Under The Willow Tree • Louis Tomlinson

xv.

xv. strange child

— • —

A warm stuffy store welcomed me when I returned home. Jenna's pile of dresses still sat on my desk. Ignoring the dresses I bounded up the stairs, I could feel the coffee already kicking in. Blinking a few times so I could get used to the dimly lit apartment I placed my bag on the ground and headed for the bathroom. I had a long cool shower before gently blow-drying my hair so it wasn't dripping wet when I had to leave. I then rummaged around my room before finding a floral dress at the bottom of a pile of clean clothing. I hadn't made this dress. I buy all my casual clothing unless I'm really tight on my budget.

After rushing to put my make-up on I grabbed my bag and headed out the door. Before escaping back into the real world I picked up Jenna's discarded dresses and placed them in the closet. I had no idea what I'll do with them but at this point in time my care factor = 0. I quickly exited the shop and locked the door behind me. Louis and Harry had not shown up yet so I sat on the store's doorsteps and played with my phone. I still had my white phone case with Ed's signature so I read what he had written:

Dear Rose,
Never give up.
- Ed Sheeran x
I like your dress :)

I wonder why he had written never give up? Maybe he noticed what had happened at the party? Maybe he was telling me to follow my heart, follow my dreams. Or maybe he just meant it in a general way.

Before I could continue my thinking a car horn pushed me out of my thoughts. I looked up to find Louis and Harry looking at me from within the car. I waved to them and hopped up. The coffee had fully kicked in by now so instead of walking like a normal human I skipped to the car.

"You're happy." Louis pointed out as I hopped inside the back of the car.

"It's the coffee. It does this to me." I hadn't sat in the back seat of a car for months so this was a new experience for me.

"I like this Rose." Harry stated, "Can she stay all the time?"

"Nope!" I popped the p, "Unless you give me coffee all day everyday you're gonna have to stick with normal Rose." I then settled back in my seat eager to go to the so-called 'boring' meeting.

— • —

We arrived at what I would call an office building. I had no idea where I was going so I followed Louis and Harry like a lost puppy. We walked inside the building and waited for an elevator. When one finally decided to show up we all rushed into it and Louis pressed the 15th floor button.

"What's the meeting about?" I asked while the elevator was ascending.

"Tour schedules." Harry muttered while leaning against the elevator wall.

"I thought your tour was finished?"

"We are doing one last UK tour before the new album is released." Louis answered grinning at me.

"Stop grinning Louis." I sighed, "Its creepy."

Louis started laughing while Harry and I just stared at him. "Strange Child." I stated as the elevator doors opened.

Harry walked out of the elevator and I followed him. Louis was behind me still laughing. I rolled my eyes and paid attention to where Harry was taking us. We walked down a wide corridor before Harry stopped in front of a glass door. He slowly edged the door open before poking his head inside.

"Sorry we're late but it is a little early for a meeting." He then paused and I heard voices from inside, "Yes Louis is with me. Oh and so is Rose Redwood." He stopped again before shaking his head. "She's a designer, musician and a friend of Louis'." Harry nodded and turned to face me. "You can come in and sit as long as you keep it confidential."

"Your secrets are safe with me." I sighed. Harry opened the door fully and walked in. I just stood at the entrance for a few moments, scared to go in and face the rest of the band as well as management. Louis must have grown impatient of waiting for me to enter so he lightly pushed me into the room.

"What was that for?" I asked him.

"You looked as if you were scared to go inside." Louis raised an eye brow and walked over to where the others were waiting.

"Well I was." I whispered before finding a seat on the edge of the room. Niall, Liam and Zayn all waved to me and I waved back to them shyly. I then leaned back in my chair when a short blonde woman's gaze caught my attention. I looked over to her to see that she was studying me. I smiled at her before reaching into my pocket for my phone.

"No phones." She said sharply, pointing her statement in my direction.

"I'm only going to play Temple Run." I showed my phone screen at her. "And anyway, there's no service in here."

She looked at me warily before turning her attention towards the band. "The schedule that has been allotted...." Without listening to more than a few words that came from her mouth I focused my attention to Temple Run.

— • —

 "Told ya that it was going to be boring." Louis chuckled when the meeting had finished.

"Not really... I broke my high score." I showed Louis my phone screen. I now had a high score of 8 and a half million.

"And you're the one who calls me crazy." Louis rolled his eyes, "Well we all have the rest of the day free. Do you want to continue having fun with us?"

"Why not?" I shrugged. The elevator opened and all six of us piled inside. I turned around so I could see everyone else.

"We haven't had a proper introduction." Niall held his hand out to me and I shook it. "I'm Niall Horan, singer. Pleased to meet you."

I chuckled and Liam extended his hand to me. "It's great to meet you properly Rose. I'm Liam Payne." I shook his hand and nodded.

"Well hello again Rose. My name is Zayn Malik. I like your hair shorter, it makes the curls more defined" He grinned and shook my hand.

"It's great to meet you all again. I'm Rose Redwood, aspiring designer and music hobbyist." I smiled at all of the boys before the elevator doors opened on the ground floor.

"You play the violin right?"  Niall asked while walking next to me.

"Yes that's correct Niall." I then turned to face Louis, "How much did you tell them about me?"

"Uhhhh...." Louis smiled innocently before looking off into the distance.

"Just a bit." Zayn chuckled from behind me.

We had all stopped walking and we were standing in the foyer. "So... what does One Direction do on their days off?"

They all grinned. "How about a few games of tenpin bowling?" Louis asked.

"I'm in!" Niall chirped

"Same here." Harry grinned

"May as well." Liam shrugged

"Why not?" Zayn asked.

Louis then looked at me and I shrugged. "Sounds like fun." I smiled, "But you better not cry when you all lose."