How It Starts (Louis Tomlinson)

Chapter 7

Check out the chapter entitled 'How it starts' for the cast list. :)

Lottie is 24 & Louis is 20 in this story.

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I'll wait until I can pull her aside alone. The congregation in the lobby is growing by number with everyone excited for the mall.

I am too, actually. I love shopping and I brought more than enough money to go crazy with.

We all listen to Ms.T give us a brief rundown of our destination. It's really a list of no brainers. No stealing. No horseplay or we'll be forced to leave the mall and seeing as she'll be deep in the depths of the mall that person will have to sit on the bus alone. We are to eat at the mall and if we don't we'll be left to figure out our own eating arrangements.

We file on and off the bus when we reach the mall and everyone goes their separate ways. Again, I'm left alone as Jessica leaves me hand in hand with Shaun.

The first place I spot is an Urban Outfitters. Score.

"By yourself?" There's only two British people on this trip and only one is male. I turn to see Louis smiling at me.

"Yes. Again." I complain.

"Well, not anymore." He gestures to himself. "Where to first?"

"Urban Outfitters." Everyone has pretty much gone away, blending with the natives.

"I really want to hold your hand." Louis confesses.

"So do I." I glance to him with a smile on my face.

"I can't wait until we can do couple like things together. This trip really needs to end." He chuckles. My heart is swelling from his words. He's really sweet.

"It really does." We enter the store and the smell of jeans and new clothes fills my nostrils and the frenzy begins. I notice a poster with the word sale written three times. I buy two pair of skinny jeans. A pair of khaki shorts to wear with my school shirt tomorrow. A new bikini to wear underneath. Louis insists that I try it on but I chicken out. Seriously, anyone could walk into the store and see us.

I walk into bath and body works next. Louis stops at the entrance and demands that he's not entering the frilly store.

"Louis pleaseee?" I beg.

"No, its too girly and what not." He folds his arms over his chest and doesn't budge. I can see that this is going to be a lost cause.

"Fine. I'll be right back." I tell him.

"Okay, I'm going to look at trainers."

"What?" I quickly turn to ask. He's already headed toward a shoe store.

"Sneakers." he calls over his shoulder.

"Oh." I turn back to the store and buy a few things. They're also having a sale. If every store is having a sale I may need another duffle bag.

I finish before Louis and go into the store next door over, which happens to be Brandy Melville. I can spend hours in this store.

Just as I'm mulling over whether I should buy a tank I see Asia out of my side eye.

"Asia!" I call. She's already looking at me. Begins to walk over and I walk to meet her.

"Hey, umm, I wanted to talk to you about.." I don't get to finish my sentence.

"The you and Mr.Tomlinson thing? Don't worry I won't tell anyone."

"Thank you so much. It would mean a lot to us. And it's just for now once we're back home it'll be okay." I explain.

She laughs. "It's okay. I know a lot of secrets." I bet she does. I wonder if I should ask her about Louis past relationship. Before I can decide Louis spots us.

"Hey, guys."

"Hey, Mr.Tomlinson." Asia seems a little uncomfortable and so does Louis. Should I tell him that she knows. I decide against it and start the conversation.

"I love Brandy Melville. It's my favorite store."

"Same. I love their crop tops." My attempt is a complete failure because everything falls silent again.

"So, I'll see you girls around." Louis says. His eyes linger on mine. He's silently trying to tell me something but I'm clueless and can't understand.

"Were you guys hanging out? Did I interrupt?" She knows what I'm going to say. I don't know why she even bothered to ask.

"I'm being polite and I don't know everything." her face falls a bit.

"I'm sorry. It's okay. It probably wasn't a good idea to begin with." I realize. "Come, let's shop."

We shop and have dinner with Shaun and Jessica. I stare at the back of Louis' head as he eats a sub with the male teachers.

We sit together on the bus. Jessica is taking her chances and sitting with Shaun.

I never realized that Asia didn't have friends. I mean I understand with the fortunes and the mind reading. Sometimes it gets confusing. You think you've said something when you haven't.

She glances at me and quickly looks away.

Damn it. I'm sorry.

"It's okay." she whispers. "Thanks for hanging with me today."

"It was fun. We should do it again." I mean it.

"Of course." she smiles.

We talk the entire way to the hotel and she tries not to finish my questions. She was seriously a good time.

"Check your text." she says to me before she follows the others off of the bus. Four seconds later my alert goes off. She is good. It's a text from Louis.

'Meet me in my room tonight?'

My chest flutters and I smile at my phone.

'Okay.'  I text back.

He doesn't reply. Instead, I count the hours until night fall.

I don't feel comfortable telling Jessica about meeting Louis. I shower and change into shorts and a tank. I turn away from her in my bed and fake being asleep.

It takes her an hour and a half before I hear her snoring. I slip out of bed and hold the handle down so that it doesn't make a loud click.

I knock twice onto Louis' door and as soon as it opens I'm pulled in and pinned against it.

"I've missed you." He whispers and kisses me hard.

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It's nice to get updates.

I've been in severe pain lately it sucks. I hope you guys are all well. :)

Love you

~Cassie ♥