6     mustaches & manslaughter

I glance down at the screen of my cell phone. Yes, I do own one. I don’t like phones. But when you have three children to keep track of it’s certainly a necessity.

Anyway I’m trying to figure out what time it is.

Ah there it is! The clock says twelve thirty. Well that explains the rumbling in my stomach: it’s almost lunchtime.

Someone is pounding on the bathroom door. “LENA!” a voice accompanies the orchestra of knocks. “Lena!” It’s Abigail. Most likely making sure I didn’t escape her father’s compound through a bathroom window or something.

“I’m still here,” I mumble. The sink almost drowns my voice with its loud trickling.

“Good. Because daddy said One Direction will be here soon.”

I moan.

Her prancy dancy feet skip away down the hall. I look up into the mirror above the washbasin. Does ex-mister carry any scissors? Can I chop all of this hair away please? Oh but Hadley would kill me! She’s already jealous of my awful chocolate locks. It’s not Lena’s fault for dying her hair cotton candy pink. That was her choice!

But besides the head of hay hair I guess I look sort of decent. My eyes aren’t too droopy and I don’t have anything stuck in my teeth… that’s always good.

Is it weird (in your opinion) that Mr. Gallows is holding this thing at his house? I think it’s odd considering the fact that I’ve never been here before. It’s almost as large as the children’s house. But this one is much less Victorian Era and much more… eh, Star Trek 23rd century.

When we arrived here a few minutes ago the ex-mister was waiting on his front porch. Yes, he did give me a prolonged hug. And he addressed me by first AND last name. Wasn’t it only three days ago he was forgetting if I was called LANA or LENA? (Cough) creepy stalker…

Just saying.

I think I hear something from outside. Standing up on the lid of the toilet bowl I peak out of the window. Coming into the drive is a pair of black SUVs.

That’s just peachy.

Yay!

Remind me again why I agreed to this?

Before I leave the safety of my powder room I glance again in the mirror. I make the meanest face I can. Unfortunately it wouldn't do much but curdle some milk. It’s rather ugly when I’m shooting for intimidating. I clench my fist and punch my other palm.

Ouch.

I flick my wrist around. Why did I do that? Because it hurt like h-

“Miss?”

The butler is outside of my door.

“Erm, yeah?” I respond.

“The girls are requesting your presence,” he tells me.

Why so serious man?

I groan, “Okay.” And I open the door. The butler with the handlebar mustache is waiting on the other side. He blinks and walks away. I roll my eyes and consider going back into the bathroom… or maybe I can follow him! He probably knows how to get out of this mansion without being seen!

AHA!

“Sir!” I say. I start to dash down the stairs towards him. My long skirt fluffs up in the back as I tread down the metal staircase. I can see his semi bald head just a few yards ahead of me. “Sir, please! Wait up!”

The butler is either deaf or ignorant. Because he ducks around a corner at the bottom of the stairs. I’m about to go after him when I hear voices. Panicked, I hide right behind a tall black statuette. No way am I meeting One Direction right now. I’m in the middle of a creative escape; dangnabbit!

“Again, thank you boys so much for doing this,” Ex-mister’s voice says. He and a group of clicking feet are making their way past me to the living room.

“Oh no problem!” A young lad says, “It’s our pleasure.”

“Erm, is lunch anytime soon?” An Irish lass asks. I think the only Irish one is the blonde. Niall, is it? Yeah! Niall Horan.

The ex-mister laughs, “Of course! Right after you meet the girls.”

The shadows of six tall men run across the statue I’m hiding behind. I hold my breath and stay very still.

“Just right in there,” Mr. Gallows says. His voice is getting quieter.

I wait until I hear no voices.

Letting out a big breath I sidestep out from behind the statue. I look up at the face of the thing and smile. “Thanks buddy,” I mutter. He’s some type of angel carved in shiny black marble. “I owe ya one,” I tell him. I give the thing a hearty slap of the shoulder.

Slowly and deliberately the statue wobbles.

“No,” I gasp. My eyes are wide.

The angel statue is swaying left and right… left and right… left and-

“NO!” I beg.

I watch on in horror as the expensive piece of glass tips to the side. Its arm skims a potted plant on the way down. The pot crashes. Dirt runs out of the clay and seeps into a wet pile on the white floor. The angel has his grand finale and lands against the tile with an echoing crash. Thousands of poor little angel shards go every which way.

“No, no, no, no,” I mumble. My heart is racing with anxiety. I fall to my knees and start to sweep pieces of angel into my palms. Sharp pieces dig into my legs and fingers but I try to ignore the pain and clean up my mess. Luckily no marble breaks the skin.

“I killed you!” I squeal.

Oh god… I KILLED AN ANGEL!

I’m still trying to make some sort of effort to clean the floor when someone clears their throat.

I wince.

And then I slowly draw my face to look up at my audience…

Six pairs of eyes are staring on wide.

I close my eyes and face away. “Erm, sorry…”

Oh my goodness gracious. Harry Styles is right next to me. I want to look again, to see his face. But I keep my eyes on the dead angel- the angel I brutally murdered.

“It’s quite fine,” I hear Mr. Gallows say. He’s starting to walk to me. “Are you alright Lena?” He takes my hand and helps me from the floor. I stumble on my skirt and he has to brace me up with both arms.

“Lena?” A familiar voice echoes.

I gulp.

A tallish figure pushes his way from behind a blonde kid and one with black hair.

It’s Harry.

Well… sorta. He’s so different… but yet so similar. His curls are wild and peeking out from behind a grey beanie. His eyes are so much greener than I remember. Harry’s long and thin lips are drawn out in a line. He’s staring at me with his brown eyebrows all knotted up. He looks so conflicted. And so handsome…

I have the urge to punch him in the throat.

“Lena Edwards?” Harry asks me. His voice is deep and calm.

I narrow my eyes at his taller figure. Since when is he two inches taller than me? “Harry Styles,” I mock his own stupid statement.

“Erm, you two know each other?” Someone asks from behind Harry. I glance over to the cute lad with short brown hair. He smiles sweetly when our eyes meet.

“We did,” Harry answers. I cross my arms over my chest.

The two of us just stare at each other.

No one says a word.

“Well this is a tad awkward,” Another of his band mates interrupts. I remember him to be Louis.

Ex-mister doesn’t seem to know what to do. “Umm, this is Lena,” He gestures to me in front of the band. “Lena- this is One Direction.”

“I’m well aware,” I reply. Harry glares at me.

A hand grips onto Harry’s bare arm. It pushes him aside. Standing directly in his place is a charming Niall Horan. He smiles and extends a hand. “Niall,” he introduces. “Nice to meet you.”

I rest my hand in his palm. “Pleasure is mine,” I tell him as kindly as I can. But my insides are roaring at the presence of Harry. Can’t I beat him yet? Please?

“You’re very pretty,” Niall blurts in his Irish tongue.

The blush on his neck tells me he wasn’t expecting that.

I feel bad for the lass. But how am I supposed to reply to that? “That’s very sweet. I think you’re rather fetching yourself,” is what I eventually come up with.

Niall smirks and steps away.

“Liam Payne,” The short haired one says. He gives me a small finger wave. “And this is Zayn,” Liam points to the one with all the tattoos and tall black hair. He reminds me of a dashing raven. “And Louis,” he finishes by patting Louis on the back. He grins at me crookedly and I can’t help but smile back.

“Lena?” Louis asks me.

“That’s me,” I answer.

“THE Lena?”

I blink. What was that supposed to mean?

“Let’s just meet the girls,” Harry mumbles rudely. He pushes his way past me to the living room. When his back is too me I start to clench my fists.

The rest of his band follows him. Niall glances back to give me a sweet smile. I don’t have the time to react before he dashes away on his expensive sneakers.

Something touches me on the rear. I jump and swirl. Ex-mister is trying to play it off as a casual gesture by then patting me on the back. “Don’t feel bad about the angel,” he says. “You can make it up to me somehow.” Mr. Gallows grins. My stomach drops and I want to kick his man package. “Let’s go?” He asks.

I ignore the question and head to the living room without him at my side.

I can hear the giggling even before I walk into the living room. So I stop at the doorway and give it a minute. I don’t really want to throw myself in there right away.

I count to thirty and then slip inside.

The air is crisp and minty inside the black and white metaled room. The couches are white leather with chrome legs. A black and grey chandelier is hanging from the flat and low ceiling. And three teenaged girls are presently being introduced to the biggest band in the world.

I groan and plunk myself down on a black arm chair. FAR away from the others.

I’m watching the slim and muscled backs of five young men. They’re probably smiling down at the girls, who are freaking out as we speak.

The one wearing the hat turns a bit on his heel.

Harry sees me in the corner and rolls his bottle green eyes.

Well then. I see how this is going to be.

I stick out my tongue.

I know I know. REAL mature Lena. But I hang out with a bunch of munchkins every day! The habits start to wear into a person, okay?

Harry blinks and turns away. Looks like he didn’t see that coming.

Lena 1- Harry 0.

Ha!

But my head is still rattling.

I catch a glimpse of a balding head and handlebar mustache. I catch the butler’s eye and wave him to me.

“Yes miss?” he asks.

I lean to him a bit more. “Do you have anything to drink here?” He looks at me blankly. I gesture to the coffee table. “You know; something BESIDES apple juice and root beer?”

“I can’t give you any alcohol if that’s what you mean,” he says.

“No need for that, sir. Just show me where it is…?”

He sighs and walks away shaking his head.

“I’M NOT WORKING IF THAT’S WHAT YOU THINK!” I shout after him. He walks faster out of the room. “Oh come ON! Help a staff member sister out!”

One Direction and the three girls are all just taking a seat. They’re chatting it up about something or other. Thankfully I’m on the other side of the room: far away from Mr. Styles. I can see how Abigail is glowing with happiness. I watch on with a smile as she continues to giggle and make cute little faces. It just warmed this ole heart to see a kid so dang happy.

“Hello,” Niall’s voice says. I look up into his bright blue eyes and see his grinning lips. He’s got his hands in his pockets and staring down at me. I’m currently hanging off the side of my armchair with my head flipped around. The room is upside down.

“Hello,” I repeat.

“Whatcha doin?” He asks amusedly.

I give a shrug. “I got a tad bored I guess.”

Niall is trying not to laugh. “You could come and be social,” He gestures to the middle of the room and suggests.

“I’m not very good at being social,” I say with a sense of good humor. “People don’t like Lena.”

Niall bends down so he’s more at my level. “Well,” He tells me. “I like Lena.”

I’m about to open my mouth and argue when I just leave it at that. If Niall wants to jump the gun- then he can be my guest. He’ll probably change his mind about saying that later on.

“That’s kind of you sir,” I say. “But I know that you know who knows that that’s true. You know what I know- you know?”

Niall blinks and gives me a crooked grin. “Is that your way of saying that Harry doesn’t like you?” He asks.

I pucker my lips and give the boy a nod. “Sure is, lad. You’re a smart cookie.”

Niall rolls his eyes in Harry’s general direction. “Don’t pay any attention to him. He’s on his man period,” Horan tells me with a teasing voice.

“That’s nice,” I laugh.

Niall gives me a playful smirk. “Oh you only say that because you don’t live with the guy. It’s like the apocalypse hit this week. Tears have been shed, shoes have been thrown, chocolate wrappers are littering the duvets, and the DVR is full of chick flicks.”

“Sounds awful,” I say.

“Oh it’s hell,” Niall tells me. “Bloody hell.”

I can’t help but laugh.

Oh that hurts.

I clutch my head. The room is spinning around upside down.

“Maybe I should get up now,” I say softly. “I think all this upside down business is doing permanent brain damage.”

“Then you probably should.”

I kick my legs around and try to sit up straight. My upper body strength fails me and I’m left to struggle. Niall comes to the rescue and grips my hand. His strong arm easily sits me up like a rag doll.

“I need to work out,” I mutter as I stand. “Thanks.”

“Eh no problem,” he says and waves the comment away. I notice for the first time how muscled he is. His soft and pretty face evens it all out to make him unbelievably attractive.

“Niall!” Louis hollers. “Get your butt over here!”

“I’m talking to Lena!” He answers loudly.

“Well Lena can get her butt over here too,” The raven boy adds. He catches me staring at his tattooed forearm and winks.

I look away. That wasn’t me being creepy, Zayn. That was just utter curiosity. I would like to get myself one of those beauties and I was merely observing.

Niall nudges my arm and starts to walk over to the big group. I sigh and decide there’s nothing I can do but follow.

Niall, Zayn, Hailey, and Indira are now all on one couch. Louis is on a slick grey armchair. And I’m left staring at an empty spot next to Harry and opposite of Abigail. Without thinking I take the girl by her shoulders and drag her to the open spot next to Harry. She makes a weird noise. I plunk my butt down where she had been sitting next to Liam.

“So Lena,” Louis says. His voice is pretty high pitched. “You’re the birthday girl’s nanny?”

I nod.

Abigail blushes at the reference to her.

“That’s pretty cool!” Louis says excitedly. He seems like a pretty happy fella. “Pretty small world, eh?” Harry makes a whining sound from the other side of the sofa as Louis elaborates. “Harry thought he’d never see you again.”

Abigail shoots me a look.

“They know each other?” Hailey asks.

“Sure do!” Louis answers with a grin.

I shake my head. “That was a very long time ago,” I argue.

“They were best friends!” Louis adds.

“That was even longer ago,” Harry practically growls. “Can we talk about something different now?”

Oh no way. We will beat this topic to death if it bothers him that much.

“It was only half a decade ago,” I reminisce. “We were BFF’s: weren’t we Eddie?” I smile as he glares at me.

“Eddie?” Liam copies. He’s trying not to giggle because of how peeved Harry looks right about now.

“He never told you that?” I say, pretending shock. “Well… I’ll just have to share on his pitiful behalf-”

“No one wants to hear any of your stupid stories, Lena.”

Louis wagged his finger at Harry. “Nope, we all do. Let the girl finish and don’t be rude.”

I smirk. “Yes, Eddie. Don’t be rude.” I clear my throat and start my story, “Harold over here was having a personality crisis when we were about seven.” Harry sets his jaw tight and rolls his eyes. I know it isn’t only the way I am jeering him but just my presence alone that is sending him over edge. I’m feeling good now.

“So for an entire week he was known by his middle name: Edward. Or Eddie for short. He was this American chap who had this strange addiction to olives.”

“But you hate olives,” Zayn says to Harry.

“That’s only because he spent seven days binging on them. On the last Sunday we had a play date. Eddie ate so many olives he got sick.”

“AWW poor wittle Eddie!” Louis teases. He leans forward and pinches Harry’s cheek. Harry slaps him away.

“That’s adorable,” Liam says. I sit up a bit taller in my seat and glance over to him. He’s grinning at me. “How long have you two known each other then?”

“I was five,” I tell everyone. “I moved next-door to him.”

“How come I’ve never heard about this?” Abigail voices.

“Yeah… me too!” Niall adds with a curt nod.

Harry crosses his legs and leans back into the couch. With an evil smirk in my general direction he says, “It’s not important. Just two silly little kids who happened to be acquaintances. Nothing worth sharing about.”

My blood boils.

How. Could. He. Say. That?

I want to strangle him with his own fancy belt.

“No… you’re right,” I agree to his shock. “I’m just glad you remembered me. Because otherwise I would have never known what you turned out to be.”

“So you’re telling me that you wouldn't have recognized me today?” Harry says doubtfully.

I give him a sarcastic smile. “Of course not! I mean, you didn’t hit puberty until you were seventeen or something- wasn’t it? And by that time I had already deleted all those X Factor emails Anne sent me,” I say with a shrug.

Harry leans past Abigail to stare straight at me. “I ran into Donovan the other day,” He lashes. “Tell me again how you know him?”

 “After you explain where you disappeared to after sixth year ball,” I stutter back angrily.

I feel someone rest a hand on my leg. I turn my head to see Liam Payne staring at my knee. “Look at that,” he says maturely whilst Harry and I are bickering like toddlers. “You’ve hurt yourself, love.” I notice a cut on my leg from the angel I murdered. I also notice how everyone else in the room is staring at me and Harry like we’re two brawling tigers at the zoo. You can cut the tension with a plastic spoon.

“How about we get you cleaned up, eh?” Liam offers kindly. He’s got a sweet and charming smile on his pretty face.

“Sure,” I say in reply. I stand up from the couch and lead the way out of the living room. Liam is fast at my tail. I look around the hallway and spot a cracked door. Assuming it’s a bathroom I duck inside. I’m lucky to see a sink and tall toilet. I watch Liam as he follows me inside. He slowly closes the door behind him. Then he turns to give me a look. It reads, “What do you think you’re doing?”

I wince, “Was it that bad?”

Liam nods.

I make an ugly groan and plunk myself on the closed toilet lid. “This is the worst day ever,” I mutter.

Liam chuckles a bit and then strides to the sink. He dampens a flannel and starts to wring the excess water out of it. As he approaches me I remember the gash on my knee. I pull a piece of skirt out of the way and he lightly presses the damp cotton against my skin. It stings and its cold but I don’t whine.

Liam’s sparkly eyes glance up to my face. My heart skips a beat for some reason and I just stare at the blue collar of his t shirt. There’s a birthmark on his skin right above the fabric.

Liam lifts the cloth and stares at my pink skin. “It’s not bad,” he tells me. “I just wanted a reason to pull you out of there… before you two clawed each other’s eyes out.”

I fake a little breathy laugh, “Yeah we’re known to do that.”

Liam looks unsure as he asks, “What happened between the two of you anyway? I mean, not that it’s any of my business. And I did just meet you so… so never mind.”

“No it’s okay. I would be curious too,” I reassure him. “Harry and I had a falling out when we were fifteen. Things just weren’t the same after that…” I trail off at the thought. We went from being inseparable buddies to aggressive enemies in just a few days. I had the hardest time with it all… it took me a very long time to get used to life without him. But Harry; well he seemed just fine without me. That’s what hurt the most, honestly.

But I don’t want to tell poor Liam any of this. It’s my problem not his.

“Well that’s too bad,” Liam tells me thoughtfully. He flickers his gaze up to my face. Is it bad that I can’t seem to steady my breath? Does it mean anything that I have goose bumps on my leg?

I shake my head left and right trying to gather myself. Stop it Lena! CONTROL YOURSELF.

“There we go,” Liam says. I notice that he’s put a little bandage on my knee.

Oh… how cute and sweet is he?

I shake my head again.

“Are you okay?” Liam asks with a giggle.

“Fine. Totally fine. Why’s that?”

Liam raises a thick eyebrow. “Because you keep flipping your head around,” he explains.

“Oh…” I let out a small laugh. “I’m just trying to figure things out up here,” I say and point to my brain. “It’s a bit crowded today. Lots going on in Lena’s life right now.”

Liam laughs at me. I grin at the success.

“LEEYUM!” Niall is pounding at the door and hollering. I jump from the toilet seat and open the door. Niall’s fist is stationed midair right where my face is. “OH!” he yelps and drops his hand. “Sorry… I almost hit you…”

“Eh I would have been fine,” I say with a shrug. “I mean, it takes a real tough girl to murder someone right?”

Liam poked his head in front of me. “You MURDERED someone?”

“Yeah… that poor little angel.”

Niall puckers his lips and shakes his head sadly. “Angelo was so young,” he says sorrowfully. He looks to the ground and makes crying noises. I sympathetically pat his arm.

Liam blinks at the two of us. “You guys are weird,” he laughs and walks away.

Niall perks up and turns to face Liam. “I came to tell you lunch is ready! It’s in the kitchen!” He hollers. Liam gives him a thumb up from behind and then changes his course.

“Whelp,” I say to the blonde Irish boy. “Wanna show me where the kitchen is?”

“You’re joining us for lunch?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Is that a fat joke?”

Niall breaks into a grin. “That was good. I never know when to use that line,” He says.

“Thanks. But why wouldn't I stay? I like free food.”

“I just assumed since you and Harry…”

I shake my head. “I’m not missing out on a meal because he’ll be here. Besides, Abigail is my ride home.”

Niall smiles. “Okay! I can show you where the kitchen is,” he says. Then he starts to walk off with me at his side. As our feet echo throughout the mansion he tells me, “We’ve been here a lot recently. Doing some album work with Gallows. Sometimes he even lets us stay in his extra rooms if we’re working late.”

“He has a studio here?” I ask.

Niall nods. “Oh yeah. But he does mostly the business end of it all. Not so much the recording. He has people for that.”

“People,” I repeat.

“That’s what he told me,” Niall says.

We’re walking past a tall spiral staircase. I look up and blink at the bright skylight that sparkles with the sun. The metallic floor is leading us into a huge gourmet kitchen that the Jetsons would have been jealous of. There’s at least three TV’s and a huge tablet built into the metal countertop. The fridge has a touch screen.

“This is nice,” I say under my breath. I’m running my hand along the cool stone of the counter. My nose perks at the smell of something tasty. I look up to see a small table crowded with our entire party.

“Over here,” Niall says and waves me forward.

I smile and jog.

I get above Abigail who’s seated beside her friends. They’re all giggling at something Zayn said. He smirks and takes a bite of his pizza.

Pizza? Of all things we have to eat pizza?

I sigh and smack a piece on a plate.

“I think Veronica was a babe,” Louis chortles.

“Who’s Veronica?” I ask curiously.

“GASP!” Zayn mocks offense and smacks his mouth. “You mean: you didn’t watch OUR VIDEO?”

Slowly, unsure if I should answer honestly, I shake my head left and right.

“That’s cold bro,” Louis tells me.

“I tried to get her too,” Abigail says.

I turn to look at the thirteen year old. “Are you referencing the other day? When you came running up to me screaming?”

She rolls her eyes and replies, “And you told me you were too busy.”

“Umm I was, for your information very very busy. Wesley was being a bad boy and not taking his medication.”

“Wesley? Is that a younger brother?” Liam asks Abigail.

Abigail is trying not to blush as she answers, “No… but he’s my brother’s pet rat.”

“You have to babysit a rat?” Zayn queries me.

I nod, “Plus a lizard and a Saint Bernard. And not one of those tiny lizards either. Oh no! Cade had to ask for one of the dinosaur sized ones for Christmas.” I pull my fingers about three feet apart to show how creepy big that thing is. “I hate that thing,” I say. Then I point to Abigail and emphasis, “Don’t tell your brothers that I just said that.”

Abigail waves me away. “I think the boys are smart enough to know.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Abigail looks around the table. “Do you want me to elaborate Lena?” She asks me. I nod. “You aren’t exactly an animal person…”

“I’m very good with animals,” I lie. “They love me.”

Harry laughs.

I turn to face the British heartthrob. “I’ve changed since we were friends, Harry. Don’t chuckle like you think you know me.”

“But he’s right,” Abigail mutters.

I give her a glare.

“You chased Princess around the house on Friday-”

I quickly interrupt her, “This isn’t a good story.”

“And you kept screaming ‘COME BACK HERE DANG DOG!’. Then you fell down the stairs when Sparky tripped you.” Abigail takes a drink of Pepsi then continues, “But the funniest part of bath time that day was when you called my fluffy puppy ‘a spawn of Satan’.”

“She’s just so big!” I back myself up by saying. “That’s not a puppy! It’s a monster!”

By now everyone is laughing at me. I just give a tired smile and take a seat next to Zayn and Hailey.

Well, everyone but Harry.

He’s gone.

While I’m staring at his empty chair Niall pats my back. “It’s okay,” he says. “Just because you aren’t good with the four legs doesn’t mean that people don’t like you.”

“I thought I already told you Niall. People DON’T like Lena.”

“Lena? Did you just refer to yourself in the third person?” Louis says.

Hailey giggles, “I noticed that she does that a lot.”

I open my mouth to argue.

“Me too!” Indira laughs. “Remember when we were in the limo and she was like, “NO ONE TALK TO LENA. SHE IS DOING WORD JUMBLE.”

“That’s nothing! You should see her when we watch reality TV,” Abigail starts.

I can’t believe it. I’m being mocked by a group of twelve year olds in front of One Direction.

I stuff my face into my hands.

Finally I just excuse myself to clean my plate. I walk to the sink a few yards away. I notice how you can’t really hear the conversation from here. I stare down at the slice on my plate. I only took about three bites. Pizza and I aren’t really friends, I guess you could say. So it goes without saying that I’m still really hungry.

Checking over my shoulder I slide my hand onto the handle of the fridge. When I turn back around I’m ready to open up the food chest-

Harry is pressed up against the chrome.

I glare at him.

“Excuse me,” I say loudly.

“Oh! You want in here?” he says sarcastically.

I ignore his last comment and just pull against the fridge harder. The door doesn’t even budge from under his weight.

“You just have to say please Lena,” Harry tells me.

I grit my teeth and pull even harder. I brace my shoes against the ground and tug against the handle of the fridge. Dang it! All I want is some food! But instead this jerk has to come and throw a wrench in the plans.

“I’m waiting Lena,” Harry sings. He’s just so calm while I’m so hot.

“NO!” I snap. “I’ll open it myself!” I tell him.

Harry makes himself comfortable against the front of the icebox. He’s got his long arms kicked up under his curly haired head. He crosses his long trousers at the ankle and closes his eyes. Why does he have to tantalize me like this? Wouldn’t it be much easier if he just yelled at me already?

“Having a hard time, sweetheart?”

“Shut up stupid head,” I mutter. I can feel my ears getting hot. “Just move your fat butt,” I order.

Harry gives me a mean laugh. “Stupid head? Still not swearing I see,” he notes in his know it all tone of voice.

“Nope,” I mumble. “Keeping it classy.” I continue to tug on the door he’s blocking.

“And a bit smart ass-y,” he smirks.

That’s it.

I can’t do it anymore.

Letting go of the fridge handle I take a step back. I stay silent as Harry stares at me quizzically. But he knows what I’m up to the second he sees my hand reach to the countertop. I reach into a little dish that’s next to the toaster. There’s a fat spatula clutched between my fingers now.

Harry’s feet slip against the linoleum as he tries to flee.

“YOU’RE CRAZY!” he screams.

I kick my feet up and run after him. With spatula raised above my head I shout, “AND YOU’RE A JERK!”

I can see his curly hair fly behind him. I’m running on adrenaline and anger as I chase him past the band and into a fancy dining room. Harry checks behind his shoulder and curses under his breath. In an attempt to slow me down he tips a chair in my path. I jump it like an athletics hurdle and continue after him.

I will get that boy.

And he will feel PAIN.

“Stop chasing me Lena,” Harry barks. He’s not even out of breath yet. “Or I swear to God-”

I pound my feet harder against the ground as we pass the spiral staircase. I think he’s headed outside. “Or what? Or you’ll fight me?”

“I don’t hit girls!”

I let out a laugh that’s mean and breathy. “Let’s not pretend you wouldn't stoop that low,” I say bitterly.

We’re only a few feet away now. If only my arms were a bit longer I could reach him- but dang he’s fast! He rounds another corner and I slip. I wham my sideways body against the wall.

Ouch! OUCH OUCH OUCH!

But I ignore the dizziness and take it in stride.

I run faster.

My anger is at a peak now. I can feel my fingers shaking around the metal of the utensil in my left hand. I can only see red as Harry finds himself at a closed patio door. He fumbles against the knob and finds it locked.

Lena 2 – Harry 0

I come up directly behind him. I’m fast to hit the top of his rotten head with the flat side of the spatula. Harry throws his hands up to protect his precious hair.

“You’re crazy!” He says.

I bite my tongue and continue to whack the lass. It feels so good.

Harry reaches up to snatch the beanie from his head. Somehow he gets the green slouchy thing over my own head. It’s covering my eyes so I can’t see a thing. As I struggle to pull it away Harry grabs my wrists. He squeezes tight and I eventually drop the spatula.

“HARRY! HARRY! HARRY!” I’m shouting his name over and over. I flail my body around and try to wham him against the wall behind us. I stomp my right foot up and down repeatedly in hope to crush his precious toes.

“DAMNIT!” he hollers. The grip on my left hand is dropped and I have a second to snatch the hat from my face. My eyes are surely bloodshot while I’m struggling to get his hold to break on my left hand. I smack my open palms against his chest as hard as I can.

Harry is growling things I can't understand. He’s shaking me back and forth.

My hair is every which way from the static beanie hat. I can barely see his angry set jaw as I kick him in between the legs.

Harry crumbles like I knew he would. I flip him onto his stomach and sit on his back. I repeat a move I remember pulling when we were ten: I grip his thick hair in between my knuckles and I give them a hard pull in the opposite direction.

“I should have done this a long time ago,” I mutter.

“Yeah me too.”

I blink.

I don’t react fast enough.

Harry has flipped around so that his chest his up to the ceiling. I stumble back onto the ground and fall against a potted plant. My head hits the clay basin with a ringing thud. As my vision blurs I try to stand.

“Harry!” I hear Liam yell gruffly. Harry is being tugged from behind by two of the boys.

“She’s insane!” Harry spits. He’s staring at me angrily. “She attacked me!”

I try to make a move to him. I have my fists clenched at my sides.

But Niall is quick to step in my path. He puts up a hand to crash against my shoulder. I grit my teeth and peak above Niall’s blonde hair to shout at Harry, “I’m not the one who started all of this!”

“Five years Lena! IT’S BEEN FIVE YEARS!”

I stop advancing towards him as Niall blocks my view of the idiots face. I turn on my heel and face the other wall.

“Come on you guys,” Louis says. “Can’t you be civil?”

I run a shaking hand through my static hair. Oh gosh… my head hurts. “Not until he apologizes,” I say.

“For something I did five years ago out of the goodness of my heart? That’ll happen when Alice gets a call saying that Harry Styles isn’t gay and that you LIED.”

I laugh, “Well I guess we’ll both be waiting, wont we?”

I’m still facing away from him but I know he’s closing his eyes. He’s also squeezing his fingers against his palms to the beat of his pulse. I’m glad I can’t see his dark green eyes now that they’re glowing with hatred towards me.

Why does the room suddenly look so crooked?

“I’m going home,” I mutter under my breath. I start to stride out of the room. I turn only once to give a quick wave to the other boys. “Nice meeting all of you,” I say as politely as I can. But even I can hear the rudeness the words are drenched in.

Way to make a good first impression, Lena.

As I spin back to face the direction of the front door the spinning doesn’t stop there. I try to ignore the swirling of colors. I open and close my eyes and keep walking.

“Lena stop-”

“No Harry!” I shout behind my shoulder. I walk past a ghost faced Abigail as I try to leave the room. Why is she suddenly so fuzzy? “I’m… I’m leaving…”

A grainy white flash goes off to the left of the room. Another starburst flashes right before my face. I back step and squint. It’s so bright in here!

“Lena STOP!” Harry’s voice is louder. I think he’s next to me but I can’t tell.

Everything is going far away and then zooming up.

I’m in a magnifying glass!

I try to keep my gaze locked on the front door. Suddenly, a wall jumps out in front of me. My hand reaches out to block the trimming from hitting my nose… I hear a sloshing sound. I don’t like to swim… I always get water in my ears…

I stumble backwards and fix my feet to walk in the right direction again.

Someone’s hands are on either side of my waist. They start to tug me backwards… or forwards… why are we upside down?

Why can I hear my heart in my head? Isn’t it supposed to be in my chest?

“My head,” I think I mutter. Did I say it aloud? “My head,” I repeat for good measure. I rub my forehead with my palm. I’m sweating, I think. Or is it water? Didn’t I go swimming? Oh that’s right! I was at the beach…

“I know,” A funny voice tells me. I giggle. Why is Bugs Bunny here?

Those two hands on my waist grip harder. Then before I know it I’m sitting on something. I try to thank whoever is helping me. But all I can see is black and grey haze. So many clouds… Then slowly my head starts to fill with lead. I smack my hands against the hard chest of whoever’s in front of me. Words I can’t think or hear are coming from my mouth. I can feel my tongue against the roof of my mouth.

I have a thought come to mind:

I saw Harry today.

And that’s when everything becomes nothing.

I close my eyes and pass out.