Cocaine for Breakfast

Chapter 4

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Louis is half-asleep, carelessly spooning his cereal into his mouth. He's already coughed twice because he forgot to chew first, and when a shadow hovers over him, he looks up briefly. Lottie sits down next to him at the kitchen table. She folds her arms, tapping her fingers on the top, a nervous expression colouring her face.

"What Lots?" He urges between two spoonfuls, wiping drops of milk from his jaw and sucking his finger into his mouth.

"Mum called."

He lets up from his finger with a wet pop, closing his eyes for a split second. No, it's too early for this, Louis frowns, already shaking his head. His brain can't process this.

"What does she want?" Louis asks, glowering at his soaked breakfast, the milk swaying dangerously close to the rim as he pushes the bowl away from him, appetite gone.

"Asked for you, said she couldn't reach you on your phone." Lottie clicks her tongue, fingers twirling her ponytail. "You should turn on your phone."

After a moment of watching her hair swirl in a circle, he clears his throat, "It's turned on." As she sends him another astringent look, he shrugs, nonchalantly. "Well, it's on airplane mode."

Lottie snorts, getting up from her seat. She points to his half-finished bowl, "You still eating that?" He shakes his head so she takes his brekkie and places it in the sink, leaning with her bum against the counter when she's done. She curls her fingers around the edge, nails continuing the annoying, tapping rhythm.

The tick, tick, tick, makes Louis anxious. He bites his tongue, holding a snappy remark curled in his chest.

Obviously he's avoiding talking to their mum. There is no reason for them to chat anyway. To be honest, he never thought she'd be the one reaching out first. Their mum is so busy with the company and all, he was certain she'd forget that he's not in London anymore, living under the same roof as her.

"What did you tell her?" Louis asks as the silence in the little kitchen gets the better of him. It was a pleasant morning, with the sun shining through the small window, filling the room in a soft glowing light. Now he regrets leaving his bed. He concentrates more on the dust glittering in the radiant light instead of the flutter in his tummy, as he waits for her answer.

"You're fine, I'm fine, Tommy is too." She waves her hand, eyes on the pictures which are pinned to the fridge. The paintings were drawn by the children who had to stay at the hospital. "I mean, you are fine. Right?" Lottie says then, blue eyes boring into his.

"Oh yeah, I'm great." Louis responds quickly, folding his arms on the table like Lottie had before. He's not even sure if it's a lie or not, because he's spent the past few days in a state of basic function. He went out for a walk, this time without getting soaked to his underwear, and he slept a lot. He saw Lara one more time after her visit on Wednesday, and they watched a movie on his laptop. Nothing special about that, except the weed they shared. This is Louis' version of fine, there is no reason for him to lower his gaze or rub below his nose. He still does all of those things, uncomfortable and itchy.

"What're you doing tonight?" Lottie asks, picking at her nail, little pout on her lips. Louis can't tell if she wants him to meet his friends or if she has plans for them. At least it's a change of topic, he thinks, as he gets up to his feet, just in case he has to make a run for it...again.

"Hmm...Lara invited me?" It comes out as a question, he can't help the nervous tilt in his voice. "Apparently her..." swallowing, he reminds himself he has no reason to be afraid to mention it to his sister...but still, "her girlfriend is coming for a visit." Louis finishes quickly, to get it all out at once.