365 Days | H.S (ON HOLD)

365 Days | Chapter 22

The next morning I woke up by the sun shining in through the window. I carefully moved without opening my eyes again, soon realizing that my legs were under something heavy. I slowly opened my eyes and looked around, noticing that I was in the living room, laying on the couch with my legs under Louis that slept with his head resting over the headrest and mouth wide open. I looked over at the other couch, noticing Amber. And I blinked as I soon noticed that her eyes weren't closed, but looking down at something she held between her hands. I swallowed, before laying back my head on the pillow, still looking at Amber.

''What's up?'', I lowly spoke with a thoughtful tone, making Amber hastily looking up and placing whatever she held under her hands that fell on her stomach.

''Uhm.. the sky'', she answered quickly, almost doubtful before smiling trying to wash away her unsureness.

I frowned, before nodding towards her hands.

''What do you have there?'', I questioned making her nervously fumble with her fingers.

''A.. a thing'', she answered and I sighed.

''Interesting, what is that thing then?'', I pushed.

''Uhm..'', she looked down, ''Nothing special really''.

I opened my mouth to say something more, when I suddenly felt movements against my legs and I looked at Louis. He wrinkled his nose as he pressed his eyelids against each other, then opening his eyes with a yawn.

''Hello'', he smiled and looked at me, ''The wine yesterday really made us sleepy'', he laughed tiredly.

I nodded, remembering the long night we spent with Liam and his wife, talking about everything sharing two bottles of wine and eating Chinese. A very nice night, shortly said.

''How are you feeling?'', Louis suddenly asked, carefully nudging my thigh and I looked at him with raised eyebrows, making him raise his own, ''.. After our talk? Are you okay?'', he asked.

I thought for a second, before remembering it with a smile forming on my lips and I responded with a short nod.

''Yeah, I'm good'', I honestly answered.

Yesterday evening when I ended up in Wendys room, and telling her almost everything I heavily carried, Louis came in. And for almost an hour, he made me remember again why he was my best friend, brother, partner in crime and kind of partner in life in general. I could finally feel peace inside of me, because every thought I had of everything, I shared it with him. And he always understood, he always answered and always respected. Apparently I began to cry at some moment, as Liam found us in his daughter room hugging each other as I cried against Louis shoulder. But I didn't feel embarrassed, because everyone were so understanding, and I guess I didn't realize it until now. Some people do truly listen, and when they do.. you know how real trust and relief feels like.

Of course, Louis made me realize one more thing, probably the most important one. It was having hope. Because hoping and dreaming is sometimes exactly what we need to keep going. And no matter if I would find the girl on the photograph tomorrow, or in ten years, she would always remain as a mystery I had to solve some day. And giving up on finding her now, wasn't even a offer to think about.

The day ran out quickly. We didn't even got out from the house, but settled down on the terrace, admiring the forest slowly turning more orange for every cold breeze that tangled in-between the leafs with a cup of tee. As the evening came around, Therese made an huge dinner, of course together with Louis, since he was.. he was Louis. Amber was quiet that day, or quieter than usual. I tried not to pay attention on her, but I did, because I always do such. She acted differently, avoiding me, as she knew that I was very suspicious about what she was fumbling with in her hands this morning. And she was right, because that's exactly what I was.