This Road Has Been Putting Miles On My Heart

8

Chapter 8:

Louis woke up with a pulsating headache.

His hand shot out to snooze the alarm for the second time that morning. He rolled over on the bed, his legs sticking out from the duvet. On the third blaring alarm, he shut it off and dragged himself out of bed. If he didn't get ready now, he was going to be late like the rest of the previous times. He took one look at himself in the mirror and hopped in the shower.

Beads of water raced down his tired, boneless body. Without effort, he lathed shampoo in his hair and closed his eyes. The pitter patter of water splashed on the tiles. He scrubbed a loofa under his armpits and on his groin. He rested his forehead on the wall and almost dozed off, his body limp. He turned the water to a cool rush and let it wash over his soaped body. He got out shivering, wrapping a towel around his waist. He did his usual morning routine, brushed his teeth, prepared some tea in his to go mug, and made himself some egg on toast. He skipped wearing contacts for today because his eyes were red rimmed and tired and instead propped his glasses on his nose.

He was rummaging through his bedside drawer to find less dorky glasses when his fingers bumped on an envelope. Sebastian's letter. Without overthinking it, he grabbed it and stuffed it in his work bag, closing the drawer shut. He grabbed his to go mug and flicked the lights shut, locking the door behind himself. On his way over to school, he double tapped on Niall's name and brought the phone to rest between his cheek and shoulder.

Niall answered with a muffled, "Ungh," groggily.

"Tell me why I let you drag me to drinks on a week night? On a school week night?"

"Fuck. What time s'it?" Louis fiddled with the radio while Niall mumbled incoherent noises. "I didn't drag you to drinks. Let me remind you that you're the one who dragged me."

P!nk flowed the inside of the car. He hummed along to her lyrics while he pulled in the teacher's parking lot. He grabbed his rucksack and climbed out, locking the car with a beep. He balanced the phone on his cheek, checking the time on his watch. Five minutes to spare. He was early for once.

"Yeah but you're the one who kept buying me rounds you cheeky little bugger."

Niall laughed loudly in his ear. The sound of rushing water was heard in the distance. He was probably waking up and washing his face.

"Dunno mate, you kept shouting, 'More, more, more!'"

"I did not," Louis said mock offended.

He waved at Susan's smiling face and walked to his classroom, his to go mug in hand. He opened the door and left it ajar, plopping himself on his chair. It was barely the start of day and he was already exhausted.

He rubbed his temple while he took out his utensils for the day. His copy of Wuthering Heights, the last of his essays that he was supposed to mark last night, the colored journals for his specific class.

"You also jumped on the table and strip teased along to He's A Dream by Shandi. Who knew you memorized every step in that Flashdance scene?"

"Oh god." Louis slumped his forehead on the table, banging his head on the wood repeatedly. "Please tell me people didn't tip me."

"Oh they tipped you. They tipped you good." Niall cackled aloud while Louis groaned in pain.

He shoved his hand in the trousers he was wearing from last night. He took out crumpled euros, even a five euro. He moaned and muttered, "Bye Nialler," with his thumb hovering over the end call button. Niall bellowed out a, "Wait! Wait! Do you fancy going out for drinks later?" Louis grit out a, "Bye," and ended the call with Niall's ringing laugh in the background.