THREE WORDS IN THREE DAYS

The Siege

AND SO IT BEGINS

It was a regular day. One of those days that are neither good nor bad, but just normal. She woke up as always, got dressed as always, ate breakfast as always, and went to school as always. There was nothing written in the clouds that today was going to be a life-changing day.

It was the last week of school, meaning finals, and she was a senior, meaning after this week, she was officially a college freshman. And if she was lucky, she'd be off to study abroad in London before she knew it. She couldn't wait because her two best friends lived in London, and though they called each other often, it just wasn't the same. Two years was a long time to be apart from your best friends.

Don't you know all night I've been waiting for a girl like you to come around, round, round?

She jumped as her ringtone played. Fishing her phone out of her pocket, she answered, "Hello?"

"Hey, Akhila, what's up?"

"Nothing. Just walking home."

"Failed any finals yet?"

She could practically see her best friend's smirk. "Harry, you need remember who you're talking to."

Harry laughed. "Last time I called, you were complaining of your own stupidity. All of a sudden, you're a genius, are you?"

Akhila rolled her eyes. "Obviously. Do you doubt your best friend's intellect?"

"What happens if I say yes?"

"Then I'm hanging up. Just because you're part of a famous boy band doesn't mean you can be an arse," she scolded but she was grinning.

"I really have rubbed off on you, haven't I?" He chuckled.

"Well, you are my best friend," she responded. She heard a shout in the background and frowned. The voice sounded oddly familiar but she couldn't seem to remember when or where she'd heard it before. "Uh, did someone just yell?"

"What? Oh no, no one's here," Harry said too quickly. "Well, gotta go, I'll see you later." And then all she could hear was the dial tone.

Her jaw dropped. Did he just hang up on her? He did not just hang up on her. She didn't even get to ask about Eleanor! Akhila ground her teeth together, seething and planning her revenge already. No one hung up on Akhila, no sirree.

And what was that "see you later"? She didn't expect to see him for at least another two months. What was he talking about?

Then again, Harry had always been a little absent-minded. He must've forgotten that she lived halfway around the world. What a silly guy.

But she was still going to throttle him.

Akhila arrived home to find her mother waiting excitedly. This was very odd. Her mother did not just "wait excitedly" for Akhila to come home. Something suspicious was going on.

"Mom?" said Akhila warily as she entered the living room. "What's going on?"

"Oh, Akhila, you're finally home! We're going to have some guests over tonight so I need you to go up into the attic and grab some extra folding chairs. They're behind the old mattresses." Her mother beamed happily.

Akhila eyed her mother and said slowly, "Mom, I know you're getting old but how could you possibly forget what happened the last time I went up to the attic?"

Her mother waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, that was years ago, dear. You've matured."

"Mom. That was last week."

"Well, it isn't my fault you decided to hide there so your cousins couldn't find you! Who knew you'd be so scared by a few little spiders?"

"Mom! They were not little!"

"Yes, yes. Now please go get the chairs."

"But-"

"Now."

Akhila gulped. "Yes, ma'am," she acquiesced meekly. She could never argue back when her mother used that tone. The do-what-I-say-or-else-I-will-take-away-your-phone-and-laptop-and-anything-that-gives-you-joy tone.

With trembling legs, Akhila slowly and unsteadily made her way to the attic. The door was hidden deep within the recesses of her mother's closet, behind the dust and the mothballs and the tangled cobwebs.

Gulp. Cobwebs. Cobwebs and...spiders.

She groped around for the light switch and finally caught the string between her fingers. She yanked viciously on it, nearly tearing it, and the light flickered on dimly. Akhila groaned. She'd forgotten that the bulb was old and nearly useless. The constant flickering only served to make the attic creepier.

"I am defiant in the face of possible death," she muttered to herself. "I will not go down without a fight. I can do this. I can - AHHHH, SOMETHING JUST CRAWLED OVER MY FOOT! I'M GONNA DIE!"

Someone burst out laughing. "God, Akhila, you're hilarious!"

"Who - Harry?!" Akhila's eyes widened comically as the laughing boy stumbled forward. A pretty brunette stepped out in front of Akhila giggling wildly. "Eleanor?! What are you two doing here?"

"Surprise!" came Eleanor's giggling voice.

"One Direction's touring the United States!" Harry exclaimed happily. "Our first concert is next Monday, in Los Angeles."

"That's awesome!" Akhila squealed. "I wish I could come with you guys!"

"Well, you could," Eleanor said. "Why not? As long as your parents are okay with it."

"Girl, I'm eighteen. I live by my own rules." Akhila flipped her hair.

"If you say so," snickered Eleanor.

"So where's the rest of your band?" Akhila peered in the direction of the attic.

"No, they're not in there," Harry said, crushing her hopes. "They'll be arriving tomorrow. Tomorrow's your last day of school, right?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Brilliant! We can all hang out before we leave for Los Angeles." Harry grinned happily.

Akhila's brain had turned to mush. She'd get to hang out with One Direction? With Liam Payne? For reals?

Eleanor's eyes gleamed. She knew who Akhila was thinking about. "This is gonna be interesting."

A/N: Hellooooo FP! I've been AWOL due to school (of course, what else is there?) but I've been writing this short fanfic for a friend so I thought I might as well post it. It's for One Direction, who my friend is absolutely in love with. I would post this on FF but they don't seem to have a category for them so FP it is.

I know the writing's not very good so forgive me. I've been using up 98% of my brainpower for school.

Hope you enjoy this anyways!

Write on. Read on. That's my motto.

© Copyright 2012 by The Siege