I sit on the couch watching the Brit awards for the first time in my pyjamas while conjugating french verbs in the simple future tense. The boys faces occsionally pop up on the screen with Simon Cowell. The meanest and most loved judge from American Idol.
The boys met up here before going out like they do so often when they have to go somewhere together as a band, which is usually anywhere they go. Dressed in sleek black suits and prepared for their long night ahead they greeted each other warmly.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay on your own?" Louis snuck up behind me while I was in my room writing in my diary just as Liam walked through the front door.
"I'm not a baby Louis, I'll be fine." I smile, shutting my diary and turning to face him.
"I know that, but you're technically our responsibility." Louis says, reminding me of why I'm even here right now.
"Yeah, I know." I nodded thinking of home. I wonder what my mother is up to right now, "I'll be fine, don't worry." I said leaning on the back of my chair.
"Okay, just don't sneak out." Louis warns me. I'm wasn't sure if he was kidding or being serious so I chuckled and nodded,
"Don't worry, I have too much homework to be going anywhere." I reply.
"Fair enough but don't forget that tomorrow is a school day so prepare your lunch and your uniform, and don't go too crazy with the house to yourself."
"What would I do?" I ask.
"Do you want a list of everything I got in trouble for?" Louis suggests, raising an eyebrow.
"Maybe another time." I say as the door opens and Niall screams out something random to let everyone know he's here. I stand up from my desk to go see my Irish good luck charm and pass Louis on my way out of the room.
"Maple baby!" Niall exclaims seeing me.
"Leprechaun!" I say, using the nickname I made up for him. One morning I made pancakes but passed on using syrup which pulled Niall and I into Irish and Canadian stereotypes. We laughed and every since then I've been maple baby and he's my leprechaun.
I gave Niall a big hug upon seeing him, wrapping my arms around his body.
"Are you nervous?" I ask, standing back.
"No." Niall replies as I pull myself away from his grasp and walk towards Liam.
"What about you Liam?" I ask, giving him a hug also.
"I can't say so." He replies, laughing a bit, "They're fun but-" Liam trails off and I don't expect him to finish his sentence.
The door opens again and Zayn walks in joining us. Dressed to their finest they all stood together looking almost perfect.
"Hello." Zayn says, walking in. He hugs me quickly since I'm standing right there and looks at everyone, nodding hello. It's not like they didn't seen each other just hours ago before they left to get ready but, whatever.
"I think we look quite good mates." Niall says, looking at everyone individually. they nod at each other and repeat yeah's and yes'.
"You guys look hot!" I remark. It takes me a while to realize that came out of my mouth. Did I just say that so openly?
"Really?" Niall asks, looking at me strangely. I can feel my face turning red and I can't erase my smile that is making this even more awkward.
"Yeah." I state feebly, more like a question than anything. Zayn takes a step back and smiles.
"Thank-you." He says quickly, taking the compliment without question.
"Yeah, thanks." Liam says, accepting it as well and straightening his tie. The way they accept it reminds me of the way Hayden used to accept the few times I told him he looked good. After a while of me taking back my own compliments, he began to stop asking me for assurance and just said 'Thank-you!'
"Wait, Can you take a picture of us?" Louis asks.
"Sure." I say, taking his phone from his outstretched hand and flipping to the camera. I position it as everyone stands in a different dramatic pose. Even though they all pose differently, it somehow looks like they are all together.
"1, 2, 3" I count out taking the photo. I hand Louis' phone back to him and they all crowd around to see the photo. They laugh at it, smile at it and cherish it. The same way my friends and I hold our few group shots in our hearts. To smile at them, reminisce the memories, and hold close the important past events we have together.
"Should we have a drink before the limo arrives?" Harry asks, coming in the room after leaving for a moment with champagne flutes balancing on a silver tray.
Knowing this isn't where I should be, I leave as they all huddle around the tray and pick up a drink. They stand together for a toast and clink their glasses together in a cheers ceremoniously. Brotherly, homely and traditionally they stand together. United as one. Customarily, they stand in this moment together and with each other.
"Good-luck guys." I say as I hugged each of them individually on their way out.
"Thanks." Each boy says one by one. They commonly put their dress shoes on at the door and made their way outside.
"Remember what I said." Louis whispers as I hug him. I nod and he gets his shoes on.
"Don't worry, Louis. You just have fun." I say. He nodded, smiled and then closed the door behind him, making his way to the waiting limo in the front.
When they left I returned to my diary and picked up where I left off for the rest of the night.
Now I'm sitting on the couch conjugating the verb 'to go' while watching various artists I'm not completely aware of accept awards and make speeches as the night goes on.
Je irai
I write my homework while watching a girl stumble up the stairs and give a long acceptance speech. Glancing at the clock I see it's only 9:30 but I'm already starting to feel tired.
I wonder if this is what it would be like for someone from here to watch something like the Grammys or the Oscars. Do they feel so lost? Confused? Bewildered?
On a whim I grab my ipod from the coffee table and hit the record button.
"Hey, how are you guys? RIght now it's 9:30 UK time and I'm actually watching this years Brit awards. It's strange because I only really know a handful of nominees. I don't know very much about the music here but it's not the same albums or artists we listen to at home. It's strange how it's the little things about living here that make it so different. The culture is pretty much the same but maybe not as similar as I thought. I never realized how even the little things describe a culture. I guess I'll need to start listening to the local radio station. Anyways I'm crossing my fingers that I'll know of at least one winner tonight but time will tell. Au revoir from England." I finish, giggling at the last line. Did I just mix like three cultures in there? As if I did that. That is too funny. I should make that my sign off from now on.
The video saves itself in my library so I turn it off and go back to the verbs. I really don't want to do the other half of the page but I don't really have a choice. This reminds me of watching American award shows with my mother. It was very often we would watch it on the couch in the family room, in our pajamas, while I studied for a test or got ready for a project. It never fails.
Bring! Bring! Bring! My laptop, which I am using as a flat surface for writing, chimes under my page. I look at it to see I'm getting a skype call from Marley's account. A smile crosses my face and I hit accept without thinking twice, or about my half completed french homework.
The call connects and my eyes focus on all my friends standing behind Marley and Britt in Marley's basement, wrapped in warm pajamas and sleeping bags.
"Hey guys!" I cheer, looking from one face to the other. On screen it looks like they make up an army.
"Oh my gosh Mira!" Marley exclaims, pulling her laptop closer to her. "It feels like we haven't talked in forever!"
"Yeah girl, time differences are horrible." I blame, looking at the clock again and testing myself on mental math.
"Isn't it like two in the morning for you guys?" I ask suspiciously.
"2:38 to be exact." Karley says matter-of-factly, stealing the computer so it was pointed at everyone again.
"So why are you all together when it's a Sunday?" I ask suspiciously, beginning to panic.
"Relax girl. You are always so uptight about school." Marley says, popping a popcorn in her mouth. "Tomorrow's a day off, we can send you the notice of you need proof."
"They give off-days on a monday?" I ask, trying to remember the last time it wasn't on a Friday.
"Not usually." Britt says,, "But I'll take it." She sticks her hand in a green bowl that we always reserve for the skittles.
"Fair." I say, propping up my knees and balancing my computer on top, "So what's up?"
"Not much." Marley says, "You're missing total drama here at home."
"Well fill me in." I say, prompting her.
"Okay, so remember Jessica Langley? She cheated on Derek James with Dillian Ryder but Ryder was cheating on Julia Kasey with her..." Marley continues to explain the latest gossip from home. I listen politely just glad to hear about familiar people. She talks and talks. I don't actually care that much about what high school gossip is roaming the school halls but I'm glad to hear something familiar.
Marley, Britt, the other girls and I talks for an hour, catching up on our time missed. Honestly though, I thought I missed them more. Maybe there are something's that never change.
"So how is England?" Britt asks taking a break from high school gossip.
"It's umm, it's going well." I nod, looking around the flat.
"Do you like it?" Britt poses. I pondered over this question for a moment, knowing it would come eventually. Do I really like it?
"Yeah, I do." I say honestly and fully meaning it. I really do like it here.
"That's good but don't forget about us while you're there." Marley puts forth. I chuckle slightly.
"Don't worry I can never forget you guys." I look at the clock to see its dawning close to 10:10.
"I have to go girls. Unfortunately I have classes in the morning."
"Sorry girl. Have fun."
"You too." I say signing off. The awards ceremony is pushing its time slot and the boys have already picked up an award but they are nominated in another category. The last one.
"I'll just stay up a little longer." I say to myself, finishing up the last few verbs and packing up my stuff neatly. I lie down on the couch with my feet up. When I was younger this was the position I stayed in towards the end of the awards, refusing to go to bed until it was done. I pull my blanket over me and keep my eyes awake through the various acceptance speeches. It finally comes to the last one and the presenter enthusiastically announces
"One Direction!" the boys stand up and smile proudly in the direction of the cameras and stride to the stage. Happily, they enjoy the moment.
***
"Don't hit her head." I am jostled awake from the living room couch but for some reason keep my eyes half closed. Zayn lifts me in his arms, still wearing his suit, and carries me to my room.
"Louis can you get the door?" I curl my head towards his chest and feel myself relax in his strong arms. How late is it? The boys must be tired. Why am I not in bed?
"I'll pull down the sheets." Louis says and I hear footsteps cross the room. How can Zayn be carrying me?
Zayn lay me down carefully on my soft sheets and pulls the comforter over my body. Laying a soft kiss about my forehead, I can feel him turn to leave.
"You can stay for the night." my voice says, but I don't open my eyes to see their reaction. I assume they are sort of surprised that I'm awake. Maybe scared? maybe confused?
"She's awake?" Niall whispers. I don't move.
"It's late." I say, grabbing the fluffy white comforter and feeling it's squishy softness. "You can stay the night."
They murmur to each other quietly for a second or so. I don't know what they said but after a moment they move around the room and Louis climbs in the sheets with me.
"Thank-you." he whispers, holding me close in his arms. I don't reply. Just lean towards his chest and enjoy his presence.
***
Beep! beep! beep! my preset alarm wakes me in a panic. I lean over Louis quickly to shut off the noise. On the floor just a few feet from my night stand, Niall lies down, passed out in slumber.
His face panicks me for a moment, wondering why everyone is in my room. What happened last night? It takes a moment for me to remember everything.
"Right." I whisper, climbing off the bottom of the bed and almost stepping on Harry's face. Quietly, I creep out of my room and dress in the bathroom down the hall.
My uniform slips on me easily and warmly, hugging my body. Softly, I ease out of the room and tiptoe across the hardwood floor to the kitchen, trying not to make a noise.
I pour some milk into a bowl of cereal and eat it standing up. Looking at the clock I realize it's going to be a while before the boys wake up.
I pull out some bagels from the fridge to defrost for the boys later in the day and place them on individual plates for easiness later. The I pull out some mugs and fill the teapot for later.
I run out the door with ten minutes to spare and lock it behind me. Then I make my way down the steps and towards the school for the day ahead.