Zayn Malik
Zayn could still remember the first time they were in this room. The ugly coloured walls were still the same, decorated with that ridiculously expensive painting that he used to stare at everytime to avoid eye contact with the management. Zayn was pretty sure he could paint the same picture in ten minutes for a small fraction of the original price.
God, were they so young and naive back then, laughing between themselves, mirroring the way little boys were when they get caught at school for doing something stupid they prided in doing. But not everything stayed the same.
Back then everything was for the shits and the giggles. Nothing compared to how it was now.
Before, they will be sent to this very room for pulling a stupid prank. Or maybe for turning up tipsy to a certain charity event being held. Maybe even for letting a paparazzi capture them caught in a foolish act.
Oh no did it compare. These things were like child's play compared to the troubles they got in now.
Zayn was confused himself as to why things had turned out the way they had. Things were so good for them back then, they hardly ever struggled. They had risen from being normal school boys to being acclaimed as the world biggest boyband in a short space of time.
"Are you happy now, Zayn?" Liam harshly said bringing him out of his thoughts.
Zayn tensed against his scrutiny but said nothing. No one knew what he was going through right now. Why he was acting this way. And he wanted to keep it that way, afraid in becoming a burden to the band.
"I'm talking to you." Liam tried again.
Still, he said nothing.
"Are you -"
"Leave it, Liam." Louis said as he watched the two fight. Well, it was more of a one sided fight really.
"Why should I? For all we know, he's still drunk." Liam glared at Zayn and willed him to react. "Besides, he's the reason we're in here now."
Louis nearly rolled his eyes at his childlessness. He knew that Liam was only doing this to blame it on someone, to avoid getting himself caught in the problem. "Don't be so fucking stupid. It was everyone's fault as well as his. Everyone had a part in this."
Liam opened his mouth to retort something back but stopped when he saw the management entering the room.
They entered like they usually did, all business, no joke. This time, however, something was different. As one of them looked in his direction, he was shocked. The man looked spent, almost as if he had grown weary of the band. In fact, they all did.
And that only meant one thing.
"No." he whispered and tried to keep his emotions settled. Were they really going to do this? Were they going to end One Direction?
Even the others seemed to pick up on this as they suddenly grew tense and the air strained around them. They waited for someone to speak, afraid to break the fragile silence.
"Do you all know why you've been sent here?" One of the men, the one in glasses, said.
Liam knew that he shouldn't say anything to make the situation worse, but still Louis sent a glare in his way as an extra precaution.
Liam looked at him, I know, I'm not that dumb.
Harry cleared his throat. "We have an idea but we're not entirely sure why." He chose his words carefully, knowing the seriousness of the situation.
"We're sure that you have an idea, Mr. Styles." Another man with an upturned nose said. His words held an amused tone to it, like he was mocking Harry. "You hold quite a number in addition to the pile."
Harry frowned at this. No need to be rude. he wanted to say. Though of course he couldn't say that as he would just be adding 'to the pile' of whatever problems the management seemed to be listing.
"Anyway, you are all aware of how awful the look of your current situation is."
"I wouldn't say-"
The man have Niall a stern look. "It wasn't a question, Mr.Horan."
But Niall, who was hardly in the right state right now having consumed probably half the liquor contents of the bar, ignored this. "Will you ever stop calling me that?" He said, slurring his words a little if you listen carefully "Mr. Horans my dad."
The man frowned even more at this, sensing that Niall wasn't in the right mind. He sighed long and hard and if it wasn't for the faith he was holding, he would have given up on these boys ages ago. His mind told him that this plan would work, and he held hope on that.
With that, he then proceeded in telling them the plan.
"... This lovely young young lady is called Eva Hunt and she is to write fanfiction on you, and also create a beter image of all of you to her hundreds and thousands of followers."
"I don't get it," Niall drawled. "how can writing fairytales on us be helpful?" He looked genuinely confused, that Zayn had to stifle a laugh.
"Writing these so called fairytales, are what indicates what you're fans feel or think about you. Hardly anyone may recognise it but people usually portray you in what they think you behave in normal life or what you are capable of."
"For example, why would anyone write about someone as being evil when one is clearly not evil?" He paused to let this sink in everyone's heads. "There will always be that thought that that person is capable of being that, even if small."
Louis, who wasn't quite persuaded yet asked, "So what does this Eva girl do?"
"She will portray you in a different light of course." He said as if the answer was obvious.
"So you want her to lie about us?" Harry said.
The man wasn't taken aback. "You may not believe it, but fanfiction can influence a lot of peoples perspective. Think of it as a little like PR." he smiled.
Louis sighed and shook his head, still not fully in support. "I don't believe that fanfiction will help our problems. We are in too deep to play around with something that may not even work."
"Ah, but that's the thing Mr.Tomlinson." Louis nearly winced at that, his age taking a big hit. "It may not work bit it may also work. This aswell is not the only thing to the plan. We are also planning to use the oldest trick in the PR book."
"And what exactly is this?" Liam asked cautiously.
"Fake dating, or course." The man laughed. "How many times have your fans asked 'when are you going to date a fan?' Well, we're giving them exactly what they want. Eva is still a follower of yours and so, dating her would hopefully raise you on the good books of directioners."
"We have discussed this and we all think that the most suitable person to date her would be Harry."
"Why does he get called by his first name?" Niall sulkily muttered.
"What!" Harry shouted, getting of his chair. "With all due respect sir but I don't think I'm the best choice."
Liam snorted. "This is us giving you a chance to settle down with one girl. I suggest you take it," he said in a snarky tone.
Harry's head snapped in his direction. "What the hell is that supposed to mean." he growled.
"You know exactly what it means."
"You don't understand, there's a reason why I don't date." Harry shook his head in a desperate motion.
"And why is that?" Liam's eyebrows rose.
Harry couldn't say anything, his mouth glued together. No one knew about his past. Not even the boys he called his brothers. Only Louis knew some detail but didn't even know the whole story.
Louis sensing his best mate's sticky situation, butted in. "Liam, can you please lay off. You're acting like such a dick." Then he turned to the management, who were watching the show with amused eyes. "If this is a shot to help us be better, we'll gladly take it."
Harry reached out to him with wide eyes. "But Louis I-"
"Don't worry." He tried to reassure him, placing his hands on Harry's. "Well figure something out."
Harry looked down at their entwined hands then stared into Louis' eyes. "Okay... okay."
"Boys? Is there something going on here?" One of the men asked, switching his gaze from the both of them in surprise.
"With what?" Louis and Harry looked confused.
Zayn snickered at the men's thoughts. Although it did look and sound like Harry and Louis were in a relationship (especially with the show they put up just now) he knew better than to think that. Those two were just tight as two best friends can be.
The man awkwardly cleared their throats, sensing that they weren't on the same page. "It's a good thing that your accepting our proposition."
"Can we go now?" Niall suddenly was alert, sitting up on his chair.
"However," the man continued as if there wasn't any interruptions. "There are a few conditions to ensure your safety and the success of this plan. You will be living in a house that we bought away from the hustles and bustles of the city... all together."
Things started to become chaotic. The boys all had something to say about the new living arrangement but it was only Zayn really that had the valid reason. He was already married to Perrie and was pretty sure that living with the boys wouldn't be on her wish list.
"I can't. I have a wife and you know that." he tried to protest.
They were having none of it. "No arguments. This is the final decision," one of them said sternly.
"We'll agree to all living together if Zayn can be an exception. This condition is unfair to him and Perrie." Louis tried to persuade.
"Look boys, we have discussed this and we assure you that we can see where you're coming from. However, this is your last straw, don't you get it? Mess this chance up and we won't be hearing from any of you again. So in no circumstances are any of you enclined to speak out right now and complain, when we are only trying to help you fix the miss all of you have made. Is that clear?"
With no fight in them left, the boys all muttered yes and turned to stand up, shoulders slouched.
"And one more thing. Eva will be living with you."