How It Starts (Louis Tomlinson)

Chapter 9

When he leaves I turn to Jessica.

"Jessica what are you doing?"

"Why did you scream?" her face is hard and she is really mad at me. She's pulling on pants and a shirt. "He's going to Ms.T's room and so am I." Shaun follows her out of the door and I quickly run to my suitcase to put on clothes. I pull on shorts, neglecting underwear.  I make sure I pull on a bra and tank, sliding into flipflops before I bolt after them.

I can't remember what room number she is. I snag someone in the hallway and ask them. I run all the way to her room and knock vigorously.

"Hi, Anna. You might as well join the party." she steps away and I walk past seeing Louis, Jessica and Shaun scattered around the room.

I can't believe Jessica is doing this to me. She and Shaun have been together longer than our friendship but I still can't believe it.

"Louis tells me that he caught Shaun in Jessica's bed this morning. Is it true, Anna?" Ms.T is looking at me and I'm looking back and forth between Louis and Jessica. She knows I won't lie. I suck at it anyway.

"I'll take it as a yes?" she questions. I just hang my head and shyly nod.

"Well, Shaun you know the rules. Jessica so do you. Enjoy the stay but when we return neither of you will be allowed to walk at graduation."

"What that's not fair!" The look on Jessica's face is scaring me. Ms.T continues to explain the severity of their wrong.

"This is not fair! Especially since" Oh God. "he's sleeping with a student!" she says the words deliberately and frowns at Louis. He looks pissed.

"What?"

"I am not sleeping with a student." I really want to throw up.

"She was in your room last night."

"Wait, Jessica how do you know?" Ms.T asks. She looks irritated with the accusations.

"Because, it's Anna." She rolls her eyes in  my direction and everyone turns to me.

Ms. T glances from me to Louis. She then turns to Shaun and Jessica.

"Regardless,  what you two did was still wrong and against the rules. Your punishment will remain. You two can leave." I can't tell if she's mad or not. Jessica brushes past me knocking me back a few feet. I hate confrontation but I will not be bullied.

When they leave her face turns menacing. She faces Louis and all hell breaks loose.

"I can't believe you." her voice is low so as not to disturb the floor. "This is my job, Louis. My job. You can't come in and sleep with my students."

"I'm not sleeping with Anna. You know this. I told you."

Realization hits when she remembers the conversation at the museum.

"I didn't know you were talking about a student. And she's a" he cuts her off before she finishes.

"Stop it." His face darkens and it matches hers.

I'm a what? A student? A child? What was she going to say?

She turns to me.

"Anna, you're not allowed to walk either." without turning to face her brother she speaks to him. "Louis,  you are no longer a chaperone. You will not accompany us to the beach. You are to sit next to me on the bus. After this trip I don't give a damn what you do, but you are not to sneak around during this trip." She turns and faces her brother. "You know I love you. I want you happy but I will not lose my job."

She goes into the bathroom and we look at each other. I fill bad. I never thought about the consequences for her. I feel selfish and stupid.

Louis silently walks past me exiting the room. I understand why he didn't touch me or say anything but I wish he would have.

I leave right behind and we stay silent until we're in the elevator.

"I don't want Ms. T to lose her job." I hang my head and my voice is low.

He releases a huff of breath.

"Me either. I'm sorry about you not being able to walk at graduation. Are your parents going to be mad?" He's all the way on the opposite side of the elevator and I just want to touch him. I stay where I am and don't move.

"Probably."

"I'm sorry." He apologizes again.

"It's okay." When the elevator opens we go to our rooms. Jessica isn't in there. I get ready for the beach anyway. I don't want to go but I know she won't let me stay. Especially since Louis isn't allowed to go.

On the bus I sit with Asia. Jessica sits with Amanda and that bothers me. She doesn't like Amanda. This all seems childish and elementary. We should be able to talk about what happened.

I know Asia can sense the negative energy and she knows something is wrong. I ignore her awkward glances at me and play with my sandals. I repeatedly pick up the flip flop with my feet and drop them again.

The beach isn't as fun as I thought it would have been. It does nothing to distract the void I feel.I pull the shorts off, followed by my school shirt and toss them into the pile. The male teachers are on stuff watch. They're making sure no one steals our things.

I walk the edges of the water jumping over waves as they roll in. There are a few people on the rides and roller coasters but they're not my thing.

I continue to scale the shoreline. I write an L and an A in the sand, placing a heart between the two letters. I wish he were here. He'd probably make a joke about the corny gesture. I watch as another wave washes the letters and shape away.

Tomorrow we leave at noon and then there's the entire bus ride to Arizona. Back to dry heat and no beach.

At least I can openly see Louis. That makes me happy and eager to leave California.

I use a towel from my bag to wipe my feet dry and spread it out to tan.

As the sun falls we all gather and play night frisbee. Arnold knocks me on my ass quickly and I quit the game. I can see Jessica rolling her eyes in the dark.

Some friend I thought I had.

On the bus ride I sit next to Asia again. I feel bad for not talking to her. I consider us friends now and I don't want her to think we're not. I place my beach towel, all sand shaken off of it, and through it over my face. I close my eyes and just think.

Today has been stupid. It all just seems unnecessary and avoidable. Petty, almost.

I shower and go to bed immediately. The sun has drained me and I feel tired. Tomorrow we go home and I couldn't be happier.

************

Thanks for reading! Love you guys! ♥