Orphan

Chapter 7

I followed her walking slowly behind her as she cut apart a dead tree which was positioned in some clearing. “Why do you do this?” I questioned tracing my fingers lightly on the crooked branches. “Because we need firewood and quite frankly I don’t feel like being in that cottage right now.” She answered slashing her blade through the wood. “No…I mean why do you do this…being here with them and putting up with it?” I asked calmly as she turned around quietly, staring at me for a second before shaking her head. “I love him, even though he’s been in this gang and done stupid shit. I have been and always will be here.”

“Do you support him?”

“No, I’d never support this. I hate that he’s doing this.”

“Did he kill anyone?” I mumbled with slight curiosity and hesitation as she frowned, “He’s done things, we’ve all done things in our lives we’re not proud of. I understand why he does this, but I don’t agree with it. There’s always another way.” She answered, with a frown gathering the dry wood in her bag and I picked up some walking back with her. She threw down some of the wood on a pile and I did the same. Taking a match, she lit the fireplace and soon everyone had made their way outside.

I sighed as Harry came out and everyone took a seat, “I’m going to go inside.” I mumbled to Abby as she nodded walking over to Niall. “Where are you going?” Harry asked making his way towards me as I tried to walk past him, but he blocked my way. “Excuse me please.” I spoke quietly as he raised an eyebrow at me and took hold of my wrist. “What’s the problem now?”

“I want to go wash my hands. Excuse me.” I frowned moving past him, trying my best to just walk away without any conflict. I walked inside, looking around for a bathroom; to my luck there was none that I could find. “It’s down the hall to your left, just keep walking.” His voice piped up again and I sighed following his directions. I found the bathroom, walking in slowly washing my hands from the dirt and pieces of dead wood that made itself stick to my skin like glue. Must be all the sap or something. “Would you like to eat?” Harry asked leaning against the door frame as I spun around, “Can’t you please just leave me alone? Seriously I am trying to be nice and I want you to respect that. That’s all.” I pleaded as he sighed walking closer to me. “What is your problem? Why are you suddenly so depressed? Don’t tell me this is still about earlier back in the room.” He rolled his eyes with a sigh, I furrowed my eyebrows with a groan. “No Harry, No it’s not. I’m over it, I need to go home. My parents are probably looking for me already.”

“Stop it. Your parents let you stay over at Hunter’s?” he questioned as I contemplated whether or not to be honest about it. “I’m asking you a question. Do. They.” He asked sternly, thickening his voice even more as a tactic of intimidation. “Yes. Yes they do.”
“Then tell them you’re at Hunter’s. You’re staying here tonight.” He stated plainly walking back inside. This was just getting ridiculous, what can I even do I don’t know how to get home from here and it’s already getting dark out. “I don’t want to fucking stay here!” I yelled angrily hitting the mirror as I slammed the door shut. “Too bad!” Louis chuckled walking past the bathroom door as I rolled my eyes walking out, going downstairs. I sighed walking to a chair outside on the porch, watching Abby and Niall on the bench, holding each other and kissing here and there while the rest made jokes and had fun. Was whatever I was forced into with Harry going to end up like that? Or was it going to end up with me having more than just my heart broken.

I didn’t even ask her how she had met Niall…Maybe she was forced into this too. Maybe she found a way to deal with all of this and still keep him in check. “Hey, what’s a pretty young thing like you doing sitting all alone here?” Louis asked sitting down on the seat next to me. “Louis, please just leave me. I don’t have time for any of your bullshit right now.” I frowned hugging my arms, “What’s the problem? You really don’t want to be here?” He asked with a hint of concern in his voice. “No.” I replied with a sigh laying back onto the seat.
“Why not?”
“Are you seriously asking me that question? Have you seen these people, have you met them? I don’t want to be here.” I mumbled with a groan as he nodded slowly. “Listen, I know it’s weird and awkward being here, but it’s really not as bad as it seems.”

“You don’t understand…” I frowned rolling my eyes as he awkwardly tried placing an arm around my shoulder, “Louis.” I muttered clearing my throat slightly as he pulled his arm away looking at the ground nodding, “Yeah, I know…didn’t work.”

“No, not at all.” I chuckled slightly shaking my head as he laughed quietly to himself. “Well, how about a drink. I’m guessing we don’t want to go sit over there with the losers huh? This is for cool people only.” He grinned as I shook my head with a small smile, why was he suddenly being so nice to me. It was just so… well different. “Are you sure? You can go if you want. I’m fine alone here.” I sighed as he shrugged. “I’m not up for a crowd vibe right now…” he mumbled getting up and getting two glasses. “You drink?”

“Anything you got. Surprise me.” I muttered staring up at the stars as the skies darkened even more. I heard the sounds of different bottles opening and liquids being poured into the glass. “What’s this…concoction?” I asked furrowing my eyebrows, eyeing the multi-coloured liquid. “Just try it.” He smiled and I thought and contemplated it for a bit. What have I got to lose I’m already here. I took a sip of the cocktail and it was surprisingly nice.

Considering it might have been poison. I held onto the glass as Harry and Liam made their way to the kitchen. I’m guessing they were going to prepare something for the fire. “Why do you guys never speak about anything other than all this… y’know gang shit?” I asked out of the blue as Louis stared at me quietly. II didn’t know whether I was being out of line or not but I guess he was the only one I could speak to at the moment. “We do… Just not right now.”