Pain is Just a Simple Compromise (One Direction Fan Fiction)

Chapter 1: A Familiar Face

DING DONG!

The doorbell rings and I rush to answer it, stopping in front of the mirror to check my hair and makeup is okay; not a single, naturally-blonde, wavy hair out of place, and I don't look like I've been gang-banged by Crayola. I swing the door open and am pulled into a pair of strong, naturally tanned arms.

"Hey! I missed you!" One of my favorite people in the world, Harry Styles, practically screams at me as he engulfs me in a crushing embrace.

"Hey, I missed you too!" I laugh and pull out of his embrace. "Come in- Oh wait; is it okay for you to talk to me? Am I cool enough to be talking to the gorgeous Harry Styles, 1/5 of the world-famous One Direction?" I peer out of the door, pretending to look for paparazzi.

"Shut up." He grins and takes my hand, pulling me inside and slamming the door behind us. He drags me towards the kitchen and I grab some Coke out of the fridge.

"So... how was the first world tour?" I ask, pouring us both a glass.

"Incredible! But I missed everyone so much!" He sighs, sitting on a stool in front of the kitchen counter.

"I bet you've been back to see your mum though, haven't you, Mummy's boy?" I laugh and he flicks my arm.

"Shut up! Maybe...." He blushes lightly, his dimples growing more prominent as he tries to fight a smile, and I giggle.

"Three whole months of doing things for yourself; however did you cope?"

"Right, you meanie, I was going to take you to a welcome home party with the boys, but..."

"Yay!" I jump onto his lap and he laughs. "I'm so sorry; you're my bestest friend ever and you're not a mummy's boy! Please take me, pleeeeeeeeeeease?"

"Okay." Harry sighs and I climb off of his lap. "But if you embarrass me I'll tell them some cringy stories, like the time we went to that party and..."

"Okay, okay, I won't!" I cut him off and he chuckles.

"And I'm so sorry that I missed your 18th! I have a present for you later!" He grins cheekily.

"That's okay, I missed yours too. Here you go." I grab his present out of my hand bag and hand it to him. I also give him a card with "1D" stamped all over it and laugh as he tears into the present like a small child on Christmas morning. His eyes widen in shock when he sees what I have bought him and I blush.

"You remembered?" He pulls the Calvin Klein wallet out of the box. We were shopping before he went away and he pointed this out, so when he sneaked off to buy my present I bought it for him.

"You like?" I giggle nervously and he hugs me.

"Yeah, I do. Thank you." He runs his hand through his sexy dark curls, still holding me tight with his other arm. I relish in the warmth and familiarity of his embrace and then mentally kick myself; I can't think of him that way anymore.

"Good." I laugh, gently stepping out of his embrace before it gets awkward. "Are we going or what?"

"Yeah, c'mon; you'll love my new car!" He says as he grabs his stuff and runs out of the front door. I quickly text my mum: "going to Harry's. See you later. Love you xx", and wait till she replies: "Okay. Have fun. Love you too xx" before following Harry out of the door. I know I'm eighteen now but it's still important that my mum knows where I am, considering I'm living with her. Plus I'm too lazy to go and find some paper and leave a note... I lock the door and then turn around and stop in awe when I catch sight of his new car.

"You like?" He jokes from the front seat of his brand new, metallic-silver Audi TT.

"Yeah, of course I do! But you've only just got your license; no way are you experienced enough to have a brand new car!" I sigh, turning and looking at my heap-of-crap Fiesta in the drive.

"Yeah, well, I played the whole 'I'm an adult now and I'm in a band' thing and my parents gave in." He grins cheekily.

"Unfair!" I exclaim as I climb into the front seat and sink into the gorgeous leather seats.

"Happy late-birthday!" Harry drops a card and present into my lap, interrupting my admiration of the interior of his car.

"Oooh thanks." I open the card first to be polite and then I rip into the present like a madman.

"Oh. My. God." I just stare at the signed One Direction calendar in front of me; and when I say signed; I mean all of them have signed little messages on each of their pictures.

"Well, what do you think?" He nudges me. I know he thinks I only like 1D because he's in it, but he's wrong; he being in it is just a bonus! It's Louis I really like...

"I love it! Thank you!" I have a slight fan girl moment which I attempt to silence... unsuccessfully.

"Well, you can thank the guys when we get there." He laughs at the little excited squeak that escapes my lips and then speeds off in the direction of his house with me still slightly drooling over my birthday present. I know it seems like more of a 15 year-old girl obsession as opposed to an 18 year-old girl obsession but come on; who can resist 'em?