Imagine {On Hold}

«Chapter 7 - Past»

«Mary's POV»

My heart was racing when we stepped into the mall. I've never been around this many people before. Sure, there's a lot of people in my apartment building, but not this many. Louis probably saw my hands fidgeting because he put his arm around my shoulders and said, "Do you want to go home?"

"No. I just don't like being around this many people." The other four boys ran off in different directions. Haha, they went in more than One Direction! Oh, Mary. Quit making these stupid jokes.

Louis was wearing his blue shirt with the Superman symbol on it. I remember once when I was with my cousins at a family reunion and one of my cousins always carried me around pretending to be Superman. Was that Louis? He said after we sat on a bench, "The five of us have nicknames. Mine is Lewis since the boys think it's funny half the fans say my name wrong."

"So where are we going first...Lewis?"

I giggled and he just gently punched me in the arm. "Where ever you want to go first." I pushed him off the bench. I ended up falling off the bench from laughing so hard. He helped me off the ground. "You live here, so you lead the way."

He held my hand and we walked around a bit. Sure he was my cousin, but I didn't like like him. I like him like a brother. Like Sean and Zack. I closed my eyes, remembering them. I had 2 months until I got to see either one again. I'll call dad later to talk to Sean. "What did mom say earlier?"

"Hmm? Oh. Uhh, she just like wanted to know you okay." Louis pulled his beanie further over his head, still wearing his sunglasses. "I wish I could go out in public for one day and no one would come up to me saying 'Oh my God, you're Louis Tomlinson!'. It gets old." he whispered

"Well, for one, your accent is a dead give away." We ducked behind a pile of clothes when someone pointed at us.

"Even though it's been 10 years, I bet you still have a British accent." He smirked and I rolled my eyes.

Once the girls left we left our hiding place. I said, "Like you said, it's been 10 years since my family left England." Since my dad got drunk and forced us out of England, I added in my head. "Wow, I was only 8 when we moved here? It's felt like ages!"

"Yeah. After you left mum was upset most of the time. Mum and dad divorced about a year ago." He let my hand go finally and wiped it on his pants. "Nervous much?"

I wiped my sweaty hands on my pants and said, "It's not been any easier for me. My mom was carrying Sean when we moved here. Jack and my mom had a horrible fight a week after Sean's 1st birthday."

"Sean is how old now?" Louis asked.

I wiped my eyes remembering what happened. "Umm, 10. He turned 10 December 20th and Zack turned 18 December the 6th."

"When's your birthday?" He whispered.

"June...June 17th. C-can we go outside?"

He nodded. "Sure thing. I'd love to get away from as may cameras as possible."

When we finally got outside, we hid behind the mall. No one was out there except some people walking, but they weren't in hearing distance. Louis had bought us some sodas on the way out. We both got a Mountain Dew each. I opened the bottle and took a swig. I don't know why but when I'm around a lot of people I get nervous.

"Like I said earlier, mom and Jack got in a fight and-"

Louis put his head in my lap and said, "Please talk like you used to. I miss it."

"Louis, I really don't-" He gave me a puppy eyed face and I said, "Fine. What do you want me to say?"

"Just finish telling me what happened, darling."

I said in the best British accent I could do and said, "Like I said, mum and Jack got in a fight." Woah. I can actually talk British without having to try. "Jack threw knives, chairs, forks, whatever he could at her. Sean was asleep already since it was late at night. Zack and I were hiding in the room we shared. Zack being a year older than me then, did as much as he could to protect me. We called the police and they came to help us. Of course mum was hurt. She spent a week in the hospital. Dad on the other hand was sent to jail. While he was in jail mum divorced him. She wanted custody rights over all three of us. She only won over Zack and I since we were terrified of him. Sean doesn't know and I never want him to know. Jack has stolen from us ever since then. He hurt me when I tried to get away from him once."

Louis sat up because he noticed I was crying. Tears were streaming down my face just thinking of that happened next. Louis wrapped me in a hug and said, "Hush, hush, darling. Everything's okay now."

"No, it's not. He kicked us out of our house leaving us with no money and no food. I tried to go back and get money I had in his house, but... He was drunk again. He threw a knife at me and being stupid I tried to push it away." I held out my right hand.

Louis took it in his hand and saw the scar running from the bottom of my index finger to the other side of my palm. "He did this?" I nodded. "Uncle Jack would never do that, Mary."

"But he did, Lou. He hurt all of us except Sean." I wiped my eyes with my jacket sleve. Louis held me in his arms for what seemed like forever. I thought after we left England I would never see my bestfriend ever again. Louis was always there for me when Zack wasn't. He has always been my Superman.