Picture Boy (Larry Stylinson AU)

Prologue

Does it ever drive you crazy,
Just how fast the night changes

Louis
My Mother drove me to the train station that morning with the windows down. It was twenty five degrees in Doncaster that day, one of the hottest days the city had seen in over two years. The sky was a dreamy, crystal blue, not a cloud could be seen in the endless azure sky.
I was wearing my favourite maroon t-shirt, my grey hoodie overtop with the sleeves rolled up to my elbows because of the heat. My suitcase rested in the trunk of the car, clothes among many other things I would need for the next few weeks, having to do until my family could pack up and send the rest of my belongings in the mail, because I obviously could not take an entire bedrooms worth of possessions with me onto a train.
My heart was nearly jumping out of my chest with nerves, never had I lived on my own, let alone in an entirely different city to my entire family. I was moving to London. Why exactly? I couldn't answer that question. Perhaps it was the sense of freedom that came with living on your own, or maybe it was something to do with being independent, my Mother had said something about "learning responsibility" being part of growing up. Either way, today was the day I was taking this huge step forwards, moving out into the world, completely alone.
The thought made me want to cower back into my seat and refuse to leave, but my rationality took place over that nearly overwhelming desire, and forced me to keep sat up straight in my seat, my ticket held in my sweaty hand, (wether my hand was sweaty because of the nerves or the heat was completely unknown to me).

I could sense the nervousness in my Mother too. Her hands gripped onto the steering wheel a little too tightly, her feet pressing down on the peddles of the car a little too harshly, her eyes darting around the road in front of us a little too quickly. She was nervous. Nervous for what was to happen to me once I was in London, once I was just over one hundred and seventy miles (three hours) away from her. She knew once I got on that train she couldn't protect me from the big, bad world anymore, she knew once I got on that train she wouldn't have a say in my life decisions anymore (which, if I'm telling the truth, is one of the reasons I'm moving one hundred and seventy miles away from her). She was always so controlling, so overbearing all of the time; for once in my life I wanted to make some decisions that would not be judged or disagreed with. I knew she meant well, she was always trying to do best by her children; but I just needed some control over my own life.

When the car pulled up outside of the station, my heart sank slightly, knowing the time to say goodbye to my mother had come. I had said goodbye to my siblings and father this morning before we had left, after I had dumped my suitcase into the trunk.
She switched the ignition off, and my heart sank further, just as she turned in her seat, her hands falling from the wheel.
"So..." She sighed, looking at the door to the train station where crowds of people flooded through the entrance.
"So." I smiled weakly, and she returned her gaze to me, our eyes locking as a sad smile graced her chapped lips, her slightly wrinkled hand coming up to stroke my cheek lightly, and I leant into the delicate, comforting, familiar touch.
"Are you sure you've got everything you need until we can send the rest? Clothes, money, toothbrush, underwear-" I cut her off with a giggle, my hand coming up to hold hers, moving it away from my cheek.
"Yes Mom, I have everything I need." I giggled softly, and she smiled again, running a hand through my hair gently as her eyes ghosted over my face.
"Where did my baby go?" She chuckled softly, and a soft giggle left my lips. "Last I remember you were just learning to walk, now you're moving to London." She shook her head disbelievingly, "It's not right I tell you." She chuckled again, making me giggle more as I shook my head at her silliness.
"Eleven am train to London departing in 10 minutes." A voice came over the intercom inside of the building, repeating and echoing off of the walls, sounding loud enough for us to hear it clearly from the car.
"Text me as soon as you get to the apartment." She whispered once she had me in her arms, holding me to her chest as I wrapped my arms around her, returning the hug just as tightly.
I nodded, "I will Mom." I gave her one last squeeze before reluctantly pulling away, opening the car door, "I love you Mom." I said, my eyes welling with tears, as did hers.
"I love you my Louis." Her voice broke, and I quickly got out of the car before I completely broke down into tears and refused to get out of the car. Closing the door behind me, I walked around the car, retrieving my suitcase from the trunk, slamming it shut before I began to make my way to the entrance, my ticket still held in my hand as the suitcase wheeled behind me as I walked, on my way to the rest of my life.