Lacey

I wondered up into Skye’s apartments with bags of junk food and two Starbucks frappes. I frowned the moment I reached her door realising I had no hands to knock. I lifted my foot up casually and kicked against it. The door was flung open not long later.

“How loud do you wanna knock?” Her Australian accent flowed from her mouth always taking me slightly by surprise whenever I saw her. She had been in London for almost two years and yet her Australian accent was still going strong from what I could tell even though Danielle and Eleanor assured me it used to be much stronger.

“Sorry full hands, had to use my foot,” I shrugged holding up the stuff.

“Yum,” she cried snatching the frappes and walking away from the door allowing me room to enter. I laughed at her and shut the door behind me.

“You know you have paps outside?” I asked her getting comfortable on the couch.

“Yeah, the boys are back so they’re trying to get some gossip I guess. All they’re going to get is horrible tired photos of One Direction though,” She called out from the kitchen.

“Ohh imagine the money you could get for selling them!” I called out laughing. She appeared from the kitchen smiling evily.

“Trust me I have enough embarrassing photo’s of One Direction to make me the richest person in the world. I just like to keep them for certain days when they piss me off, than suddenly they appear on twitter,” She grinned at me sitting down on the couch.

“You must love having Harry back,” I commented to her more seriously. I had been there for her as much as I could throughout the year and her hard times with missing Harry. She looked towards her bedroom door and smiled softly.

“Even though we’ve barely been able to talk, just knowing that he’s in the same country merely metres from me makes me the happiest person in the world right now.”

“I can tell. You’re practically glowing,” I told her truthfully.

“Hey do you want me to ask the boys about performing at your charity concert in a week?” She asked suddenly.

“I am perfectly capable of asking people myself Skye!” I glared at her. “But uh yeah could you please?” I added blushing lightly. It wasn’t my fault they were all so damn adorable.

“Of course,” She laughed at my blush. The door to Louis room opened and Eleanor walked out.

“Thought I heard voices,” She said smiling at me.

“We’re not too loud are we?” I asked quickly.

“Nah, the boys are fast asleep they wouldn’t even hear you scream in their ear.” She laughed sitting down next to us. “What are you girls doing?”

“Movie marathon, care to join?” Skye asked flashing her the DVD’s. We had The Notebook, Pride and Prejudice, Pretty Woman and P.S. I Love You.

“Sappy movie night?” Eleanor asked raising her eyebrow.

“Just the mood I’m in, I guess,” I said shrugging at her. She agreed to the movies and we all settled ourselves down for a long afternoon of chick flicks.

About halfway through our second movie Skye’s door opened and outwalked an extremely naked Harry Styles. And I mean I got the full frontal.

“Honestly Harry,” Eleanor mumbled barely glancing at him and continued to watch Pretty Woman.

I hid behind my hands, sinking into the couch slightly as a blush rose to my cheeks.

“Oh crap sorry Lacey! Harry put some clothes on!” Skye hissed at him before shoving him back into their room. She slammed the door shut behind us.

“I’m sorry; everyone else is just used to it. I forgot that you haven’t been around the boys.” She apologised to me.

“I’ve only met him once and well now I guess I can say we’re friends,” I said blushing in complete embarrassment. The door opened again and Harry walked back out wearing a pair of extremely low riding sweats.

“The boys are coming over for dinner,” Harry said to Skye.

“Oh, whose cooking?” She enquired. He shot her a pleading look.

“Fine, but only because you just got back and I don’t want to fight yet,” She groaned at him. He smiled and pecked her lips as she walked into the kitchen. Harry sleepily fell down onto the couch in Skye’s spot before he glanced at me. His eye’s screwed together in confusion for a second.

“Lacey Williams right?” He asked unsure. I nodded at him happily.

“I’ll wake up Louis,” Eleanor announced leaving me alone with Harry. We sat there awkwardly for a moment.

“So how was your tour?” I asked kindly.

“It was great. Exhausted now though.” I nodded at his statement acting like I knew what he meant. At that moment three boys burst through the door looking extremely tired. Tate followed closely behind them as they all practically fell over on their way to chairs before they all glanced at me curiously.

“Oh you’re all here. How eager of you all,” Skye muttered walking out of the kitchen as Eleanor and Louis walked out of their room.

“Uh Skye?” Niall asked unsure and motioned to me with his head. I tried not to laugh.

“Oh right sorry. You guys all remember Lacey right? From the benefit we went to on New Years?” She asked. Recognition appeared in their eyes as they all said hello to me. I said hello back and smiled at them in return. My eyes fell on Zayn and I saw him smirking making me instantly blush under his gaze. I had talked to Zayn briefly at the benefit and well it was an embarrassing encounter. I had just found out that I would be having an arranged marriage to a man that I didn’t know and well I wasn’t exactly smart with my words.

“You staying for dinner?” Skye asked turning to me.

“I uh should probably go,” I said glancing down towards my phone to check the time and noticing the large amount of text messages and missed calls I had from my mum asking me where I was.

“If you’re sure? One of the boys will walk you down to your car.” She offered.

All five boys turned to her surprised.

“Thanks for offering our services Skye,” Louis said sarcastically. I laughed.

“It’s fine I can walk down myself.” I said quickly.

“But it’s getting dark,” Skye whined.

“Chill Skye. I’ll take her,” Zayn said standing up. By the shocked looks on everyone’s faces I knew that he was the last person that would normally offer. I blushed none the less.

“No really it’s fine. I can get there myself.”

“I’m taking you. Now let’s go,” He said rudely making shooing motions at me. My eyes narrowed into a glare at him before turning to give Skye, El and Tate a hug and saying goodbye to everyone else. I marched out of the door and headed to the elevator punching the button in and waiting impatiently. I could feel Zayn’s presence come to a halt next to me. I could hear him chuckle.

“You know it’s a little hard to walk you to your car if you’re going to run out without me,” He laughed. I shot him a glare. “Alright what did I do? Can’t be smoking that’s annoying you this time.” He added snidely.

“I don’t appreciate being told what to do,” I said to him sternly and stepped into the elevator to glare at him.

“Wow, look at that we have something in common princess,” He said winking at me.

“Princess?” I frowned at what he called me. He merely winked at me. I rolled my eyes already severely annoyed at this boy. The elevator doors opened and I marched out to my black Bentley GT V8 convertible. I heard Zayn whistle lowly as he circled the car.

“Definitely a princess.” He said looking up at me and smirking.

“Thanks for walking me here,” I hissed through my teeth before jumping in the car and starting it up. I drove off before he could say anything else. I shook my head trying to get rid of the image of his stupid smirking face.

-

I drove up the driveway the moment the gates swung open to let me in. Parking the car in my usual spot I glanced up to see my mother waiting, frown on her face, arms folded. Sighing I reached to the back of the car to grab my bag before climbing out.

“Where have you been?” My mother asked the moment I shut the door.

“At Skye’s,” I mumbled walking past her and into the house.

“Again? Can’t you find better people to spend time with Lacey?” My mother asked following closely behind me into the house, my mother had never approved of me hanging out with Skye. The boys didn’t exactly have a reputation for being the most mature and well my mother saw Skye as a gold digger. I rolled my eyes and turned a left reaching the main staircase.

“Lacey, I’m trying to talk to you! What is the matter with you lately! You used to be such a great daughter and now you’re gallivanting off with god knows who!” I stopped halfway up the staircase and spun around to glare at my mother.

“I’m not gallivanting around with god knows who mother! Skye is a great friend. And the moment you chose the way my life would turn out was the moment I stopped being your perfect daughter. The moment you decided an arranged marriage is what’s best!” I screamed down at her.

“What is going on here?” My father appeared from around the corner narrowing his eyes at the both of us. I looked towards him and saw Edmund appear from behind him. I refrained from screaming out loud and stomping up the stairs. Instead I took a deep breath and tried to calm down.

“Sorry father. Just let me freshen up and I will be right down,” I said turning on my heel and walked up the stairs calmly. It took everything in me to not stomp up there like a spoilt child.

Sighing I threw my stuff into my room and took deep breaths before heading downstairs again and into the dining room where everyone was waiting.

“Lacey,” my five year older sister said happily running up and jumping into my arms.

“Hey Luce,” I said down to her happily squeezing her into a hug.

“That is not appropriate behaviour Lucy,” my mother scolded her. I rolled my eyes and gently placed Lucy down on the ground, she quickly apologised to mum before making her way back to her seat. I helped her up and onto it.

I took the spare seat next to Edmund who offered me a small smile. I listened bored as my father and Edmund began talking business and my mother continued to watch me intently. I avoided her gaze and ate my food. After we finally finished Edmund announced that he had to leave. He said goodbye to my parents before I walked him to the door.

We stood there awkwardly for a moment.

“Well goodnight Lacey,” Edmund said awkwardly before leaning forward. His lips hesitantly met mine. The kiss was short and innocent barely registering a response from me. He pulled away and I offered him a small smile.

“Goodnight,” I said waving goodbye before shutting the door. I turned around to see both my parents standing there watching me.

“What?” I asked them both. My mother huffed and stormed off.

“We're just looking out for you Lace,” My father frowned at me.

“I know Dad, I’m going to bed. Goodnight,” I said softly kissing his cheek before heading upstairs.

I checked my phone to see I had a few texts from Skye and my best friend Tamzyn. I replied before getting ready for bed and climbing in. It wasn’t long however when I saw my door open and shut. Then I felt a small body work their way up the bed.

“Hey Luce,” I whispered to her softly.

She didn’t reply merely climbed under the blankets with me and snuggled into my side falling asleep instantly. I smiled down at her running my fingers through her hair before letting my own eyes drift close.