The Way Things Work

Chapter Three

"Well?"Eleanor nudged you as she stood between you and the mirror.

“Well what?” You laughed at her eagerness.

“What do you think?” She maneuvered her hands in front of your body as if she were trying to warm her numb fingers over a fire. 

“I wouldn’t know. You’re standing in front of the mirror.” You giggled.

“Well in that case-“ She began to slide out of the way of the mirror but your hands pressed firmly onto her arms to keep her in place. “What are you doing? She smiled sarcastically.

“I trust you. If I look in the mirror, I’ll-I’ll just be disappointed.” You looked down as a single tear fell upon her hand. 

“Hey, you look gorgeous but if you don’t want to look, so be it.” She smiled at you warmly.

“Good. Now let’s check on Sarah.” You both headed down the narrow hallway of your flat that linked the two bedrooms. “Sarah?” You tediously questioned as you pushed the door open slowly. 

“C’mon in!” She smiled, she was only half dressed. She had only a pencil skirt and a lace bra on her body; you looked at her in envy: Why can’t I look like that? She slipped a simple white flowing blouse on and walked over to you. 

“Eleanor, what have you done to my baby? You look stunning Sam!” She exclaimed.

“R-Really?” You stuttered.

“Yes really!” She shouted as she dragged you out the door due to her excitement of seeing the boys perform.

As you arrived at the theater, Eleanor lead you back stage. She took you to the luxurious dressing rooms and pulled you inside. 

“Ah, you must be Sam!” 

“S-Simon C-Cowell?” 

“In the flesh, my dear! This is Paul Higgins their manager as well as their head of security and I believe you met Rob, the publicist?” He let out a snort.

“Yes.” You murmured quietly, still in shock.

“Well, I am very excited to grow acquainted with you over dinner tonight. We will be eating in Hell’s Kitchen; I know the chef and have the entire restaurant booked out tonight.” He flashed a victorious smile and continued. “Anyway, Eleanor? Here are the private balcony seats. We will need all three of you to make your way down here before they perform ‘One Thing’. I believe it is fifth on the set list, but either way, security will be escorting you down.” 

“Okay. But, why?” El had seemed slightly confused.

”Well, tonight is Sam’s first night on the job. We will have Harry introduce her at that time.” You stomach dropped and you felt faint. “Everything will be fine lovely.” He finished and walked out with the other personnel. You remained frozen in lace with your eyes glued on the door hinges.

“Sam?” You turned to see seven, well six sets of eyes staring at you; Harry’s were cemented to his phone, again.

“Y-Yeah?” You tripped up the words.

“They told her that they were introducing her tonight.” Sarah stepped forward and slung her arm around your shoulder. 

“It’s alright, I’m-“ Louis began but was interrupted by Harry’s fit.

“WHAT?! TONIGHT? DINNER WASN’T ENOUGH, NOW I HAVE TO MAKE UP ALL OF THIS CRAP TONIGHT?!” 

“Relax Harry!” Zayn yelled.

“Relax? RELAX! NOBODY WILL EVER BELIEVE THIS GOD DAMN SCAM!”

“And why won’t they?” Niall grow defensive, yet backed down when he saw the fire ignite in Harry’s eyes. 

“NOBODY WILL EVER BELIEVE US BECAUSE SHE ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH TO DATE ME! I COULD DO SO MUCH BETTER! LIKE ANGEL!” He ranted and the room went completely silent. As hard as you tried, you could not hold back the steamy tears. In a single swift motion, you pulled yourself away from Sarah and darted out the door. You knew it. You ran to the door with the poorly drawn woman, signaling the restroom.

“Harry! I swear to God, if she cuts herself again I will kill you!” You faintly heard Sarah scream in the distance. They all continued yelling until you burst through the open bathroom stall and lost all of the contents in your stomach. Your secret was out.

You heard a group of feet barge into the bathroom complex.

“Sam?” Sarah called gently. You shot your back against the weak flap door and slid the bar lock over. “Sam, please, let me in.”

“-No.” You wept. 

“Please?”

“No. Don’t waste your time on me. You deserve a much better friend and besides I got sick so it smells.”

She let out a small giggle. “You are the best friend anyone could possibly ask for. The only reason we are here is because you decided to tough it out after you got sick in the mall. You pushed through because you knew how important it was for me to meet One Direction. Please, just let me in and take your pills.”

You slowly but surely unlocked the door to the stall and let Sarah slip in before you re-locked the door.

“Sam?” It was Liam this time. 

“Yes?”

“Would you like me to explain all of this to the rest of them?” You were slightly taken aback that he would offer to do that for you.

“Would you?”

“Of course babe.” You heard them walk out with Eleanor; well except for Harry, he was pushed.

“C’mon.” Sarah helped you off of the ground and flushed the toilet.

“I’m sorry.” You looked down in shame.

“For what?”

“For everyth-“

“No. You had every right to react this way. You did nothing wrong. Take one, not two.” She extended her hand with a single white capsule and her bottle of water.

“Why only one?”

“Because I don’t want you getting sick later on. If one isn’t doing the trick, you can take the other later.”

“Okay.” You placed the pill on your tongue, took a swish of water and shot your head back. 

“Good job.” She reassured you. She took a paper towel and dabbed it with warm water. You still had not looked in the mirror yet. She positioned you away from it and slid the cloth under your eyes. “Done.” She smiled at you. “Just know that you are lucky that you have nice skin. If you had to wear make-up you’d be a mess.” She laughed slightly.

“Liar. I am a mess.” You began to counter laugh.

“Well-“ She pretended to wince and you both keeled over from the pains of laughing. “Are you ready?”

“Yeah, we can go-“

“No, no. Turn around.” You turned and your gaze was intercepted by your own. You stared into the pair of eyes that relentlessly studied you, your face kept steady, no emotion transferred. You didn’t see ugliness though, that was a first. “Do you know what I see?” She broke the silence.

“What? An awkward fat girl? ‘Cause that’s what I see.”

“Hey, no. I see a gorgeous girl who just doesn’t see it. I see the strongest girl I have ever met, as well as the sweetest and most pleasing.”

“That’s sweet and all but-“

“But what?” She raised a brow in curiosity. 

“But, you’re a liar.” You both laughed at your funny tone and began walking toward the door.

“All sarcasm behind, I’m serious.” You walked out of the bathroom feeling a bit better than before.