Back Down to Earth

Chapter 1

BEEEP BEEP BEEEP

Harry's phone went off, making him sit up in alert. "Why is Simon calling me?" He asked himself, his voice groggy and memory blurry in the haziness of the morning.

"Um, hello?" He softly spoke into the phone.

"Ah Harry! Glad you're up! I am going to need you and the boys to meet me in my office to discuss some very important business with me. Come around 9?"

"Yeah, uh sure... Do you need me to call the other guys?"

"No no I can do that myself, just do NOT be late Harold." He finished and hung up abruptly. Harry managed to carry himself out of bed, and into the kitchen for a quick breakfast before heading off to Simon's office here in London.

Many thoughts filtered through his head, what could possibly be this important? Another world tour for 2014? Will they be performing at an award show? Did we win an award? But he couldn't find anything that made sense to why Simon needed them so desperately.

After a not so luxurious breakfast of toast and orange juice, Harry went of to get dressed.

He stood in the mirror, gazing back at the man covered with tattoos, barely recognizing him.

"I'm here! Sorry I'm a little late, I lost track of time..." Harry sputtered out, as he entered Simon's office with the rest of the boys already sitting at a round table.

"Harry, I specifically told you not to be late." Simon scolded him. "But I guess you're all very curious as to why you're here." All the boys nodded in agreement. "Well," Simon continued, "Perhaps you boys haven't noticed, but none of you have been yourselves lately. You may not see it, but the fame has finally broken through to you." He let the words sink in, but all the boys sat there on confusion. "What I'm saying is, you pay no attention to the fans, you're running around getting tattooed like no tomorrow, and all of your egos have gotten to big to still fit the whole 'cute boy band' imagine we have been going for."

"So what does all this mean? Why does it matter if we get tattooed?" Zayn asked running his hand through his hair.

"I'll just get to the point then. Pack your bags boys, you're stepping out of the lime light and back into reality, you're moving!"

The only sound in the room was of jaws dropping.

"To where exactly?" Louis huffed, crossing his arms.

"Some rural town in America. Free of paparazzi and mobs of fans. You'll be living with a family whose father and I are

very close. You will be expected to do your share of chores and anything else they ask of you."

There were mixed emotions in the room. Zayn and Louis looked furious, Harry looked bewildered, Liam looked regretful, and Niall just seemed confused.

"But the press, and the fans! They'll wonder where we are! We can't just drop our career for a few months!" Harry shouted in heat.

"Oh bet you can!" Simon replied, "I will be making an announcement that you boys will be traveling to some forest in help of preserving the rain forest, or some other lie. I can say whatever and they will believe it, I'm Simon Cowell!"

"I think maybe it's you who needs the ego check.." Niall whispered, causing some muffled laughs among the boys.

"I'm done discussing this. You leave in two days. No cell phones, or laptops, or iPods or iPads. Nothing but whatever is absolutely necessary. You will be taking the private jet just to avoid any airport riots. Be ready at seven." Simon ordered them all to leave.

"This is ridiculous!"

"Completely retarded!"

"Our egos have not gotten bigger!" A medley of complains echoed through the halls as the boys exited in despair.