Starving (One Direction)

Chapter 5. ♡

5.00

Louis' Point of View

Thursday.

We were told on Thursday that we will be living with a girl from America.

We were told by her father, who works at Modest! Management. Me and the boys had seen him around a few times and he seems to be a very nice, but strict, man. But, I mean, living with his daughter? When she could be living with him?

"Now boys, let me make myself clear. Her name is Emma, and she is 18. She is coming to London on Saturday, so be ready. She can be...eh," He paused to gulp and lick his lips, "quite a handful. I want you boys to be prepared. You will be living with her, so I want no inappropriate behavior. She is very fragile. Just...be careful." He looked down and his voice got quiet on the last two sentences.

I could tell the boys wanted to ask questions, but there was a no-nonsense feeling about this man. None of us wanted to protest about this girl. We just exchanged glances and nodded.

"If you have any questions, please feel free to call me. Just ask for Michael DiMarco and the receptionist will direct you to me. I really am busy, and I must go, but I would like to thank you boys for doing this."

"No problem."

"It's our pleasure."

"It's alright, Mr. DiMarco.

He nodded his head at the door and smiled at us. We slowly made our way out the door and into the hallway where we stopped to look at each other.

Niall ran his hand through his hair and said, "I don't want some girl living with us. She's probably like, crazy or something. Why else would her own father not want to live with her?"

Liam wrapped an arm around the blonde's shoulders and sighed. "I know none of you boys want to do this, but we have to. We work for him. It's gonna be alright, though."

We murmured complaints under our breath, but Liam had no intentions of telling Mr. DiMarco that we wouldn't do it.

I turned on my heel and led the way down the long, brightly lit hallway and the rest of the boys followed behind. As usual, there was a limousine waiting right outside the door. I climbed in first, followed by Harry, Zayn, Liam, then Niall. We were silent while the driver started heading home.

Harry broke the silence by saying, "I have a feeling that I'm going to like this girl."

••••••••

Saturday came quickly and soon enough the boys and I were piled into a limousine and taken to the airport. We are currently sitting in the car right outside the door, waiting for Gregory, our driver, and Emma to walk through the exit.

Niall is bouncing up and down in his seat, excited. The complete opposite of his first reaction when he heard of Emma. He's smiling and staring out the window, asking us questions about her, even though we know nothing more than he does.

"What color hair does she have?"

"Is she nice?"

"What color are her eyes?"

"Do you think we're gonna like her?"

Niall keeps throwing out questions and not giving time for anyone to answer. He's making me nervous with all his bouncing and excitement.

I chuckled, "Niall, we don't know anything about her. Alright? In a few mi-" I was cut off by Harry gasping and pointing at the exit through the window. We all snap our heads around too look at a girl standing in front of the doors.

Gregory took her luggage cart and wheeled it to the trunk of the car while we continued to stare at her. Emma's long, dark hair is contrasting to her pale skin. A fuzzy brown blanket was pulled tightly over her chest as she looked at the people around her. Her big brown eyes glanced at everyone exiting and entering the building. A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth and she looks happy with herself. Proud.

I snapped my head back around as Liam whispered, "She's tiny." He shook his head in disbelief.

Niall added, "How can she be so small?"

I looked back out the tinted windows and dragged my eyes over her body. Under the blanket, she was wearing tight jeans and a torn up leather jacket. Her wrists are so small that I can break it with two fingers. She is so thin. She is made of glass; she will shatter if you touch her.

I remember a friend of my sisters was small like her. She was starving herself. She thought she was fat and ugly so she stopped eating in hope of becoming thin and perfect and beautiful. She denied everything, even when the hospital tests proved that she hadn't eaten in almost three weeks.

She ended up dying.

So you could say that I have my suspicions about Emma. I'm gonna have to watch her.

Gregory jogs over to where she is standing and says something while gesturing to the limo. He pulls the door open and she makes pushes her lips together, but slides in the vehicle. Her eyes are closed before she realizes that she's not alone.

Emma leans her head against the headrest and stays completely still for a while before Harry clears his throat.

Her eyes fly open and she gasps and jumps at the sight of five boys in the car with her. When she jumps, her blanket falls off her shoulders and her hands fly up to protect her.

As though we would hit her.

Suddenly, she clutches her stomach and bends over, groaning in pain. When she bends, I can see her spine through her jacket. And thats a pretty thick jacket.

The boys and I have no idea what to do, so we sit with wide eyes until she looks back up.

Harry reaches out and says in his raspy voice, "Are you alright, miss? We didn't mean to shock you."

Her eyes go cold and she snaps back, "I'm fine. Don't touch me."

We all jerk back and raise our eyebrows, questioning her. Hsrry puts his hands up and mumbles, "Okay. Sure.''

Emma pulls the blanket back around her and drags her knees to her chest. "Why are you in here?" She asks. She looks at each one of us, taking her time with Niall.

Liam leans forward. "Your father works with the management company for our band. He sent us to come get you. He wants us to become friends with you, Emma."

"Sounds like him. He can't even come get me himself. He sends his slaves to do it. Typical." She continues, "He doesnt care about me. I don't see why I'm even here."

I speak up and say, "Hey, your dad does care about you. Don't say that."

She shoots back, "Don't tell me what to do." Emma looks me in the eyes as if daring me to argue.

Niall laughs as he pats Harry on the back, "She's a fiesty one. Good luck Harry."

Emma squints her eyes at us. "Who are you people?"

For the first time, Zayn speaks up. "You really don't know who we are?" When she replies with a blunt "no," he continues. "I'm Zayn."

I jump into the seat next to her and extend my hand for her to shake. "I'm Louis. Nice to meet you Emma." She ignores my hand. I don't think she likes any of us.

She looks at the other boys and waits for them to introduce themselves.

Niall grins as he says, "Niall."

"Liam."

Harry, however, decides to do something different from the rest of us. He does what he normally does to get a girl. The "act all mysterious and sexy and charming" thing.

It failed.

When Harry whispers his name to her, I can hear her mumble, "dick" under her breath.

So I was right. She doesn't like us.

But we definitely like her. She's not like most girls. Aside from being extremely thin, of course.