The Plans We Make

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

A loud banging on the door rang throughout the apartment followed by Beth screaming at the top of her lungs, "I'm here, now open this damn door!"

Ashley got up and sauntered over to the door and gently opened it. "Hey babe, took you long enough! I was almost dying of starvation" she greeted and yanked the brown package Chinese take-out goodness from her friend's hands.

"Yeah, well someone wanted extra pineapple chicken that took an extra 15 minutes to cook." Beth replied, lightly flicking the back of Ashley's head.

"Hey! I like my Chinese food a certain way with certain dishes," Ashley defended herself, patting the injured spot at the base of her neck. "Jess! Ria! The food's finally here!"

Ashley unpacked the food, placed it in a neat and organized manner on the counter top and allowed her three best friends to fill their plates up first, while she threw away the leftover packaging. She filled her plate up last and joined her friends in the living room. She grabbed her seat on the floor, between Jessica and Maria and the four began eating away.

"When are the boys getting back?" Maria asked between mouthfuls of her General Tao chicken. Ashley tsked as drops of the sauce fell onto the glass coffee table. She grabbed a napkin and wiped away at it. She hated messes and the idea of ruining such a beautiful apartment. Seeing as this place was a gift, she made sure to keep it in the best shape possible.

The flat was absolute perfection to the girls, with its steel appliances in the kitchen, floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the city of London adjacent to floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, the plush black leather couches and its wide flat screen television mounted on the wall.

Deep reds, rich purples and ashy grey decorative pillows adorned the couches, a black and white abstract painting hung on the wall of a hallway leading to five doors. The kitchen counters were granite, with black wood cupboards and a breakfast bar.

Living in a space this beautiful meant it needed the upmost care, and out of the four girls Ashley was the only one willing enough to clean after her three messy best friends. It was the least she could do after everything they've done for her. If it weren't for her friends, she wouldn't be sitting here in such a gorgeous home, under five of the best things that's ever happened to her.

"Liam texted me saying they just landed and should be here in about an hour since there were some fans," Jessica answered

"Yay!" Maria cheered, smiling at Ashley, Jessica and Beth. The three smiled back, the excitement of what was to come bubbling inside each of them. It was currently mid-June. The girls had been living in London for approximately two months now. With their first complete summer in London coming up the boys had planned to take time off from their busy schedules. They had just finished their second tour and were heading back to their penthouse apartment, right above the girls, for a relaxing season with their favorite ladies.

"What are we doing tonight then?" Beth inquired as she picked up all the empty plates, trotted off to the kitchen and dumped them in the sink.

"Just hanging out here, I guess." Ashley replied, lifting herself off the floor and falling onto the couch. Beth ran over and tackled Ashley, laying her full body on top of her friends and pinching her cheeks.

"You know I love you, boo." Beth giggled in a child-like voice.

"Yes, now get off me!" Ashley demanded, pushing the petite girl aside, "what're we gonna do now for forty-five minutes?"

"We could watch some TV?" Beth suggested.

"Nope. There's nothing on." Maria had already made herself comfortable on the adjacent leather couch, remote in hand, aimlessly flicking through the channels.