On the Run, Your Highness

Day in Hiding

I lounge on my belly on the couch, watching the tv show that just happened to be on. My butt is squeezed into a pair of sweatpants and they're actually quite comfortable.
Maybe a little scandalous...
Mother would be appalled.

Louis walks through the living room, his eyes glancing to me. I watch him from the corner of my eye as his gaze lingers on the tight fabric of the sweatpants covering my bum.

He clears his throat, looking away. "I'm going to take a shower. Don't answer the door or anything."

I nod and turn my gaze back to the tv. My eyes wander to the window that Louis had covered with dark curtains when we first moved in.

Louis says that I can't go out without him.
But Louis isn't around...

I stand up and put on my sneakers. I hurry to the door, grabbing a beanie and my glasses on the way.

I hurry to the elevator, only breathing out when I start heading down the building.

I don't know where to go. This is the most freedom I've ever had and I'm literally being hunted.

I step into the basically empty Zee and Ni's. I glance around and see Niall come through the doors of the kitchen when he hears the front door bell.

He breathes out a sigh when he sees me.
Of relief?
Of sadness?

He speaks with a soft smile, "Hi Harry. You can sit wherever. It's not like any other table is taken." I look around, noting how the whole restaurant is empty. I nod and sit at a close booth. He follows me over and pulls out a notebook. "What can I get you?"

I hesitate, knowing that I don't know any American foods. I shrug, "I'm not that hungry. I just wanted to escape."

His eyes slowly look up at mine, his pen becoming loose in his hands. He asks quietly, "Louis isn't hurting you, is he?"

"What? Oh gosh, no!" I smile brightly, giving him the ok to smile too.

He sighs in relief, "Oh good! You had me worried!" He puts the notebook in his pocket and sits across from me. "So, why'd you want to escape?"

I look around the restaurant and start playing with my fingers. "Well, it's nothing really. Just..." I look him in the eye, this boy seems trustworthy and I need to talk to someone. "Me and Louis aren't here for a permanent amount of time. We just have to come here for family reasons. And I'm not supposed to be out too much. I'm supposed to stay in the apartment for the next few weeks. But all I have is Louis and we're not even that close. He isn't around to entertain me and I'm used to having someone do that!"

Niall nods along, putting on a thinking face. He adds, "So you don't have anyone around the city to hang with?" I shake my head, "How about you hang with me and Zayn?"

"Oh Niall, I don't know."

"Oh come on! Just tomorrow we'll come around to your place so you don't have to go out. And if we bother you, you don't ever have to invite us again!" Niall smiles, urging me to say yes.

Louis is going to be so pissed.

"Yeah, that'd be fun!"

Me and Niall talk for a few more minutes before his eyes linger to the side of my head. He mumbles, "Someone's in trouble..."

I follow his gaze to see Louis burst through the door. He immediately sees me and runs over. He exclaims, "Where the hell have you been? You terrified me! What if something happened? Why did you leave?"

I stand up and try to calm him, "I'm okay. I'm fine." He's still fuming at me. I grab his face in my hands, "Louis, I'm fine."

"But what if-"

"No!" I interrupt, "I'm okay. I just wanted to go out. I hate being alone in that cramped apartment."

He argues, "You're not alone. I'm there."

I roll my eyes, "You don't even talk to me!"

Niall mutters from behind us, "You two need to fuck."

Louis blushes, "W-What?"

Niall shrugs and stands up, "The tension. I can cut it with a knife." He turns and walks to the kitchen.

"Whatever!" Louis says, "Just please stay in the apartment, Your Highness. It's not safe. I really don't even feel that comfortable with you going out with me!"

I push past him to go toward the door, "Well I hate it there! And I hate you!"

I stomp out of the door with a hurt Louis following behind for protection.