Masked Nightmare (JLS)

There was a knock on the white door. “Who is it?!” I called through the door
“ITS MICHAEL JACKSON! Who do you think it is, idiot!” I flung open the door and Lyra hurtled into my arms “Congrats little one! Ohmygod a mini-fridge! I’ve always wanted one of these. And then I would put inside my actual fridge and have double fridged food!” I lifted the mini-fridge out of Lyra’s hands
“But not here, and definitely not now” she frowned
“BORING!” she danced to the sofa “Ahh, it’s all fluffy and white and clean!” she belly-flopped onto it. “AND BOUNCY! How dare you Emilie. You didn’t tell me you had a really bouncy sofa!”
“No Lyra, don’t try and jump on it, I’m in a flat, there’s probably some rule against it” she frowned again.
“Right come on then Miss. Perfect. Get a move on, come sit and talk to me now!”
“Ok, ok, I’m coming” I flopped down next to her
“OMG, I’m so sad right now, guess who’s tour I couldn’t get us tickets too?”
“Who?” I had a slight feeling I knew who she was talking about
“LE WANTED! You know we met them at Astios party. And I was like, ooh the code, let’s go! And then there were no tickets left. I nearly cried!”
“Oh damn, that would have been fun!” I said quickly, “But how’s Alex?” she frowned suspiciously
“Alex?” I giggled
“Yeah, your boyfriend!”
“Oh shut up! I just thought you would be more interested in the tickets!”
“C’mon, we’ve met them face to face. Why would we need to go see them?” I made up frantically
“Whats going on Emilie-lu, tell me NOW!”
“Nothing, I’m just saying, bad luck for not getting the tickets but we have already seen them, so well done to all the ‘Fanmily’ for getting them” she still gazed at me warily
“Hmm, Alex is fine”
“No, that will not do, don’t be boring!”
“OK, fine, Alex, well, he’s not as interesting as your boyfriend, ‘He was late yesterday as the photoshoot ran over and tomorrow he’s got an album signing and next week a meet and greet and then in March an Arena Tour’ Well no, he’s just got a new job”
“Ooh! What?” I asked grinning
“Well you know he’s been training for that architect job thing?” Lyra asked scratching her ear “well he’s qualified and he’s got the job!”
“Ohmygod! Well done Alex! Give him my congratulations, urgh, I feel so proud!”
“You sound like his mother Emilie!”
“Aww, Alex is so sweet!”
“Back off my boy!” she grinned, “Anyway enough about me, wasn’t little Asty at the Brits a couple of weeks ago?”
“Yes, with his band, it wasn’t just Aston, Lyra”
“I know, I know, it’s just you’re not dating all four of them are you?”
“Doesn’t mean you can forget about my babies!”
“Oh god, I’m really scared now, if I say something you’ll probably punch me”
“I wouldn’t punch you, it depends  how bad it would be, and then I would judge your sentence”
“You sound like a bloody solicitor, calm yourself child, I aint gonna diss your ‘babies’” she grinned  “Anyway I bet Rosie was pleased for One Directions win?”
“Yup me to” I could imagine Rosie’s face lighting up, “Yeah, we really need a girly day soon, everyone lives too far away”
“We should have a spa day or something”
“OHMYGOD, yes!” I jumped up, “We need a spa treatment, just us five!”
“Ja, I’ll book something real soon, how about… Friday seventeenth?”
“Oh no!” my face fell, “Uum I thought us girlies were going into Manchester that day?”
“We could go instead of going to Manchester” I panicked mentally,
“Aww, I was really looking forward to going in!”
“Ok, we’ll just… Ohmygod, after shopping we could all sleepover and then go to the spa on Saturday!”
“Yeah! That’d be great! You could all come to mine! And there’s a big fancy spa round the corner practically!”
“Yay! We’d all have to chip in though”
“Of course! Like always!”
“ALWAYS!” screeched Lyra completely hyperventilating. This was another thing I completely adored about my best friend, she, like me, was completely addicted to Harry Potter and A Very Potter Musical/Sequel, and was ‘always’ (Pun intended) quoting them.
“OMG, just turn to page 394 already!” I grinned
“Oh Snape is such a babe!”
“I beg to differ on that one” she giggled and rolled onto the floor,
“Oh my Rowling”
“Don’t go all Draco on me!”
“I’m Rowling in the deee-eeep!” sung Lyra. I joined her on the floor, laughing wildly, it was times like these, where I could just laugh with out a care in the world, as if the weight on my shoulders had been lifted for these joyous moments. Lyra snorted slightly and we collapsed into a fresh burst of giggles. Suddenly there was a knock at the door and me and Lyra jumped up, trying to look sane.

“Great work lads, you’ll have this tour in the bag!” grinned JLS’ tour manager, Adam. “So forty days and
it’ll be your first date!”
“I know, buzzin!” said Oritsé, high-fiving everyone
“Yeah, me too! The fans are gonna be wild!” Marvin grinned
“Trust me boys, there will be tears during Proud!” Adam said knowingly, “I mean I’ve done a lot of tours and songs like this always get them”
“Why do they cry though, I’m there like, it’s alright, you don’t need to cry. I wish I could just cuddle them all” Aston said.
“And this is why you are the cute one of the band” said JB
“Yeeaah!” grinned Marvin, “Look at you!” all three of the other band members all started cooing over Aston and grabbing his cheeks.
“Gerroff!” he muttered, pushing everyone away. “I’m starving!”
“Who calls a break and a trip to Nando’s?” Reesh grinned
“ME!” yelled Aston, jumping up. “Hurry up!”
Aston was outside signing autographs and posing for pictures, he’d been out there for nearly half an hour. The rest of the boys had slipped away five minutes ago as Aston always did seem to get the most girl attention.
“He’s been seeming a bit down today. With a tour so close he’s usually bouncing with energy. Even more than usual!”
“And today it seems he has none” JB finished Marvin’s sentence.
“Yeah, just look. Watch him” Marvin said. All three of them stared through the glass and watched Aston smile then stop again and again. After the photograph the smile seemed to drop straight off his face. After a few more minutes he managed to traipse into the restaurant. “Fans are loud today”
“We got you food” said Oritsé pushing a plate across the table
“And a drink” said Marvin
“And ketchup!” grinned JB
“Yes JB!” laughed Aston
“Now talk to us bruv!”
“What Marv?”
“Whats on your mind?”
“Nothing really” he said, absent-mindedly taking a sip out of his straw
“No change there then!” grinned Oritsé
“Oi!” Aston laughed, punching his shoulder “It’s just… stuff… really”
“You’ve been acting so weirdly Ast. I reckon we need a boys night out. And soon!” Said Marvin knowingly.
“Yes. Just us boys!” grinned Aston.  “And that means Reesh you can’t ditch us after five minutes!”
“Damn, plan foiled again!” laughed Oritsé. The four happy boy-band members ate and left the cafe, signing even more autographs on the way out. The change was extremely noticeable, even in the way he danced, everyone could tell Aston was happier, now he knew there was going to be a ‘boys night out’

As Aston shut the door, he looked  down to see a small folded letter. Upon reading it, it said
‘Dear Aston,
Sorry for being such an idiot yesterday, I don’t know what came over me. So yeah, I have the house, un packing everything tomorrow, if you want to come round you’re welcome to at any time!
Lots of love,
Emilie xx’ He smiled without even knowing why, even the smallest thing she did could make him smile. His fingers traced over her love and her signature and he went to sleep a happier man.

Well, yes, this chapter is kind of appalling, I apologise, it’s kind of a filler… But yeah, what do you guys think?  

She went downstairs, I could hear the soft creaks of her feet on the floorboards. I wondered why she was so insecure, I’m not going to lie, I knew something was completely different about her when I met her again. I looked through her crammed bookshelf, with tons of little sticky-notes with reminders or quotes. ‘To be or not to be that is the question’ I laughed, remembering our odd conversation about Shakespeare the other day. I saw loads of Harry Potter quotes, each marked with a little glasses sign in the corner. God she was obsessed! I turned my attention to the books, there were so many different colours. I noticed she had five of the same one Harry Potter book and on the cover of her Twilight book was written, ‘DO NOT READ, DANGER OF LOSS OF LIFE/SOUL/SANITY’ and then a bit further underneath. ‘I swear to you the book to the right of me has scarier monsters in it than I do in mine’ I laughed again, looking instinctively to the right. I was slightly taken aback as I saw my name, I read the cover ‘Merrygold and Me’ what was this? An unofficial biography or something? Wondering whether she would of thought it rude I slipped out the book and opened the first page. I realised straight away it was a scrapbook she had made, judging by the fact it had a picture of her, when she was a lot younger, pulling goofy faces with her friends Lyra and Libby. Grinning I turned the page, written on the slightly smudged, thick paper was written
‘August 14^th 2004,
Its official little Aston has asked me out! Woohoo! (He’s not actually that little and he’s taller than me… like most people :()  Haha good times, yeah woop woop got music with that Merrygold fella again tomorrow, oh damn ;) I miss Lyra-loos, so sad being away from good ol’ Manchester! Anyways better be off, my mother is rather demanding today! LOTS OF LOVEYLOVES EMILIE HEARTSRAY XXX’

I grinned and flicked over the pages, looking through the pictures, there were lots of me I wanted to keep well away from the press! As I neared the end of the book my heart jerked, my fingers flickered over darker patches which I had a nasty feeling were tears. I read the scrawled hand-writing that was in some places too hard to read. 

‘May 21^st 2008
Well its about time I ended this journal, guess happy endings don’t last forever. I hope JLS get on really well in the X-Factor, they deserve it. Goodbye journal.’  I read it over three times and flicked the pages,
‘I hope JLS get on really well in the X-Factor’ I frowned slightly and re-read the date. I looked down ashamed, I guess if I’d have never given her up because of the work she’d of never met Chris. Well what happened, happened, there was no changing that and I guess everything happens for a reason. I flicked through the last empty pages and pushed the book back onto the shelf. The door burst open and I turned round smiling. Emilie’s face dropped as she saw me with the book.
“Did you read that?” she asked emotionlessly
“You don’t mind do you?”
“Aston!” she cried, “Thats got everything in it, from little things… to… to things I’m not proud of” she turned away blushing.
“Why do you regret things so much?”
“You weren’t meant to read it! It’s private!”
“Hey, hey, it’s alright, I think it was sweet!”
“No, you… you shouldn’t have read it” she said her eyes scrunched slightly
“Emilie, come here” I said holding my arms open. I watched her chest rise and fall, angrily. I could tell by her face that she was deciding what to do.
“No.” She whispered
“What?” I frowned slightly
“No” she turned to face the wall. “I think you should go Aston”
“Emilie” I sighed. “You can’t hide forever! Why don’t you just open up and let people see and understand you. Your mood flips all the time and I just don’t get you sometimes!” I stared at her shaking shoulders. “You can’t hide forever” I repeated walking out. I sloped down the wooden stairs.
“Hello Aston dear. Have you all recovered from your flu now? Would you like a drink?”
“Hello Miss Heartsray, Yep I’m all better now. And I’ve really got to go, thanks though” I went over and kissed her on the cheek. “Could you have a word with Millie though, she’s been acting rather strange”
“Oh that girl’s always acting strange. Don’t know where she got most of her foolishness from to be honest” she harrumphed. “But of course. I’ll talk to her tomorrow. Stay safe sweetie” I flashed a grin at her. Mrs. Heartsray was an amazing lady, she spent time working with charities practically everyday. She was a great mother to Emilie and I guess that’s what Emilie needed right now. A mothering figure. 

“I’M GLAD YOU CAME… DOO DOO DOO DOO, DOO DOO DOO DOO, YOU CAST A SPELL ON ME SPELL ON ME, EXPELLIARMUS! YOU HIT ME LIKE THE SKY FELL ON ME FELL ON ME, THAT MUST HAVE BEEN PAINFUL! AND I DECIDED YOU’D LOOK WELL ON ME WELL ON ME, why, thank you very much indeed!” I sang, washing the conditioner out of my hair. I stopped and wondered what else to sing. I went for Lyra’s favourite, ‘Proud’ in a very bad Scottish accent. By the end of the song I was practically in laughing tears. Ahh the joys of singing songs stupidly. I grabbed a towel and swayed my way out of the bathroom humming. “HOLY CRICKETS!” I yelped, clutching my heart
“And hello to you too!”
“Aston, I’m in a towel!” I squeaked
“And that’s a good thing” he said slowly. I felt my whole face burning all the way up to the roots of my hair.
“Right, shoo, shoo! I didn’t expect you for another hour!”
“Well, I’m always one for surprises”
“Close your eyes!” I commanded, scooping my clothes up from the bed. “I’m getting changed in the bathroom, so there’s no peeking. I’ll be a couple of min-you-ets”
“Min-you-ets?”
“Minuets to you. Now wait here” I slipped on all of my clothes quickly, but as it had been bugging me all day the conversation glided back into my mind. I frowned determinedly; you know what, why didn’t I loosen up a bit? Give him everything. I’d known him long enough after all, it had already happened before, nothing big, not really. I trembled and raised my top up slightly. I stared repulsed at the stretched scars and fading bruises that littered my mid-riff. I shivered again and dropped my shirt. I couldn’t, not now anyway.

I walked out and shoved the wet towels in the washing basket. “Ahh, finally” Aston winked.”
“I’m still not done yet!” I grinned, sitting down at my mirror and emptying my make-up onto the table.  I took the foundation and unscrewed the lid
“Eurgh, what is this stuff?”
“It’s called makeup Ast…”
“Yeah I know” he grinned, “But it’s all gloopy!”
“It’s meant to be, silly. It’s foundation, come here” I giggled
“No, I’ll give that one a miss” I turned round in the chair and pouted
“Aww, well if you’re gonna take that attitude, I’m gonna have to catch you”  I jumped up and chased after him, sticking my foundation-y finger in his face.
“Nooooo!” he yelled running away. I managed to jump over the bed and put a splodge on his nose.
“There. You look beautiful!” I grinned. He tried to rub it off getting it all over his hands
“Eww, this stuff is gross. Why do you even put it on your face?”
“To cover stuff” I replied, skipping back to the chair
“Like what?” he asked
“You’d be an awful girl” I said, a smile playing on my lips, “To cover ugliness and make you look prettier” I nodded and turned round again
“And who said you were ugly?”
“Meh, a few people”
“Let me guess… Chris?” I noticed the hint of sarcasm in his voice.
I surveyed him, my grey eyes flickering over his brown. “Yes, he was one of them”
“Why didn’t you tell people?”
“I didn’t tell anyone he said that” I paused and my voice crackled a little, “I didn’t tell, as it’s true” I smirked a little and said “Oh yeah, and Aston, you have something just about…there” I pointed to my nose. He did a sarcastic little smile and continued rubbing his nose. I giggled again.
“It’s not true… You’re not ugly at all”
“So sweet…” I paused, “I’d give you a hug but I’d be tempted to do a whole makeover!” he backed away a bit.
“That looks like a torture device, what the hell is it?” I laughed
“A torture device?! It’s an eyelash curler. You put it on like this and then squeeze the two sides together. Leaving bigger looking lashes!”
“You sound like you’re off an advert, now hurry up!” Aston complained
“Nearly done, nearly done! Right let me just shove these in a box… there!” I replied triumphantly after putting the bag in one of the many boxes. “Ahh. Ten days!” I beamed
“’Til what?”
“Until The Wanted of course! I haven’t even told my friends, I’m gonna surprise them, I’ll say we’re going for a meal, so dress nicely, and then we’ll go to the arena and they’ll be like ‘Wuh?!’” I babbled quickly
“Ok, I didn’t get much of that, but ok”
“They are going to die when they find out we’re meeting them again, I swear Rosie might start crying!”
“I sincerely hope she doesn’t, and what is this, it’s awful!” he exclaimed shaking a magazine about. He laughed and read out a sentence “‘R-patz, fittest male on this planet?’ You waste your time reading this?”
“No, I read it for the fashion pages Merrygold” I tried to grab the magazine, he flicked to the back
“Top ten greatest sex positions! Emilie!” he grinned disapprovingly
“I clearly don’t read those!” I said blushing bright red, “It’s gross”
“It’s just life Em, it happens to nearly everyone, even you”
“I don’t want to talk about it Aston”
“Why do you make it so hard for people?”
“I’m only twenty-two!”
“You were only sixteen!” he protested
“Lalala, I cant hear you”
“You’re scared aren’t you?” he asked taking my hand.
“No” I said defiantly, gazing away.
“You are Emilie, you’re scared of whats going to happen, aren’t you?” he asked softly
“I am not Aston. Now I need to see my mother. Stay here” I said a little snappily. I stopped my self, squeezed his hand and said, “I’ll be back up in a minute”