Home - One Direction

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"Stella." I hear a faint whisper which I try to ignore.

"Stella." the voice nudges me sharply on the elbow, making me whine.

"ESTELLE CALDWELL YOU WAKE UP RIGHT FUCKING NOW." I jolt awake as the voice booms in the small space.

My eyes flutter open, blinking rapidly to adjust to the lights. I don't even remember who I am let alone where I am. It was one of those gooood sleep. My eyes narrow as I see Franco sat in the seat next to me, realizing that we are in a car.

"God. You sleep like a log, Stella." Franco exhales as I rub my eyes.

"Where are we?" I say, "What day is it?"

"Seattle, Stella." He almost whines. "It's fucking Friday."

"Oh." I say as I feel myself waking up fully and remembering my promise to him to visit his family.

"C'mon now." He says. " I've been in this car for almost ten minutes now, trying to wake you up." He opens his car door and takes a step out before turning back in, " C'mon get your lazy ass out Stella, my family is waiting."

I step out, stretching my arms over my head, arching my back and head backward, squinting my eyes. When I finally open my eyes and head to where Franco is waiting for me, with my bag in his hand, my eyes shift to the building behind him and my jaw drops open.

"You l-live h-here?" I say, gawking at the huge mansion behind him which stood in its all white glory. I turned around to see that we had driven at least fifty yards from the main entrance as the mansion was surrounded by greenery everywhere.

"Yes." He answers, interrupting my thoughts and I turn back around.

"You are definitely some nerd." I snort, he never told me he was THAT rich. I mean, I thought he came to Brickdale Academy on the scholarship as well. "I thought you came to Brickdale on scholarship." I huff.

"That I did." He admits and I narrow my eyes at him. He cackles slightly and shakes his head. 

"C'mon in. Father will explain." He says and turns around to walk towards the door to the house.

The door opens itself as we reach it. Well, some doorman opens it for us, but you get my point. 

"Are they here yet?" a sweet feminine voice calls out, followed by a hushed shuffling and in comes an elderly lady who didn't look more than forty, wearing a pencil skirt and a white top tucked underneath her blue blazer, her heels clicking at the marbled floor. A man followed soon behind her in a black and white suit, with monk strap shoes. 

"You'll catch a fly in your mouth Stella." Franco whispers, chuckling lowly in my ear and I immediately shut my mouth, my eyes widening in realisation.

"They won't bite Stella." He assures me, putting an arm around my shoulder.

I finally catch my breath and shake my head, mentally preparing myself as they approach us.

"Hello, father." Franco leaves my side and steps forward greeting the man, hugging him and then turns to his mom doing the same. "Hello mother." He smiles the brightest I've ever seen.

"And who would this lovely young lady be, Franco?" His mom asks, looking at me and I turn to face the floor, kind of embarrassed, suddenly feeling under dressed.

"This is Estelle, mom." He smiles and joins me back on my side. "My best friend."

"So you finally made a friend who is not Joseph?" His dad raises an eyebrow, teasingly and suddenly it's Franco's turn to blush. If I wasn't myself feeling so embarrassed, I'd have definitely laughed at how he turned tomato red. I think I know where this is going and I hope it's true, but it's a talk I'll save for later.

"Uh yeah." He says, his eyes fixed at the ground as he scratches the back of his neck.

"It's nice to meet you sweetheart." His mother says, coming forward with open arms and I freeze momentarily before shaking my thought and hugging her.

"It's nice to meet you too ma'am." I say.

"Oh please love. Call me Audrey." She says pulling back and suddenly it clicks and I freeze back again.

"Wait. Are you... are you Audrey Banks?" I say as I recall reading about her few years ago when she had wrote an article about world economy which took the world by storm.

"Yes love." She cackles lightly. "But I prefer to be called Audrey Langston now." She smiles tightly.

"Yeah of course." I say. "And I really respect you for all the work you've done for the feminist movement and the LGBT Community. It's just mind boggling." I speak clearly getting fascinated by her presence.

"I've always wanted to be into social work. It's what I love to do." She smiles again, stepping back and joining her husband's side.

"Well, I see you two will bond really well then." Mr. Langston finally speak.

"What can I say! I always wanted a daughter."  Mrs. Langston... Audrey laughs lightly. "I hope you don't mind being one to me." She says and suddenly my heart falls. I've never felt welcomed anywhere in the past two years. I've never felt welcomed in my own home and this woman who has come to know of my existence just from past ten minutes is welcoming me into her home. I know she doesn't mean it literally, but just to get to hear that suddenly fills my heart with warmth.

Franco wraps a hand around my shoulder, breaking my reverie. "Of course she doesn't mind!" He says enthusiastically. "Do you Stella?"

"N-no." I finally find my voice. "Of course not." I gather a smile. "It's actually a privilege for me." I say meaning it and for a moment I think I see a tear in Audrey's eyes before she pulls me into another hug. So Langstons are huggers. No surprises there.

"Say Stella." I hear Mr. Langston speak again. "Not that I mind you being here, because I don't. It's a blessing to have you here" He smiles and continues as Audrey pulls back. "But why haven't you gone to your home? I mean Brickdale barely gives you a break if you are a boarding student." He asks.

"U-uh." I don't know how to tell them for it breaks my own heart to say anything.

"She lost her parents dad, in a car accident as I reckon." Franco speaks for me and I've never been more thankful to anyone.

"Oh I'm so sorry sweetie." Mr. Langston and Audrey say together as Audrey embraces me into another hug.

"Okay, enough with the hug festival mom." Franco whines as he tries to detach Audrey from me making me chuckle. "I think we should get freshened up and I've to show Stella her room too and I'm so hungry mama." Franco complains pouting like a child. A very Franco move if you ask me.

"Okay Frankie. Go ahead and take her to her room." Audrey smiles up at him as I try to control my laughter.

"MOM" he whines again and a low laugh slips out my mouth. "I've told you a hundred times not to call me that in front of my friends."

"Well she's you Best Friend." Audrey counters playfully.

"Ugh. Don't. Ever. Call. Me. That. In front of anyone even just me." He threatens weakly.

"Sure love. Now show Stella her room." She waves him off.

"C'mon Stella. It's upstairs." Franco says picking up my bag, waving me off when I stoop to grab it. "Follow me."

I do as told and start climbing up the stairs when Audrey calls me back. "And Stella." I turn around from the flight of stairs. "You can call this home and come here with Franco on every weekend." She smiles and my eyes almost tear up. I pinch my nose to hold back and nod frantically, unable to form words and turn back around and follow Franco up the stairs.

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I'm so sorry I took of without telling you guys. It was due to my uni shit. Anyway I AM BACK WITH A BANG AND BE READY FOR A DOUBLE UPDATE.