Life With Mr. Malik (ON HOLD)

Chapter 12: Get Used To It

"TREASURE! THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as I lathered soap onto my body. Shaking the booty my mom blessed me with, I put back the soap and took the shampoo bottle. "YOU'RE MY GOLDEN STAR." I serenaded the bottle. After a few more snaps, failed splits, jazz hands and can-cans, the song ended much to my dismay. Not only that but my entire hypothetical concert was interrupted by a loud knock on the door.

"WHAT?!" I yelled over the sound of the shower.

The person behind the door groaned. "Will you please pipe down?! I'm trying to study!"

"I'm warming up my vocals!" I shot back.

"What vocals?"

LOW BLOW, AUSTIN. Well, the joke's on you because when I become a famous musician, I will not allow you to join me backstage. I will not let you ride in my limousine with the cool top window. And I most certainly will not get you JLo's autograph no matter how many times you drop to your knees or offer to buy me pizza. "Well, I-" I started, unable to come up with a good comeback. "Well, your hair looks funny. And, and . . . I never did like your Funky Frosted Flapjacks." I said indignantly, crossing my arms as if Austin could see.

There was a pause.

"You didn't?"

Sighing out of defeat, I said. "Okay, fine. I love them. They're heaven on a plate." I turned off the shower, hopped out and wrapped my favorite fluffy towel around myself. With my head held high, I stormed out of the bathroom without as much a glance in Austin's direction.

"Hey, Miles?" His voice caused me to turn around.

"Have you come to apologize?" I asked casually.

He shook his head, laughing. "No way I'm doing that."

"Then. What. Do. You. Want?" I demanded.

Austin didn't say anything for a while and I, being the impatient girl that I am, rolled my eyes and began to babble. "Can you please say something because I'm not exactly in the most comfortable state right now, what with only a towel, regardless of how fluffy it is, covering my body? In addition to that, as we speak, droplets of water are running down places I'd rather not tell you."

"Alright, alright." Austin said irritably, waving me off. "Just tell Zayn that if he ever breaks your heart, I'm going to have to break something." He then added quickly, "In his body, I mean."

My insides warmed with glee the moment he said those words because for the first time ever, my older brother was acting . . . like an older brother. For the longest time ever, the most brotherly thing he's ever done was tell me about the dog poo on the sidewalk right after I had stepped on it!

So, I walked up to him and gave him a big hug.

"Uh, Miles?"

Pressing a finger to his lips, I whispered. "No, shh. Don't ruin the moment. This is beautiful."

"But-," he started.

I shook my head. "No, no. Shh."

"But Miles," he said with a tone of exasparation. "This feels uncomfortable in places I'd rather not tell you."

+ + +

"What do you do when you hear hecklers?"

"Ignore them."

"Good girl."

"What do you do when the paparazzi touch you?"

"Scream 'RAPE!'"

"Exactly! Wait, what . . . no . . . MILES!"

As crazy as this may sound, the boys and I were in their tour bus, going over how I should think and act once we left the vehicle and were exposed to hundreds of screaming fans and paparazzi. I guess my last answer caught them offguard because Niall and Harry nearly got thrown off their seats after we passed a speed bump and the other three cast me funny looks.