Walking in the Wind One Direction

9. Take me home

"I-I think so." I cough as the tears stream down my face. Then I reach for my phone on the ground next to me.

He cracked the screen, great.

I sit up, back against the wall and Louis joins across from me. "What a dick." He sets his beanie back straight on his head. It must have slipped during the fight. His golden doodle sits down next to him.

"I know." I put my phone back in my pocket and I feel something else inside.

Is that what I think it is?

I reach in and pull out a broken sigaret and a lighter. "Just my luck." I chuckle at myself through the tears.

"Here." Louis reaches in his pocket and takes out a pack of cigarettes. "I think you could definitely use one."

"Thanks." I take one from the packaging and light it. Louis does the same. "Im Louis by the way." He introduces himself.

"Amber." A silence follows. "Sorry for disturbing your afternoon like this." I break it.

"No way, glad I was here." Louis blows out some smoke. "Who knows what he could've done if I wasn't."

"Yeah definitely. Thank you for saving me." I tell him while looking at my feet. 

"I hope his broken nose isn't going to bring you any trouble." He repositions himself on the hard ground.

"No way I'm ever speaking to him again." I say defensively.

"I was hoping you'd say that." Louis gives me half a smile. "How's that throat feeling?"

I open up my coat halfway. "You see any bruising?" I ask. Louis leans forward and inspects my neck. He's so close I can feel his breath on my skin. "No, no bruising yet." He pulls back.

With my hand I press on my glands. "It's definitely sore." I cough again. "Shit this might cost me my spot on the X factor Bootcamp." I blurt out.

"Oh you're going to that as well?" He looks at me surprised.

"Oh you too?" I fake a surprised face. "What a coincidence."

"Yeah that's what I'm here for. I auditioned this morning. I'm staying at the hotel down the street so I didn't have to travel up and down to Doncaster for one night." He explains.

"Ah so you already came packed? Like you knew you'd get in? How cocky of you." I joke.

"Glad you feel good enough to joke around." He smiles and presses the cigarette butt on the ground. "You want to try standing up?"

"Yeah sure." I press mine out as he gets up from the ground. "Good because the ground is cold as shit." He holds out his hands and I hold onto them as he pulls me up.

My knees feel a little weak but I find my balance. "You good?" He asks. "Yeah just give me a second." I hold onto his arm to find my balance and take a deep breath. "Okay I'm good."

The golden doodle barks and Louis grabs his leash. Before leaving the alleyway I look left and right to see if John is really gone.

"Do you want me to walk you home?" He looks at me long and hard and then rephrases. "I'm walking you home."

"Thanks. It's not too far I promise." I give him a weak smile.

The golden doodle enthusiastically sniffs me and licks my hand. "Bruce come here." Louis calls him back.

"Oh it's fine." I tell him. "Hello little fella." I turn my attention to the dog and pet him on the head.

"My house is this way." I point to the right and start walking.

"I can't believe I haven't asked but... do you want to go to the police?" He asks, "for what he did to you?"

"No." I reply immediately. "Let's leave it. He hurt me, you hurt him. We're even. Sort of." I close my coat all the way because of the cold. "Now let's just forget about it." I say confidently.

Louis seems a little surprised. "If that's what you want." He swallows before saying "But I am giving you my number, in case you ever do want to talk about it."

"Thanks. The screen is a little cracked but I think it will still work just fine." I hand Louis my phone and he enters his phone number. "I've saved it under Louis Tomlinson. Text me anytime." He smiles and hands the phone back to me.

"Okay this is me." I stop in front of the driveway. Louis glances at the house. My mother opens the front door.

She must have seen us standing outside from the kitchen window.

"Amber who's this?" She asks in a friendly tone. "Where's John?"

"Oh this is Louis. Long story but John and I broke up." I say. "Hi Ambers mum!" Louis waves friendly and Bruce barks.

"You can come in for a bit if you want." I turn to Louis. "Sure." He responds and follows me to the door. "Is it okay if I take Bruce inside?" He asks my mother.

"That's okay. He's welcome too." She says as she pets Bruce on the back. "Have you eaten yet Louis?" My mother asks.

"I don't know if Louis's got time for that mum." I say as kick out my shoes and hang up my coat. "He might have to pack for bootcamp."

"Oh how lovely another contestant." She smiles.

"Uhm no I haven't had dinner yet." Louis says as I take his coat. "But I don't want to impose." He says as he starts to untie his shoes.

"Nonsense. I cooked for five because I thought John would stay over for dinner." She explains, "and your father is working late at the office tonight so he's not having dinner either." She turns to me.

"Well in that case I would love to stay over for dinner." Louis smiles.