in business.”
“Did I just hear someone say ‘mystery’?” a loud voice echoed through our ears. Unsurprisingly, Louis found his way over to our booth. It was no secret that Mr. Tomlinson fancied a good mystery.
“Well, hello to you too, Sherlock.” Juliana greeted as he slid in next to me and offered us a cheeky smile. A few seconds later, a panting Liam took the empty seat next to my best friend.
“What happened to you, Liam?” I asked as he put his forehead on the marble table.
“I was… being… chased…” he managed to say, before I slid my untouched water bottle towards him. He raised his head and grabbed the bottle before chugging it down. “Thanks Willa,” he said politely as I smiled.
“Anyway, please continue,” Louis motioned for Liam to tell us what happened.
He began telling us how some ‘gangsters’ had been chasing him and a few other people for reasons unknown to the poor boy. He could’ve sworn he heard one of them say some bone-chilling things before he lost them.
I shared a worried glance with Juliana, who was not sure what to make of Liam’s little encounter. Louis, on the other hand, had his eyes closed as his hand laid on his chin. Suddenly, he opened his eyes as he almost sprung out of the booth, a wide smile on his face.
“You know, I think this year’s going to be a fun one.”
“Could you fill us on how it’s going to be fun, exactly?” Liam voiced our thoughts.
“In due time, Payno. In due time,”
Music has the capability to ease your mind, but damn, not when it’s heavy metal and three in the morning. Groaning, I sat upright and turned on the lamp next to my bed. As light illuminated the room, my eyes wandered over to my best friend, Juliana, standing at the door. The poor soul was slapping her cheeks in order to properly wake up.
“That dude’s voice sounds like a squirrel dying,” she half-yelled over the muffled music.
“Should we go kill the dudes’ who decided their dying squirrel was better than our sleep?” I asked, as I tried to run a hand through my tangled up hair, but miserably failed. Juliana wickedly smiled before running back to her room.
Jumping out of bed, I grabbed a hoodie sitting at my messy desk. I made a mental note to clean it up tomorrow. As I pulled on the hoodie, Juliana, who was now wearing a sweater, opened the door and motioned for me to hurry up.
I closed the door behind me and followed Juliana into the hall. Other residents in their sleeping attire and messy hair, groaned as they march towards the same place: Apartment Number 1809, home to the apartment building's most renowned party animals.
“Hey, girls!” a familiar voice called out to us.
“Who could be this chirpy at three a.m.?” Juliana inquired hoarsely.
“Only one person,” I started as I turned around, “Quinn!”
“Willa, Juliana, you guys alright?” she asked as she joined us.
“It’s not like an asteroid hit the building,” Juliana mumbled before I lightly hit her arm.
“Yeah, we’re perfectly alright. Just wish those idiots had better timing with their parties or whatever it is they’re doing.” I answered as I offered her a small smile.
“And how the hell do they even host parties in these tiny hell holes?” Juliana asked as we climbed up the stairs.
“They’re not that tiny, but I get what you’re saying. Maybe they invite a few people over, you know, kinda like a sleepover.” Quinn shrugged as Juliana and I stared at her blankly. “Sorry, I get super weird when I’m deprived of sleep.”
“I understand your pain, but for now, we’ve got to make those jerks suffer.” Juliana stated as she dramatically waved her hands.
As we inched closer towards 1809, the music intensified and my ears began pounding. We were met by a few other residents who we had seen on our way here. As no one seemed to want to be the one to face the lunatics inside, Juliana began banging on the door.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Julie and her little clique of losers!” Leonard, one of the infamous ‘party animals’ slurred as he opened the door.
“It’s Juliana and I can bet you all of Willa’s belongings that you can’t even spell ‘clique’.” the blue-head looked him dead in the eye.
“Why all of my stuff?” I whispered to Quinn, who just shrugged.
“Whatever. Anyway, I want you’re little protest groupie to leave. Right now.” he rolled his eyes as he waved us off. His tone was filled with arrogance as if he had no respect whatsoever for everyone else.
“For God’s sake, you can at least turn that pathetic music down.” a new voice entered the conversation. It was best mates Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne, strutting confidently towards the small crowd.
“Like your pathetic voice is gonna make me do anything!”
“Oh, God, mate. You’re drunk, you don’t know what you’re saying. Louis here has a great voice.” Liam piped in. Louis tried to suppress his laughter, but his eyes twinkled as he cocked his head sideways.
Before anyone else had a chance to say anything, the building’s owner, Mrs. Howard’s voice boomed in our ears.
“That music better be turned off in two seconds or else I’ll have you packing and back at your mother’s place!” she barked at Leonard, who obeyed her commands. She then turned to everyone else and apologised for her nephew’s behaviour.
“I have never loved Mrs. Howard the way I loved her right now.” I said as soon as we got back to our apartment. Juliana laughed as she double checked the locks. We said our goodbyes, once again, and went to our separate rooms.
>>>>>>
The sun was hidden behind the white cotton candy-like clouds as Juliana and I made our way over to the our favourite breakfast place. We didn’t have to wait long for our turn as only a few people were here yet.
After paying for our meals, we took a seat at our usual booth near the window, which happened to be right behind the one where Louis and company sat at. Today, we were here before them, much to my relief. I didn’t have a problem with them, it was just that for today I wanted no obnoxious noises. Once a morning was my limit.
“So, where are you headed to after breakfast?” I asked as I stuffed my mouth with the delicious sandwich.
“You already know where.” Juliana said as she raised an eyebrow.
“Come on, I was just trying to make conversation,” I rolled my eyes as she snorted.
“All lame jokes aside, I need to tell you something. Something really important.” she whispered as she leaned closer. I cocked my head to the side, confused.
“The Blazing Times has found their most amazing story yet and they want me to get them their photos!” Juliana beamed, her eyes shining bright with determination. The Blazing Times was our town’s local paper and they were having some issues with sales recently.
“Oh my God, that’s so awesome!” I exclaimed a little too loudly, earning annoyed glances. “Sorry. Anyway, what’s it about?”
“They haven’t told me the details, but it’s supposedly about some mysterious thingy. I just think they’ve been watching too much Riverdale, but whatever, as long as it keeps me in business.”
“Did I just hear someone say ‘mystery’?” a loud voice echoed through our ears. Unsurprisingly, Louis found his way over to our booth. It was no secret that Mr. Tomlinson fancied a good mystery.
“Well, hello to you too, Sherlock.” Juliana greeted as he slid in next to me and offered us a cheeky smile. A few seconds later, a panting Liam took the empty seat next to my best friend.
“What happened to you, Liam?” I asked as he put his forehead on the marble table.
“I was… being… chased…” he managed to say, before I slid my untouched water bottle towards him. He raised his head and grabbed the bottle before chugging it down. “Thanks Willa,” he said politely as I smiled.
“Anyway, please continue,” Louis motioned for Liam to tell us what happened.
He began telling us how some ‘gangsters’ had been chasing him and a few other people for reasons unknown to the poor boy. He could’ve sworn he heard one of them say some bone-chilling things before he lost them.
I shared a worried glance with Juliana, who was not sure what to make of Liam’s little encounter. Louis, on the other hand, had his eyes closed as his hand laid on his chin. Suddenly, he opened his eyes as he almost sprung out of the booth, a wide smile on his face.
“You know, I think this year’s going to be a fun one.”
“Could you fill us on how it’s going to be fun, exactly?” Liam voiced our thoughts.
“In due time, Payno. In due time,”
Notes
Hi guys! Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to read my story! I hope it didn't disappoint and I hope you check in next time as well. If you liked it, please let me know that you did. It would mean a lot to me. Anyway, thanks once again and have a splendid day! :)
