The queue for the bathroom is ridiculous and after the couple of hours sleep I managed to get, I'm not in the mood for being patient.

I'd managed to find blankets and cushions for everyone to make up their own beds on the floor. It was hard enough getting to sleep while listening to Louis compose love poems out loud but I managed, only to be woken a couple of hours later by Robert, who was staring at me as I slept.

I mean just stood in the corner of my room STARING at me. I nearly had a heart attack and my scream brought Louis and Harry crashing over to my side of the room.

Robert sulkily said he was missing Susan and that she liked him to do it. I can't help but wonder what hella mad kink you've got, if you get off on some pale dude silently watching you drool on your pillow and fart in your sleep.

Harry got a bit possessive after that and insisted on sleeping in my bed, curled up on top of the covers. I vaguely wondered why Niall hadn't woken up but Harry innocently told me he'd smoked a magic cigarette to help him sleep and I decided that I didn't even want to know any more than that.

So all in all, I'm not thrilled to find Harry, Robert and Louis queuing to use the bathroom before me.

Louis is wearing a emerald green tunic and matching velvet hat. I notice with a jolt that he has a sword casually swinging from a belt. Next to him, Harry's stood, waiting patiently for his turn in his canary yellow Hufflepuff pyjamas. It's the strangest sight I've ever woken up too.

"How long as he been in there?" I groan, hearing Niall ohm-ing over the sound of the shower. Harry turns with a smile at the sound of my voice but before he can speak Louis does;

"Good morn, fair maiden! Why, your beauty illuminates this fair morning, because of your face this day becomes a work of art-" One glance in the mirror next to him tells me that he's talking shit, but I appreciate the sentiment- "Forgive us if this rapscallion has halted the progress of your-"

"He's been in there ages." Harry cuts over Louis with a sigh.

"Ages. Huh. You don't know the meaning of the word." Robert says mournfully. "When you've lived as long as I have, seen the things I've seen-"

"Robert, you're three months old like the rest of them." I snap. He glares at me for a second before turning his face away in a dignified manner.

It takes forever for everyone to be ready. Thankfully, Louis insists that I take his place in the queue but by the time everyone is sat around the breakfast table I've been awake for nearly two hours.

After the surprising revelation that Robert is a strict vegetarian and faints at the sight of blood, Nialls insistence that his food must be organic, Louis demanding that he be allowed a flagon of mead with his breakfast (despite the fact I have neither a flagon or any mead in my kitchen) I'm ready to scream in frustration.

They're all going to have to go home, I can't handle this.

Nialls being evasive about why he's here and it's not until after breakfast when Harry has popped to the shop for some flour for his latest cake, that I hear him whispering with Robert and Louis and I realise what's happened. They've all heard from their girlfriends about Harry's disastrous meeting with Janet from the Dream factory and have come with the pretence of needing somewhere to stay in order to comfort him.

"We have to comfort him. After all," Louis whispers to the other two, "The poor gentleman in question is not given any comfort between the legs of his lady." 

"Ok then!" I interrupt with a loud boom of false laughter, watching as they all jump apart. "I think it's time for you all to leave. Harry's just fine-"

"But Liam and Zayn are arriving this afternoon!" Robert protests.

"Yeah and Juan, man." Niall drawls.

I have the sudden image of an angry sex-deprived Juan tearing around my flat.

"Nope. Not happening." I say firmly. "Harry's fine. Look it's kinda sweet that you've all gone out of your way for him but you're really going to have to leave I'm afraid."

"But fair maiden... He is as a brother to us. His wellbeing is our hearts only desire, please, just a few more days to bring gladness to his heart."

Urgh. Whys he gotta hit me with all that sweet 'fair maiden' stuff and those big blue eyes?

I'm going to say no, this is ridiculous, but as I hear Harry's key scrape in the lock I realise he's whistling happily to himself. He hasn't been so cheerful since before Janet grilled him. Niall hears the sound and raises an eyebrow at me.

Just a couple of days." I sigh. "But you tell the other three they better not come."

Just to make sure, I text the other three girls to tell them that if their man arrives here, he'll be sleeping outside.

***

Since I've let slip that I know the reason for the boys coming over, Susan keeps texting me over details of Roberts favourite programs and little habits which I am studiously ignoring.

I wanted Harry to have some friends, and it's kinda adorable that they've clumsily turned up to cheer him up, but I'm kinda peeved that they have come for several days sleepover rather than just taking him out for a few beers.

I texted Louis' girl, Effie, to say this and she pointed out (a bit pompously, I thought) that they they're only learning how to interact and we have to let them do their own thing.

I wonder if she'd be saying that if it was her doorstep they'd all turned up on.

At least Juan isn't coming.

I've had to leave them all in my house with severe instructions.
Louis; do not attempt to duel my elderly neighbours.
Robert; don't stand near the windows with your glittery skin.
Niall; if you smoke weed or give Harry weed, I will kill you with my own bare hands.

With all this swirling in my mind I actually walk right past Charlie. He's saved us a table in the library but I'm so preoccupied that I don't notice him until he grabs my arm gently.

"Wake up, Rix." He grins, steering me back towards our table that a couple of other students are eyeing up hopefully. "What's up?"

"Nothing." I shake my head, wondering how I'm going to concentrate on studying when I've left the equivalent of four toddlers loose in my apartment.

"I've started the first part of our essay." Charlie begins to pull bits of paper from his bag and when I glance at him I see that he's not wearing his usual bandana or smart causal outfit, in fact, his hair is a rumpled mess and his clothes look crumpled. His eyes are unusually bright too. He doesn't look himself at all.

"Charlie?" I place my hand on his arm and his looks up at me. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, me? I'm fine Rix." He gives me his crooked grin but it doesn't sit right on his face.

"Tell me." I demand.

"It's nothing." He shrugs, then spotting the look on my face, he looks down absentmindedly at the table. "Me and Laura have decided to take a break... Well, no, actually," he gives a little laugh, "she's decided to take a break from me."

"Oh Charlie, I'm sorry." I sigh, thinking how mad she is to give up someone as gorgeous and funny as him.

"It doesn't matter." He shakes his head but I can see how upset he is. He doesn't seem to want to talk about it so I let him lead us into our project.

It passes quickly and once we're done, Charlie doesn't suggest getting something to eat or a quick drink. He just seems to want to get away. I feel so sorry for him as he seems really cut up, but there isn't much I can do.

It's not until I get on to the train that I start to think about Harry and by the time I'm back in the corridor to my flat, I'm completely dreading what I'm going to find.

They're meditating. Sat round in a circle holding hands with so much incense burning that it fogs up my lungs in a single gasp. None of them notice my arrival.

They look ridiculous. Robert obviously didn't want to hold hands and is the only one that's just lightly touching Harry's and Nialls hands with the tips of his index fingers. The others all have a tight grasp on each other's hands.

Louis is wearing a bright pink tunic now, with little puffy shorts and pale pink tights. A huge pink feather extends from his velvet hat and I have to bite back a laugh at the sight of him.

Niall is shirtless, his hip length hair touching the floor as he sits, crosslegged and swaying. Harry, obviously copying, is also shirtless and wearing a tye-dye headband that matches Nialls. My eyes linger on the any scrawling tattoos that adorn his arms and chest.

The incense is stinging my eyes and the wolf-howling CD that they are supposed to be meditating too is grating on my nerves.

I'm just thinking about slipping out for a walk when the doorbell goes.

I consider not answering but I figure the howling wolf CD might be a giveaway. I don't have time to consider further before then doorbell goes again impatiently. None of the boys on the floor react in the slightest.

With a sinking feeling, I begin to pray that Juan hasn't decided to turn up after all.

It's worse than Juan. Much worse.

He steps past me and marches confidently into the hall. I reach out to stop him but I don't move fast enough and he stops dead as his pushes open the living room door, staring in horror at the scene within.

"Hello Dad." I say weakly.

***

Hope you're enjoying it? Sorry for the delay, had a mad few days.

Unedited, sorry 😁😁

Dedicated to the utterly lovely minniemair who is only person on here who has got a dedication in every one of my stories and honestly deserves them all and more!
Thanks so much for all of your encouragement and support... It's been  more than 2 years since you read Ghost and you've been so amazing and  unbelievably encouraging ever since then. Thanks so much 💖