The Way Things Change

Chapter 51

I was woken up by the sound of someone rummaging through my closet. Normally I would have been frightened, thinking it was a burglar or something, but now I didn't care. The ache in my chest wasn't gone. I was still curled up in my bed. I was still tired, oh so tired. I didn't even have the strength to open my eyes. I didn't want to.

"Get your lazy ass out of bed right this instant!" I heard Eleanor's harsh voice beam. I forced my eyelids open. She was standing right in front of me. The only light in the room was from the sunset, shining through the window. Sunset?

"What are you doing here?" I croaked. My throat and mouth were very dry. I needed water.

She sat down on the bed next to me. She looked at me, compassion in her eyes.

"Louis called me. He was panicking. He couldn't reach you. Nobody could. They thought something had happened, so Lou wanted me to check up on you. And here I am."

I didn't know what to say. What should I say? That she shouldn't have come?

"Look. We are here for you. We care for you and all you do is shut us out." She sighed.

"No I don't-" I started to protest.

"Well, you sure didn't call me. Or Sophia or Perrie or Dani for that matter. You didn't call when you needed us. We could have come by to keep you company." She sighed again. Was that a tear? No I must be something I am imagining.

"But you were busy! I didn't want to bother you." I finally got up to sit next to her. Lying down I felt vulnerable, small.

"We can talk about this later Kate. Right now you need to get your ass in the shower. Or I'll throw you in there. We're going away for a while."

"Where are we going?"

"No questions. Just get in the shower. In the mean time I'll pack your bag."

10 minutes later I was done. I didn't bother with makeup. When I felt like this I didn't care for my appearance, even if we were to go outside the house. I had pulled on some simple grey sweatpants, topping it with a simple semi-tight white t-shirt. I put on a black beanie to cover my tangled damp hair. I didn't even want to brush it. I just didn't want to.

Stepping out of the bathroom I saw my bags already packed, Eleanor sitting on the bed waiting for me.

"Have you packed my exercising clothes? And my running shoes?"

"Of course I have!" She looked offended, pouting. "You honestly think I would forget? Tsk..."

"But now we really have to get going. Here" She threw my black converse at me.  I put them on and followed her downstairs, into the cab. It was dark outside. Had I slept one day away? Or only about 2 hours? I didn't know. I was confused. And still tired.

"What time is it?"

"It's 9:30pm. You've slept the whole day away. I don't know how you could" She giggled a bit. "Now eat this!" She said while handing me a store bought chicken salad.