Eleanor's POV
"So why didn't he tell me?" Tri was baffled.
We were being driven to Rodeo Drive to start our shopping for Astrid. She had no idea of what was going on. Zayn had just told her about the ball that we were having the next day.
"Maybe because he thought that you wouldn't want to come if he told you" Sophia explained and Astrid moved her head.
"Why wouldn't I want to come? Have you seen him? He's perfect!" She said and we laughed.
"You certainly are in love" I pronounced and Astrid smiled.
"Yes she is" Soph made a weird voice and we both looked at her and laughed.
"Anyways" I spoke "We'll have to get you something nice to wear"
"Yeah and I'll pay" She exclaimed.
"Zayn told me not to let you pay by any mean. Be gentle, he's trying to treat you. That's the thing about guys, they want to show you they care, and sometimes even show dominance over other males. He wants to buy you the dress, so he can say that you're his"
"Well, that's...sweet?" Tri made a weird face.
"Guys are weird, Tri" I told her "And we haven't even started with Lou, he's another case" We laughed, "So, you have any idea of what you want to wear?"
"Not really. I'm all yours, you choose." She declared and Soph and I looked at each other in sign of complicity.
"Okay" Sophia started "I was thinking as it is your first public appearance with the Malik boy, you have to shine. Not that you don't shine already, darling, but you have to stand out" I understood where Sophia was going with this.
"How about a nice red dress?" I proposed and Sophia nodded.
"Exactly. That's what I was thinking of. Also, some nude heels from Jimmy Choo, so that the contrast is made with the red sole."
"I get your point" I high fived Soph "What do you think, Tri?"
"I think that whatever you think it's right will fit me. I have never been to any of these events, so yeah"
"We'll make you look stunning, don't worry, love" I told Tri and we all smiled.
***
We had just arrived to Rodeo Drive. Dolce & Gabbana was our first stop.
"Does it have to be a long dress, as in the Oscars?" Astrid asked as we entered the store and Soph and I chuckled.
"No, babe, it has to be a cocktail dress" I explained her and she nodded.
She was nervous, it was obvious. She had never been in an occasion like this.
"The first time I went to a place like this with Lou was back in 2010. I was nervous as hell, but he told me that no matter what happened, I still would be his star" I confessed "I know that it sucks and that you're really nervous, but in the end; you've got your boy, and he's madly in love with you. And that's what counts, right?" Astrid nodded and I hugged her.
Aww, little thingy. I wish that I could take her nerves away.
"No, listen. My first public appearance with Liam was back in 2013. The fans used to hate me and send me hate mail, but as soon as they saw how I looked at Liam, they started shipping us."
I rolled eyes. The fans didn't like me much, but I loved Lou and that's all that mattered.
"It's gonna be okay, Tri" I pronounced and we all three joined in a hug.
"Thank you girls" Astrid thanked us.
"No thank you's, girl" Sophia pressed her "We are a family now"
That's exactly what we were, part of the One Direction family.
***
"This one's pretty" I said and grabbed a pretty red dress.
"Okay, I'll go try it" Astrid said and entered the changing room. It was really posh in there.
She lasted some minutes inside and then she came away.
"I don't really like it" She pronounced. She looked really pretty though.
"You look stunning, girl" I told her and she smiled.
"I feel a bit bitchy" She admitted and I nodded.
"Maybe it isn't the right dress for the first impression" Sophia explained and Tri got back to the dressing room.
***
3 hours, 5 muffins and many stores later, we finally landed in Giorgio Armani.
"There are some nice dresses, but none of them fills me, you know?" Astrid stated and we both nodded.
"You're right, but don't worry, we'll find the perfect dress" I said and Astrid chuckled.
"You're talking like the old women on those bridal dresses TV shows" She mocked me and Sophia cracked out.
"Giorgio has a lot to offer us, Tri, don't worry" I told Tri and she nodded. Sophia was already lost in the store.
"GIRLS!" Soph shouted after some seconds, making us run to meet her where she was. As we finally met her, we saw her with a pervert face.
"What's up?" I asked.
"I've found the dress" She declared and I clapped. "Here you have, Astrid" She handed Astrid a red dress that I couldn't distinguish very well.
She got into the dressing room and came out some minutes later looking wowwww.
"Girl" I told her "You look stunning!"
The dress wasn't anything great, just a plain red dress. In her, however, it looked amazing.
[A/N: I tried to find a pretty red dress, but I couldn't really find the one that I pictured in my head. There's a pic of the dress in the media so you can have an idea, but you can just use your imagination. 😊]
"I think that the cleavage is too low" She complained and I nearly slapped her.
"Well, if you have them, you better show them off. Besides, I'm sure that Zayn will love the dress" Sophia finalized making Astrid giggle.
"You really do look beautiful" I told her and she gave me a thanking smile.
"Outstandingly pretty. Hot" Sophia kept going and Astrid nodded.
"Okay" She said "This is the dress" She said "Just the shoes and we're ready"
***
"Buying shoes has to be my hobby" I declared and the girls nodded and giggled in approval.
We had bought some beautiful nude shoes with red sole. We all had loved them.
After the exhaustive shopping, we went to drink a juice, we'd eat later with the boys.
"You have to love Jamba Juice" Tri uttered and we nodded.
"It's really good" I took a sip of my drink, it was delicious.
"Um, hey, Eleanor, Sophia?" A girl of about 16 years old approached us while we were sitting on Jamba Juice.
"Yes?" Sophia answered sweetly.
"Can I take a picture with you?" She asked and then looked at Tri who was drinking her juice calmly while scrolling through her phone.
"Sure" Sophia and I responded at the unison.
"Tri, take the picture quickly. This will be you in a while" I muttered and she laughed while grabbing the girl's phone.
"This will do, I've taken many." She returned the phone to the girl, who looked at her with a curious look.
"Not to sound impolite, but who are you?" She asked and Tri denied with the head.
"She's Astrid" Sophia interrupted her "Zayn's special friend" She finalized and Tri and I cracked out.
"Really funny, Smith" Tri laughed and sat back down.
"Can I take a picture with you?" The girl asked and Tri nodded surprised.
"You sure can" She stood up and practically hugged the girl.
She was really charismatic. She started talking to the girl, making her feel comfortable.
"Thank you" The girl whispered after having her phone back. "See you around, girls"
"See you around" We responded.
Once the girl was gone, Soph and I looked at Tri with surprise.
"Someone's joined the clan!" Sophia exclaimed.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say" Tri finalized while hiding a chuckle.
Something told me that she'd handle the whole "dating a boyband member" thing better than any of us... It was natural for her.