Promises {A Louis Tomlinson Fanfic}

Promises: 7

RACHEL'S P.O.V

I paced back and forth in front of the big white building as I waited for Lexi to show up. I debated on whether I should tell Lexi the truth- how I was abused by my father, why I really ran away, and how I didn't plan on going back home. I wasn't sure if I wanted her to know the truth. I didn't want to be treated differently, to be treated like a fragile piece glass. My thoughts were interrupted when a red Ferrari pulled up, the horn honking and the top down. There was a girl in the drivers seat, her long brown hair whipping behind her in the wind. She was wearing sunglasses and had her head down as she got out of the car, like she was trying to hide her face from being seen. The girl walked up to me, and she got closer I could see she was wearing sweats and a pink v-neck t-shirt. It seemed odd to me that she would wear sweats on such at hot day, but then I realized that she had probably been spending her time indoors where it was cooler. I picked up my skateboard, which I'd put down as I'd waited.

"Hi, Rachel. I haven't seen you in forever! It's been too long." She gave me a small smile.

I smiled back and nodded. "Yea, it has. It's good to see you, Lexi." I walked with her back to the car. She held open the passenger door for me. I slid in, my skateboard and extra clothes bumping into the seat. I felt awkward sitting in Lexi's nice and obviously expensive car with my skateboard and ratty clothes. I couldn't help but glance down at my outfit. I was wearing ripped shorts and an old red and blue plaid shirt over an white tank top, which now probably looked more cream than white. My hair had almost completely fallen out of its ponytail, and I could feel myself sweating from being in the hot sun for so long. I tried to tighten my ponytail, but I just ended up making my hair a big fat knot. I decided to just leave my hair alone for the time being.

"So, Rachel. Tell me. Why would you run away?" There was disbelief and concern in her voice. Concern was something I was not accustomed to hearing. I was about to start telling Lexi the truth. I was going to tell her everything - my mom's death, my dad's drinking, my abusive life- but something caught my eye I before I could begin.

"Lexi? Why is your face on a poster with the name Summer under it and the words Coming 2014?"

"Oh, umm-" Lexi laughed nervously, like the poster was a big deal. I started to feel as if I shouldn't have brought it up. "Well, um . . ." She sighed, as if whatever she was about to tell me was going to change everything. "Rachel, I'm famous. That," she said, gesturing to the poster I'd asked her about, "is a poster for a movie I'm currently filming. It's called Summer, and is coming out in 2014. I'm starring as the main character." I stared at her for a moment, trying to digest the news I'd just heard. I was sitting in a car with a famous person? Well, that's one thing I could cross off my bucket list.

"Rachel?" Lexi's voice shook me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"Oh, well, um, it's just-" Lexi looked really awkward, and I figured that she wanted me to say something about what she'd just told me. She looked worried, like I would treat her differently now that I knew she was famous. Taking her by surprise, I threw my arms around her in a hug.

"Lexi, that's great!" The surprise and worry on her face slowly changed to one of happiness.

"Yeah, it's pretty great. Well, besides all the relationshit that ends up happening at one point or another . . ." She trailed off, and looked like she was remembering something unpleasant. I was pretty sure she'd just said 'relationshit', unless I'd misheard her. That's actually kind of funny . . . relationshit. It's so true. Boys are assholes. I'm really bad when it comes to strolling down relationship lane. "You know what?" Lexi changed her tone to a cheerful one, but it was obviously forced. She looked at me, though it was hard to tell whether she was really looking straight at me because of the sunglasses covering her eyes. "We're going to have a girl day. And you're going to tell me everything."

I gave Lexi a quick grin. "Fine. In exchange for you telling me everything." She deflated instantly, like a balloon being poked with a sharp pin. It was obvious she didn't want to tell me much, but curiosity of why I would run away got the better of her.

"Deal." Forcing a smile onto her lips, she said, "But for now, just lean back and enjoy the car ride through the busy streets of California." She pressed on the accelerator, and as we drove, I let the wind whip around my hair as I closed my eyes, hoping that maybe I had found an old friend that I could retie old bonds with.

+++

Lexi pulled into the parking lot of her the hotel she was staying at, and I couldn't but stop and gape at the sight in front of me. The hotel was beautiful. There was a garden with flowers of all colors in the middle of the front yard in a perfect circle, and in the middle of the many flowers was a big water fountain. Trees with blooming flowers of all colors on their leaves lined the side of the front walk, leading the way to the doors of the hotel. Lexi turned around, and I realized that she was a few yards ahead of me, as I had stopped to gawk at the scenery in front of me. Instead of calling for me to hurry up, she walked to where I was standing, laughing lightly at the funny expression I probably had on my face.

She waited with me for a few moments while I gazed at the hotel. Living with the type of father that I do had limited where I'd gone during my 18 years. This hotel's front yard was one of the prettiest things I'd seen. It looked so peaceful. "C'mon, Rachel. Let's head on inside, it's broiling out here." Lexi tugged lightly on my arm to get me moving, and we headed to Lexi's hotel room.

+++

I followed Lexi through the doorway into the room she was staying in. Once again, I couldn't help but gawk. Her hotel room was probably the size of my house. Of course, my house wasn't much of a house, but still. This place was huge. Lexi closed the door behind me, and the sound startled me out of my stupor. She walked over to the king sized bed and sat against the head. She motioned for me to come sit across from her, so I did. Crossing my legs, she tossed me a pillow. I got comfy, resting my elbows and the pillow which I laid across my lap, and began to tell Lexi my life story. A story that I've never told anyone else before, because no one has ever cared enough to listen.