A/N- Hey y'all~ Eli here Before you read this, I just want you guys to know that this is a One Direction fan fiction. No, I'm not a "Directioner", my best friend requested me to write about them, and so, yeah! They're kinda pretty cool, but I'm still all the way Metal. Later xxx Ps. Hope you give this a chance Prologue "Maia, just because it's summer you don't have to mope around in your room. You're leaving in five hours." A high-pitched voice whispered in my ears. I moved in irritation and said, "Get out, mum." "Pack your bags, Veronica." She said in a stern voice. Honestly, I really hate it when she calls me Veronica. I got up from my bed, as I pushed away the duvet from me. "Get out, please." I said with a rough voice. "Fine. You know I'll send you to my mum's house for a reason, yeah?" Her Posh British accent was literally annoying. Okay, I am half British and American (dad is 1/4 British and the rest American), but I've lived in America for almost half of my life, and I'm actually glad that I'm losing my British accent. It's so hard to talk without being laughed at or being labeled 'cute'. "So you could snog off with your boyfriend." I snickered as I turned away from her. And that's another problem of mine too; somehow my British slang would never leave me. My vocabulary was plain British, and my friends would seriously get confused and would laugh at me- all the time. She sighed and said, "No, Maia. I don't have a boyfriend, we broke up last night. And your grand mum misses you, that's why she paid for your ticket." Oh god, I swear my mum is like a teenage fool. I stared at her from head to toe. I shook my head and smirk. If she was beside me, she would be called as my sister rather than my mother. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate her at all. I love her. But sometimes she's just too much. Her jet black hair is always tied and fixed, while mine is always down and messy. She always wears make up and I only wear eye-liner, she dresses up like a Barbie and I dress up simply. Who would blame her? She's young, she's only thirty-two. Yes, she had me when she was seventeen; she was young and stupid, she says. "You'll find someone else eventually. And uh, right." I said as I grabbed my traveling bag and placed it on the bed. "Actually, your father contacted me last night." She blushed. I mentally face-palmed myself. My mum is still hopelessly in love with my father. I love him too, you know? But I still wonder how father could handle my mum's childishness and all. He once told me that he could never stop loving my mum, but he had to leave her for some stupid reason. His parents, my grandparents, were snobbish aristocrats, and they wanted to let him marry some other girl who he does not even fancy. But it was too late, mum got pregnant, he cut his ties with my grandparents, they ran away, but then my grandparents took him back and mum was forced to raise me all on her own. But father was supporting behind the scenes while he was still going to school and trying to make a living for my mum and I. "What'd he say?" I smirked as I tried to hide my excitement, I actually was a sucker for love stories, and I just couldn't get enough of how my mum reacts very time she mentioned father's name. "He invited me for dinner. And this time, I'm not gonna let him go." She said dreamingly. "Cool, mum." I said as I walked off my room to the bathroom and grabbed the things I would need. "Maybe you'll find someone this summer, love." She winked at me. My stomach churned and I laughed, "Whatever, mum. It wouldn't be true love like what you and dad have. It's just gonna be a summer fling, anyway." She sighed, "Don't get pregnant." She giggled. "Oh shut up, mum. I'm not ready to be in love." I walked off the room to my walk-in closet and picked all my favourite garments. I brought two dresses in case there was gonna be an event. I walked back in the room, my arms fully loaded with outfits. "You never know, sweetie." She said as she picked up the pairs of shoes I took out from the closet last night, and placed it inside the other luggage. "Mum, leave out the red TOMS." I said. She took out the red TOMS and placed it on the floor. She smiled, "Love always comes around in a very unexpected time. Don't shut your heart, okay?" I chuckled, "Yeah, yeah. I'm going to bathe. Do you mind leaving now, or do you still want to talk about love, mum?" I glared at her softly. She smirked and left my room. I picked an outfit to wear for the flight. I took out my underwear, jeans and a My Chemical Romance shirt. And so, I closed my bag and headed to the bathroom. It was gonna be one boring summer with just my grand mum. After I finished my bath, I finalised everything I was going to bring. I had two luggages and a back pack for my hand carry. I closed my MacBook Air and placed it inside the case and then in my backpack. I unplugged my iPhone and shoved the charger into my bag. After getting all the things into my bag, I was set to go. I sighed as I sat on my bed, I looked around and smiled. I'm gonna miss my room for three months. I began to pick up my things and went outside my room. Mum was already inside the car waiting for me. I placed my luggages inside the trunk of my mum's BMW and sat myself in the front seat. "You got your passport with you?" She said. "Yes mum, let's go." I giggled, and so we drove off to LAX. **** As I got to the airport, I checked in and after an hour we boarded, I looked around the airport for the last time and smiled. See you later, Los Angeles. I thought to myself as I left the plane to Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England.
Chapter One - Wolverhampton Touchdown. I, in all honesty, super duper extremely hate anything that goes up in the air. But luckily I didn't feel sick in this flight. I look like such a wreck and I can't believe no one is picking me up. I walk towards the baggage claim, tightly holding on to my backpack. I feel uncomfortable, being in Wolverhampton over the summer sounds bad. I mean, I left my friends and didn't even tell them I was leaving for the summer. And now I have to be stuck with my grandmother who loves to just stay at home, draw and be relaxing on the porch. I am a teenager, I'm not wasting my summer by just doing what grandma does! Impossible. I'm fifteen, turning sixteen... Oh my god. I am going to celebrate my birthday in Wolverhampton- with no friends. Great. I sigh heavily and grabbed my luggages that have been turning around for a quite while now. I walk towards the exit and that person who check the thing for the luggages asked for my copy. I give it to her and she let me go. I drag myself to the line for the cabs and finally got my turn. * I told him the address, and I laid back on the seat, putting on my earphones and playing some music. My Chemical Romance, Avenged Sevenfold, Metallica, Kiss, Marilyn Manson and etc., are my kind of music. Not some pop music and stuff, I find Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and etc., really gay. Okay, maybe some of their songs aren't that bad, but their songs are really cliché and pretty much overrated. No offence, you know? People just really have different taste in music. I drifted off to a nap and before I knew it, the driver woke me up and asked me to pay for the fare. I took out my wallet and handed the amount to him. He got out of the car and took out my luggages from the trunk. I gave him a 'thank you' smile and he nods and leaves. And here I am, standing in front of my grand mum's very modern house. I am surprised. Well, she is an architect after all. She's not that old, she's fifty-six, but very healthy. I drag my bags with my two arms and reached the front porch. I rang the doorbell and patiently waited for her to open it up and welcome me. After a few minutes, which took like FOREVER, she finally opened the door. I know, I'm not patient. I just don't like wasting time, it's not to be spent on useless things, you know? "Maia!" She screamed as she jumped- not literally- on me and gave me a bear-hug. "Uh, gran. You're squeezing the life source out of me." I said rather uncomfortable. It took me awhile to breath normally again after she gave me that kind of hug. She welcomed me inside and showed to my room. It was amazing, the walls were the colour of white with the accent of black. She knew my favourite colours are red, black and white. And heck, my furnitures were of that colour. My floor was carpeted grey. It felt cozy and felt like home. I gave her a hug as a thank you and so she left me in the room, letting me unpack. I walked over to the iHome near the desk where my laptop sat. I plugged in my iPhone and turned on the music. It was loud and clear and heavenly. Far Away by Nickelback came on and I dove on my bed closing my eyes. It was such a great song, and I couldn't get over it. After it finished, I stopped the current music playing and went to my playlist and clicked "Slow Music". I had the feels to listen to something not rock or metal for once. It was composed of old songs and love songs. I played it on shuffle but I picked a song first. Demi Lovato's Don't Forget. I listen to it and sang together with her. She is an amazing artist. She is pretty much my idol. Remember when I said I hated pop? Well, hers is an exception. Her music is full of emotion and the lyrics were precise and beautifully written. But that's just my opinion, of course. I covered myself under the maroon coloured duvet, and I drifted off to sleep, leaving the music playing and engulfing my ears. * "Maia Veronica Bennett! Wake up! It's already eight in the morning. Do you plan to sleep here all summer long?" My grand mum's voice was high-pitched like mum's. I roll over my bed, super annoyed by the fact that they shout so early in the morning. Okay, maybe not that early. But heck, it's eight! In the morning! It's summer, for pete's sake. She pulled away my duvet and woke me up again. "Gran, I'm tired. Leave me alone for a little while, and I promise I will go out for the rest of the day." I said as I grabbed the comforter back to my face. "You are hopeless. Oh well, since you just arrived yesterday. I'll let you off the hook. And keep your word. I have to give you an errand then. Hurry up and wake up, sweetie." She said as she left my room. I groaned and pushed away the duvet, I stood up feeling a bit dizzy. Must be jet lag. Ugh, remembering the flight yesterday made me want to puke. I rushed to the bathroom which was located inside my walk-in-closet. I took a quick yet relaxing bath and changed to my style of clothes. Black TOMS, Jeans and a blue cardigan. I grabbed my iPhone out of the dock; luckily it charges at the same time. I went downstairs and greeted my grand mum with a huge fake grin. "Mornin'. That was fast." She said as she gave me a plate with a toast. I just nodded and dug in. I didn't really have any appetite every morning. So I only ate toast or drank juice. Gladly, nana knows about it. "I'll go out, nan. Probably just stroll around the streets." I said. "I have a favour to ask, sweetie. Do you mind?" She asks pleadingly. I shook my head and she a brilliant smile appeared that it blinded me, "Good! Count four houses to the left, and you'll meet the Payne's. Ask for Karen, and tell her that Katherine sent this. Got it, sweetie?" She said as she handed me a Tupperware with some kind of food inside. I nodded and groaned. I stormed off the house hoping to get this over with and just have my peace. I counted four house to the left and finally I was there, well it was pretty obvious it was their house, there was a sign that said, 'Payne'. I smirked and walked towards the porch, I heaved a sigh and rang the doorbell. I was kinda getting a tad bit impatient so I rang it again. "Coming!" I heard a really sexy voice yell. I shook off my thoughts and focused on what I was gonna say and give. The door opened and a really cute guy stood right in front of me. I acted normally, ignoring my heart racing and all. He smiled. He SMILED. His smile was heavenly, that I could just melt right there on the spot or grab him and snog his face off. Oh my god. I mentally face palmed myself. What am I thinking? "G'morning, who are you?" His tone was a bit rude, and I chuckled. Never mind, stupid fantasy. This guy's not a prince at all. "G'morning. I'm Veronica, and you're pretty rude." I said with a straight face. I was known as the ice queen at school. I was straight forward and strict, that's what they say. And ugh, I know. I introduced myself as Veronica. I always do that when a stranger asks me. I just don't want them to call me Maia; I only let people close to me call me that. But when people close to me calls me Veronica, I get pissed as fudge. He smiled a bit more and chuckled, "I'm sorry. I'm Liam. How may I help you?" This guy is amazing. He's probably my age or a year older than me. I kept my face calm and collected and said, "I'm here for Karen, my grandma- Katherine- asked me to gave this to her." I showed him the Tupperware. His pink lips formed an 'o', and then he took it from me, "Thank you, Veronica. I'll be giving this to my mum. Have a great day. And tell Mrs. Rodes that I said hello." I nodded and said goodbye. I walked away not turning back. God, that was unbelievably tensing. He was really cute, his voice was melodic and his eyes were something that you would want to stare at for hours. I slapped myself softly on the cheek and thought about what I told mum. I'm not gonna fall in love this summer, I can't afford to be hurt, and I don't want to hurt someone. My life is messed up as it is already. I don't want to drag anyone else to my mess. I simply just wanted to be alone. Just... Alone. Like how I've always been.