𝕞𝕚𝕣𝕣𝕠𝕣𝕤 ┉✧ L.T.

/ chapter twenty - six /

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Placebo – This Picture

Cigarettes After Sex – Cry

Paramore - Ignorance

// Spotify playlist is in the comments

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------------- CLOCK TOWER, VIENNA ----------------

9th of November

Of course; he was standing there, through the crouwd, with his hands crossed and his eyebrows furrowed in the usual way. A joint in one hand, the typical, stupidly imperious smirk on his face, and the concern rising in his wide open eyes, waiting for answers. I caught myself gasping in surprise; my fingers tightened around Louis' hand. "Christopher?"

"My name's Chris, but hi," he smiled confidently. A cloud of smoke surrounded him, coming out of his mouth, his stare locked on me.

"You've been following us?"

He shrugged his shoulders – then shook his head. "Following you is none of my business. There's another reason I came here."

"To the point, then," I demanded.

"Fine." He took a step closer to us, along with a deep breath. "I was wondering if you would be kind enough to stop turning Elisabeth against me."

I smiled, shaking my head with my eyes half closed; slightly relieved that this was all he wanted to talk about. "I don't care about you as much as you think I do."

"I'm just warning you," he smiled back.

"You followed us here to warn us about Elisabeth?" Louis raised his eyebrows, staring at Chris so intensely that I swear I could see the anger rising in the blue. But unlike Louis, Chris looked calm – he was looking over me like he was my big brother, advising me. His low toned voice was a contrast to the happy fuss around us; I was next to him, but could barely hear him talk.

"And now that Elisabeth knows about the pills, what? She still loves me, you see."

"I thought you didn't keep secrets from Elisabeth, Chris," I cracked a smile of irony. "And, well, she started smoking, I wouldn't love to see her do drugs, too."

"Oh, that sounds like a threat."

The crowd of people was already starting to dissolve again under the Clock Tower, after taking the necessary photos. The talks got a bit more scarce and distant from us, but the vibe was still there. The sun had set since long ago, the light was gone; all that was left from the day, was a dark blue covering the sky above our heads.

Chris looked away; his lips tightening with the joint between them. "I'm not here to fight," a confident smile spread on his face as he gazed over the crowd again. But then, back at me; directly at me. "I'm with you, you know. Even if none of you likes me, I want to protect you. Or to just warn you – depends on how you take it."

I smiled. "We don't need anyone to protect us, Chris."

"Really? Then what's up with all the security guards following you?"

My eyes widened; for a moment, he sounded logical. It made sense – we did need someone to protect us. But if I knew one thing well, was to never trust anyone about my fears.

I heard Louis chuckle. "Enough, Chris."

"Listen, I'll be straightforward," Chris stepped even closer to me, until his shoulder was inches away from mine; he smelled like weed and alcohol, mixing with his expensive cologne. "I'm someone who really observes people and things, you know. And let's say I've noticed things that you may have no idea about. Things about your dear manager, that he doesn't want you to know about."