Chapter 3

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Chapter 3


The next week seemed to take forever but fly by at the same time. I got a passport for the first time and Mum bought me some clothes fit for some of the places we were going. My parents bought me my very first phone, and the first thing I did was put in their and Liam's phone numbers. Then I downloaded Angry Birds. I packed up most of my things: clothes and toiletries at the bottom, books and devices at the top.

Liam spent the night here twice like he promised but then he returned to his friends. I tried to get him to stay here longer, but he told me they might get suspicious if he stayed any longer. I had no idea how or why that made a difference, but apparently it did so I let him go.

I paced in my room. My parents were leaving this week, which meant I had to stay with Liam and Co. at their bungalow for a whole week. I was so excited.

The doorbell rang and I jumped. I turned off the Katy Perry blaring from my radio and sprinted downstairs. I had already lugged my baggage downstairs and it sat next to the front door, ready for loading. Liam was here to pick me up.

I answered the door and let him in. "I'm all ready," I said, grinning, barely keeping the excitement out of my voice. My happy behavior was starting to rub off on Liam, despite his situation, and he smiled back. "I can see that," he said, jutting his chin over to my luggage.

Mum and Father came around the corner and helped us put my suitcases in the back of Liam's car. Then they began to smother me.

"Be good, okay, Delilah?" Mum said and I nodded.

"Promise," I said into her hair and I hugged Father next.

"Have fun and remember how lucky you are," he said.

"Totally," I agreed. I was incredibly lucky right now. They each kissed my forehead.

"Can I go now?" I asked and they laughed.

"You're set free," Father said and I ran over to the passenger seat in Liam's car, yanking on the handle. It was locked.

Liam said his goodbyes next. "Take care of her," I swear I heard Mum mutter into Liam's ear when they hugged. I rolled my eyes. I'd be fine, I knew how to take care of myself. I wouldn't do anything stupid.... Actually, no promises.

Liam unlocked the doors and I opened it, sliding inside hurriedly. Liam sat down next to me and started the car.

"Bye, Delilah!" Mum and Father shouted and waved as we left the driveway. "See you in the next three to four months!"

I winced. That long? Had I known I would be gone that long I would have been more sincere in my goodbyes. Too late now....

Liam drove away and I kept glancing back until the house was out of view. I rested back in my seat and gazed out the window.

"Excited?" Liam asked. I nodded. "Definitely," I said. "This is going to be awesome. Thanks, Liam."

He smiled again. "Whatever makes you happy," he said and I laughed. "Anything and everything," I said and he laughed too.

It was a bit of a long drive to his bungalow that he shared with his friends, so I interrogated him. "What are your friends like?" I asked.

"Don't you have a pretty good idea?" he replied.

"Yeah, but I don't know what to expect."

He nodded in understanding. "Niall is the Irish one," he said and I rolled my eyes. "I know that," I said. "I just want to know what they're like."

"Okay then," he said with a shrug. "He's funny and he laughs a lot. He's practically in love with food. You can expect hugs from him. He warms up to everybody."

I grinned. I couldn't wait to meet him. He sounded like the kind of guy I'd want to get acquainted with. Too bad he's in One Direction.

"Zayn's a little quiet," Liam continued. "And the 'Bradford bad boy'." I laughed again. "But once you get to know him he's actually pretty mellow and a good guy. He's obsessed with his looks. He's dating Perrie from Little Mix and they're great together." I didn't care much for Little Mix, but I knew about their relationship with each other. I liked it.

"Louis' funny too," Liam said. "Apparently he wears stripes because he secretly wishes to be a zebra. I only just found that out." I burst out laughing for the third time. He wants to be a zebra? Well, that's not something you hear everyday.

"He warms up to people pretty easily too. But for some reason he was kind of shy towards us when we first got together as a band. I'm telling you, this guy confuses me."

I smiled.

"And Harry Styles," Liam finished. "He's the flirty guy. He's always trying to get the girl. He's pretty outgoing and confident and stuff, and a bit random and strange. If he says something totally weird out of the blue, don't be surprised. But he's been kind of out of it since his breakup with Taylor Swift."

I faltered slightly, feeling bad for him. I loved Taylor's music, but I hated her. And I barely knew her. It should be the opposite because of that, but I didn't think she and Harry would last. It didn't fit.

"Thanks, Liam," I said gratefully. "I don't know what you're worried about. They seem like good people."

He gave me an odd look. "What do you mean?" he asked. "I seem worried?"

I realized my mistake too late. "Oh, um...." I hesitated. "I mean, you never tell me about them or how the band is doing. You always change the subject."

Liam still looked suspicious, and I cursed my big mouth. I had to be more careful.

"We're almost there," Liam announced. "They still don't know about you, so don't just walk in there and expect they know everything about you. Go easy on them."

I nodded. "You got it, boss," I said nonchalantly.

He pulled up the driveway and stopped. He unlocked the doors and I jumped out, excitement buzzing inside of me. I finally get to meet them all, One Direction! How would they react to me? Would they like me? Would they hate me? Oh, please no! Anything but that!

I helped Liam unload my stuff and we went over to the bungalow. "You ready?" he asked me at the door. I nodded and took a deep breath, preparing myself.

I wondered how I'd cope. I have a thing for sexy guys, but don't all girls? I doubted some girls thought of themselves as sexy like I did. It's just a confidence booster I often gave myself.

Liam opened the door and I hauled my things inside. The other boys weren't there, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Liam came in after me and dropped the last of my bags. "Welcome to my paradise," he said sarcastically and I giggled. The place was a mess: with clothes and food and games laying everywhere. I was surprised Liam wasn't doing anything about it, but I guess he gave up after awhile. There's no teaching these boys to be neat freaks.

"Lee-yum!" a voice yelled, and I giggled again at the way it was pronounced. "Where are youuuu?"

"Is he drunk?" I asked Liam quietly, unable to identify the person by his voice.

"No, Louis' just being annoying," he replied and I smiled. I didn't think it was annoying, I thought it was funny.

"LIAM!!" the same person, Louis, yelled again. "Where are you?!"

"In the living room!" Liam retorted. "Where is everybody?"

"I know they're here, but that's all."

"Good enough for me."

Liam turned to me and said, "Just stay here while I find the rest of the boys."

I nodded and he left. I walked around the living room, staring at everything. It wasn't very impressive, but it was still amazing to be here. Anywhere else that wasn't home was amazing to me.

A blonde boy walked into the room and he was sipping applesauce from a straw. He froze when he saw me, and I froze too.

"THERE'S A GIRL IN THE HOUSE!!" he screamed, making me jump. He dropped his applesauce and ran from the room, screeching, "RETREAT!!"

I remembered that he was Niall, and already I was trying not to laugh. What was he afraid of?

"RETREAT!!" he hollered again and I heard a loud slam.

"What the hell, Niall?!" another voice yelled, sounding groggy. "What are you screaming about?!"

"THERE'S A GIRL IN THE HOUSE!!"

There was a pause from both of them. "RETREAT!!" they both screamed in unison and I sighed. What was going on here?

"Delilah!" Liam exclaimed, running into the room. "What did you do?!"

"Nothing!" I defended myself. "Niall came in here, screamed, and ran out again! Now he's causing mayhem and hurting my head with all his screaming!"

Liam shrugged. "That's typical Niall Horan behavior for you," he said and I sighed again. I thought I'd be able to live with it. I had no other choice but to.

"Boys!" Liam yelled over his shoulder. "Come in here!"

They did. Niall and another was first, and I was pretty sure the other was Zayn. He had probably been sleeping before because there were bags under his eyes and his hair was kind of messy.

Louis came in next. I could identify him by his stripes. I couldn't help but grin.

Then Harry came in, and I couldn't help but stare. I personally love guys with curls, and he was a package deal with the bright green eyes dotted with blue and dimpled grin. He wasn't grinning right now, but I'd seen pictures. Look up "attractive" and you would find a picture of him. He's the definition of sexy. Not like I cared.

"Who's she?" Louis demanded. "Is she a fan? Thanks a lot, Liam. Now we have to move and wipe her memory."

Liam rolled his eyes. "Are you a fan?" he asked me. I nodded. "I suppose so," I said.

"She's a fan," he reported unnecessarily. "But she's also my...."

His voice faltered and this time I rolled my eyes. "What he means is I'm his secret sister," I explained. "Delilah Payne, seventeen years old. Nice to meet you."

They stared at me. Then Zayn laughed. "Haha, that's a good one!" he said. "But seriously, why are you here?"

"I'm telling the truth," I said, frowning. "Liam Payne's my older brother."

"Prove it," Harry challenged me.

I smirked. "He sang 'Let Me Love You' by Mario to this one girl he wanted to ask out. She rejected him."

They laughed while Liam blushed. "Seriously?" Niall asked Liam. "I guess you really thought you were in love with that girl." Liam rolled his eyes again.

"And he just randomly started singing like something out of High School Musical," I added. "I laughed so hard when he told me."

Harry narrowed his eyes. "Wait, you weren't actually there?" he asked. I shook my head. "Then that's not proof," he said.

Liam sighed. "Guys, this is my sister," he insisted. "And... she's going on tour with us."

"WHAT!!" they yelled and I laughed. "Yeah, buddy!" I shouted and Niall grinned.

"Why is she coming on tour with us?" Zayn demanded.

"My parents used to keep her hidden," Liam explained. "But now they decided to go on vacation and leave her with me."

They mumbled amongst themselves and I fidgeted nervously. Did they not like me? I didn't think they did. They turned towards me. "You're a fan?" Louis asked. I nodded reluctantly. "Then good enough for me," he said with a shrug. "Tour just got a whole lot more interesting." I laughed again while Liam glared at him. What's his problem?

"I don't have a problem with her," Zayn said. "As long as she sticks to her hair products." I smiled. "I promise," I said.

"If everybody is okay with it, then so am I," Niall said, shrugging. Harry only nodded, a distant look in his eyes.

"But tour doesn't start for another week," Zayn reminded us. "Where is she staying?"

"We have an extra room here," Liam said. "It'll all work out."

I grinned. "The Adventurous Adventures start now," I murmured to myself.

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