the traveller // louis tomlinson

chapter thirty-one // what's best.

Louis' POV

"We better get Mia to bed, look at the kid," Tyler chuckles, bringing everyone's attention to the unconscious being that's slumped in my arms.

Her mouth is slightly parted as she lets out soft little snores, looking so incredibly vulnerable and innocent. Her hand is placed on my chest as she's snuggled into my side. Her curly brown hair just tickles the inside of my arms.

As much as I know she'd be more comfortable in her bunk, I can't help but to not want to let go of her. Not yet...

Liam bends over to help me carry her, but I wave him away,

"I got it," I tell them.

Slowly as possible, I snake my free arm beneath the crook of her knees, holding her like a small child. I make sure to be as gentle as possible, not wanting to be this close to Mia if I accidentally wake her up.

Everyone makes room for me to carry her into the bunks. Liam follows me, being the cautious idiot he is. He stands annoyingly close as I struggle up the small ladder to get her onto the top bunk.

As I start to tuck her into her blankets, she starts to stir. I see her barely open her eyes, squinting to see who's the fool that's woken her up. But when she recognizes it to be me, a smile appears on her adorably sleepy face.

"Goodnight Lou," She whispers, snaking her arms around my neck to give me a hug.

But as she brings her face towards mine for her hug, she plants as soft and delicate kiss on my cheek. Instantly I feel as if I'm going to lose my footing on the ladder and fall to my death. But if I were to go anyway, dying after being kissed by Mia would be my first choice.

"Goodnight Mia," I can't stop grinning as she falls right back into unconsciousness.

Still in my little state of ecstasy when I get down from her bunk, I nearly run directly into Harry, who wears a sly grin on his face. I hadn't noticed the small audience that had formed in the doorway, and I'm not quite sure how long they've been standing there.

But judging by the mischievous looks on their face; long enough.

"Only a kiss on the cheek? What's that?" Harry gives me a taunting shove, to which I respond with an eye roll and a shove right back.

The other lads all laugh as I start to strip down into my pajamas myself. I've been trying to avoid going to bed at all costs because I'm dreading tomorrow, but I can barely keep my eyes open. Usually I'd be pounding on Zayn and Niall for making kissy faces at me; tonight they got lucky.

As the others shuffle back to the bus, somehow still wide awake, Harry lingers behind. He scratches the back of his neck as I try to get comfortable in my bunk.

"You know, you'll be fine, mate," Harry says quietly, with a very serious tone.

I keep my eyes pried open to give him a confused look. He's been wearing this permanent expression of sympathy the entire day. It's nice that he understands and all, but I wish he'd stop reminding me.

"What do you mean?" I croak, my tired voice scratchy and groggy.

"After Mia leaves, it'll all be - " He continues, resting his head on the side of my bunk to look me straight in the eyes.

I don't let him finish because I'm letting out a loud groan and roll over on my side so I don't have to look at him.

"Just... Can we not talk about it?" I mumble, feeling myself starting to fall into a deep slumber already.

"Sure," Harry pats me on the head, a sadness to his voice.

I hear him shuffling out of the room just as I knock out.