“Don’t you understand that I can’t have a party?” I groaned to them. I sat up on my bed, throwing my hands up in the air, “I would have no control over the crowd! It would be completely chaotic, not to mention stupid of me to do something like that.”

Wendy just looked at me with a dumb face, but Casey rolled her eyes, “Gia, it’s not that big of a deal. It’s your eighteenth birthday. You need to have a party… it isn’t an option. Why would your brother have anything to do with it?!”

“I never said anything about my brother.” I snapped, acting defensive.

“But I know that’s what you’re thinking. Ed won’t mind… I’m sure he’d even like to come, G! Maybe he will bring some of his friends, I don’t know.” She argued.

“Casey, you don’t understand! If the people at school find out that Ed Sheeran and some of his famous friends are coming to my party, I won’t have any control over who comes. There could be thousands… maybe even millions of people trying to get into wherever the party is. Ed could get hurt, Case. There’s no way I’m risking it… I’ve already told Ed I’m fine with just going out to dinner with him for my eighteenth.”

“He is such a boy!” She laughed, “He should know better than taking someone out to dinner on their eighteenth. I’m going to have to give him a call later… this is unacceptable behavior.”

“Leave him alone!” I giggled, throwing my pillow at her. She dodged it just in time and laughed along with me as I continued, “Ed’s a clueless mess. Leave him that way!”

***
ED SHEERAN’S P.O.V

“What are you about?” Harry Styles rang in my ear, flicking the side of my head.

“Ow, you git.” I groaned, slapping him upside the head before looking back down at my phone. I was still concentrating on the text that Casey, my sister’s best friend, sent me. It said that I should throw Gia a birthday party… I mean, I could... I didn’t know that Gia wanted one. I guess it’s her eighteenth so she wants something special. I just don’t understand why Gia wouldn’t ask me.

“Are you texting a lover, then?” Harry smiled, looking down at my phone from over my shoulder. He had read the name before I got the chance to shove him away, “Who is Casey?!” He asked, wriggling his head so his curls shook slightly.

“She’s my sister’s best friend.” I explained, refusing to look up at him as I tried to think of a reply.

“You have a sister?” Harry asked, baffled.

“Yeah, you didn’t know? Her name is Gia.”

“Cute name.” Harry commented. I shot him a look of defense and he just winked at me and plopped down on the couch, “What does Casey want then?”

“She says that Gia wants a birthday party. She’s turning eighteen next week. I was just taking her out to dinner but I guess she wants a party…”

“Throw her one, Ed.” Harry offered, “I’ll attend if you want me too. Don’t worry, I’ll be nice. Guarantee I can get some of the lads to show up as well. It will be fun.”

“Maybe I can rent out that space on fifth’s street. You know the one with the pool and the private lounge? You guys and my sister and some select friends can hang out in there. There’s a good chance that some random people will show up but you can hide away in the lounge. Sound good? I think they even have a second pool in the lounge.”

“Yeah, I know that one. It’s nice. You should rent it out for next Saturday. That’s when I’m free. Liam and I were supposed to be catching some dinner but he wouldn’t mind changing for a party, I’m sure.”

“Alright, then. It’s decided. I’ll throw her a bash. Let me call them. Oh, and Harry?” I laughed. He looked up at me instantly, waiting for my answer, “Get out of my apartment you git.”

This earned a laugh from the curly haired boy before he nodded, “I have somewhere to be anyway.” He stuck a tongue out at me before jogging over to grab his coat. He waved goodbye while I dialed the lounge place, then shut the door behind him when he left.

“Uh, yes.” I said into the phone, “This is Ed Sheeran. I am looking to rent out your facility next Saturday, the fifth of April I think it is. Yes. Ok, thank you. No. Yes, we want the private lounge as well. There will be VIP’s attending so I’ll need whatever security services you provide… and probably more.”

***
GIA’S P.O.V

“Ah!” I shrieked as Wendy shoved me in the side. I wobbled for a moment before falling face first into the mud puddle by the side of the road. When I got up, I was head to toe covered in the globby substance. My mind was reeling with anger. I launched myself up at Wendy, grabbing her shoulders and spinning her around. She shrieked as well, slipping backwards into the mud to match me.

Her hair was caked with the dirty liquid slash goo when she got up. Casey was rolling her eyes at us, basically daring one of us to touch her. She wouldn’t have it, “Don’t touch me you fools. I just got this perm and if you get it wet I’ll kill you, understand?”

“Oh, hush.” Wendy laughed before winking at me. I nodded to her and ran up, latching onto Casey. She screamed out, feeling my muddy front getting her front dirty. I rubbed my cheek against her in our hug, making her face almost as muddy as mine. When Casey screamed again, I could tell that Wendy was wiping mud on her back.

Casey stormed ahead of us on our walk. Wendy, Casey, and I attend the Neighborhood Club parties on Sunday nights and occasionally we will walk home if it’s not too dark outside. Tonight was one of those nights. I hadn’t assumed that we were going to be covered in mud when we got home but I decided that it wasn’t that big of a deal.

“See you on Tuesday!” I called to them, waving my hand in their direction as I walked up to my front door. Casey and Wendy lived a few blocks up from me so they continued to walk down the street after our goodbyes. I fished in my muddy pocket for my keys to unlock the back door. I have to go through the mudding room so I don’t get the dirty and grime on my body everywhere in our house.

I kicked off my shoes before stepping inside. Since I was wearing shorts, I didn’t have pant bottoms to drag along the tiles or carpet of my house, meaning I could probably navigate the house without getting anything dirty. I opened the mudding room door that led out into the kitchen. I shut the door, “Mum! Dad!” I called throughout the house.

“They aren’t here.” Ed called from the living room. Ed decided to stay at the house for my birthday weekend… I helped him carry bags up to his old room earlier today. I walked into the dining room, which emptied out into the living room slash den.

When I entered the den, I expected to see Ed playing video games and drinking on a beer but instead I saw six guys, including Ed, some with guitars in their hands, a couple with a pen and a notebook in their hands, and one navigating on a Mac computer. They all turned to look at me… I finally realized who they were. One Direction was in my house playing guitar with Ed.

“Um.” I said instantly, realizing that I was in fact covered with mud.

“Nice look, you git.” Ed complained, “What on earth were you doing at the Neighborhood Party?!”

“Hi, I’m Harry!” A curly boy waved at me. He went to stand up and come towards me but Ed grabbed the end of his t shirt and yanked him back down on the couch, making the other boys laugh slightly.

“Nothing happened there.” I said, trying to continue the conversation with Ed without staring at the boys, “Wendy pushed me into a mud pile on the side of the road while we were walking home, that’s all.” I said, straight faced. I was still stunned to see all of the members looking up at me with weird looks on their faces. Ed shook his head at me and I took a step back, “I’ll be right back.” I told them all before spinning around and sprinting through the kitchen and up the stairs.

***
After the quickest shower in the world, I brushed through my hair rather impatiently, pulling out a few of my light red hairs in the process. I threw on a simple tank top and a pair of jean shorts before slipping on some socks. I then checked myself in the mirror before nodding to myself, “Just go. You should be friends with these types of people. Ask them how their tour is going.” I told myself before opening the door.

I fished in the fruit bowl while in the kitchen for a moment and after settling on a vine of grapes, I walked into the den to grab my coat. Wendy had texted me saying that there was a party down the street and to meet her there in ten minutes. The members of One Direction were harmonizing to some tune that I didn’t know when I entered. They all stopped and looked over at me, “Hiya!” A boy with short brown hair said.

“Hey.” I said quietly. They all nodded to me, smiling brightly. Then I turned to Ed, trying to tell him that I was leaving. I stopped just as the one who introduced himself as Harry before coughed rather loudly, looking over at Ed. “Oh.” Ed said suddenly.

He pointed to a mocha colored boy with black hair sitting on the edge of the couch with a notebook in his hands, “This is Zayn Malik.” I nodded to Zayn and then Ed moved on to a boy with brown hair and a few really cute freckles. He was manning the laptop to play some beats, I assume, “Liam Payne.” Ed said.

Then he moved onto the boy with the short brown hair that also had a pad and paper in his hands. He smiled brightly at me, making my cheeks flush a red color involuntarily, “Louis Tomlinson.” Ed explained.

Then his hand drifted over to Harry, who also had a guitar in his hands, then finally the cutest blonde boy in the world. His eyes lit up when it was his turn to be introduced. He nodded to me, flashing me a smile of his perfect teeth and the lovely curve of his mouth, “And this is Niall Horan.”

“Boys, this is Gia, my sister.” Ed said finally.

“Hey guys.” I smiled, waving. My phone buzzed again and I looked down at it to see a rather irritated text from Wendy asking where I was. I glanced up at Ed, “Hey, I’m going to run down the street. Some friends are getting together for a small party. Don’t wait up for me.” I winked before backing up.

“Fine, but please don’t stay there too long, G. I don’t want to be stuck here with mum and dad all night. Besides, I’m not covering for you if you’re past curfew.”

“Alright then!” I laughed, getting up and running upstairs. I have to meet Wendy in three minutes so I have to do this quickly. I threw on some skinny jeans and a sleeveless shirt before grabbing my wallet. I teased my hair for a moment then pulled on some keds before opening my bedroom door. When I opened it, I ran straight into a chest.

I bounded backwards, holding my forehead, “Shit, Ed.” I groaned before looking up. Instead of Ed I found Harry standing at my door. His curls were brushing against the side of my door as he leaned against the door frame.

“Oh, sorry.” I said instantly, “Sorry, Harry.” I repeated.

The curly haired boy smirked, “S’ok Gia. I’m the one who was standing at your door for two minutes.” He chuckled, lifting his elbow to rest on the door frame above his head.

“Yeah, why are you standing here?” I laughed.

“Oooh, baby’s got bite!” Harry smirked at my sudden sass that was currently flying towards him.

“Apparently.” I giggled, wrapping my hand around his bicep. I pulled it from the door and pushed him gently away from my path, “And I’m going to bite you unless you let me leave. I have to go to that party, remember?”

“Oh, yeah. You have to be home by curfew as well. When’s that again?” Harry said, trying to stall me.

“One. I’m almost eighteen and my parents still require me to come home at one. It’s pathetic but then again it’s either one or not going out at all.” I ranted, leaning my hip against the wall as Harry now stood in front of the stairs so I couldn’t go down.

“I’ll see you at one then.” He winked.

“What?” I choked out, “Why are you going to be here at one?”

“I’m going to be here because the boys and I are staying the night. Your mum called and yelled at Ed because he didn’t invite us to stay until tomorrow.” Harry smiled.

“Oh?” I rolled my eyes then smiled, “Are all of you staying?”

“No… only Liam and I. Zayn, Niall, and Louis have to head into London because they have some appointments. Liam and I are losers so we don’t have anything going on. That’s why we are staying in the suburbs tonight.”

“Fine, well I guess I’ll see you at one.” I smirked before pushing past him and bouncing down the stairs. I wasted five minutes talking to Harry… Wendy is going to kill me. I opened the front door and started off down the street towards the party.

Notes

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