"This can't be happening to me. This is just a dream"

So, I kept my word.

I did NOT go to meet with Harry.

Honestly, it made me feel accomplished, that I was able to stand my ground and not crumble. I really thought that I would've changed my mind and went anyway. But, this just shows how much I've changed.

This whole fiasco with Harry can take a back seat.

I've been through so much these past couple of years and when I'm finally starting to find some peace, he just appears out of nowhere and now I feel like everything is turning to shit.

And who's to say that I need him in my life right now...or ever again? I don't know how I did it, but I managed to put my life back together even without him because I didn't need him, so why do I need him now?

He never contacted me about Saturday so I'm assuming that he's taken the hint. It's now Thursday and I'm actually happy about this week being drama free.

Maybe this is the end.

Maybe he'll leave me be and carry on with his life.

I can't help feeling a little hurt about not seeing him again, though.

You know what? Maybe I'm just bipolar. Yup, that's it.

But still.

I mean, I can't ignore the fact that I missed him but I don't need that in my life right now. I need to focus on myself and Mari for now. And maybe things were meant to be this way. Us changing and growing apart was probably a good thing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The week flew by faster than I expected. It's now Saturday again so it's been a week since I ditched meeting Harry. Somewhere deep inside of me felt guilty for standing him up but for the most part, I say he deserved it.

Okay, okay I admit that was a bit harsh and totally not me speaking.

Blame the exhaustion.

I had back to back classes this weekend at the studio and now my feet are killing me.

I just remind myself that the cause is what matters. So yes, it may feel like I'm stepping on needles every time my feet touch the floor but it doesn't compare to the feeling of doing something for the greater good.

And that, my friends, is why I don't need Harry in my life right now. Look! I even forget all about him!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So I didn't forget about him...

But it's fine. At this point in time, there's bigger fish to fry.

Monday...again.

The universe just loves me, doesn't it?

So again I do my usual routine on a Monday. Mari isn't here because......again it's Monday so she's at Anne's.

For the most part, Monday has actually been running smoothly for me. No almost getting run over or accidental stains or tripping over my own feet.

It's actually been going great.

Maybe I shouldn't speak too quick.

Somehow it never works out for me in the end.

It's now almost lunchtime. Just as I'm about to go to the cafeteria, the phone starts ringing.

"Hello, good morning! Syco Entertainment. How can I assist you?" I answered the phone, mock enthusiastically. I looked over at Linda and she's trying to hold in her laughter.

She and I both know that I feel anything but enthusiastic.

"Mia! I have a last minute meeting coming in in about 5 or 10 minutes. Hurry up and get in here!"

How rude! I thought as he hangs up the phone without waiting for a response.

God! I'm really hungry though!

It was probably written all over my face because Linda speaks up, "I can take this meeting if you want, love. It's not a problem."

"No! ¿Estás loca? You're supposed to be leaving just now. You can't skip your dress fitting! It's okay. My stomach will survive." I exclaimed and then muttered, "Hopefully it doesn't eat away at itself"

She chuckles while I get my notepad and pen. I walk into Simon's office and he's not here.

Okay...not strange at all.

I start setting up for the meeting; getting the beverages for the client or clients, whoever it is. It's a last minute meeting so I don't know who the poor unfortunate soul condemned to meeting with the gruesome creature that is Simon Cowell.

I'm kidding, I'm kidding.

Only love in the house here, only love.

By the tone of his voice over the phone, he was not in a good mood today. Maybe that's because of this last minute meeting. Whoever is coming in today had to have really upset him.

As I'm sitting patiently in my usual seat in Simon's office, the door bursts open with a red-faced Simon and One Direction following right behind.

Mother of all that is good in this world...why?! Shit, shit, shit...

Can we just take a moment to acknowledge the fact that anytime I'm around Harry or even think about him, I just have the sudden urge to swear?

Talk about the effect he has on people...

More like the effect he has on me...

Okay, short moment of actualization over.

Back to panic mode!

Really?! Of all people! Today?!

Like I said.....the universe doesn't like me at all.

Simon's face is so red though he looks like a tomato. He's furious.

Ohhhh...so they're the poor unfortunate souls.

The five of them hurriedly take their seats on the couch next to me, not wanting to get into more trouble. Harry sits right across from me.

Lord put a hand...

He looks up at me so I look down some how finding my pen more fascinating at this moment.

They sit quietly watching Simon, waiting for him to speak. He honestly looks like he's about to explode. He has his eyes closed with his thumb and index finger pinching the bridge of his nose. Then he looks at them...

Oh boy here it comes "What is wrong with you! You were just here three weeks ago!"

What did they do? Mmmm...spill the chisme, mayne!

Can you tell? I may or may not have a slight addiction to drama. Not being involved or anything, just silently sitting back and watching it unfold before my eyes.

Listen okay! I 100% blame my genes and the fact that abuela and I literally dedicate our souls to telenovelas on a weekly basis.

Heck! My life is a freaking telenovela!

"Why on earth would you...I don't even..." His voice is laced with frustration and he looked like he had so much to say yet couldn't get the words out.

"This is unacceptable. Did you think with your heads or did you use your dick?" Does he usually talk to them like this? I have to admit that it seems kind of harsh, "You're in the middle of a tour for Christ's sake! Do you know how much bad publicity you're bringing to the band?"

You know, now that I think about it, the boys are in the middle of a tour. So whatever they did had to be really bad if Simon had to drag them from the tour to his office. Thinking back to the day Harry came to ask me for the tour schedule, he must have been out of it that day because I mean...

How could you let Simon send you to collect a tour schedule for a tour happening next year when you're already on a tour!

They say common sense isn't so common these days...

The meeting two weeks ago was just to update them on how their fourth album was coming along. Nothing big, just a short meeting as they were in the start of the tour. Simon just touched the subject of them going on tour, again nothing big or anything finalized so either Harry was really out of it or he obeyed Simon's instructions to use it as an opportunity to speak with me.

Either way, I don't think he really listened to what Simon asked of him.

Simon looks at Louis and Zayn,"A joint?! You got caught with a bloody joint! Before you check to make sure that you cover yourselves, you go out to smoke a joint! And for what...a quick buzz, huh?! Now someone leaked a video of you two with the joint!" He yelled, more like screamed. He was fuming.

He pauses to catch his breath and then turns to Harry, "And you! Can't you keep it in your pants for a few months! Do you even know this girl, Harry?! Did you even think about her possibly going to the press about this?" he scolded. Harry looks down but then he opens his mouth, ready to protest but Simon quickly shuts him down, "I don't want to hear it. You're lucky we could cover this one up without it going to the media."

This one? Did he have to say it like that? I mean, she's still a person. At least I'm assuming she's a she.

Harry looks down ashamedly but he still looks like he has something to say.

What did he want to say? I wanna hear.

I can't help feeling something inside when Simon revealed that he slept with someone. What is that? Whatever this feeling is, it needs to go away because I don't like it.

Shoo fly!

He continues,"And you two," he points to Liam and Niall, "You couldn't talk some sense into them? What happened to sticking together and having each other's backs? Therefore, all of you had a part to play in this...this...I don't even know what to call it." he says sternly. The room is silent, so silent that it's almost deafening. Simon then proceeds to have a seat next to me.

He seems to be deep in thought so everyone in the room sits quietly, watching him. Well, everyone except Harry. Why does he keep looking at me? It's pretty clear that he is trying to make eye contact but man, does he have to be so obvious? Niall looks like he's about to pee himself.

Finally, Simon begins to speak again, much more calmer now.

"Well, it's clear as day that I am disappointed. And something must be done not only to teach you a lesson but to also keep you out of trouble with the press." and he pauses.

Always so dramatic.

"What is the date today?" he asked. I was busy writing everything that just happened down in my notepad to type out later that I didn't realize he was speaking to me.

"Mia?" I jumped at the sound of his voice and looked up. Everyone was looking at me expectedly. I turned to look at Simon and he repeated the question.

"Ummm...the 13th" I answered.

"When does the tour start up again?" he asked. What is he up to?

I checked their schedule, "the 23th"

"Where?"

"Dublin"

He clasped his hands together and exclaimed, "Perfect!"

The boys were at the edge of their seats, waiting for Simon's next words.

"I reckon a lock down," He says proudly, as though he just came up with the most genius plan, "Starting today, you'll be on lock down. No venturing out, no visitors" then he looked at Harry, Zayn and Louis, "No parties, no drugs and no girls."

Protests flew around the room instantly.

"What?"

"Don't you think that's a bit much"

"I can't, Simon. Eleanor is coming up this week."

"I was going to visit mum this week."

"You can't be serious!"

"I'm sorry, boys but you brought this on yourselves. Besides it's only one week. You have everything that you may need in your houses to keep you entertained and fed for seven days" Simon says definitively, not willing to listen to their reasoning.

The groans that echoed throughout the room made me feel sorry for them.

In my opinion, this really isn't fair.

"Is is that so, Mia?" Simon suddenly says and watches me with a hint of a smirk. It's barely there but if you know Simon like I do, you don't need to see it to know that it's there.

Oh shit, did I say that out loud! Crap.

"Ummm" say something Mia.

"What about this seems unfair to you?" He's still smirking. You know, looking at it now, it just seems like one hell of an evil smile.

I gulped when I noticed the many eyes watching me, pleading for me to help their case.

"Well...it's quite unfair that all of them must suffer because three of them messed up. Why must Niall and Liam be sulking and bored out of their minds in their homes without anyone to keep them company when really it should be the other three being punished?" I looked at them. Liam was smiling gratefully at me and Niall had a huge grin on his face. Harry, Louis and Zayn's dropped open at my last words. I mouthed a 'sorry' at them and then continued speaking as I now have the confidence to speak my thoughts on this whole situation.

"And confining them to their houses isn't going to teach them a lesson...it's just going to make them want to make those mistakes again. I say confining to houses with people close to them to keep an eye on them should help with the press problem like their parent's house or maybe have them under one roof and get someone you trust to keep an eye on them."

Basically, they need a babysitter.

If they can't take care of themselves on their own then treating them like children should make them want to get their act together.

Simon nods at my words and then he suddenly stops. His eyes have brightened slightly, like a light bulb just went off in his head.

"What a wonderful suggestion, Mia! You're too kind" he exclaims.

What? What did I do?

"Okay. I have changed my mind. I am taking Mia's words into consideration and after much thought...I have decided that you'll be staying with Mia for the week."

"What?!" my voice went up a few octaves. I didn't agree to this.

The boys look at Simon in shock. I look at him as though he just grew two heads.

"So go home. Pack your stuff and your drivers will be at your houses shortly to collect you and carry you to Mia's house."

He dismisses them while I sit on the couch, still in shock.

What the hell just happened! Maybe this is just a dream...

A really, really bad dream.

"Oh come on, Mia. It won't be that bad. You have full permission to put them to work if you wish."

"Simon..." I pause because I couldn't find the words to express what I was feeling at the moment.

"Qué demonios, Simon! ¿Como pudiste? ¿Estas loco? Debes estar loco si piensas-" he cuts me off. (what the hell, Simon. how could you? Are you crazy? You must be crazy if you think-)

"Basta, basta" he says, raising his hands up in defense.

He continues, "You basically suggested that you could babysit them for me! You said 'get someone you trust to keep an eye on them' and you were the first person I thought of."

"But Simon-" he cuts me off again, "No buts, as your boss, it's your job to obey my orders. Besides it won't be that bad. I know you'll be able to handle them. If you can handle Mari then you can definitely handle them."

"Don't put Mari and those five boys in the same category, Simon. I find it very offensive, no offense of course. And as my stepfather, you should have my best interests at heart. If I come to work next week with half my hair already grey, it'll be your fault," I say.

"Don't make me feel guilty and play the stepfather card, Mia. It's not nice," he looks at me with puppy dog eyes when he says this and then continues, "You'll have the week off, of course. You'll also be getting a raise, well you could at least look more excited. You and I both know you need it." I shoot him a glare. I don't like it when he brings up my financial situation and he knows that.

I'm making it work and that's all that matters.

"Simon, where will they fit? I am renting a flat for me and Mari, not me, Mari and the members of One Direction," I countered.

"I told them that they'll be staying at your house," he said, shrugging.

"It's a two bedroom flat, Simon. Not-" he cuts me off, "I said they'll be staying at your house, Mia."

Then suddenly, it hits me like a ton of bricks.

Oh god, no.

A/N
Chapter 8 is up. Super lonnngg. So the boys are in trouble and Mia has to deal with it. Hmmm. Also Mia and Simon's relationship was revealed.

Hope yall enjoyed this chapter. Thanks and all the love to ALL my readers. Mwah!