I Hate You ~ Louis Tomlinson

KEEP MOVING FORWARD

A few days later, they get the video back. Turns out since One Direction is quite a big deal, they have great security systems. They analyzed the video and miraculously were able to find the guy that hurt Natalie. Once they had told management what happened, they instructed her to take pictures of her injuries for proof.

After they reviewed the video footage, it was clear the man was trying to hurt her, but having more physical evidence didn't hurt. He was arrested and they placed a restraining order against him for her and all the boys just for good measure, in case he was released for bail or anything like that.

She just didn't expect to see the video herself. It was forwarded to her and Louis, she really doesn't understand why. She couldn't help herself though as she clicked on it.

When she sees herself fall onto the pavement though, she gasps audibly. Since she's sitting, practically smooshed in between Harry and Niall, they turn their attention to her phone screen. They're all horrified.

"Oh my gosh." Niall says genuinely dumbfounded.

She knew it felt bad, and she figured the video probably looked as bad as it felt, but seeing it was so strange. It's literally like an out of body experience as she watches herself in the video stumble and run away. Her train of thought is cut off when they all hear the front door slam open loudly.

"Where the fuck is she? She said it wasn't a big deal! I knew I shouldn't have listened to her. Where is she?" Louis yells, storming into the house.

She stands up when she hears his screaming, ready to face the music and be yelled at. Louis is so angry that she tried to play it off like it was nothing when it clearly wasn't. And he was ready,  when he walked in, he was ready to scream at her and tell her off and question her, and then he sees her face.

He sees her lip quiver and then he sees her try to cover it up so he won't notice. She's trying to cover it so he can say what he wants to, she wants to pretend like seeing the video didn't affect her as much as it did.

He sees her try to be strong for him and everyone else and he remembers this isn't about him. Its not about how he feels about it or what he think she should have done differently, it's about making sure she's okay and that she feels safe.

He lets out a big breath, sighing out his anger and then to her surprise, he opens his arms to her. To everyone's surprise, she rushes into them, burying her head in his chest. He holds her tight and rubs her back, moving his other hand to her hair. Muttering things to her only she could hear like, "I got you," or "You're safe now."

"You okay?" he whispers. She nods against his chest. "Okay." He says, but doesn't let her go. He can't, not with her like this.

"I didn't even know he kicked me," she says so quietly he has to strain his ears. Her words are muffled by her face in his chest and she sounds so far away.

He doesn't know what to say, but what she says next makes his heart split in two. She moves back only as much as she needs to be able to speak clearly.

"And the rest of them there, they- they just watched me," she is starting to sound a bit hysterical, having to pause to gasp to keep going, "Like I was nothing."

Apparently it breaks everyone else's heart too because Harry and Niall rush to her side as words keep spilling out of her mouth, "Why? Why would they do that?"

He knows he has to say something, but what? He can't take her pain away, he knows that. "I don't know," he whispers lowly his whole face contorted in concern and anger and sadness. "You don't have to worry about that anymore, I won't let anything else happen to you." He tries to reassure her. 

They stay like that for a while, her in Louis' arms and Niall and Harry staying close. When she starts to yawn, Harry brings her to her room. He stays with her for the night, he cuddles her and keeping her close. 

No more words are shared, but there's nothing really left to say.

In the days following, when Natalie starts to feel better and her bruises are almost healed, like promised Louis is back to his normal self.

The only notable change is the way Louis looks around any time they go out. He checks for her and makes sure no one is too close. On the off chance Harry doesn't have his arm around her shoulders or Niall isn't piggybacking her, (which he insists on by the way. He says carrying her is more fun than holding a backpack which doesn't even make sense since he doesn't ever wear a backpack, but they all go along with it). If neither of them are by her side, Louis always makes sure to be near her.

He'll keep his hand on the small of her back, and give her a small smile to reassure her. If she's particularly nervous or they are by a big crowd, she'll fist her hands in his sweatshirt or grab his arm. He won't say anything, he'll just move closer to her and make sure his hand never leaves her. Then he walks away like none of it happened.

One time she tried to thank him and he all but ignored her. 

It's the strangest thing, but she's thankful for him all the same. She doesn't have to say anything about it to him, she doesn't have to explain to him when she's nervous, he can just tell.

Maybe because he's paying such close attention to her or maybe because of something deeper than that, but she tries not to think like that. Nothing good can come from it.

Other than those small things, things go back to normal. She's back at work and thankfully Linda had been very kind to her, taking on part of her role so it isn't complete chaos when she comes back.

The boys respect her wishes and don't bring it back up again, they just keep moving forward.