Twisted Friendship

Chapter 34

"But...you can't just leave." I stammer, blinking rapidly.

Zayn suddenly gets to his feet, a flash of anger gleaming in his dark eyes. "Do you think I want to?" he shouts, "Really? If I could, we could always be together, but I had to go screw everything up and it's all my fault!"

With an angry swipe of his hand, the lamp on the coffee table goes crashing to the ground in a pop of electricity and shatter of glass. Zayn turns in a huff and storms out the room.

"Wait-" I begin to say, only being cut off by the slam of the front door.

Louis hand curls over my shoulder, the warmth from his palm felt through my shirt. "Ignore him. He's just in a mood."

I jump as another crash echoes from behind the door. "Sure." I reply unconvinced.

"Guys, there's still this body to take care of." Harry points out, crouching down and prodding the unconscious man with his thumb.

Liam swings open the hallway closet. "You can jam him in here."

"Wait, don't put him in my closet." Niall argues, making a disgusted face.

I turn around as Harry and Liam grab the mans feet and attempt to drag him into the dusty closet. "Are you guys really leaving town?" I ask quietly.

Louis frowns, the corners of his stormy grey eyes crinkling as he glances down at his feet. Late afternoon sunlight filters through the grimy windows and sparkles against the shattered lamp pieces.

"Yeah." he takes a deep breath, hands jamming deep into his pockets. "Yeah. And I don't want to, but if we stay, you could get hurt."

"I'll be fine!" I exclaim.

There's the sound of a thump come from behind me. "Mate, sheesh, don't hit his head on the doorframe!" Liam shouts.

Harry lets out a strangled groan, "Well he doesn't make it easy, being unconscious and all."

Louis smiles upon hearing his friends playful banter. But when he looks back up at him, his expression sobers. He looks tired and at the same time irreversibly broken.

"I don't want to leave you. I really, really don't." Louis whispers, stepping closer to me. He smells like fresh shower and cologne and warm summer air.

"Doesn't seem like it." I huff in annoyance.

He frowns at my outburst, "I'm serious. It's so hard because well," he stops and bites his lip before continuing, "I think you've changed me.'

"I'm sorry?" I say while he tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. I lean into his touch as his hand brushes my cheek.

"No!" he shakes his head frantically, "Katie, I don't know what it is about you. But I wasn't such a good person before I met you. But then you came along, and I don't know, you just floated through life so happy and everything. You sort of, god this sounds corny, like made me a better person. Sort of softened out my rough edges."

I've never seen him looking so unsure, stammering over his words and trying to find the right thing to say. The whole thing leaves me feeling slightly confused.

"Well I was happy to do so." I reply quietly, watching his face move in closer to me.

Louis runs a hand through his hair in frustration, tugging at his fringe. "But- well, what I'm trying to say is, you made me expierence what I think is love."

My heart rate picks up. "Love?" I stammer.

His slender hands tangle with mine. "Love." he says, a fierce determination in his eyes. "Because I am hopelessly in love with you, and I will keep being in love with you, because Katie, you are the greatest girl I have ever met."

There is zero distance between us now, standing so close are noses are touching. I can feel his hot breath on my skin. I think I have forgotten how to breathe though, and it's like my entire world is crashing down around me. Butterflies in my stomach flutter so hard they fly away.

"Why are you tell me this now?" I whisper. He feels so warm and strong standing so close to me.

"Because I need you to know this. Before its too late."

"So I'm just gonna be left behind and forgotten?"

"Do you honestly think I'm gone forget you?"

I smile, watching the action be repeated on his face with that usual mischievous smirk. And then time speeds up.

The next thing I'm aware of is that there is nothing blocking Louis and I as our lips crash together. It's a breathtaking, dizzying kiss as his plump mouth pushes against mine. All warm and soft and sweet tasting and yes, I do Louis Tomlinson, I am in love with you.

I am in love with the boy from the streets, the mischevious one who's supposedly bad news and likes to laugh and play football and skip class. The one who took me in years ago and is finally being forced to let go.

"What the- HOLY HELL!" Harry yells from somewhere in the background. Everything around is me is a swirl of colors and fireworks and lips. I swear if it wasn't for his grip on me I would float right off the ground.

"Jesus, there are children in here." Liam mutters.

Louis pulls away and laughs, long lashes fluttering against his his high cheekbones.

"I'm gonna marry you one day.' he says nonchalantly.

Now that throws me offgaurd. "Will you now?" I reply, still a little dizzy.

He nods determinedly, a sort of fire burning in his eye. "This won't be the last of me Katie. You've changed me, and you can't just change me and leave."

The mans hand dangles out of the door, which Niall pushes in all the way before slamming it shut. "Do you guys, erm- should we just...." he stammers, eyes looking between the two of us awkwardly.

"Leave." Louis deadpans.

There's a panicked shuffle towards the front door, the three boys stumbling and falling all over each other in a rush to go. The door shuts and the flat falls silent.

Louis pulls the knit grey beanie out of his pocket, and slides it onto my head. "Here."

My fingers reach up and brush against the soft material. "What a horrible thing to do to someone, tell them you love them and then leave."

He shrugs. "I have horrible timing."

"Awful." I tease, poking his cheek.

Louis chuckles, tugging down the hat over my eyes. As I'm momentarily blinded by the fabric, he takes the time to swoop in and plant soft kisses all over my face.

"Zayn is not gonna be happy about this." he grumbles. His mouth lingers on my jaw.

I push the hat back up. "Why?"

Almost as of on cue, I hear the sound of footsteps in the hall. "They did WHAT?" Zayn yelps from out the door.