Lessons and Freak Outs

TWO DAYS LATER

"So you're just gonna leave me here to fend for myself?" Clara complained.

"I'll be back soon. I think you'll be fine!"

I ran out the door and onto the elevator. I told Clara that I had a meeting to go to but really I was just going to the boys' house. Today was their first of three days off. I ran out of the lobby and down a few blocks to the bus stop.

Immediately after I knocked, I saw Harry greeting me at the door with a knowing smirk on his face.

"What?" I said walking past him.

"Nothing, just nice to see you." He gave me a light hug before leading me to the couch in the living room. Niall and Zayn were playing a video game and Liam was eating a banana.

"Hey guys!" I said, plopping myself next to Niall. Liam gave me an energetic wave and Zayn just mumbled a hi, too involved with his game, which appeared to be Mario Kart. Niall paused the game to Zayn's annoyance.

"Hey Lenn," he kissed my cheek causing me to turn a light shade of pink. The boys, to my surprise, acted like it was the most normal thing ever.

"I'm guessing you told them," I laughed.

"We coaxed it out of him. Hi Lennon," Zayn said, greeting me properly, giving me a wave.

"Well okay, you're lucky!" I groaned. "The reason I came over here--"

"Was to see me." Harry winked, putting his arm over my shoulder.

"Umm, no," Niall interrupted, causing Harry to laugh.

"I came over here to ask you for help. My best friend is visiting and I haven't told her I was dating you," I turned to Niall.

"What's so hard about that?" Niall asked.

"Well she might be a little obsessed with you guys and it might be my fault."

"Why is it your fault?" Zayn asked, laughing.

"Because I needed to watch the X-Factor with someone so I told her about it, I just didn't tell her I knew Niall."

"Awwww you watched X-Factor for me?" Niall asked.

"Niall you knew that, now shut up and let me finish." I wacked his arm.

"Sassy," Liam said.

"Well, I have to tell her I'm dating Niall so I have an idea."

-------------

I was half asleep on the boys's couch when I heard footsteps. I opened my eyes and saw Louis walk in holding hands with someone. I rubbed my eyes so they would focus, and when they finally did, I knew who it was immediately. My jaw dropped. Eleanor Calder had just walked into the room and she was about 10billion times prettier in person. Is that even possible?

"Oh, hey Lennon, I didn't know you were here. This is Eleanor," Louis grinned, showing off his girlfriend.

She smiled at me brightly. "Oh so this is Lennon. I've heard so much from Niall." I looked over at Niall who face palmed himself. I giggled. "I'm Eleanor." She walked over to me and sat down between Harry, who had fallen asleep on the edge of the couch, and me. She opened her arms and gave me a tight hug. She was just like Louis.

"I've heard so much about you from Louis. In fact he doesn't shut up about you. Ever." She giggled, turning towards a blushing Louis.

"Babe," Louis piped in, "Why don't you talk to Lennon in the other room about some stuff."

"Ohhh yeah," she said, standing up, kissing Louis on the cheek, and gesturing me to follow her.

Once we were in another room with a television--gosh this flat was huge--she sat me down and faced me. "Okay, I've given this talk and I've had this talk so I'm pretty experienced," she giggled. "I just need to let you know some of the things that come with the territory of dating someone like these boys, it's a little," she paused to think of a good word, "overwhelming."

I nodded.

"I don't want to scare you at all. I love Louis so much and even though there are some hard situations that I am put through, I wouldn't change it for anything. Okay?" I nodded again. "Okay I just wanted to tell you, when Louis told me Niall had a girlfriend, a good one, I freaked out!" she squealed a little bit.

"Why?" I laughed at her.

"He really deserves a good girl. He's such a sweet guy."

"I know." I grinned widely.

"I need to hear the whole story of how you guys met but that is for a different time. We have to get down to business." She tried to put on a serious face, but she giggled. "Okay, okay sorry. Anyway, biggest thing is paparazzi. Once they find out that you two are dating, you will never be left alone. They will start following you on your own, not even when you're with Niall. They're gonna treat you like you're famous, too. Let's just say, from now on, don't change next to a window, or do anything of the sort near a window because they're always there... ALWAYS!"

Oh shit. I gulped loudly. Did anyone have to find out? Could we just keep it a secret? Probably not.

"Next, because you are going to be in the public eye, no wild parties, keep your outfits modest-- that sounds stupid but trust me--, and try to stay away from other guys in public, even if they are just your friend, because I know you can imagine the headlines the next day. Finally, ignore the rumors. I cannot tell you that enough. Just don't listen to them because rumors suck and can ruin relationships so just stay away from gossip and just always be honest in your relationship. And that's about all the advice I can give you."

I didn't really know what to say so I just sat there and nodded.

"Don't be intimidated by me, because I'm not even famous!" she laughed. "Besides, you still have Danielle and Perrie to meet." She smiled widely. "You seem really sweet. Don't let anything I just said scare you off because I can tell that Niall really cares for you."

"How?" I finally spoke up.

"Because, when he talks about you, his eyes sparkle and he gets so happy. I've never seen him like this. Just, be good to him."

"Of course." I grinned. "I have something very important to ask you, though."

"What is it?" she questioned.

"Can you please take me shopping and pick out clothes for me because your style is perfection?"

"Of course, dahh-ling." Yupp. Just like Louis.

As we were walking back into the living room, I realized that I had been here way too long. Clara was going to kill me.

I was slipping on my shoes when I heard a voice behind me.

"Leaving so soon?"

I put on my other shoe and turned around to see Niall. "Clara's gonna murder me. Just tell Louis about the plan and I'll be over with her about 11:30 tomorrow morning. Ohhh and I need a key."

Niall walked over to a drawer in the kitchen and pulled out a tiny gold key. He placed it in my hand. "Don't loose it."

"I won't," I said, laughing. I slid it into my pocket and turned to reach for the door handle.

"Hey," he yelled, "you need to say goodbye properly!"

I turned around, smiling, and flung my arms around his neck, pulling our foreheads together. "Bye," I whispered and turned back around, exiting the door.

"You tease!" he yelled.

"Karma's a bitch."

----------------

I walked into the hotel room and it was pitch black. The heavy curtains were drawn back and there were no lights on, I pulled out my phone to use as a flashlight and quickly found the light switch.

"Where have you been?" I heard a voice say. I then saw Clara spin around in a chair, giving me a stern look. "Do you know how worried I've been?" I laughed and sat on the bed. "Do you know what time it is, young lady?"

"Um, it's only 3 in the afternoon, ya weirdo." I giggled.

"Oh," she shrugged. "Are meetings really that long?" She got out of her chair and sat on the ground.

"Actually," I said. I looked down at Clara. She stretched her arms out and was sprawled out across the floor. Then she started rolling around. "What are you doing?"

"Your story is boring and your presence is wasteful."

"You asked me a question and I'm answering it!" I yelled.

"Eh, whatever you want to call it," she said, combing her hair out with her hands, still on the floor.

"You are just weird. Now do you wanna hear where I actually was or not?"

She sat up. "Is it juice?" (her weird word for juicy as in 'That new gossip is juice'. Don't ask).

"Sure," I rolled my eyes.

"Then tell me!"

"I was not at a meeting and I am not part of the Forever Alone Club."

After a few seconds, she caught on. "What!?"

"And these ain't virgin lips."

"WHAT?" she squealed.

"I have a boyfriend."

At first she was dancing around the room in excitement, but then she realized that I hadn't told her until now.

"How long have you been going out?"

"A week, I guess."

"And you didn't tell me?!" I shook my head. "Okay what's his name, what does he look like, and when do I meet him?"

"You meet him tomorrow."

"What's his name, Lennon. Is he a hottie? Is he athletic?"

"Umm well, he's in a band."

"Ohhh, well I guess that can be hot. Unless he's a bad singer. Wait does he sing?"

"Yeah."

"Well I'll believe you have a hot singer boyfriend when I see it because as far as I can tell, the only hot singers I know of are in One Direction."

It took everything in me to not burst out laughing, but somehow, I managed to keep a straight face.

--------------

The next morning...

"Are you coming?" I yelled.

"I don't know what to wear Lennon. I mean, I don't want to outshine you. God forbid he realizes that he loves me instead of you. We wouldn't want that to happen, would we? It'd be a little awkward!" she joked. I rolled my eyes.

"Pick something, and hurry!"

A few minutes later, she came out of the bathroom with her hair straightened. She had on a pair of light jeans and a loose tank top with a striped blazer over it.

"You look cute."

"As do you," she responded. I was wearing a pair of dark jeans with a purple tank top under a leather jacket.

"Ya ready?" I asked.

"Indeed!"

"Weirdo," I mumbled under my breath.

I pulled out the key Niall gave me yesterday and slid it into the lock. When I opened the door, I peered around to make sure nobody was visible.

"Babe, I'm here," I yelled, once the coast was most definitely clear. I don't call Niall babe but I couldn't just say Niall, it would've given it away.

"Why do you have a key?" Clara asked. "Is it that serious?" she nudged my shoulder as I rolled my eyes.

"I'll be right in, princess." I heard Niall yell. I had to blush a little. I still wasn't used to him calling me that.

"Is that him? Did he just call you princess? Whenever I hear that I think of Niall because he always says that he is waiting for his princess to come," Clara said. She was honestly killing me with this. "And what kind of accent did he--"

"Hey babe!" I heard Harry's deep voice say from the other room. I smiled a little. This was actually working.

"Um, was that another guy?"

"Be right in love!" I heard Louis yell.

"How many boyfriends do you have?"

"Help yourself to food, sweets," I heard Liam yell. I made them all call me pet names to get Clara confused.

"What is going on?" I knew she wouldn't catch on.

"Make yourself at home, baby," Zayn added.

"I'm so confused." I couldn't believe that she hadn't caught on so I took it a little farther.

"Let me show you around," I said. I didn't really know that flat well myself but I had another idea. We found a bathroom. "Here, go now so you don't have to go later while you're talking to my boyfriend."

"I guess that makes sense," she said.

"Meet me back where we came in," I yelled. Right when she shut the door, I ran around the flat to find all the guys. "C'mon, let's go. Into the living room." Once we were there, we all sat on the couch. I was in between Liam and Niall. "Okay, guys remember, she's a little obsessed, but I owe it to her to tell her this. I promise she's nice but she's a bit crazy." They all nodded.

"Where is she?" Zayn questioned.

"Bathroom."

"Lennon, I'm lost. Where are you?" I heard her yell.

"In here!" I shouted, causing Niall to flinch. "Sorry," I whispered.

"Why is this flat so b--" I heard her voice getting louder, but then it stopped. I looked up and she was standing the doorway, her eyes wide and her mouth wide open. All the boys were staring at her. Liam gave her a small wave.

"Hi Clara," he said. She smiled at him weakly, obviously freaking out.

"Lennon?" she said.

"Yep?" I said, innocently.

"Umm, well, do you think that you coulda told me that, that, what is this?"

"Well, this is my boyfriend." I pointed to Niall.

"Niall, you're dating Niall Horan, from One Direction?"

"Yes," I nodded.

She sat right on the ground pretzel-style and rubbed her hands on her face for a minute. The boys all stared at me, confused. "Give her a minute," I said, quietly.

She looked up, staring right at me. "What?" she yelled really loud. Then she stood up and I knew what was happening. I got up and walked over to her. She grabbed both of my hands in hers and then she screamed. She then started jumping up and down and I did too. We were just weird like that. I heard Louis laugh and I heard the sound of a camera going off.

Once we calmed down, I went over to the couch very casually, and sat back down next to Niall. He snaked his arm around my waist and pulled me closer. "You guys are cute," he whispered in my ear, causing goosebumps to rise on my neck.

I looked up and saw Clara standing in front of all the guys just staring, taking in all of them. Her eyes moved from one boy, to the other, to the other, to the other, to the other. Harry, who was sitting on the edge of the couch, moved over to have room for Clara. She hesitantly walked over and sat down next to Harry. She turned to his tall frame towering over her short figure.

"Can I, um, feel your hair?" she asked.

He laughed loudly. "Yeah, sure love." I think that made her die a little inside. She reached her hand up and felt his hair. She smiled widely.

"My turn!" Zayn yelled, diving onto Harry and rubbing his hair.

After a few more weird questions, some hugs, and one more scream, Clara had finally realized that she could talk to them pretty easily.

"It all makes sense!" she yelled.

"What?" I said.

"Okay so you made me watch X-Factor with you but you wouldn't tell me why we were watching it and when they made it big, you would never shut up about Niall." I blushed and Niall and the rest of the boys laughed.

"Oh my god!" she yelled. "Your phone! I knew that your background picture was of you and Niall! Ahhh the world makes sense."

"So you never told her you knew Niall?" Louis asked.

"Pretty much," I responded.

"Even though you video chatted him every night?"

"You what?" Clara yelled.

I looked at her blankly.

"So much for best friends," she mumbled. I picked up a pillow and chucked it at her head but Harry deflected it. I crossed my arms and sighed loudly.

"Nice try!" Clara mocked.

When it was finally time to go, Niall pulled Clara aside for a second. I could tell she was freaking out. He talked at a whisper and she nodded her head intently before smiling and giving him a hug. She then gave the rest of the boys a hug, lingering on Harry for an extra second.

Once we got back into our hotel she threw everything down and scream at the top of her lungs. "What just happened?"

I smiled and shook my head before laying down in my bed and taking a well deserved nap.

A/N hello. What do you guys think of Clara?

I had two papers due this week so, naturally, I procrastinated and wrote this instead... Typical. Oh well! Tell me what you guys think!! COMMENT and VOTE please :)