My Hope (Louis Tomlinson FanFic) *Completed*

Chapter 9

*Louis' POV*

"Like me, Paul." Liam shot up.

Paul looked at him, eyebrows raised. "Liam, that's crazy. You're only nineteen years old."

"And she's only seventeen until December. It's only September, she wouldn't be under my care for long, but she wouldn't be eighteen in time for her to be on her own."

Paul looked at him skeptically. I could tell he was thinking it over in his head. He started pacing once again, fiddling with his hands while deep in thought. He looked at Liam.

"You realize you'd have to provide for her. You don't have to be her 'dad' per say, but she'd need clothing, food, a place to stay, all of it."

"Yes, I realize that, Paul. But I know I could look out for her." Liam kept looking at him with a straight face. Paul just sighed once again before looking back at the sleeping girl on the sofa.

"Fine, I'll see what I can do. I'm going to have your tour Doctor come check her ankle." With that, he turned and walked off the bus, leaving us all wondering what had just happened,

"Liam, why would you take her instead of Lou or Zayn. I mean, they're both older." Harry pointed out. To be honest, I had been wondering the exact same thing.

"Because, Louis obviously likes her and...okay, I don't have anything as to why Zayn isn't the one taking her, but still."

"I do NOT like her! I just met her!" I said, standing up. "Besides, I don't need a relationship right now." I stopped talking slowly.

"Lou," Harry sighed, tugging on my arm to make me sit down. "I get it, Eleanor broke your heart and you're having a hard time moving on, but mate, you can't let that one girl hold you back forever."

"She's not holding me back!" I exclaimed. Harry rolled his eyes and Niall sat down next to me as the other two headed back to the bunks.

"Lou, anyone with eyes can see you like this girl. Why are you having a hard time admitting it to yourself?" Niall put his hand on my shoulder. I looked at the two boys as if they were insane.

"How could I like her when I've barely spoken to her?" I asked, not really expecting an answer. But of course, Narry always has a response.

"Maybe..." Niall.

"It's..." Harry.

"LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!" Both.

"Y'all are so stupid." I sighed, leaning back in my chair.

"You only say that because you know we're right." Niall said, as if he was pointing something completely obvious out. However, it was not obvious at all, seeing as I'm pretty positive it's not true.

"No, I say that because I know it's not what's going on." I sigh. Both the other boys snicker and look at each other.

"Whatever, Lou. it's getting late. Goodnight." Harry bid farewell and headed towards the bunks. Niall quickly did the same and walked in that direction, leaving me with my thoughts.

I wandered into the living room, looking at the sleeping girl on the couch. I sat in a chair beside her, studying her features. Her hands had bruises and scratches, her fingers cracked and dry blood on the surface of her skin. Her hair had knots in it, creating little lumps inside it.

I quickly get up and grab my brush, emptying it before going and starting to slowly and gently tease the tangles out of her hair, as I had done for my sisters when they were little on countless occasions. I didn't know where the sudden impulse came from, but that's okay. Maybe I cared. Who knows.