:)

~Liam~ 

"Y-youre.." she stuttered, her eyed widened in shock. The other girl, Stacey I think, resembled a blow fish. Hadn't she been drinking water?

But, that was not important right now. I nervously brought my eyes back to the girl, who looked petrified.

This was a first for her though. Ever since we’d bumped into each other in the morning, I knew one thing about her. She loved talking. Well you couldn’t exactly call it talking, since it was too fast to comprehend.

Luckily for her, she was pretty, one of the main reasons I had even invited her to sit with us. But now, I really was questioning my previous actions and her sanity.

Uh-oh. I look at the boys worriedly who in turn look at each other.

I wouldn’t call us exactly famous. Or even celebrities. Maybe celebrities in the making, but we’d just started our careers. But, even though we weren’t huge yet, we still did have a moderate fan following.

Most of them being girls. And I had an inkling that she was one of them.

I cursed Niall for blurting out what he did. cursed Harry and Louis for being stubborn and refusing to eat dinner anywhere but at Nandos. I cursed Zayn for not doing anything, literally. And lastly, I cursed myself for bringing this all upon us.

She still hadn't spoken, probably still trying to comprehend what had happened. Well, I had just pulled off a fake beard off my face, so it was understandable.
I cleared my throat and she snapped out of her trance.

“Larry?” she questioned, looking pretty uncertain “y-you’re Larry right?”

“Yes I—wait what? What did you say? Larry?”

She nodded, still looking at me unsurely.

“Who the f*ck is Larry?” I heard Zayn ask no one in particular.

“Him.” She said, pointing at me

“What the..? I’m not Larry.” I retorted

“Then who’s Larry?” she frowned “Are you Larry?” she looked at Louis and asked.

He shook his head “No, I’m Louis.”

She looked like a deer in caught in  headlights as she looked at us “Then who’s Larry?”

“No one.” I said, shaking my head for emphasis “I think you are mistaking us for someone else.”

She shook her head rapidly “I never forget faces easily. Names, that are a different story. But you're.. that group from YouTube, right?. One.. Direction?” she questioned

“Yes. That’s us.” Harry said, winking and I rolled my eyes. Really now, Harry?

She didn’t react to him attempt at shameless flirting. Instead, she snapped her fingers before exclaiming “Hah! I knew it. You’re them. That means one of you is Larry. I remember there being a Larry.”

“I think you mean, Harry.” he corrected “If yes, then that’s me.” he chuckled, flashing his trademark dimples.

She dodged his attempt, yet again and I had to laugh which I quickly disguised as a cough “But then, there is no Larry?”

“No.” I confirmed, “There is no Larry.”

“Oh.” she said quietly “but then you guys are..? I mean you.. oh. Oh.” she said, her eyes dawning in realisation. She suddenly looked very shy as she waved at us “Hi.” she said, immediately catching herself and lowering her hand “I mean.. wow. Well, that was unexpected. Who would’ve thought? It’s you guys. You're kinda famous. I.. wow this feels like a dream. Except, in my dream you guys would’ve probably been Maroon 5.”

And she goes back to her rambling

“.. saw a picture of you guys on an internet magazine.. thing. Plus, our cousin really loves one of your song covers, which one was it Stace?” she asked, looking at the girl beside her “Uh.. Stace?”

Suddenly her friend grabbed her water glass off the table and spat her mouth’s contents into it. I cringed and so did every other person around the table.

“Ew! Gross..” she yelled “why did you do that?”

Stacey looked at her and coughed a little “you’re asking me why I did that? You’re sitting in front of f*cking internet celebrities and all you’ve been doing is rambling, you idiot. I won’t let you embarrass yourselves more.”

“Yeah, as if you haven’t done that already.” Kritika said, looking at the glass with a disgusted look. Then suddenly as if she realized something, she turned to look at us. I was pretty sure everyone was staring “uh.. Hi?” she said suddenly, her voice pitching towards the end.

And I did something that even surprised myself. I burst out laughing. It was the kind of laughter which makes you clutch your stomach and sends tears streaming down your face. My loud laughter boomed through the entire restaurant and it was soon followed by a few more laughs. Call it a chain effect or something but soon enough, everyone was laughing, even Stacey.

I'm pretty sure that the restaurant cashier had either run for his dear life or was contemplating calling the police on us. Or perhaps the mental instituition.

~Kritika~

“Why the hell are was he in a disguise in the first place? If you could even call it disguises. He looked like a grey character from a movie or something.” I said honestly.

We were all sitting around the table, everyone except Liam. There had been a huge fuss regarding who would go and get the food. I had volunteered to go, so had Stace. But they'd said it was only polite for one of them to go.

And thus being the gentlemen they were, they started a stone-paper-scissors war. In the end Liam just gave up and went himself. He had dragged that Harry guy with him though. Or that's what I think his name was.

"Louis, explain." they said, almost in perfect sync while Louis just looked at me sheepishly.

"Why me?" He grumbled "okay so, do you watch YouTube?"

"Uh, what's that got to do with this?"

"Forget it. I'll explain it to her Tomlinson." one of them said. Niall, I think. "So there's this channel that makes challenge videos called Team Edge and we recently did a collab. Liam was the loser so his punishment was for him to wear a fake beard for one whole day, which was today. Get it now?"

I blinked at him "Kinda?"

"Louis lost too, but he threw a mega tantrum being the immature shit he is." he added, smirking slightly towards the end

"Shut up, Zayn." Louis, muttered

Nope. Zayn, that's his name. Dang it.

“Besides, disguises kinda help us. Considering our recent 'rise-to-fame'? There have been instances where people have chased us. So we often try to not draw much attention on ourselves, hence the glasses and hoodies. Louis' idea, by the way. Oh and, something happened today earlier in the morning too, remember guys?” he added “that girl was tugging at your shirt Zayn, did you forget?”

“The poor girl just wanted a picture.” Zayn retorted but I saw him fix his shirt uncomfortably.

"Right. Poor girl." he said dryly and then looked at me "so you see? Disguises are alright."

"Disguises are alright?" I repeated “are you kidding me? Well, I’m sorry for whatever happened and it’s understandable that you’re paranoid. But did you seriously think disguising yourselves would’ve made things any better?” I questioned "to be honest, instead of camouflaging yourself, they just made you look even more suspicious looking. You looked like a mafia group or something.”

“They were hungry.” He retorted “its not even my fault, why are you lecturing me?.”

“You could’ve ordered food.” I pointed out “besides, the whole disguise thing was your idea, wasn't it? You look super shady."

“Who are you, my mother?” he said irritatedly

I raised an eyebrow at him “Try me.”

He swallowed and I saw his adam’s apple bob up and down slightly. He looked shocked.

I shifted uncomfortably, guilt immediately kicking in “Sorry, I didn’t mean to shout at you or be rude. Granted, what you did was really stupid and-”

“Don’t say sorry.” I heard Zayn say “I haven’t seen him speechless for a long time now

Louis cocked his head to one side, nodding to himself. I gave him a what-the-hell-do-you-think-you-are-doing look, the guilt evaporating.

"You're different. I like you." he said finally.

Okay?

He then proceeded jumping off his seat and tried to give me a hug from across the table, knocking off a glass of water on Niall's lap in the process "And I'm sorry. You're right."

"Uhh.. It's okay? I shouldn't have yelled at you either." I patted his back awkwardly, not knowing what else to do.

"Lou" Niall whined, grabbing a few tissues off the table.

********

"So.. you two are basically related?" Zayn asked for the umpteenth time. Niall had gone to fix his jeans so that left Stacey, Zayn, Louis and I.

"For the last time, yes Zayn." I said letting out an exaggerated sigh. While the others seemed okay with it, Zayn still was having a hard time digesting the fact that Stace and I were related.

Probably because we didn't look like we belonged to the same family, let alone be cousins.

"We are basically cousins. Her mother is my mother's younger sister. she is my.. aunt? I seriously can't think of a better word. Maternal aunt..?" I trailed

"Your khala? Wait, no. What do you guys call it? Maasi?"

I looked at Zayn in amazement, so did Stacey. Sensing my shock, he spoke up.

"I know Urdu. And since Urdu is just like your Hindi.. yeah.. Thoda thoda."  He said sheepishly.

My jaw almost dropped to the floor. He laughed at my expression ,so did Louis. Though from his confused expression I knew he had no idea what was going on. I wouldn't blame him though. If I was subjected to a conversation between two people speaking an alien language, I would be as clueless as a fish too.

Liam and Harry came back carrying two trays with our food in it, Niall following them closely behind.

"What are you guys laughing about?"

"Oh my god. Oh my god." I squealed repeatedly, recovering from my shocked state "You spoke.. Oh my god."

I had this odd burst of childish glee when I heard him speak Hindi. It was so.. unexpectedly wonderful.

"He spoke? Wow, Zayn didn't know you could do that." he said sarcastically "Here you go, Clumsy." he said handing me my tray.

"Why thank you” I paused, an idea forming in my mind “Mr. Starbucks.”

He seemed to do a double take "Mr. What?"

"Starbucks." I said popping a piece of chicken in my mouth “It’s what I’d been calling you in my head all this time.” I shrugged

“Highly innovative." he said but I could tell it was bothering him "I sound like a pageant winner. Liam James Payne, Mr Starbucks 2012."

"It suits you." I said patting his arm, leaving no more scope for argument "wait, so technically your name is James."

"Technically." he agreed "I don't know why I gave you that name when we met though. Guess I just panicked?"

"Thought I was a fan didn't you? You are a weird child." I chuckled/before pausing "..still calling you Mr. Starbucks though."

"I'm honored."

“Are you kidding me? They died?” I heard Harry say and I look at him to see him looking completely and utterly shocked.

Before I can stop myself I blurt out “Who died?”

Suddenly his head snaps to me, his shocked expression till intact. I bite my tongue apologetically “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business and--“

“They supposedly committed suicide.” He cut in, looking at me though I doubt he was talking to me.

“Who?” this time, it wasn’t me who asked that “who committed suicide?”

Niall patted Harry’s arm chuckling “Poor lad. He’s in shock. Shouldn’t have told him that.”

This time I didn’t stop myself “Someone died and you’re laughing?”

“Tom and Jerry.” he said simply

“Oh.” I said “Wait, what? What do you mean they died?”

“Don’t you know? They commit suicide in the last episode.” He shrugged “jump in front of a train or something. That episode aired in the 1957. Blue Cat Blues I think. They jumped in front of a train, I think."

The napkin in my hand fluttered out of grasp "Are you kidding me? They died?" I gasped

"Hey, that's what Harry said." Niall laughed but I couldn't move my mouth. It felt like a lightning bolt had struck me.

"Oh my god." I whispered "oh my god."

"I know." Harry agreed "they were my favorite as a kid."

"Mine too." I said softly and then I shook my head "you know what, I'm going to pretend you didn't say that. They are very much alive." I announced

"I agree." Harry said "they're still, I don't know, chasing each other at this very moment."

"Yes." I said

"And if someone tries to challenge your assumption?" Niall said

"Then they're gonna end up like Tom and Jerry did." Harry said

"Didn't." I reminded him "like they didn't."

"Right, like they didn't."

Niall chuckled and nodded "Point duly noted."

We all laughed at that. I looked at everyone sitting around me. Even Stacey was laughing. These boys.. were something else.

And I had a feeling we were going to be great friends.

******

"Shot gun!" Niall yelled, getting into their car.

"Are'nt you the one driving?" Zayn asked, getting into the backseat.

Niall looked back at him and groaned "Damn it!"

I witnessed their exchange, pretty amused. We were all done with our dinner, I had my full stomach as an evidence, and it was time to go home. It had been just an hour or two since we met and I could say that we were already pretty tight. Guess sometimes serendipity is not so serendipitous.

We were all in the parking lot as we bade each other a temporary goodbye.

"I'm going to miss you Kaybear." Louis said, hugging Stacey and I “You too, Stacey."

"What? No nickname for me?" she joked. He appeared to reflect for a bit and she immediately cut in "no, no. It's okay. Just Stacey's fine."

"Okay, Just Stacey." he joked

"Really Louis? What are we, five?" I mumbled but he had already gone and had gotten into their car.

"So.." I heard Harry trail "Do you girls have a ride back home?" He asked rubbing the back of his neck.

I smiled. Such a gentleman. "Yeah, Stacey's car is right over there." I said, pointing at her silver Chevrolet "Thank you, though." 

"Come on Harry." Zayn yelled from the back seat. Harry hugged us both and then they finally drove off, a 'bye' resonating from the front seat, probably from Louis. It was really hard to believe that he was the oldest of the lot.

The ride back home was silent, partially because of exhaustion and partially because it was taking time for things to finally sink in. 

My phone buzzed and I saw I had a new notification from...

"Louis the sexy potato?" I asked myself. It all sank in after a second. Ofcourse. I am never giving my phone to Louis ever again.

Hi :) Guess who?

I faceplamed and gave out a little laugh.

"What?" Stacey asked, her eyes on the road. There was a lot of ongoing traffic and it was getting very frustrating "Why are you laughing."

"Louis." I said, pretty sure that I didn't have to say anything more.

"Louis." Stacey repeated, shaking her head "Man, that guy sure is weird."

"Tell me about it" I said, typing back a quick reply to him

Esteban Julio Ricarda Montoya El Rosa Ramirez?

I shut my phone seeing that we had pulled in our driveway. He'll take forever to figure that one out.

I shook my head, laughing to myself. Today was anything but normal. I was five friends richer right now than I was in the morning. 

Not to mention they were a not so normal lot.

I smiled to myself.

Who knew one late breakfast could make so much of a difference?

 
XXXXXXXX

Khala= Aunt in Urdu
Maasi= Aunt in Hindi

Not too important. So don't worry if you didn't understand that part. It's just my, well, desi pride. Since Zayn's desi too, I had to add it

Will upload the next chappie asap :*

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Stay Beautiful❤

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:) xx