Broken Souls

4

"My name's Louis." He holds out his hand and I bring my shaky hand to meet his.

"P-Payton.." I slowly retract my hand back to my lap.

"Well p-Payton," he half jokes, "why are you all alone?" His overall look completely changes and he places his hand on my knee looking genuinely concerned.

"I-..." I look down. "My m-mom..."

"I'm sorry love. Mine was here too." I can't help but notice his British accent. I didn't really pay attention to what he was saying. I still can't get over the fact that I can't see my mother.
"And she just got released. So I'm waiting for her so we can head back to London tomorrow." My head shot up.

"London?"

"Yes I live there. We were just here on vacation."

"I- I'm going to London tomorrow too. I- for s-school." I start to get interested in what this charming boy has to say.

"Really?! Oh you could come with us!!" He says and a doctor comes out. Both of us stand up.

"Mr. Tomlinson? Your mother will have to stay here just one more night. We just want to make sure she is truly okay." And he walks away.

I look at Louis and hold up my index finger and run after the doctor. "Wait wait! How's my mother doing?" He stops and turns around.

"Ah yes. Mrs. Walters... We'll miss Walters..." He stops talking after that and that's all I need to clarify all my worries. All my fears. Just like that my world came toppling down on me.
"We did everything we were able to do. I'm sorry. Heart attacks aren't very survivable." And he walks away once more.

She's gone. My best friend is gone. My world. The light in my life. The reason I was still alive is gone. The only person who believed in me no longer believed in herself.
I scream in pain and collapse to the floor with uncontrollable sobs. I hear footsteps running towards me. Warmth surrounds me as I feel myself being lifted. Cold night air hits my back as I am being taken outside. I am delicately placed on a seat. I hear a door close and another one open. A car engine starts and it starts moving. I fall asleep rather quickly.
I feel more movement as the same warmth surrounds me again and I am lifted from the seat back into the cold night air.
I stir as I feel a bed, I think, below me.

"Shh. It's going to be okay." I hear Louis voice as he climbs into the bed. He wraps his arms around me and I turn around so I'm facing him and cuddle into his chest.
I silently sob into his chest and he tightens his grip on me. "I'm here. Don't worry. I'm not leaving you. Just breathe. Get some rest. I'll take care of you."
Louis is like the big brother I don't have. Comforting and loving.
I start to feel myself falling asleep. I close my eyes as my breathing returns to normal and the tears stop falling at a steady rate.

--

Louis and I are seated on the couch in his room. It's been a week since I met Louis. I decided to not go to school. Louis told me he dropped out. So I figured I'd be okay. His mom is okay. She's home with us actually. She's getting the house ready for a welcome home party. I guess they had been gone for a year and came back when I did. Maybe I was meant to meet Louis. Something had to have come out of this. Maybe I'll meet someone or maybe I'll turn happy. I don't know.

I haven't spoken a word to anyone besides Louis. He's the only person I trust right now. Hell, he's the only person besides my mother I've ever trusted.
There's just something about him that makes him trustworthy. He's the nicest person I've ever met. He understands me. Completely. It's strange and exhilarating.

"Payton? Would you like to meet my friends?" I guess I've been so lost in my world the party already started. I nodded my head and stood up next to Louis.
"This is Harry, Liam, and Niall. Boys, this is my new sister Payton Marie Walters." He smiles proudly.

"W-wait...s-sister?" I whisper looking up at Louis.

"Yes. Welcome to the Tomlinson family Payton!" Johanna, Louis mom, hands me a document with her signature. An adoption paper.

"I-" I run up to her and hug her. "Thank you. Thank you so much"

She hugs me back and pulls back to look at my face. "A beautiful girl like you deserves a good home." She kisses my forehead and walks back into the kitchen.

"So Payton where did you move from?"

"Why did you come to London?"

"Why were you adopted by Louis?"

"Was something wrong with your family?"

Questions thrown at me. Ive never had this many people talk to me. I look frantically at each boy as they speak and then I look up to Louis. "N-no I can't. I- t-too many-...l-Louis-" I run up the stairs to my new room but I don't make it past halfway when I trip on the stairs and collapse in panic. I can't handle people bombarding me with questions.

--

Louis POV

THUMP!!

"Payton?! Payton??!!" I run up the stairs to see if she was okay. The boys following behind me. I get to the top of the stairs and see her laying face down on the top of the stairs. I pick her up and carry her to her room.

"Is she okay?" Harry asks, stepping forward.

"I uh- I think so yes. Yeah she just get anxious and has panick attacks. She'll be okay boys. Thanks."  I tuck her into bed and kiss her forehead. I walk out of her room and meet the boys back in our living room. I really hope she's okay.