Simon's Secret (One Direction FanFiction)

Chapter 4

  "Hey, guys," I mumbled, standing up and brushing grass from my jeans. "Nice to see you again... What's going on?" Niall and Harry stared at me with open mouths, obviously not understanding what had just happened. Well, I'm sure Harry at least kind of understood.

  Niall pulled himself together enough to say, "Uh, Alex, why the heck were you on the floor? Didn't you say you had to go babysit your little sister or something? Please explain this to me slowly, I don't usually understand things that well the first time around." I paused for a moment, my gaze flicking over to Harry. What could my excuse be this time?

  "I, uh, left my jacket upstairs. You guys were having a meeting, and I, umm, didn't want to interrupt. I'll just go get it now..." I lied.

  "Alex!" Harry called accusingly. "Not again. Oh, you're lying has gotten better by the way, just try to say 'um' less." I blushed at that point, dropping my eyes. "Anyways, you're not getting away with it this time. Remember what happened before?"

  I scoffed, "Uh, yeah, we met at a coffee shop and got to know each other better. Do you remember, Harry?" He rolled his eyes at me. "Now I really do have to go. I can't stay here, even if I don't have to go look after my little sister. I just can't be here, okay?" Niall and Harry shook their heads in unison. Apparently, I wasn't getting off that easy this time.

  On the outside I was trying to looking cool and convincing, but I was seriously freaking out. How did Harry manage to catch me again? Of course, falling off of my wall all the time probably didn't help keep me hidden.

  "Not okay," Harry said. "I admit, last time didn't go that bad, but this time you're not going to just leave again. I'm going to leave. Don't get your hopes up, though, because I'm coming back here at seven, and you're going to be here too. We're going to go get dinner and you're going to tell me what's really going on here."

  I caught Harry shoot a short look to Niall, who seemed to be... Glaring? Was he angry about something? As soon as he noticed that I was looking he wiped the expression away, but I was still pretty confused. At that moment I was reminded of my father just minutes before, and almost broke into laughter.

  "Uhh," I stuttered and answer, "Alright. Deal, then - but just one little thing." He nodded and motioned for me to continue speaking. "Don't expect the whole truth. I hardly know you, Harry, so I won't be telling you everything."

  Harry nodded thoughtfully. We then decided to part ways, each of us saying our goodbyes, Niall's a but quieter than usual. I waved to the boys as they rounded the corner of the house, but didn't go around to the front door to go back inside. My dad was still in the kitchen, and I didn't warn to deal with him. Plus, I HAD to get this climbing thing down.

  As I started up the wall, I tried to focus more on my feet than anything. They were what had slipped the past two times. Unfortunately, my mind kept wandering off to Harry and Niall. And tonight. And how they still thought I was a my best friend's daughter.

  That was the main reason why I missed the next handhold, but it also could have been that the next handhold was two feet above me. So, obviously enough, I fell from the building.

  Time for attempt number four.

****

  By the time I finally it up to my bedroom, the sun was setting and my muscles were aching. I fell through the window and didn't have the energy to stand up, but DID have the energy to keep my eyes open. I think I would have rather stood up.

  "Glad you could join me," my father said from my bed. "Have a rough time getting up here? Probably not as hard as lying as awful much as you do, though, right?" I couldn't decide whether or not he wanted an answer to that. After a couple moments where the sound in the room was my heavy breathing, I chose not to say anything.

  My dad sighed, "Get up, Al. I think we need to talk... about a lot of things." For better or for worse, I was able to get up off the ground and follow him downstairs and into the family room.

  I sat down on the couch across from my father, crossed my legs in a business-like fashion. He kept his legs on the ground like a normal person, but I promise, he wasn't normal. I beckoned for him to start speaking.

  "Alex," he started, "I know life isn't easy for you. I understand that it's really hard to have a name that isn't your own, to be someone you're not to all of your friends. It's difficult, and I get that. However, as hard as that may be, it doesn't give you the right to start acting crazy. Now I want you to tell me - from the start - how you met my boys."

  So I told him. I told him everything from the point where I had fallen off the house the first time to the point where I had fallen off the second time. Keeping in mind, of course, that I couldn't tell him that Harry and I were going out tonight. If I hadn't told my dad what was going on, things would get even worse.

  After I finished the tale, my father just sat before me gaping. He managed to stutter, "And... and this all happened without anyone knowing?" I nodded at him, deciding that he didn't need to know about Emerald.

  Coming back to his senses, my dad said, "You can't hang around them. I won't have it. You could give away your identity, and therefor ruin their career. Don't ask me how, Alex, it's very complicated. Just stay away from them."

  "Excuse me?" I said, my eyes wide. "I don't remember signing anything that said you can tell me what to do. Especially not tell me who I can and cannot be friends with! Look, Dad, that's not how it works. I'll hang around whoever I want to, got it?" My attitude was probably going to get me grounded, but I wasn't going to stick around to find out.

  Before he could respond, I jumped up from my seat and ran up the stairs. My bedroom door was closed and locked before my dad had even made it to the first step. For now I was safe, because  my father had a meeting with someone in ten minutes.

  I whipped out my cellphone and dialed Emerald. I was going to need her help - desperately.

  "Get over here now!" I ordered as soon as she picked up. "Something really important came up and I need your styling skills! I'll explain when you get here, just hurry. My dad might only be gone for an hour."

  "Got it, I'm on my way," Emerald replied, and before she hung up I could hear the sound of a car engine starting up. I ran to my closet and began throwing dresses and outfits that might work on the bed behind me. Em would choose the right one.

  We were going to be totally ready for Harry.