Taken by One Direction

Chapter 23: Change

That night, the boys left me again for another concert. I was thankful for the peace and quiet; I needed time to sort my head after what just happened with Louis. I mean, there must be something psychologically wrong with me if I so willingly kissed my captor.

Yes, that settles it; I am mentally and emotionally deranged. Whatever.

I didn't try to maneuver out of the handcuffs this time. I don't know why, but I just didn't feel like giving them a hard time today. Especially not Louis, I decided to give him a break from my rebel/ bitchy attitude.

I heard the boys come in at about midnight. I remained quiet in the back, debating whether or not I should fake sleep. I didn't decide in time before the door opened. Ok, I guess the whole fake sleeping thing is out now.

"Hello, love." Liam smiled at me as he and Zayn stepped in. I could hear boisterous shouts and laughter coming from the other room; something that was a little strange to hear. The two boys came over to me cautiously, obviously wondering why I didn't break out of the handcuffs, but too apprehensive to ask.

"We just got Chinese Food if you want any. If you're hungry, you might want to act now, before Niall swallows everything whole." Liam informed me with a hint of humor in his voice as he unlocked the metal cuffs.

"No thanks." I hiss coldly as I climb off the bed and make my way towards the front of the bus where the rest of the boys were. I heard Liam sigh heavily at my attitude, but nothing was said about it.

"What are you doing?" I heard Niall ask someone as I made my way into the little kitchenette area. Niall and Harry were sat at the booth looking up with wide eyes and wide grins at Louis, who was climbing up the side of the built-in cabinets. I furrowed my brow as I looked up at him, too.

"The hell's it look like?" Louis laughed as he continued to climb.

"I'm looking for something!" He continued. I turned to look at Niall questioningly.

"What is up with him?" I ask. Niall chuckles and shakes his head at the ground.

"He's back to the old Lou," he said quietly so that Louis couldn't hear.

"What do you mean the old Lou?" I asked back, matching his volume level.

"Well, before you, er, 'came to stay with us', Louis was this vibrant and outgoing, silly person. He was always the source of humor in the band. Then, I guess with all the stress he became a subdued version of himself. Instead of being this sassy, in-your-face person, he was this quiet and sensitive man. It's good to see him back where he belongs." Niall smiles.

I couldn't help but feel worried. So, the Louis I know isn't the real Louis. The sweet guy I had grown so attached to wasn't the real guy.

"So, he was this totally different person while I've been here?" I pressed nervously as we watched Louis jump down from the cabinets.

Niall must've sensed my distress, because he was quick to comfort me.

"Well, not a totally different person. He'll still be the same person you know, just louder and with more corny jokes. Oh, and more pranks. Louis loves pranking me and Liam." Niall chuckled to himself at the last thought as if he were reminiscing.

I let out a shaky breath of relief. Ok, so he wouldn't change into a jerk. No, just a louder and funnier version of his sweet self. I was actually kind of excited to meet this new Louis.

"I don't know what has gotten into him to make all the stress just melt off and bring back his personality. Something good must've happened..." Niall was speaking more to himself at this point. Still, I couldn't help but think, did I bring this change on? Was it our kiss that changed Louis?

"Katie!" Louis's accent pronounced each consonant of my name clearly and annunciated each vowel. He skipped right up to me and smirked.

"Louis." I mimicked him, just with less enthusiasm. He came dangerously close, nearly pressing his chest against my own. I wasn't sure if he had told the boys about what had happened between me and him, or about us (was there an us? Even I was confused at this point).

"Guess what?" He bounced up and down with excitement. I raised my eyebrow at his childish behavior.

"You swallowed a pack of cocaine?" I teased him. He threw his head back and let out a round of loud and infectious laughter before looking back at me.

"No!" He chuckled as his laughter died down.

"Ok, I'll bite."

"We're finally leaving!' Louis danced around and pumped his fist in the air.

"W-what do you mean?" I stuttered in confusion. We were leaving? What?

"Well, this past week, we've been doing shows in New York, then New Jersey, then Connecticut and we were in New York again today. We are finally leaving the tri-state area! We're driving up to Chicago over the next few days." He explained to me as he never ceased to bounce around.

I didn't know what to think. Right now, only one word passed through my brain; realization. I had gotten over the fact that I had been kidnapped- it took me a while, but I finally accepted the fact.

Now, we're leaving the area. Now, they are dragging me away from my home. Now, there is no way I would find my way back to my beloved New York. I started to feel light headed and nauseous. It was all hitting. Everything I had spent so long trying to accept was crashing back down.

Shit.

"Are you ok, babe? You don't look so great..." Louis asked. His eyes were still their new brightness, but his mouth was turned down in concern. The other four boys looked up at me to see what was wrong.

"Shit, Lou, she's turning green." Zayn gasped as he jumped to his feet.

"p-please. Please give me space." I begged through soft and slurred words as Zayn and Niall came closer to me. Louis furrowed his brow and held his hand up to prevent them from coming any nearer.

I leaned down and squeezed my eyes shut, the nausea was becoming to much to bear.

"We're l-l-l-leaving?!" I screeched in a voice that didn't sound like my own. I couldn't leave. They couldn't take me away from my home. They couldn't. They couldn't.

I don't know what about the fact that we were going to a different part of the country that made everything hit me again like a ton of bricks. All I knew was that I wouldn't be able to take this emotional stress anymore.

I felt two strong arms wrap themselves around my waist, but I didn't look up to see who it was. Only one person was daring enough to touch me like that.

"Shh, baby what's wrong?" Louis cooed in my ear as he tried to get me to stand upright. I wasn't going to lie, his hold on me was comforting. I was starting to calm down and breathe normally again.

Slowly, he pulled me up so that I was pressed against his chest. I was almost calm now. I still had not accepted the fact that we were leaving, but I would at least begin the deep slope into either denial, insanity or gradual acceptance. For some odd reason, I didn't think the last one was actually an option.

"Are you ok now?" Louis asked as he pressed me into him tighter and started to rub my back slowly. All I could do was nod. If I had any tears left, I would have cried, but I was all dried out.

"What was that about?" He pushed, referring to my anxiety attack. I pushed away from him a little and just shook my head. I couldn't say it. I couldn't tell him.

"Come on, babe. Please?" He begged. His eyes bore into mine, making it seem like he could see my soul. He made me feel like we were the only two people in the room. No, only two people in the bus. No, only two people in the world.

"I-I j-just-" I began to stammer out an excuse of an explanation, but just then the bus lurched forward as we began our long journey. Shit.

I felt nauseous again, but before I could do anything, I felt the blood drain from my face and my eyes began to roll back.

"SHIT!" Was all I heard Louis gasp as I collapsed backwards into the darkness.