Taken by One Direction

Chapter 34: Distance

"I-I" I didn't know how to respond. Louis's statement had caught me off guard. Butterflies fluttered around in my stomach. Why did this boy have this effect on me?

"You don't have to respond." He muttered breathlessly. I need to sit down. I need to think this over. Holy shit.

I stumbled over to the bed, nearly tripping and collapsing on my way. My legs were too weak for movement so I had to be careful.

Louis tried to reach out to help me, but I landed safely on the bed before he could.

"Let me finish cleaning you up and I'll get you a change of clothes." He decided after a moment of silence, changing the topic completely. I let him wander off and then reappear before I said anything.

"Thanks for helping me Lou." I whispered as he gently turned me over and began cleaning the welts on the back of my upper thighs. He pushed my shirt up so that he could see the damage done to my lower back. I heard him breathe out a stifled gasp as he took in whatever Liam had done. I didn't want to know.

"It's my job to help you. After all, this is my fault..." Louis responded sadly as he continued to clean. I bit my lip, debating whether or not to respond in the way that I wanted to.

"It's ok Louis. I understand." I felt his hand freeze on me for about a minute. Was he in shock?

"How can you understand, Katie?!" He snapped.

"I DRAGGED YOU BACK HERE!"

"I just meant that if the roles were reversed and you were running away from me, then I would bring you back." I said softly.

"Don't say that." He spat harshly. I felt a lump in my throat rise as he rejected me. I couldn't deny the fact that my feelings were kind of hurt.

"Why not?!" I snapped, equally harsh as I pushed him off of me and sat up. Louis's eyes softened as he realized that he had upset me.

"Because I don't want you to love me." He muttered under his breath.

"It'll just make it harder for me to let you go." He added. I watched as he stood and then walked to the opposite side of the room, making as much space as possible between us.

"What?" I gasp.

"Katie, I'm going to help you escape."

***********

It was the next morning. I was dressed in Louis's sweatpants (or joggers as he had called them) and one of his t-shirts. I was still sore and I still had trouble walking from last night, but I just swallowed the pain and kept quiet.

I knew Louis could see through me though. He always knew what I was feeling.

Liam, Zayn and Niall had been MIA for the past 24 hours. Louis said they were still upset over yesterday and needed space.

I didn't know if they were upset with ME or what THEY did to me. I didn't really care, to be honest.

Harry came in and out just to keep Louis updated with what the boys were doing. When I did see him, he would shoot me a sympathetic glance and a small smile, but other than that, said nothing.

I was surprised I was allowed to be alone with Louis; after all, they had made that against the rules. I guess having 3/5 of them pissed at me provided an exception to the rules.

Right now, everyone but Louis was meeting with management about the security detail at their next show, or something like that. Louis was 'sick' so he couldn't make it. As far as their management knows, I don't exist.

"Are you ready, love?" Louis asked me as he entered the room with a small duffle bag. I nodded and let out a shaky breath.

"Alrighty then, let's get a move on!" Louis was trying to add comedy to the situation, but I was too distracted. I had a few mixes of feelings within my gut; excitement that I can leave, nervousness that we'll get caught and lastly, the most shocking of all; sadness.