Midnight Memories - One Direction

ISABELLA

The days went by and soon enough a week. One whole week since I moved to London. My mind was still attempting to wrap it's way around that fact. It was strange. Absolutely bizarre. However, as strange and bizarre as it was, I couldn't help but feel more at home in this foreign city. 

As the days passed by, I found myself fall into a routine. A simple routine of: getting up, eating breakfast at Brerin's Diner (which I quickly realized was a play on Brad and Erin's name. "My niece says that the kids now call it a 'ship' name. Whatever the fuck that is." Brad had once explained to me.), adventuring about the city, and then ending my afternoon's with a coffee from Brerin and a book at Robert's bookstore. 

It was simple, I knew that. But there was something about the familiarity of the routine that made me feel less lost. I had developed a schedule for myself - if you will-, that would help settle into this new place I was hoping to call home. And by doing this, I didn't feel homesick. 

Which is pretty odd. I thought so at least. Manhattan was my home for twenty-one years of my life. A home that was full of people that I knew and loved. It housed my family, my friends, my education. But most importantly, all the memories and stories that are now built up in the back of my mind. Yet for some strange reason, I couldn't for the life of me find it in myself to miss it. 

Yes, I missed Nat and in a weird way I missed my parents. Of course I missed Ty and our... times together. But with all of the "missing" that I felt towards these people that I loved the most, I couldn't find it in me to pack up everything and go back home. 

I was hooked. London was a drug and now that I've been given a hit of what it is like to live here, I can't seem to get off of it. 

Jaz has been playing the biggest part in all of this. She was not only my roommate, but also my only friend. She has been almost like a sister to me over this past week. We haven't fought once (which is surprisingly, since we didn't even know each other prior to this), and have been able to agree to everything. She was great! Thank you Ty. Honestly. If it wasn't for him, I would probably be on the first flight back to New York. 

-

Tonight was the marking of my one week of moving to London. In light of my one week of living here, Jaz has taken it upon herself to have a "Look you did it! You're not a total baby and can actually live on your own, in a totally different country"... party. 

"There's no need for a party, J. It's a bit silly to have one, don't you think?" I had been trying to reason with her for the past hour how ridiculous it was to have a party for my one week of being here. 

"Nonsense! Besides, it's going to be a small get together. I want you to meet my boyfriend still. It will just be Ben and then two of our other friends. Nice and small, don't you worry your pretty little American head over it." She softly patted my head and I scoffed back. "It's just dinner and it's here at the apartment. I haven't shown you yet, but we have access to the rooftop garden."

My eyes grew wide at this new piece of information. If there was one thing that I had always wanted, was a rooftop garden in a fancy brick apartment building. I mean flat. God, this British slang is going to be the death of me. 

"Fine. That's not too bad I guess." 

"Not bad at all! Now go and shower."

"What are you? My mom?" I playfully rolled my eyes. A light chuckle escaped my lips causing Jaz to nudge me with her side. 

"Just go already!" 

I quickly make my way over to my bedroom and stifle my way through my wardrobe. Dinner party, dinner party. What the hell do I wear? Everything that I owned suddenly seemed ugly and unappealing. There has to be something here! 

After minutes of searching through my endless piles of mix-matched blouses and jeans, I settled on a loose, v-neck styled grey and black blouse and a pair of ripped skinny jeans. It was simple and casual but still looked like I made some what of an effort. 

An hour (and a quick shower) later, I was dressed and ready to go. I had been standing in front of my mirror for god-knows how long attempting to pull my long dark hair into a messy-yet-put together bun. "For fuck's sake," I groaned as the bun flopped to it's side once again. 

"Iz, they've just been buzzed up. You have two minutes to fix whatever the hell you are trying to do in there." She giggled on the other side of the door. I groaned once more and yelled a quick "I'm coming" to Jaz and through my hair up. This will just have to do, I concluded to myself. 

-

Our spacious living room had been decorated with strings of fairy lights and tea light candles. Takeout boxes from Brerin's were spread out on our oak dining room table. A stack of white plates were on top. "I never  cook, but the plates make the take out that I buy seem more homely", was Jaz's explanation for her lack of groceries. I had quickly realized that I would have to be the designated cook for our house. It's a good thing my mother forced Nat and I to take cooking classes when we each turned fourteen. 

"Hello!" A low accent spoke from across the room, causing me to jump slightly from where I stood. "Sorry love. Didn't mean to scare you. You're Izzy, correct?" I looked across the room and made eye contact with a pair of grey-green eyes. He had wavy brown hair that was styled to the side. His strong jaw line and plump pink lips were covered by a thin layer of stubble. Whoever this was, he was one good looking man. 

"You are correct," I returned his warm smile with my own. "And you are?" I subtle batted my eyelashes as I reached my hand out to shake. 

"Benton, but you can call me Ben." Of course. The good looking ones are always taken. 

"Oh! You're Jaz's boyfriend." I grinned as Ben pulls me in for a tight hug.

"You are correct."

"Pleased to meet you." 

"Likewise." We continued to stand there, int he middle of the living room, both hands in our pockets and eyes downcast to the floor. The air above us was far from awkward. It was an easy silence that lingered. 

"Oh! Good! Iz, you met Benny - my extremely fit, hunky boyfriend." Jaz entered the room, bottles of wine clinging to her firm grasp. Following behind was a guy and girl. It was hard to tell if they were a couple or not from where I stood. The boy's blonde hair was pushed back into a quiff and the girl's light brown hair was pulled to the side in a simple braid. "These are our friends. Chase and Tiff." 

Chase and Tiff both walked up to me with warm smiles plastered on their lips. "It's so great to meet you," Tiff exclaimed as she pulled me into a tight embrace. 

"You too," I managed to squeak out. Her grip on me was almost too tight. As if she could read my mind, she quickly let go and flashed me an embarrassed smile. "I sometimes don't realize how tight my hugs are." She nervously laughed. 

"That's fine," I tried to ease her anxiety with a small smile. She seemed to visibly relax. 

"You're prettier than Jaz described." Chase complimented. I could immediately feel my cheeks heat. 

Chase was cute, in a hipster meets soccer player kind of way. His blonde hair was pushed up and to the side, revealing his brown roots. He had piercing blue eyes that glistened in the florescent light. I could feel my knees grow weak at the sight. He was gorgeous. That was for damn sure. 

"Thank you," I lamely answered. I felt like a lovestruck teenage girl who was just complimented by her crush. I internally shook the feelings away and plastered a flirty smile. 

"Well enough of the introductions. I say we eat!" Jaz quickly announced. We all gathered around the table, each grabbing a white plate, and filling it up with french fries and burgers. 

"This looks delicious!" My stomach began to grown ferociously as I began to dig into my fries. 

"A girl with an appetite. I like that." Chase winked. Once again, my confidence plummeted to the ground and the little girl inside of me rose up inside. Instead of answering his flirtatious comment with an equally flirty, but very witty reply, I only blushed and continued to stuff my mouth with any carb I could get. 

-

The night continued on. Dinner conversation was kept light. Many questions were asked about me, an attempt to get to know the "real Izzy". I didn't mind, however. 

We were now scattered around the living room, wine glasses half full and pressed to our lips. Jaz was cuddled against Ben's side on the love seat. Tiff had found comfort on top of a mountain of pillows, her feet resting against the fireplace. I had somehow found myself lying across the purple couch, my feet resting across Chase's muscular legs. God his legs, his eyes, fuck me now. My subconscious had been fanning herself for most of the night. Her hair pulled back into a high pony tail, her brow furrowed, and her legs firmly crossed together. She was having a hard time concentrating. Especially when Chase's accent would sound throughout the room. 

Our conversations began to linger away leaving a pleasant silence inside the room.  We had decided to put on some indie movie that Tiff had claimed to be the best movie she's seen to date. We were all silent as the main character ran towards her doting lover. However, that silence didn't last very long. A loud shrieking sound of what could only be a piercing ring tone began to ring. "Damn it," Ben grunted while fishing out his phone from his rather tight jeans. "Hello?"  

I couldn't hear the person on the other line, but judging from the sudden downcast shift in emotion on Ben's face it wasn't someone he wanted to be talking to. "You're fucking twenty-two years old. Get a job." Silence. "Move out then." Silence. "Fucking shit. Is she okay?" Silence once again. "I'm not surprised. Fuck, fine. You can stay with me until you  get a real fucking job. Yeah. Fine. Whatever. Bye." 

Everyone in the room stayed silent. Jaz ran her hand through Ben's hair giving him a sympathetic look. "Who was it?" She asked softly.

"My stupid ass brother." 

My curiosity heightened at the mention of a brother. If there was two Ben's out there, the world was a very lucky place. But judging from the conversation that I had just witnessed, there was something not good about this guy. And who was she? A girlfriend perhaps? I couldn't help but ask. 

"He's moving here?" Ben looked up from his phone. The frown that was etched into his face softened as he looked over at me. 

"Yeah, next week. I think. I don't really know. He didn't say much. He's moving from Manchester. He's a major dick and get's into a lot of shit but he's my brother." He scoffed. 

I didn't ask any more questions, just giving him a soft nod and a little smile. Whoever this guy was, I was looking forward to meeting him. 

- 

Friday. It was friday. How did that song go? Gotta get down on Friday? Oh, god, I need to get a job. My mind was starting to go into mush with the lack of stimulation I was giving it. Anyway, it was friday and I had found myself once again sitting in Robert's bookstore that I had seemingly claimed as my other home. 

"Love," Robert's frail voice spoke from the other side of the store. "I was wondering. Would you like a job here at the bookstore?"

My eyes widened and the race of my heart picked up. A job at the bookstore sounded like heaven to me. Plus, extra money was always a bonus. "That would be amazing. Absolutely amazing!" 

"You see, the store isn't very busy, but it would be nice to have someone else run the shop so that I could have a break. My body isn't as young as it used to be, you see. A break would be nice for these tired old bones." 

"I would be honored," I smiled. Robert grinned at my response and quickly shuffled his way over to where I stood. "Thank you love. You can start right now! I haven't fed my cats yet today and I should probably go do that."

"Oh, alright." 

"It's very simple you see. You just need to make sure the books are in order, mend the cash register, and if someone buys a book you just have to write it down on this here book. Here's a calculator and a pencil too. Alright, thank you again Isabella. You are a wonderful girl." 

I nodded in gratitude and watched as my new boss walked out of his store. This was not what I was expecting but could not be any more grateful. 

It had been a few hours since I got the job. The bookstore had not been very busy, only a few elderly ladies coming in to get buy some cooking books and asking where that "handsome Robert" was. I still giggled at the memory of it. 

For the past hour, I had been reorganizing the Science Fiction section. I wasn't quite sure what Robert had been thinking when he had staked the books. It was a complete war zone. Reorganizing had become a huge distraction. So much so that I didn't hear the ring of the front bell signaling that a customer was inside. Why the hell is this bookcase so high, I internally yelled as I tried to place a stack of books on the top shelf. Somehow, I had managed to trip and lose my balance making all of the books fall down and land on my foot. "Fucking shit." I yelled, completely disregarding the possibility of there being any customers around. 

"That's not very professional, don't you think." A low, raspy accent commented from behind, completely startling me. I jumped and smacked my knee on the shelf earning another grunt of profane words to escape my lips. I turned around and was met with a pair of piercing green eyes. My breath hitched in my throat and a heat began to grow inside of me. 

"You get back to me when a stack of hardcovers fall on your foot." I grunted. The mysterious boy smirked. He turned around and walked towards the classical literature. I took this as an opportunity to shamelessly watch him from behind. His perfectly fit body was covered in all black; black skinny jeans, black t-shirt and black boots. His left arm was coated in a sleeve of tattoos, and from what I was able to tell from the low neck of his black shirt, was that he had two tattoos on his chest. It was fucking sexy, I was not going to deny that. Plus that accent - who was this guy? 

I subtly watched him as he leaned against the bookshelf, looking at the different titles. "Do you read much?" I asked. 

"What is much?" He smirked back at me, has hands reaching out to pull out a copy of Tom Sawyer. 

"Good choice. Have you read it before?" 

"Once or twice." He half lazily responded. I only gave him a small nod before walking back over to the mess that was the science fiction section. "If you need anything, feel free to ask. I'm Izzy." I smiled at him. He looked over and gave a curt nod. 

His raspy voice slipped out of his sweet lips speaking the two syllables that would soon change my world; "Harry."