Beyond the Stars *Dark Louis Tomlinson*

Chapter 14

The cool thing about having a broken ankle is that you get to ride in those electric scooters in the grocery store. It's my turn to do the grocery shopping this week. Elizabeth insisted that I should stay home and rest, but I need to get out and do normal things like a normal person. So she gave me the list and the money for the things she wants.

Some people give me odd looks when I wheel by, but I don't care. This is the funnest thing I've done in a long time. I go over to the cashier and pay for our food. Once I'm done, I put the scooter back and retrieve my crutches. When I reach the parking lot, I know this is going to be a hard thing to do. Crutching while pushing a shopping cart isn't the easiest thing in the world.

"Excuse me?"

I turn around to see an attractive middle-aged woman a few feet away from me. Oh jeez, what does she want? I'm already struggling here so I don't do anyone any favors right now.

"Do you need some help?" she asks, walking over to me. 

I smile. "Oh, yes," I say, relieved. "Yes, I'd really appreciate it."

"My pleasure, darling," she says sweetly.

I crutch in front of her, guiding her to my little car. I open up my trunk and help her put the grocery bags in it. I get a good look at the woman. She seems very tired. I should know. She uses makeup to try and cover the purple bags under her eyes, but I can hear it in her voice. Something has happened to her to make her physically and mentally exhausted. 

When I look up, I see her head buried in her hands. I close the truck and look at her curiously. She looks like she's in need of some friendly help, like she gave me. And it looks like she needs it more than I do.

"My name is Adeline McKay," I greet, smiling. "It's nice to meet you. Thank you for the help. Are you okay, ma'am?"

She lifts her head. "Oh, yes," she dismisses unconvincingly. "I'm Anne Styles. It was no problem, Adeline."

"Wait. Styles?" I ask. She nods. I bite my lip. "Do you happen to have a son named Harry?"

She gasps, tears immediately filling her eyes. "I used to," she says sadly. "He suddenly passed away two years ago. Did you know my Harry?"

I shake my head. "No. But I know someone who used to be very good friends with him." She looks at me expectantly. "Did Harry ever mention a boy named Louis Tomlinson?"

"Yes," she gasps, bursting into tears. "Oh god, Harry never stopped talking about him. Louis was everything to Harry. It seemed that they were always together. And they always were. I saw it before anyone else did, really. My son was not the type to lie about his feelings. He couldn't lie if he tried. I saw right through him. He was truly, madly, deeply in love with Louis. He was when he died and I have a feeling he always will. How do you know Louis?"

"I'm his friend," I say softly. "He only mentioned Harry to me once. I saw how much it hurt him to talk about Harry. He describes them being the best of friends and that he regrets his death every single day. For the past two years, he's been so heartbroken about missing his wake and funeral and that he has no idea where he's buried."

"Yes, I can see where he would find trouble with that. I tried to contact Louis to invite him to the wake and funeral, but I could never find his contact information. I looked in Harry's old phone and through his bedroom and I found nothing. It was so odd. I could never find him. Harry's older sister, Gemma, and I decided to bury Harry in a very small and private cemetery. We only want the best for our little boy. So only the people who truly cared about him will be allowed to visit him."

"Do you mind if I get the address to it? Louis would really appreciate it. He's been so depressed over it for the past two years and I just want him to feel better about it and get some closure."