Misadventure

66

Louis' POV

"What do you want now?"

"Wow, nice to see you too, lifelong best friend." Will scoffed. "Why are you being so cold to me?"

"I could've died," I said. "I could've died in that crash."

"I don't believe you. That's not why you're upset." He studied my face. "There's an endless list of times you could've died, because we decided to do something stupid."

"And I'm fed up. I've had enough."

"It's because Harry's Dad could've died," he corrected me. "You don't give a fuck about yourself or anyone else. You only give a fuck about him."

Blood rushed to my cheeks. "That's not true."

"You especially don't give a fuck about me," he said. "If you did, you would help me out."

"I'm not bailing you out. We've been over this." I crossed my arms, standing up. "If that's why you called me and asked me to come here, then just forget it. I'll leave. I'm not having this same conversation with you again. You aren't going to change my mind."

"Louis. Wait-"

I picked up my phone and car keys off the small countertop, and I pushed in my chair, feeling beyond ready to leave. I turned my back to Will and started walking.

"I'm not asking you to bail me out." His voice echoed loudly down the dim, grimy-tiled hallway.

I stopped in my tracks.

"I need you to testify in court. You were the only witness of the crash," he said.

This wasn't knew information.

I didn't understand why he was telling me this now.

I turned around, slowly walking back towards the glass panel that currently stood between him and freedom. "I'm not going to lie. Whatever questions the judge asks me... I'm going to tell the truth."

"I know."

"Then what do you want from me?" I finally asked. These mind games were getting exhausting. I needed him to just be straight with me for once.

"The judge is going to want your opinion about what my sentence will be. Seeing as you not only witnessed the crash, but were injured by it... you're recommendation is going to hold a lot of weight."

I sighed heavily, rubbing at my tired eyes with two tight fists. I yawned. I stretched my arms. "I still don't know what you're asking."

"In the fall, at trial, will you tell the judge I don't deserve a jail sentence?"

Was he being for real? I couldn't bloody wait for the judge to throw the book at him. As sad as it made me, he deserved years behind bars.

I silently turned to leave again.

"Louis. Please."

"Goodbye, Will."

****

Liam texted me.

I was surprised at first. I wasn't even aware he had my phone number.

He sent me a slew of texts, telling me that Zayn was wrong. That I was making a mistake by not choosing Harry.

That's what nobody else but Zayn seemed to understand. By breaking up with Harry, I was choosing him.

Harry couldn't see it now, and for that I felt awful. But he would see it eventually.