Snapshot » l.t.

Chapter 25

Chapter 25


Renee's POV


I let out a relieved sigh as I quite literally collapsed on my couch. I made myself comfortable and stretched out all my limbs. Aah, Friday was the best.

Louis hadn't come over while I was working, of course. That would just be weird. But I hadn't heard from him at all. Not even by call or text. I was starting to wonder if he had gotten caught after all.

I glanced at my phone and checked the calendar. Still about two weeks till Lacy's party. This was like a stress test for me. I hadn't bothered looking for a date, a dress, or a gift card. Either I was just too lazy, didn't feel like it, or busy hanging out with Louis.

I pushed these thoughts out of my mind and smiled at the ceiling. If it weren't for my new job, I would probably be packing my bags right now, getting ready to be kicked out. Now I was safe and sound.

Sure, I wasn't rich like I used to be, but I was happy. That was all I needed.

I didn't need riches to be happy.

There was a sharp knock on my door, and I didn't hide my loud groan. I forced myself up and answered the door. Louis pushed past me, rubbing the back of his neck. Surprise, surprise.

"You wouldn't believe the awful day I had!" he exclaimed as he paced. For some reason he continued to rub his neck like something was stuck there.

"Oh, hi, Louis," I said sarcastically as I retook my seat on the couch. "Thanks for calling. Why don't you come in? Oh wait, you already have."

Louis actually scowled at me. "I'm not in the mood," he warned me. "The boys and Paul kept pestering me all day, my feet were not my friends, and there's been this stupid pain in the back of my neck ever since I got out of that stupid trunk!"

I kind of sympathized with him. "Did you get caught?" I asked.

"No, but I got pretty darn close!"

"And what do you mean by your feet not being your friends?"

"They literally trip over everything."

As if on cue, he stumbled and nearly fell.

I tried not to laugh. "I think I know why," I said. "You can't stop moving, and you can't see where you're going with your head tilted like that! Come here."

Louis glanced at me, and I motioned for him to come closer. He did.

"Now sit," I ordered, pointing at the ground.

He frowned. "You're not going to treat me like a dog again, are you?" he asked.

I blushed. "No, that was a one-time thing," I said. "But seriously, sit. And right here."

He sat.

"Now move your hands."

He moved them reluctantly.

I stretched out my fingers and waved them in the air. "I am a professional masseuse," I told him. "But I warn you that if I push too hard, I might snap your neck."

"What?" he yelped, but before he could move away I began to massage his neck the best way I could. Truth be told, I had no idea how to massage.

Louis tensed. I slapped the back of his head.

"Don't stiffen up," I said. "That'll increase your chances of a broken neck."

That didn't exactly help him relax, but eventually he did.

"That hurts," he complained. "If anything, you're making it worse."

"I was afraid of that," I said, but didn't stop.

After a while, Louis sighed, "Now that feels good."

I grinned. I was actually succeeding. Who knew, huh?

Finally my knuckles were sore from being clenched too long and I loosened them up. "I'm done," I announced.

"No, you're not," Louis argued. "Do more."

"No," I retorted. "My knuckles are sore. And your neck is sweaty. Ew."

I got the feeling Louis rolled his eyes before rolling onto his back. His eyes were closed, so I suppose I was wrong.

I washed my hands in the kitchen. When I returned, Louis was still in the very same position.

"Why are you here?" I asked, even though that was a pretty stupid question.

"That's a stupid question."

Told ya.

"Yeah, but don't you want to do anything?"

"Not really," he mumbled through his lips.

I couldn't really blame him. It was a Friday evening, and I was exhausted. I didn't feel like doing anything, either.

"I didn't bring any condoms," he added.

That sentence made me freeze for a bit, but then I registered what he was saying.

"Louis!" I cried and hit him with a pillow as he laughed. "That is so wrong! You know I didn't mean it like that!"

"I'm sorry!" he gasped out. "I couldn't help it! It had to be done!"

"In your deranged mind, perhaps," I muttered. "But not for anyone else."

Louis opened his eyes to stare at me. I stared back at him. "What are you thinking about now?" I scowled.

He didn't answer. After a second or two I got bored with him and turned my head back. I reached around for a remote and somehow found one. It was the right one, amazingly. I turned on the TV.

"Keep this on!" Louis shouted, nearly making me jump out of my skin.

"Geez, Louis!" I cried. "What's with the excitement?"

I glanced at the screen, and wrinkled my nose. Then my eyes widened.

"Wait, you like Pretty Little Liars?" I exclaimed.

I looked down and saw Louis' face dark grey. It made me laugh out loud.

"Please don't tell anybody," he begged. "Only Harry knows and he's blackmailing me with it. If you don't forgive me he's going to send it out on Twitter."

I frowned in confusion. "But I already forgave you," I pointed out.

"Yeah. But Harry doesn't know that."

I understood. I nodded. "Okay, I won't tell anybody," I promised. "But that is some pretty good dirt. Other than those pictures of you in Victoria's Secret."

"What?!" Louis yelled and I laughed again.

I soon realized I had to run if I wanted to live. Louis chased after me. "Come back here, Renee!" he shouted.

There weren't very many hiding places in my tiny flat, so we just ran around in circles again and again. Louis began to slow. He was so out of shape.

I turned a corner, about to enter the kitchen.

"Gotcha!" a voice proclaimed eagerly out of thin air, and I shrieked in surprise.

Arms wrapped around my waist while I was still trying to get away, so, thanks to Louis' lovely feet, we went tumbling to the floor.

Louis ended up on top of me, so naturally I couldn't breathe. Plus, my face was being pressed into the hardwood floor. I struggled.

"Oops, sorry, Renee," Louis said and most of his weight disappeared.

I opened my eyes and nearly screamed.

Just because Louis had gotten off of me doesn't mean he wasn't still on top of me. His hands were pressed to the ground on either side of my head, and I resisted the urge to look down. That would just be wrong.

But Louis' face was directly above mine, just inches away. So close, in fact, I could feel his hot, smelly breath on my face. I turned away.

"Um, Louis, could you get off of me?" I asked pointedly.

"Oh, sorry," he repeated, and sat up. But he didn't sound very sorry at all.

I sat up, too. "You know what you're going to get now, Tomlinson?" I asked slyly.

"What?"

"A faceful of pillow mutiny!" I shouted and scooted away as fast as I could.

"Not if I get there first!" Louis cried gleefully.

We sprinted to the couch. I picked up two of my fluffiest pillows and started smacking him over the head with them.

Louis only picked up one, but of course he's a man, so he packed more force into his throws. I was knocked clean off my feet.

I spotted a blanket and covered myself with it. "The Invisibility Cloak!" I declared and raced forward. I tripped over my own "cloak" and ended up flat on my face.

I peeked under my cover and spotted Louis jumping on the couch, looking like he was about to jump on me.

"If you kill me, Tomlinson, you're not invited to my funeral!" I yelled at him.

"Same here!" he retorted and actually jumped down. I managed to roll away in time.

I attacked him freely, this time without pillows. I figured my fists would inflict little damage, anyway. I was right.

"What are you trying to do?" Louis smirked at me.

Before he could continue with his taunt, I glowered playfully, "Don't make these girls fly where the sun don't shine." That should be like my catchphrase.

Louis pushed me away.

We fought for a while, so of course we were surrounded by feathers once we decided we were done. We were panting like wild animals, and probably sweating like crazy. I figured I looked awful.

I collapsed on my side, in front of Louis. "Okay," I gasped. "I give up. I surrender. Deliver the fatal blow."

Louis paused a moment. I closed my eyes in preparation.

"No," he decided, and my eyes opened just in time to see him drop the pillow. "No fatal blows."

I frowned as he lay down next to me. "Why not?" I asked. "I probably would've done it to you."

He shrugged. "Probably," he agreed. "But I need more warriors on my side. There's only one."

I rolled my eyes but giggled anyway. Louis grinned. "Plus, I wouldn't want to kill one of my best friends," he added nonchalantly.

I froze. My heart fluttered in my chest a little. "Your... what?" I managed.

"My best friend. Well, one of them, anyway. I have many."

I couldn't help but smile. I turned my head to look at him. "Thanks, Louis," I said. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but... you're my best friend, too."

I swear I saw something flash in his eyes when I said that, but it was gone quick. But I believed something had been there.

He grinned again. "Thanks, Renee," he said.

I nodded and glanced away. I liked being friends with Louis, best friends even. But why did I feel like there was this empty feeling in the pit of my stomach?


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Author's Note:


Aw, how cute. They've friend-zoned each other. How sweet is that?

Ermagherd, you guys are not going to believe this, but there is a nerdy Zayn in my school! Eep!

Okay, to elaborate, the kid looks almost EXACTLY like Zayn Malik, just with glasses and a thinner face, I guess. But still, he's hot.

The fun parts in my story are coming up soon, so be on the lookout! ;)


Stay Beautiful,
-Sammi <3