Before She Falls

Chapter 24

To: Harry Styles

Really Styles?

From: Harry Styles

What?

To: Harry Styles

It sucks that my eyes are actually grey, we could have been perfect for each other ;)

From: Harry Styles

Oh yeah right, those things are definitely blue.

To: Harry Styles

Sh, stop distracting me. I have to watch my cousin and his friends on TV.

From: Harry Styles

So cheeky today, I like it.

I take my eyes away from my phone and glue them back to the television as the show pops back onto the screen.

The boys are all standing on a different stage with a full band behind them, drums, guitars, and all.

"Here's One Direction with a song off of their new album, Midnight Memories!" Ellen introduces them from the side of the stage and then the camera zooms in onto the boys.

The music starts up and the crowd at the show screams up until Harry pulls the microphone to his mouth.

"Straight off the plane to a new hotel" his raspy voice is singing into the microphone and it sounds fantastic. "Just touched down, you could never tell."

"Didn't he date Taylor Swift?" Madison asks while the camera view is still focused on Harry.

"Uh yeah, I think so" I answer.

I mean, I've never been obsessed with celebrities and who they're dating but I couldn't help knowing that Harry and Taylor dated some time last year. It's just common knowledge for a teenager at this point because of Twitter, mostly. And who doesn't want to know who Taylor Swift is dating this week?

The song continues on for another two minutes and I realize that I've never even heard the boys sing their own songs, like live or anything. Of course I went to a few X-Factor shows when I was able to, and I've heard their songs all over the radio but I've never seen them singing their own songs on stage at a concert or anywhere else. Just a random thought, but I find it sort of odd. However I did hear Harry half-singing one of their songs in the bathroom the day he sleepwalked while I was in the shower...

A long strum of a guitar ends the song and the all the boys lower their microphones from their lips.

"Give it up for the One Direction boys!" The camera zooms in on Ellen, who is on the side stage clapping away.

The whole audience is standing and screaming, some of the girls are even crying.

The camera view is now on the boys who are walking over to Ellen to hug her with smiles on their faces.

"I think we're going to go to England" my mother says out of the blue.

"Really?" I ask as soon as I process her statement.

"Yeah" she replies and nods her head.

"Where are we going to stay?" Madison looks at my mom.

"Probably a hotel, I don't want to trouble Karen that much" she replies.

"I don't want to go" Maddie says after a moment of silence in the room.

"Why?" I ask, a little annoyed that my sister is shooting down the idea so quickly.

"Because I don't" she says in such a thirteen-year-old-girl way.

"Why don't you want to go?" My mom asks Madison.

"Why do I have to go?" Maddie says defensively. "If I don't want to go, I'm going to have a crappy time anyway so why don't I save everyone the trouble and money and just not go."

"Okay, what's wrong?" I almost don't let her finish her rant.

I know whatever this is, it isn't just about England. This isn't how Madison acts, like ever. She's usually pretty laid back and I wouldn't think she would refuse going to England so passionately. So using my big-sister powers I make the assumption that something else is really bothering her.

"Nothing's wrong. I just don't want to waste the last part of my summer going somewhere I don't even want to be."

"Something's up" I let Madison know that I know there's something wrong. "There something bothering you besides this England thing."

"No there isn't!" Madison practically yells and I hear my mom try to chime in but Maddie continues. "I don't want to go back to England. I don't want to visit anyone, I want to stay here."

"Then don't go" I say calmly.

"Katrina" my mother scolds me for encouraging my sister to miss out on the trip, but I don't even care. I'm pissed at her for trying to ruin this trip, I really want to go. And I wasn't going to let my little sister get in the way of a family trip back to our hometown.

"What? If she doesn't want to go, she shouldn't have to" I reply, agreeing with Madison in hopes that maybe she'll be confused by my little reverse-psychology trick and give in.

"Madison, you're going. You haven't seen your family in two years. We all need a break from America too" my mom looks to Madison, but her eyes are focused on the carpet below her.

"I don't" Madison responds to my mother rudely.

"You're being a brat, Maddie" I admit to her and she looks up to give me the meanest glare I've ever seen.

"Shut up" she fires back as she stands up.

"Madison, go to your room" my mother instructs her. "I'll be up there in a minute to talk to you."

Maddie gives her a scowl but agrees and huffs her way up the stairs.

Once Madison slams her door upstairs my mom turns to me, "Do you think she's upset about going back because of your father?"

"I don't think so, mom" I shake my head. "Why would she be so upset about him being there?"

I can see my mother's eyes prick with small tears as she answers me, "Well I am."