Chapter 28 - Blessings

When this summer started, when Charlie told me he was going to work at the retreat centre as well, I definitely never pictured that a day like this would come. I mean, me, having lunch with Liv and Charlie is totally normal but when you add to that mix Harry Styles and Niall Horan… well, it’s a bit bizarre, don’t you think? But that doesn’t mean it’s boring. Hell it isn't.

Believe me, I tried to stop this day, I fought really hard, but Niall kept nagging that he wanted to meet my friends, Charlie and Liv wanted to be ‘properly introduced’ and Harry just didn’t want to be left out. I had three sides pushing me to agree on this, so I finally did and here we are, the five of us having lunch together where we always have, away from everyone else, near the stables

Contrary to my thoughts and expectations, this isn’t as disastrous as I thought it would be. Harry gets along with Charlie immediately, they just click and I think it’s because of Harry Potter. Plus, Harry is really charming in general, so he got Liv’s approval immediately. Niall did the same, although he got the warning looks the moment I arrived to where Liv and Charlie were waiting for us. But once all the tension was gone we started to have a great time.

By now I’m completely relaxed, having a nice and fun lunch with my friends and my boyfriend. How weird is that? Who would’ve thought I was going to end up getting a boyfriend, a celebrity boyfriend, this summer? Things happen and we can’t control them, even if we think we can.

“You look happy,” Niall says by my side, his arm sneaking around my waist.

He’s really affectionate and he’s always hugging me or taking my hand. I assume it’s because even if it’s summer and he’s on a break, we don’t get to spend much time together, so when we do, he makes it count.

“I am happy,” I reply with an honest smile, leaning a bit on him as Liv, Harry and Charlie are immersed in a discussion about how it is a must we get our series of The Marauders. I totally agree, by the way. JK promised that, we’re still waiting. “This summer is nothing like I thought it was gonna be, it’s been actually better. Surprisingly better.”

“I take full credit, thank you so much,” he jokes and I laugh out loud.

“Narcissist bastard,” I insult him, not really meaning it, of course. And he knows.

“Aw, c’mon, accept that I’ve helped to make you happy this summer,” Niall insists, hugging me tightly and I fight him. “Accept it!”

“Never!” I keep fighting but he doesn’t give up. “No, no, no!” I shout although it’s absolutely true that he’s helped a lot to make me happy this summer. He’s just one of my blessings and I make sure to remind myself every day that I have amazing things in my life.

“Hey, love birds!” Charlie throws some grapes at us which we brought for dessert, causing Niall and I to stop struggling. “Harry proposed that we watch A Very Potter Musical, all together tonight. You’re joining, right? Or will you go and disappear like every night? We know you do,” he adds before I try to deny it. I can’t lie to Charlie.

“Uh, I dunno, I’m not a fan of Harry Potter,” Niall says and I immediately pull away, judging him as my other friends gasp and Harry shakes his head.

“How can you be with that, Ella?” Charlie asks, dramatising.

Well, it seems that Niall lost his category as human being, now Charlie calls him a that.

“I’m sorry but I’m not a good reader,” Niall tries again, only making it worse.

“We’ll turn you into one,” Olivia promises. “That or Ella breaks up with you.” I nod just to support what my friend is saying and Niall raises his eyebrows, as if waiting for me to tell him it’s a joke. But it’s not, this is serious. Or I want him to actually believe it is.

“Fine!” He agrees and Harry is the most excited. Maybe he’s been trying to turn Niall in a potterheadall his life. He clearly needed us.

I know all this argument is silly but it’s funny, joking like this with all of them is really special and I guess this will be one of those memories I’ll cherish forever. Even if things with Niall don’t work out at the end, even if I don’t get to see Harry ever again. An afternoon like this will always be one of my favourite memories.

+ + + + +

Summer is almost over and since Niall and I got together, time has passed by even faster. I work a lot, I even try to do all my ‘family duties’ as well, telling Jenny and Kimmy all the gossips I can tell them without giving away too much.

And when I’m not working, I spend my time with Niall and sometimes with Niall, Harry, Liv and Charlie. We actually get along, the five of us, incredibly well. I would’ve never guessed that two mega celebrities would fit so well with us.

And yes, we actually got Niall to read Harry Potter. He is already in the third book. I’m actually quite proud of him

And as amazing as it is, Rhonda hasn’t found out yet that Niall and I are together. And it feels great knowing I’m doing something she wouldn’t approve of. She wants one of her daughters to date Niall Horan, but no, me, Arabella Drennan, the maid, the poor girl she treats like shit, is dating the mega celebrity.

I guess the day my contract expires and when I grab all my things to leave I’ll gather her and my two stepsnakes to tell them: “Fuck you all, I’m dating Niall Horan.” And then I’ll walk away triumphal.

That’s a lovely plan, isn’t it?

I’m on my way back from the laundry room with towels for the guests’ rooms when someone grabs my hand, out of I don’t know where, and drags me away from the hall and to the stairs. I let out a scream, throwing the towels, as I get ready to kick whoever pulled me here.

“It’s me,” he says before I show my best ninja moves and as soon as I hear his voice, I stop.

“What the fuck, Niall! You don’t do that,” I exclaim, slapping him on the arm. “You scared the living days out of me.”

He laughs and instead of apologising, which he should, he just grabs my face and kisses me. Just like that. Not even a hi first. And I’m an idiot because I kiss him back, totally forgetting that I lost three years of my life because he scared me that much.

“I really wanted to see you,” he says, his hands still holding my face, and kissing my lips once again.

“So you were creepily waiting for me here? Nice, Horan. Not stalker at all,” I tease him and he laughs.

“I was looking for you and Cami told me you had come for towels, so I decided to scare you.”

“You evil human,” I tell him and he laughs once again, giving me another kiss next. “One day I’ll get you back for this.”

“Promises, promises,” he belittles me and I pull back just to look more imposing, folding my arms and everything. And he laughs at me.

“You are an idiot, did you know that?” Niall only shrugs and I shake my head. Seriously, what did I ever see in him? I thought I had a better taste in men.

“Come here,” he says reaching to me with his hands, grabbing my waist and pulling me towards him. “Just five minutes before you have to go back to work, okay? I just really miss you when I see Louis and Eleanor together, because I wish we could be like that. To have all this break to be together. We haven’t had this much free time since we started as a band and I’d wish I could spend it with you, just like Louis does, and Zayn.”

At those words I stop, trying to look serious and I actually hug him. He has told me how hectic his life is, how they never have enough time to sleep, how he can go months without seeing his family.

I must admit I’ve learnt a few things about celebrities: they don’t have it easy because they are famous. Only here, in this retreat centre, it’s where they actually have it easy. They have to struggle with the media, they have to find time for themselves, juggling between work and personal life. They have to tolerate the whole world judging them when they make mistakes and they are always worried, trying to please all their fans.

Yes, some celebrities are really shallow and have forgotten who they really are, but not all of them and this place is actually something they need, a place where they can hide and be just normal people…with loads of money, but still.

“I’m sorry,” I tell Niall but he hugs me tighter.

“It’s not your fault,” he says and we both sigh. This is Rhonda’s fault, we know it and we don’t have to say it out loud. “I just need a few minutes right now.”

And because of that is that I kiss him this time, softly and calmly, as if we have all the time in the world, even if it’s not true. Even if after summer ends we’ll have even less time. But for now, we have this.

After a while we break the kiss and smile at each other before reality breaks in and I have to go back. He helps me pick up the towels I dropped and we go back to the hall, with Niall still very close to me.

“I’ll see you tonight at the stables,” he says and I nod.

He leans in, kissing me goodbye and I just enjoy the moment until the very last second. And we don’t stop because I have to go back to work or because I need to take a breath. We stop for a very different reason.

“Ella!” Someone screams, scaring us both. Niall turns around and I look over his shoulder, just to find one of my stepsisters, with a horrified expression, covering her mouth with both hands.

“Jenny!” I say, my eyes wide open, not sure of what to do now.

“You… you and Niall… you… him… together… kissing,” she mumbles, blinking quickly. “When… what… how…”

“Jenny, please don’t go to—“

“Mother needs to know this! How could you?!” She explodes next, cutting me off. “You knew, she told you to help me but instead you were snogging with Niall! How could you?!” Jenny screams her lungs out and I’m surprised to see tears running down her cheeks. I never thought this actually meant something to her.

“Jenny, please,” I try once again, taking a step closer to her, trying to stop her from going to Rhonda. Summer is almost over, just ten more days. This can’t happen now.

“You are disgusting! Mother always said you only wanted to hurt us, that we shouldn’t trust you. She was right. She’s always right,” she spats and I take another step closer.

“It’s not like that,” I insist but she shakes her head.

“I hate you!” She screams, right before she turns around and sprints out and I’m about to go after her but Niall grabs my arm, stopping me.

“Ella, don’t. It’s gonna be fine,” he promises me but he’s wrong. It’s not going to be alright.

I shake my head from side to side, only imagining what will happen now. “No, Niall. It won’t be fine. I’m basically screwed; Jenny is gonna tell Rhonda. Oh shit.”

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Dedication to @Aurorally_Crowned because you said it, I write for myself and I love it to share this with all of you. Thanks for all the comments you've left on my stories.

Bel, xx