Fall (One Direction) [Sequel To Run]

Chapter Seven

 Louis

“Who are you lot, then?” I ask the room in general.

But my eyes are fixed on Curly.

He's absolutely silent, but there are tears pouring down his face.

“I'm Paul” the man says. “Your secur-um-a friend of your dad's, I live here in London.”

The other four boys look up at Paul curiously, and he shakes his head just slightly, telling them 'no'.

What are they hiding from me?

“I'm Liam” says one of the boys, the one with really short brown hair and brown eyes. “We're . . . um . . . mates, I guess. All five of us.”

“I'm Zayn” says the boy with styled black hair and brown eyes.

“Niall” says the blond.

“H-harry” stutters Curly, wiping his eyes with his jacket sleeve.

“Ey, if I was in a car accident, what happened?” I ask. “Was I driving drunk again?”

“You . . . weren't driving” Paul says. “Someone ran you over.”

“I'll bet I was drunk. You lads are my mates, do we get drunk a lot?” I ask the boys.

Blondie actually laughs a bit, before covering his mouth and glancing at Paul.

“We're not allowed at all” Liam says sternly.

“A-all the time” Blondie chokes out.

“They're both lying” Zayn says. “Sometimes. At parties and that.”

“Where's Stan?” I ask them. “I bet he's worried. And Flynn.”

“Stan's in Doncaster” Zayn says. “And you've never mentioned a Flynn.”

The door slams.

Everyone looks towards it.

Curly's gone.

“What's with him?” I ask the other lads.

Zayn and Liam share a look.

“You two were . . . really close” Liam says slowly, carefully. “This is just . . . hard for him, considering . . . what you've been though.”

“We're not gay, right?” I ask.

Both Zayn and Blondie dissolve into hysterics, and Liam has to hide a smile.

“No” Liam says. “Not that. Just really good friends.”

“Not that I'd have a problem being gay” I muse. “But I think I'd remember a big lifestyle change like that.”

Liam's smile is gone.

So is Zayn's.

Blondie's is a lot smaller.

“What” I say.

The three of them turn to Paul.

He shakes his head, 'no.'

“What aren't you lot telling me?” I ask them.

“Nothing” Liam says. “Don't worry, Louis.”

“We should go” Paul says abruptly. “See you, Louis.”

“See you” I say softly.

And then they're gone, leaving me with more questions then answers.

-

Harry

It's Liam that finds me.