Chapter 3 - Moth Guy

When I go into the next room I make sure to exclaim loud and clear “cleaning service” so in case there’s someone inside, I can leave immediately. I also hang something from the doorknob and pray no one will come and find me cleaning the toilet again. This room doesn’t make me want to cry. It’s messy but it doesn’t look like a tornado had a party inside, so I’m okay. I start by making the bed and picking up the clothes and folding them. I’m in the middle of my task when the bathroom door opens and I curse the seven circles of hell for my luck.

Seriously? There had to be another boybander in the room? At least this one didn’t find me cleaning the toilet.

I look up and I find the curly-haired one, Harry, stepping out of the bathroom with his curls dropping water and just a towel wrapped around his hips.

Okay, let me put this straight. The guy is hot, no one can deny that, and the drops slowly sliding down his body don’t look bad on him. He has all his muscles defined and in any other situation I would’ve started drooling, but this guy is covered in tattoos. Don’t get me wrong, I think tattoos are hot and some men look even better with some on, but this guy doesn’t look like a tattooed man, this one looks as if a baby grabbed a sharpie and started to doodle on him.

“Oh hi!” He says with a wide smile that starts to turn cocky when he realises I’m staring at his half-naked body. “Like what you see?”

And that’s when I lose it. I can’t help it. I swear I try but this is bigger than me. I burst out laughing right there, in his face. I swear I have manners and this is not normal in me, but this guy… I can’t. I just can’t. Someone save me.

“You have a moth on your stomach,” I blurt out, still laughing, covering my mouth so I can control the fits of laughter.

He looks taken aback and then he looks at his torso. “It’s a butterfly,” he clarifies and I laugh even harder. He looks so shocked that he can’t be offended.

“That doesn’t make it better. Oh my God!” I exclaim still laughing like a hyena. The boy has an amazing body and he is really hot, but that tattoo —that one among all the other doodles— is a major turn-off if you ask me. “It’s a very shitty butterfly ‘cos it looks like a moth to me.”

He blinks surprised and I try to look away but the moth is calling me. I can’t stop it. It’s in the middle of his torso. You can’t ignore it, for crying out loud! And it’s big, so big!

“It’s not nice to laugh at other’s tattoos,” he pouts and I press my lips together tightly, trying to regain composure. I look in another direction because if I see the moth again I’ll end up crying.

“I’m sorry but those don’t look like tattoos. At least not all of them. Are you sure it’s not sharpie?” Oh my God, I shouldn’t be saying these things.

“I reckon some are silly but I— well…”

“I’m sorry,” I say but I still can’t look him in the eyes and I’m still trying not to laugh. “I’m really sorry, please don’t tell Rhonda about this,” I tell him because if he reports my behaviour I’ll get in so much trouble. “I’m really sorry.”

I see for the corner of my eye that he is staring at me and I can see how the smile returns to his lips. “I’m Harry,” he says taking a step closer but I take one backwards.

“Ella, and you should wear a tee or something so I can look at you again without bursting out laughing,” I suggest and he laughs.

I’m impressed he is not mad at me for laughing at his face. I know most celebrities are very sensitive about their images and I bet no one else in this retreat would’ve reacted that way. He must be one understanding and relax guy. Ten points for Hufflepuff!

Harry moves and grabs a tank-top and I take a deep breath. I know the moth is still there but I can’t exactly see it, so we’re safe. Seriously, does that guy go around like that? What does he do in the pool? Maybe he is used to people laughing at his tattoos, that’s why he’s not offended by my actions today. Still, it was very rude of my part. How drunk was he when he got that tattoo?

“Better now?” He asks and I turn to see his torso covered. He is smiling widely and I notice he has cute dimples.

Nodding, I reply, “yes. I’m really sorry, that was super rude. That’s why I’m not allowed to be near celebrities,” I add because it’s true. It’s my personal rule as I’m so used to make fun of them, I can’t control it when I’m in front of them.

“Does it really look like a moth?” Harry asks instead and I fight my smile. “I take that as a yes. Man, that sucks. What if I get it removed?”

“Tattoo laser removal is really painful, for what I know, and you’ll still have a scar with the shape of a moth. It’s never gonna be gone,” I answer and he looks really sad for a second before smiling. “What possessed you to do that? And there? It’s right in the middle of your torso, no one can ignore it.”

“It seemed like a good idea at the time,” he shrugs and I chuckle again, what makes him smile wider. “So what are you doing in my room, Ella?” He asks me and then I remember.

“Cleaning service. I shouted that when I came in, I guess you were in the shower and didn’t hear me.” He nods in agreement. “I figured. Well, I can go and I’ll come back later to clean. I have other rooms to tidy up.”

“Is that what you do here?” He asks me taking a step closer and I look at him arching one eyebrow, but he only smiles. “Can I expect you in my room every morning?”

Okay, he hit the limit. “Look, you may be a billionaire and super-hot teenager, but for me you’re moth guy. No matter what you do, you can’t flirt with me. That ain’t gonna work,” I tell him and his surprised expression makes me laugh almost as hard as the tattoo. Almost.

“You think I’m hot,” he says and I roll my eyes.

“I also think you can’t be trusted to make your own choices because you got a moth on your stomach.” At my words he actually laughs. “Now excuse me, I have work to do.”

“I like you, you’re quite the girl. See you around, Ella,” he says as I turn around gathering my stuff. I groan as a response and leave the room, shutting the door behind.

“I hope not,” I say for the billionth time that day.

One thing is for sure, I won’t come in in another of these rooms. Someone else will have to clean One Direction’s rooms because I’m not risking my life like this again.

+ + + + +

I hear the piercing scream and I look at the nearest exit. How fast can I run before doomsday arrives? Can I make it alive?

I’m about to sprint out of my room when the door opens before I can make it to the windows. I just had a fifteen minutes break and I thought it would be a good idea to hide in my room after such an eventful morning. No, I didn’t run into any other celebrity —thank you, God— but with the blond one and the moth guy I had my dose for the rest of my life.

However, my stepsisters have other plans for me. I shriek as I see them enter my room with many bags each. They are naturally blonde but they make sure to add more highlights every month, and now they have darkened the ends in this Californian style that’s so common now. Of course they had to follow the trend, that’s all what they do.

Objectively talking, they are cute girls, but all they have in beauty they lack in personality, so I don’t find them the slightest attractive. Still, there are guys who don’t care about brains and they only look for a pretty face. They are lucky for that and I’m sure that a celebrity will pay them attention one day and will give them what they want.

And it’s because of their searching of a famous husband that they are here, I feel it. “Ella,” Kimmy says, her blue eyes fixed on me. “We’ve been looking for you for ages.”

It’s been probably five minutes, but their conception of time is damaged. “We need you,” Jenny complements and I roll my eyes.

Would I survive if I jump from my window?

“You already went shopping. What do you want from me?” I whine, still staring at my window, tempting me. Death sounds so much sweeter than bearing with my two stepsnakes.

“One Direction are here,” they speak at the same time, squealing and harming my ears, probably forever.

“Yeah, and how does that concern me?” I ask because they know I couldn’t care less about any celebrity.

Both roll their eyes at the same time. I swear they practice that every night. They love being twins. “Don’t be stupid. This is our chance to seduce them!” Jenny says fanning herself. “I can’t believe they are actually here! When they said they were taking a break I never thought they were coming here. Oh my God!”

I look at my window… so tempting, so tempting. “We need you to inform us where they are so we can go there. You’ll be our spy! You’ll finally have a use for us,” Kimmy states and it’s my turn to roll my eyes. I’m always doing stuff for them.

“I don’t go around celebrities. If you haven’t noticed, I avoid them as much as possible. You’ll have to ask another—”

“You’ll do it,” Jenny cuts me off. “Mother says you have to help us. She wants us to catch them, too, and you must oblige to her requests.”

“Okay, and just to make sure, tell me, how many of them are single right now?” I ask folding my arms. They are two girls and if they think they can catch two of the boybanders, they are crazy.

“Niall and Harry!” They sing together and I burst out laughing, which makes them frown at me.

“I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but Niall has a girlfriend. He’s the blond one, right?” I ask and they nod, shocked. “Yeah, he is even here with her. She’s absolutely stunning.”

Jenny looks at Kimmy with terror in her eyes. Yeah, Niall’s her favourite and I’m not gonna lie, telling them this makes me really happy.

“That’s impossible,” Kimmy stutters and I smile proudly.

“If you don’t believe me, go to the pool. I bet you’ll find the lovebirds there, along with the other members. I think Louis is also here with his girlfriend.”

“You’re lying!” Jenny cries and I approach them.

“I’m not, but sooner or later you’ll find that out yourself. Now excuse me because my break is over and I need to clean more toilets.” Without running into any celebrity this time, I add in my mind.

I leave my stepsisters there and I march out with a victorious smile. At least I ruined their afternoon and saved one of the boybanders from their claws. Am I or am I a good human? Charlie will love it when I tell him about it.

-:-:-:-

Dedication to @KHopelessRomantic. I'm really happy you're alive <3

Bel, xx