Running Bases With You

Chapter 52

{unedited}

*Louis' POV*

"Okay, so I think that's everything. Are you guys all packed up yet?"

"Harry and I finished our packing last night, and Liam is about finished with his." Niall explains.

"What about Zayn?" I question.

Niall shrugs. "I dunno. I haven't seen him today."

I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. "That's a bit odd.."

Niall shrugs again, shaking his head. "Nah, not really. He's been kept to himself lately, it's not a surprise that I haven't seen him. I think he just misses his girlfriend."

Don't we all..

"Okay.. I'll go check on him later before we load up. But as for right now, I need to take care of something. I'll catch up with you guys later this afternoon for supper." I brush past my best mate and walk towards the door.

He follows behind me. "Alright, sounds good to me. I'm gunna go take a walk, look around a bit. After we leave we won't be back for awhile, so I may as well. I'll catch ya later, mate."

We walk outside together before he leaves, each of us walking in a different direction.

I head towards the van that I've had waiting for all morning. I called Paul and Preston and requested a meeting with Simon for lunch, ahead of time of course, and he luckily obliged. He flew over a few days ago without the lads' knowledge, and was more than happy to meet with me; which is strangely unusual.

I hop inside the van and without a word, the driver starts the route towards the private restaurant towards the outside of LA.

It only takes about ten minutes to get there since traffic is light on this side of town. I text Simon and let him know I'm here before walking inside.

I immediately spot him sitting at a table a few feet away. He looks up, waving me over with a smile.

"Hello, Louis."

"Hey, Simon." I greet him with a handshake and a hug before sitting down across from him.

"It's quite warm here, yes?" He questions, taking a sip of his iced tea.

I nod. "Yeah, it's definitely different than England's usual dreary weather."

Simon eyes me with a curious smirk. "So, I know I didn't fly over for nothing. Something must be really bothering you if you asked to meet with me. So tell me, Louis, what's going on, mate?"

I sigh and rub the palms of my hands on my skinny jeans. "Well-"

"Hello, there! I'm Cassidy, and I'll be your waitress today. Are you guys ready to order, or do you need a few minutes?"

The waitress interrupts me, frustrating me a bit, but also easing my nervous by the slightest.

"I'll have the chicken caesar salad, thanks." Simon replies, handing his menu back to the bubbly waitress.

She writes it down and turns to me, a bright smile on her face. "And for you?"

I smile politely, even though I'm slowly dying of anxiety inside.

I wonder if this is how Annabeth feels...

"I'll just have the steak and potatoes, and a coke." I smile sideways, handing her back the menu that I never even glanced at.

She takes them in her hands and pockets her order book. "Alright, thank you very much! I'll be back with your drink in a few minutes, and your food should be available shortly!"