Chapter 11

It was the first time I had woken up in a good mood for as long as I could remember. Nothing had disturbed my dreams and not a sweat was on me when I opened my eyes. The air-conditioning silently blew air through the vents in the corner of the room which made it easier to roll around in bed. I reached over to the remote on the bedside table and flicked on the TV.

Spanish news was way more interesting than the BBC. Even though I could barely understand a word, the rambling of the quick Spanish was strangely mesmerizing. From the pictures on the TV, I could gather that some bearded guy had won the election, Rafael Nadal had beaten some no name guy in straight sets of tennis and a Spanish girl had been kidnapped in the south of France. I quickly changed it to Nickelodeon after the Host started introducing a boy band to an interview. Ugh, I hated the sight of boy bands.

SpongeBob Squarepants entertained me for about 10 minutes before my stomach started to grumble. I didn’t expect Harry to come rolling in with my food so I hopped out of bed and walked into the bathroom. I opened the tap and the cold water started pouring out. I washed my face with moisturizer as the usual routine went. Before I finished rinsing all the soap off, I glanced at myself in the mirror. Something about me had changed. It was weird because I had absolutely no idea what it was. It was just something…

I changed into my casual shorts and t-shirt and slipped my iPhone into my back pocket. Before I could open the front door, I noticed a note had been slid underneath my door. I curiously opened it and read it out loud.

Mati,

Your brother, sister, Ernesto and I have all gone to the bistro for breakfast. Come as soon as you read this.

Mum xx

Sighing, I folded the paper and slipped it in my other back pocket.

I locked the room and made my way down to the bistro. I took my time of course, I wanted to waste as much time as I could to avoid the awkwardness that was waiting for me down with Ernesto. As I was walking towards the large, translucent doors of the Bistro, my phone vibrated. Another message.

Harry Styles

Morning! :D xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

That text probably made my day. It certainly made me smile like the biggest idiot. I still hadn’t gotten it into my head that not only had I gotten my first boyfriend and first amazing kiss in one day, but I had gotten my very own Harry Styles too.

Before I knew anything, something bashed into my head and I was on the floor. It had happened so quickly I didn’t even realize what had occurred. I must’ve still been conscious because someone was leaning over me and holding my hand. The figure was blurred and talking to me in a loud voice, though I still had no idea what was going on. After a few seconds, my eyes started to focus again. He was trying to lift me up but the way that his hands kept leaping back every time he touched me, I supposed that he was finding it difficult to grab me in an inappropriate place. At least I thought it was a he, the voice was deep enough.

The static in my ears soon stopped and I could kind of hear properly again. My head was throbbing… Maybe I had a concussion. Oh my God, what have I done… They’re going to kill me. I could see the unnamed guy was grabbing his head, trying to pull out his hair in frustration, although, there was barely any hair to pull.

I sat up, which took a lot of effort. He rushed over to me and put his hand on my back. I looked up at him. My neck killed and I thought my nose might have been broken.

“It’s probably best if you lie down…” He looked down at me. His chocolate brown eyes full of concern.

I shook my head in refusal and tried to heave myself up with the wall. Instead, he led my arm towards the chair in the hallway. I couldn’t feel hardly any part of my body and it felt like I was going to fall asleep. But I was still determined to eat my breakfast. I groaned as I sat down into the leather chair.

***

“I am so sorry. I honestly didn’t even see you. This is all my fault…” He knelt by my chair and held my hand. My eyes swept over him. He must’ve been in his late teens or early twenties. His face was well defined and his arms were muscly without being too muscly.

“No… no it’s okay. I’ll be fine soon enough.” I tried to give him the most convincing smile possible but he didn’t buy it.

“What’s your name? Do you need ice? I’ll go and get you some ice.” His rough hands gripped mine harder. He was obviously very stressed about the whole situation.

“My name’s Tilly.” S**t. That wasn’t my name. That was Harry’s nickname for me! I had become so used to Harry calling me that the past few days that it just slipped out.

“Well I’m very sorry Tilly. I really am. My name’s Liam.” He shook my hand and I yelped. He let go straight away and apologized.

I smiled at him because it was really OK. Liam was being very sweet but I was still cursing myself for telling him about my nickname.

It felt like I had fallen on my arm pretty hard and my head was still slightly spinning. Liam went to fetch me some ice and when he came back we started talking. He was in Spain for business but he was only 19. He didn’t really state what kind of business but I didn’t want to pry into his life. He kept apologizing about hitting me with the door but it was fine. Although, every few minutes he would check his phone.

“I’m sorry, but do you need to be somewhere?” I could tell that was hesitant to stay with me.

“Well yes… but I thought that I had some sort of duty of care. Besides, you’re nice to talk to.” He smiled down at me.

“Oh Liam please, don’t worry about me. Honestly, I should be getting to breakfast anyway. My mum is probably wondering where I am.” I attempted to stand up and failed, falling straight back onto the chair. Liam laughed and heaved me up and held me steady.

“Oh okay. I’ll walk you to your table if you like?” I smiled and nodded. He linked his arm in mine and walked me to the door. I felt quite uncomfortable and the only thing I could think of was Harry. What would harry say if he saw me with this new guy? Liam was really sweet though and I couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit comfortable as well. He felt so safe.

He opened the infamous glass doors and we walked inside. “I almost forgot!” Liam took out his phone. “I was wondering whether, maybe, if you wanted, we could meet up again. I mean, it’s completely up to you. Honestly, no pressure or anything. Here I’ll give you my number if you like.”

It was a nice gesture. I’m sure he just wanted to be friends so I took out my phone and we exchanged numbers. Liam was very attractive though but I really tried to block out all those romantic thoughts. Well, not really romantic. Just fantasies.

Liam walked me a few meters from where I could see mum, V, Zack and Ernesto awkwardly chatting at a table not far from the self-serve bar.2 “Here’s fine.” They hadn’t seen me yet which was a good sign.

“Are you sure?” He seemed a bit sus. I nodded.

“Well okay then. I’ve gotta run but I really hope I can see you around Tilly.” He beamed at me and we started backing away from each other.

“Bye Liam.” I gave him a friendly smile and I turned around.

I began creeping towards the table where I noticed Zack grumbling to himself like some sort of demon. V was in deep conversation with Ernesto and Mum was eating her oats and spectating. As I neared the table, I took a chair from another table nearby and I sat down next to Zack and mum.

Mum gave me a suspicious look. “Where have you been?” She demanded.

I thought of a quick excuse. “I really slept in. I think I shouldn’t have watched too many movies last night…”

Zack kicked my leg underneath the table. I stifled a yelp. I kicked him back and he flinched. That time I couldn’t help but laugh. Mum raised her eyebrows and went back to eating her oats. I felt a little hurt that mum had barely acknowledged me but then again I felt quite relieved that she hadn’t asked too many questions because I had no plan B.

I called the waiter over and I ordered the bacon and eggs. Mum asked Zack if he wanted anything but all he mumbled was “Not hungry.” I could tell that mum was a bit upset with Zack’s attitude towards the situation by the way that she sighed slightly every time Zack gave a quick dirty to Ernesto, also by the way that the creases on her forehead had become more noticeable.

For the past week, I don’t think that I had thought of Ernesto and mum really that much. Yes, it did cross my mind a few times but I really was having too much fun with Harry to care. Now that I was sitting down with my family, I had absolutely no idea what was going on and I didn’t dare to ask someone just in case I got snapped at. From the looks of things, V and Ernesto were getting along, talking about fashion I presumed. Ernesto seemed like the kind of guy you would find in a Hugo Boss boutique. Mum was pleased about this new relationship between them but Zack was still not convinced at all.

I didn’t really think much of Ernesto. Not that I didn’t like him, I just really didn’t know him. I’m sure that if mum and Ernesto kept this up I would probably make an effort to get to know him but now… Is their relationship serious? Why would mum come halfway across the world if it wasn’t? I was beginning to panic and my food hadn’t even come yet. Although, I could smell something drifting from the back kitchen, past the doors where the waiters stood guard until the food was ready.

I checked my phone. Harry Styles- Message, Liam Payne- Message. Uh oh, I thought to myself. I firstly opened Liam’s message, because I wanted to save the best for last.

Enjoying your bacon and eggs? It’s on the house :-)

I looked up to see if Liam was hiding anywhere behind a pot plant. How did he know I ordered bacon and eggs? Maybe he was a creepy stalker like Harry. What if they were in a ring of stalkers…? Nah. I ruled that out because how could they possibly have known each other. I must attract some strange people.

A hand placed a plate of bacon and eggs onto the table in front of me. I looked up to see that it was only just a waiter.

“Señorita, complements of Senor Payne”. He nodded his head and walked back to the kitchen.

I turned in my seat and smiled. My phone vibrated again. Another text from Liam.

Eat up! See you soon!

I really couldn’t believe that he did that for me. Turning back to my table, I noticed that there was a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice next to the plate. I took a sip and it was just like the Daily Juice one, but better. The morning was turning out to be good after all.

***

Leaning back into the dining chair, I sighed and rubbed by stomach. Not only did Liam order me breakfast, but he bought me a milkshake and unlimited juice. Obviously I was extremely grateful, but he really didn’t need to do that. Next time I saw him I was going to tell him that it was just one knock out and he didn’t even mean to do it.

Mum hadn’t even noticed my 50 course meal but Zack leant over and whispered into my ear. “So who’s Payne?” I pulled back and gave him a look of warning. He gave me a shrug back and then I felt bad. Zack used to be so innocent and I knew that that part of him was still inside somewhere.

My thoughts were interrupted by Ernesto and V turning back to the table. V spoke up first.

“Ernesto was just telling me about the fashion weeks in Milan. Can you believe that he has actually met Donna Versace? How cool is that!?!?” She bounced up and down like a little schoolgirl.

Mum turned to Ernesto with a annoyed look. “No I can’t believe he’s actually ever told me that.”

V flicked her hand. “Oh mum please. There are a lot of things you don’t know about Ernesto!”

Ernesto cleared his throat and put a hand on mums shoulder. “All in good time mi precioso.” They looked into each other’s eyes for a second before Zack started shaking the table. I could tell that Ernesto was slightly annoyed at Zack for ruining their intimate moment. His ears went a tiny bit red and his neck puffed up a bit like a pigeon but he was in and out of it in seconds.

He turned to all of us, “Why don’t we all spend the day together? Just us, bonding as a family!”

Zack clenched the edge of the table. “Family?! What family?! You aren’t a part of our family. What gives you the right to ‘initiate’ yourself into OUR family?” He spat into Ernesto’s plate.

Mum stood up, holding Ernesto’s hand and pulling him up with her. “That is ENOUGH Zachariah. I am sick to death of hearing your whining. Can you not just be happy for me, just once at least?” She put her arm behind Ernesto’s back. “So what if I want him to feel like family? So what if I’m in love with him?”

Zack froze. “You… you’re in love with him?”

She paused for a second; unsure whether that was a good thing to say or not. “Yes, I think I am.” She turned to look into Ernesto’s eyes. “Actually, I know I am.”

Ernesto bent down and gave mum a peck on the nose. I thought I was going to vomit. I had never seen mum look at anybody like that except… well except dad. It was surreal.

Zack’s body started to shake. His eyes were bare and I started to become worried. Worried that froth was going to start bubbling from his mouth and he was going to launch himself at Ernesto across the table. Only that is not what happened. Instead, he just got up and walked away without a word or a whisper.

Everyone who remained at the table was silenced. That was the 2^nd time Zack had walked out on Mum and Ernesto, only this time he had not made a scene about it. My eyes followed Zack out the bistro door and they turned back to the table. Everyone was as shocked as I was although V seemed a little bit relieved that Zack had  left which made me pissed off. Maybe it was my turn to break the ice.

“So…” everyone turned to me. I felt overwhelmed by the sudden attention. “Do we have anything planned for today?”

Ernesto spoke up. “Well I thought that I could show you around Valencia, a local tour. But seeing as Zack has left…”

“Oh don’t worry about him.” Mum pat Ernesto on the shoulder. “He’ll be fine. He’s probably just sulking up in his room. I’ll go and check on him before we leave.”

V’s face lit up at the opportunity to leave the hotel. Ernesto smiled at himself, obviously proud of his idea, “Let’s go then!” His enthusiasm in that sentence amused me because his accent jumbled up a lot of the words. With much effort, V and I got up out of our seats and we all left the scene of the crime.