The Exchange

Chapter 20

"Bye boys." Mira waves as they walk out the door. "Thanks again for the day."

"Our pleasure." Niall calls looking back. Mira stares him down but can't wipe the smile off her face. It makes her death stare more funny than intimidating. After a lengthy and steamy argument Niall insisted Mira stop insisting to pay and his Irish charm made her give in.

Niall, Liam and Zayn leave the flat, leaving behind their disguises until next time. Mira carried the tea to the kitchen and begins to clear everything out.

"I'm really glad you know a bit more of London now." Harry says, hopping up on the counter. Mira beams, clearly happy. Exactly how the boys want her to be while she's here. For Harry, seeing that smile is enough to lift his heart. Her smile makes him know that she really enjoyed being in London today.

***

The clock says 10:30 but I don't feel tired yet. This is the best day I've had in a long time and I want to cherish it forever.

I glide over to my bed in my pajamas with my diary and pull down the covers. I sit up straight and open my diary on my lap, preparing to record every detail I can remember about today.

Today was my best day in London so far. The boys took me out to see some different places and I can remember everything vividly. How green the grass was, how comforting was the ice cream how tight my smile stretched. When I first made my way here I didn't think I could ever have such a wonderful day but I did and I don't ever want to forget it.

"Knock, knock." I turn to see Louis standing in my door in his pajamas. I look him over in dark blue flannel pants and a matching, button down, pajama shirt.

"Hey." I say, placing my diary to the side so he can't see it.

"I just want to make sure everything is okay." He states, looking around my room. He must be reffering to last night. Something I don't want to talk about.

"I'm fine." I say, following his eyes to my dresser which he scanned. He stays in the doorway a moment too long, looking at everything.

"You can come in you know." I announce.

"Are you sure?" He asks very stand offish. This is getting awkward now. It seems like Louis has more mood swings than I do.

"Yeah, it's your flat." I say, nestling into my pillows. He takes a step in and looks around.

"You live here too now." I shrug. I don't really consider this my home or anything. I wouldn't bring a friend here like I would my mother's house just because it doesn't feel right. I feel more like an outsider that can't make one wrong move.

He walks over to my dresser and picks up the collage of my friends and I. All our stupid faces and precious memories concealed in a single frame.

"Are these your friends from back home?"

"Yeah." I nod but I assumed that was obvious. He puts it down and picks up the frame with my cousins. I go back to my diary preferring not to stare him down while he walks around.

"This is nice." He says, putting back my frame. I give him a small thanks and try to concentrate on what I'm writing.

"Are you okay for tonight?" Louis asks, still staring at the frame. I take a few deep breaths and pry my jaw apart.

"I think so." I reply, looking into my lap wishing we would stop talking.

"If you don't feel comfortable, you know, you can come to my room."

"Thanks." I smile, not too sure what to say. I look at the opposite wall where my desk is and try to unclench my teeth. Why do I feel like Louis is more uncomfortable about this than I am?

"You can stay here for awhile if you want." The words come out before I can think about them. My embarassment level has reached it's max. Why do I say to that? Usually I don't say what I really want.

"Do you want me here?" Louis asks, suddenly looking up from my picture.

"Only if you want to stay here." I say, failing at covering up my previous mistake.

"Well, if you don't want me here I can leave." He adds awkwardly. I grab my arm and brace myself for the words I'm about to say.

"I wouldn't mind you here."

I hold my breath and stare up at Louis. Slowly, a smile creeps on his face and he nods an okay. I push over and Louis lies on the bed. His weight sinks us down, he takes up space, and he makes me feel like I'm not alone.

I pull out my diary again and try to go back to it. I guess I'll have to start with everything.

I know I have to tell you absolutley everything about today so here is where I'll start. Harry kind of got in bed with me last night. After they came back I woke up and found him on top of me, alcohol on his breath. I made it to Louis room but I don't really know how. I remember getting up and running down the hall. Louis allowed me to stay with him for the night and held me until I could sleep. I was scared at the time diary but I don't think I was scared of him I guess I was more scared of what he would do. I'm not afraid of him in anyway but just the thought sends shivers up my spine. Of course he apologized this morning and I believe he won't do it again but something about it just worries me. Louis is staying with me for a while tonight though which I think will help me sleep. I'm not scared of Harry at all. There's just something about it though. I suppose it's the act.

"What are you writing." I shoot my head to the right and close the cover of my diary. No one usually sees me writing and if they do they do not ask about it.

"Nothing." I reply opening the cover a little less. "It's just a journal."

"Like a diary?" He asks. Am I easy to read or something?

"Yeah." I say, lifting my pen. He nods and I move on in my diary, preparing to talk about the mall.

***

"You must write alot." Louis says as I close my diary after I finish.

"Why do you say that?" I ask even though it's true. I just finished writing ten pages about everywhere we went and every person we met.

"It's after midnight." He says, nodding to my alarm clock. I look over to see he's right. It's just ten minutes into Sunday.

"I guess I do." I say, pushing myself off the bottom of my bed and placing my diary on my desk.

"Do you like your room?" Louis asks, looking around.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I?" I ask, climbing back to bed. He shrugged.

"I haven't been in here since we left to pick you up. Harry and I put it together but I realize we could of done more." He says as a response.

"What more could you of done?" I ask in disbelief. They did so much for me why would he say there's more to do? Louis just shrugs and lets the conversation fall.

"Do you want me to leave?" Louis asks, looking at me. I shrug.

"You don't have to." I say, reaching over and turning off the lamp on the night table. "You can spend the night if you want." Louis nods. I hope he can't see my smile. I very much enjoyed sleeping with him last night.

Louis wraps his arm around me and I snuggle into his chest. He plays with my hair and we cuddle until I drift off to a dreamy sleep. The last thing I remember is him saying something about little things.