A Love, a Lie and a False Identity (Louis Tomlinson)

Louis

Chapter 29

Louis

The awards ceremony was dragging, to say the least. All I wanted was for it to finally finish so I could get out of here and go to see Ronnie, to ask her in person what was going on and what the hell had happened earlier today. and then make up before I had to say goodbye to her tomorrow. but apparently this ceremony was host to absolutely every award there could possibly be. 

"Stop figeting! There are cameras everywhere and if they see you in that state they will create a million rumours," Liam leant across the table to whisper to me. I resisted the urge to pull a face at him or roll my eyes, and instead pretended to focus on the singer who was presently giving their acceptance speech. 

"Do you know what you are going to say to Ronnie?" Rosie leant over and whispered to me, ignoring Liam's annoyed huff. I shrugged, I hadnt really thought that far ahead. I just wanted to get out of here and see her. Her steel grey eyes would tell me everything I needed to know. 

"You should probably have something planned," Audrey joined in, and I smiled in spite of myself. It would be like the girls to join together and try to make happiness prevail. But they were forgetting one little detail. What if this conversation didn't bring us closer together, but pushed us further apart? I wasn't sure I would be able to deal with something like that, not after the incredible impression Ronnie had made on me the past two weeks. 

"Yeah, I probably should. But that's never really been my style, has it?" I whispered back, and Audrey let out a low laugh. 

"No, I guess not. Oh, they've finished!" she said in a louder voice, watching as people around us began to gather their belongings and rise from their tables. Harry took Rosie's hand and helped her to stand, linking their fingers together. There was something about that gesture that made my stomach feel funny, and I realised it was longing. I wanted to hold Ronnie's hand, to be the gentleman and help her with her coat, and press a kiss to her wrist when no one was looking. I wanted all that with her, and I couldn't just let her escape tomorrow without letting her know, without even trying. I would never forgive myself. 

With a jolt I realised I had just decided exactly what I needed to say to her. 

"Go get her," Rosie said, seemingly reading my mind as she kissed my cheek before turning back to Harry, linking fingers and heading out the door. I grinned and went to turn in the opposite direction, towards the back door so I could escape unnoticed, when I was suddenly stopped by Will, a dissapproving look on his face. 

"Where do you think you are going?" He said, eyes boring into mine. 

"There's something I need to-" 

"No there isn't. The only place you need to be is at the afterparty with your bandmates. To smile, and say nice things about one another, and pose for the lovely cameras." Will said, looking at his watch. I would have fought harder if I hadn't noticed the dark circles under his eyes and his unkempt hair. Clearly managing five unruly guys constantly was taking it's toll on poor old Will. 

So I allowed myself to be carted off into another posh car by Will and head off to some other glitzy, fancy building with multicoloured lights outside and doormen guarding the entrance. I made it through the blur of camera flashes before we were ushered inside, and I took a deep breath of relief. I told myself that Ronnie wasn't going anywhere until tomorrow, and I could swing by after making an appearance here. It still wasn't too late. I hoped, at least. 

"So, are you seeing anyone special, Louis?" Nick Grimshaw, a close friend of Harry's, said to me once we found ourselves side by side. Conor Maynard, a fellow artist and a friend, chuckled almost knowingly under his breath, and I turned to him.