When They Fell

Chapter 9: Banana Pancakes

I woke up the next morning completely delirious. I thought she was beside me. But when I reached my arm over to grab her waist, I felt quiffed hair which was definitely not hers. I opened my eyes hesitantly because I didn't want to lose the comfort of the pillows and blankets. Instead of seeing a sleepy Rebecca with her hair tousled wildly and her arms wrapped in the perfect sleeping position with our legs tangled in a perfect mass of limbs like wires that have jumbled up over time or knots in necklaces that have been there for years. Or the soft sound of purrs that escaped her mouth when she snored. I didn't wake up to that. Or the sweet smell of mint and strawberries in her hair. I woke up on the floor of a hotel room. My hand was gripping onto Zayn's hair and I was cuddling Niall. I woke up with my legs tangled with Harry's and his hand on my thigh. The soft purrs were coming from him however it was no longer soft purrs, but sounds of fighter jet engines and motorcycles. The sweet smell of mint and strawberries was replaced with banana pancakes.
"Good morning." Louis said with a weak smile, trying his best to keep his eyes open and comfort me as much as possible. He was sitting at a small picnic table on the balcony and the sliding doors were open allowing the sweet aroma from the mass of flapjacks to travel back into the room.
"I'm not hungry." I replied acknowledging his generosity but not accepting it. I walked to the bathroom and grabbed my pants and slipped on a t shirt.
"Liam!!" Louis called after me quietly trying not to wake the others, but I just kept walking. I was almost out the door when he grabbed my arm and sat me on the bed. "Do you even know how long we've been doing this? Looking for her I mean." I shook my head leisurely and looked up at louis's bloodshot eyes. "It's been 8 months liam."
I opened my mouth to speak but I had nothing to say. He put his arm around me and squeezed me softly before looking at me. "I just think we should take a break."
"DO YOU THINK THAT FUCKER IS TAKING A BREAK FROM ABUSING HER?!?" I exploded. "DO YOU THINK HES TAKING A BREAK FROM RAPING HER, OR STARVING HER, OR GOD KNOWS WHAT!!!" I paced by the door and punched the concrete wall several times. "YOURE HERE OFFERING ME PANCAKES AND MAKING PALETTES AND SLEEPING IN HOTEL ROOMS WITHOUT THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOUSE WHILE SHES OUT THERE PROBABLY TIED UP. SHE HASNT SLEPT, OR EATEN, OR BEEN OUTSIDE, OR EVEN FUCKING WALKED IN EIGHT FUCKING MONTHS!!!" I felt as a warm liquid dripped down my lip and I tasted metal at the back of my throat.
"Liam, just sit down. Take a rest. Let me clean you up and then we can talk about this." He offered me a tissue and a warm smile.
"NO. I DONT WANT TO SIT DOWN. WHAT IF YOU LOST HARRY?!? WE WOULD BE LOOKING RELENTLESSLY. WHY DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A BREAK?!? BECAUSE ITS NOT SOMEONE THAT YOURE IN LOVE WITH. NO. ITS SOMEONE IM IN LOVE WITH." I slapped louis and a small gasp escaped from his lips.
"I-I'm sorry." I stood up and realized that everyone woke up and witnessed what I did. Muttering softly, I stumbled on my own words before running out of the hotel. I'm not going to give up on you Rebecca. I will find you.