Echoes of us

Chapter one

The hotel lobby buzzes with a soft hum of conversation and the clink of glasses. We're in Mexico, and there's no show tonight. Louis and the rest of the crew have a rare evening off.
I sip my iced coffee, relishing the cold sweetness as it slides down my throat. Next to me, Bella, Louis' makeup artist and my best friend, massages her temples.

"Do you have any painkillers, Layla?" Bella asks, wincing. "My head's killing me."

"Yeah, I think I have some in my room" I reply, concern flooding my voice. "Come on, let's go get them."

We leave the bustling lobby and head to the elevator. The ride up is quiet except for Bella's occasional groans. I press the keycard to my door, and it clicks open. The room is neat, with my suitcase still half-unpacked on the stand.

"Sit down" I say, gesturing to the bed. Bella drops onto it gratefully. I rummage through my bag, pushing aside clothes and makeup until I find the small bottle of painkillers.

"Here" I say, handing her two pills and a bottle of water from the mini-fridge.

"Thanks, Layla" Bella says, taking the pills with a gulp of water. She leans back against the pillows, closing her eyes. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

I smile and sit on the edge of the bed. "No problem. You want to stay here for a bit? It might help to lie down."

Bella nods, her eyes still closed. "Yeah, I think I will."
I watch her for a moment, worry gnawing at me. Bella works so hard, always making sure Louis looks perfect for every performance. It's no wonder she's exhausted.

"How are you doing, Lay?" Bella asks suddenly, her eyes half-open. "You seem... tired."

I shrug, looking down at my hands. "I guess I am. It's just... a lot, you know? Being on tour, always moving, never having a moment to just breathe."

Bella reaches out and squeezes my hand. "I get it. It's hard. But you're doing great. Louis couldn't do this without you."
I feel a warmth spread through my chest at her words. "Thanks, Bella. That means a lot."

"Wait, let's just stay quiet" I whisper, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach.
Bella nods, her eyes wide. We sit silently on the edge of the bed, straining to make out the words through the wall.

"I can't believe you're doing this now" Louis' voice, usually so smooth and controlled, sounds raw and strained. Lily's voice rises, but we can't catch her words. The tone, however, is unmistakable—she's furious.
Bella sighs softly, leaning closer to me. "I've heard them arguing a lot the past few days" she whispers. "It's getting worse."

I nod, feeling a pang of worry. "Yeah, me too. I just... I didn't think it was this bad."

"Do you think we should do something?" Bella asks, her voice barely audible.

"I don't know" I admit, my heart aching for Louis. "He doesn't really talk about it. But... it's not good for him, especially with the tour and everything."

We're sitting in the heavy silence, the argument next door ebbing and flowing like a storm. I can hear Louis' voice rise in frustration, then fall again, quieter, almost pleading. Bella takes my hand, her fingers cold. "He's strong" she says, trying to reassure both of us. "He'll get through this." I nod, squeezing her hand. "Yeah. But it's just so hard to see him like this."

Minutes pass, feeling like hours. Eventually, the voices quiet down, leaving an uncomfortable silence in their wake. Bella and I both let out a breath we didn't realize we were holding.
Bella looks at me with concern. "You should check on him later, maybe tomorrow" she suggests. "Just to see if he's okay."