Hidden Demons

Sound Check

I step out the lobby of his apartment complex and shiver.

"Niall it's freezing why the hell did you make me wear shorts!" I look at the frost lightly dusting the grass in disbelief.

"Oh shut up you" he says fondly, "you'll warm up soon enough, now come on, we'll jog to the park, do our warm up and then go a small run"

I groan dramatically but inside I'm grateful for the way he's caring for me and keeping me entertained.

He starts to jog and I roll my eyes before following him, looking around his street and trying to see if there are any lurking paparazzi. Although the day is young and I doubt we'll come across many people.

I tug at my maroon zip up jumper, trying to find some warmth. Niall had let me borrow a pair of his cotton shorts, so we both matched, and I had pulled on a pair of running trainers that I'd found in the bottom of my holdall. I'd begged Niall to let me wear my gloves and beanie at least but he'd drawn the line when I'd tried to put on my scarf and ear muffs.

"Louis, please, no" he'd chuckled lightly and ushered me out the door.

Niall's being polite by jogging probably much slower than he usually would to stay in time with me. At least it makes me look less unfit. Our breaths are coming out in white clouds before our faces and I can slowly feel my body warming the morning chill away.

"See it's not so bad is it?" Niall asks happily, looking pleased with himself and proud of me.

"I guess" I grudgingly reply, not wanting to tell him that I'm actually enjoying myself. Ever so slightly.

We approach the park and Niall shows me some fancy stretches to assure I don't injure myself or pull any muscles. Once we're all warmed up and good to go, Niall leads me around the park.

The run isn't too strenuous. Halfway through I get a bit breathless and slow down but it's not really as bad as I had expected.

Once we get back to the apartment Niall can't stop grinning, he pulls me into a hug and laughs happily.

"I never thought I'd see the day! Louis going a run. And with me! Of all people!"

I laugh alongside him, my cheeks pink from the exertion and fresh air.

As I clamber into the shower I realise that it's the first time I've felt free and happy for a while. I have that buzz back, the buzz that makes me actually feel alive.

"Louis, speak into the mic for me!" Someone yells from backstage somewhere.

"1,2, testing, testing" I joke into the mic. Zayn sniggers as I start to opera sing Away In A Manger.

"That's quite enough, Louis! I think we've established your mic's working!"

Me and Zayn erupt into laughter.

The person checks everyone else's mic's and I lounge on the stage. Tiredness creeping into my bones from the run. Niall had burst into our changing room when we had arrived to the arena and told everyone about my 'accomplishment'. I tried not to strangle him as he cooed at me like I was his baby brother.

"Louis we need to fit you with the transmitter" a kind and feminine voice calls me out from my daydream. I scramble to my feet and come face to face with a girl around my age. She has head phones propped on her head full of brown tangly and curly locks. She's pretty and I find it hard to listen to what she's actually saying.

"Turn this on when it's time to go on the flying stage thingy m'bob or whatever the technical name for it is" she waves her hand in the direction of, what I can only describe as, the flying stage. I chuckle lightly as she unwinds wires in her small hands.

"Are you a new member of the crew?" I ask her as she hands me my earpiece.

"Mh-hm" she hums, her angular brows furrowed in concentration.

"Do you have a name?" I ask slowly and curiously. I gently pop my earpiece into my ear.

She stops what she's doing and looks up at me, like she's finally seeing me for the first time. Her eyes are dark brown and framed with spidery long lashes.

"Indiana" she smiles, "But I prefer to be called Indie" she shrugs and continues to attend to my transmitter.

I grin at the unusual and pretty name. Pretty just like her face, I think and then stop myself in surprise. I haven't really thought of anyone as 'pretty' since my break up with Eleanor. I don't know if this is a good thing or bad thing.

I decide that all this is, is a friendly conversation and to stop over thinking things so much.

"I'm Louis" I tell her and then feel stupid afterwards as I remember she had greeted me with my name.

She looks back up at me and smiles warmly, "Nice to meet you" her eyes dance as we shake hands, hers soft and delicate.

With that she steps back and pats my arm, "That's you all set up" she informs me before walking over to Zayn to do the same with him.

I watch her walk away, her buckled ankle boots clinking gently as she moves.

I bite back a grin.

I like her... She's nice.