Melody's POV
"You're sure you'll be okay here alone, Ella? We'll be gone for a few hours," I said to my little sister.
"Melody, I'm 11. I'll be fine. I'll just sit and watch TV," she replied, not taking her eyes off the screen.
"Okay, fine. Don't touch my stuff or go in my room, my music room and studio are off-limits, as is Heather's room and Mom and Dad's room. Don't make a mess, and don't use the oven, stove, microwave oven, blender, KitchenAid mixer-"
"So basically don't touch anything except the remote unless it's... um... what's that word again?" Ella asked, looking up at me.
"Inevitable?"
"Yeah! That one!"
"Don't touch anything but your stuff, okay? And wash your dishes if you use any. If the trash fills up, take it out to the Dumpster, don't let it overflow, and don't let anything sit around it. I want a clean kitchen today, okay? We just cleaned it and I don't want any messes made," I said. "I put the rule lists on the refrigerator."
"Lists?" Liam said. "Plural? As in, more than one?"
"Yes. Lists. Plural. More than one. She hasn't been home alone for more than one or two hours before," I explained. "Usually my brother would be the one saying this stuff, but..." I trailed off.
"But he's not here," Harry said.
Ella looked at me with tears in her eyes and whispered in my ear, "I barely even remember him, Mel."
I stood upright and felt a lump in my throat. "Emergency numbers are on the fridge, too, and if the power goes out, go to the neighbor's, okay? I don't know where the flashlights are hiding. They'll be checking up on you every hour or so, and I'll call the house every half hour. And if you don't feel comfortable here, just lock all the doors and go there. Then you call me, okay?"
"Okay," she said quietly.
"Ready to go yet?" Niall asked, jumping from foot to foot. "I'm hungry!"
"Yeah, let's go," I said. Niall cheered and we walked out the front door. I locked it behind me.
Everyone separated into small groups, Katrina V. walked with Niall and Louis, Katrina C. walked with Zayn and Harry, and I walked at the back of the group with by myself. We kind of looked like a large group of colorful criminals, because we were all wearing hats of different colors and black coats.
Ella doesn't even remember the biggest part of my life! To her, Will is just a name with a face to go with it. And it seems like Heather doesn't even care that he's dead! Silent tears streamed down my face, dripping off my chin.
""Mel?" a quiet voice asked from beside me.
I looked up to find Harry walking next to me.
"Why are you crying?" he asked, wiping the tears off my cheeks.
I looked at my shoes before answering. "Ella doesn't even remember Will," I said quietly. "And it's like Heather doesn't even care that he's gone!"
He stopped walking and pulled me into a hug, and I buried my face in his chest, quietly sobbing. "It's goiong to be okay," he said quietly, stroking my hair.
"Yo, Mel? Which way?" Louis shouted from the front of the group. They must have turned around, because everyone said "awww" except for the Katrinas, who came running back.
"What is it?" Katrina V. asked.
"Just... had something in my eye," I lied, looking at them. I could tell they didn't believe me. "Let's keep going."
I started walking again, and joined the group, this time at the front.
We arrived at Blue Potato and walked in, and I was immediately engulfed in a hug.
"Doug -- can't breathe!" I said, trying to inhale.
"Sorry," he said, releasing me. I gasped for air. "I just thought you wouldn't come today, it being his birthday and all."
"I didn't think so either. But we burned pancakes and the hungry one here ate the others," I explained, gesturing to Niall. "Um, Doug?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think we could eat in the kitchen or something? Or on the balcony?" I asked.
"Why? You don't want your usual table?" he asked, confused.
"I do, but this is kind of a special situation, Doug," I said. "Can we talk in the kitchen or in your office, please?"
"Uh, sure?" he said, leading us through the kitchen and into a small room with a desk, computer, and lots of filing cabinets. He shut the door once we were all in there, and I could feel the claustrophobia creeping up on me.
"You can take off your stuff, now," I said, reluctant to call sunglasses and hats disguises. As the boys took off their "disguises" I spoke quickly to Doug. "Okay, so these five boys are celebrities and they had a concert last night, so people know they're in town and if we don't get more of a private table we're probably going to get mobbed."
"Celebrities? Why do you have celebrities with you?" he asked quietly.
"Long story, no time. Have you heard of One Direction?" I asked.
"Yeah."
"Well, this is them," I said.
"I don't believe you," he said, leaning against his desk. "This better not be another prank, Melody."
"It's not! I promise! Let me show you," I said, sitting down in his computer chair. I Googled 'One Direction' and clicked on images. "See?"
Doug looked between the boys and the computer screen. His eyes got wide. "Yeah, so... um... balcony or in here?"
"In here would be nice, if you don't mind," I said. "It's a little more private and secluded."
"Sure, sure," he said, walking out. "What do you guys want?"
"Pancakes," I said. "And other breakfast foods."
"Can we get coloring pages?" Louis asked. Doug laughed and shut the door behind him.
"So... how do you know him?" Liam asked.
"He's sort of family," I said. "It's complicated."
"How can someone be 'sort of' family?" Niall asked.
"Like I said, it's complicated," I replied. "I don't even know how it works, but we consider him family. He was once upon a time married to someone in my family I think and they got divorced but we like him better than our actual family member, so he's family."
"I have an idea!" Harry said suddenly. "Let's play truth."
"I don't like that game," I said. "What about never have I ever?"
"I thought that was a drinking game?" Louis said.
"Okay, so... maybe not. What about truth or dare?" I asked.
"Do you really want to play truth or dare with One Direction?" Harry asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Point taken. Um," I said, thinking hard.
"Monopoly!" Louis shouted. I just looked at him.
"20 questions?" Zayn said.
"How about just Q&A?" I asked.
"Okay. I'm down with that," Zayn responded.
The questions were mainly directed at the Katrinas, but everyone had to answer anyway unless the person asking the question asked otherwise.
"This one's for Melody," Louis said.
"What?" I said, my head snapping up.
"What's the real reason you were crying today?"

Notes

DUN DUN DUN!!!!!!!
Will she tell them?
Or will she lie?
More later!
Comment if you think I should continue the story. Because I'm not really feeling it anymore. I'm just bored with this story.