Midnight Memories

t w e n t y // t w o

"I was born bad, but then I met you." - Lana Del Rey

I wanted to walk Louis all the way up to his apartment, but there was a swarm of paparazzi by the front entrance. I couldn't risk them photographing us together and Derrick seeing, so I decided to say goodbye then and there.

"So." I looked down at my Frye motorcycle boots. "I guess i'll see you soon?"

"Come with me to the Hamptons tomorrow." He said, hooking his index finger with mine. We were barely touching, but I still began to feel all tingly inside.

I sighed. "I can't. I have class all day."

"So skip it." He insisted. "Please Stel, I don't want to have to go face Avery on my own.

My heart hurt for him, but I just ippcouldn't. I had been neglecting school lately, and I had to go to class tomorrow and play catch up.

"Stella... you don't understand. Every night, when I close my eyes, I see it. The gun, Avery, Ryder. It's like i'm getting shot all over again. Seeing Avery, after all this time? I'm not sure I can do it without you there."

Godammit, why did he always do this to me? Louis always knew how to hit me right in the feels. But if he was going to holdfast on not saying "I love you" out loud, I wasn't going to skip class to go to the Hamptons.

"Ask Jet to go with you. I'm sure he'd be more than happy too." I told him.

"You're not going to budge on this, are you?" He asked, exasperated.

I shook my head. "Jet will take good care of you. I know I just met him, but if I trust him to take care of you, that's a pretty good sign.

"Alright." Louis nodded. "So i'll see you soon then?"

"Of course." I dropped his hand from mine. "Stay in touch tomorrow, alright?"

He nodded again. "Bye Stel."

"Bye." I waved as he walked away, still feeling slightly heartbroken.

I turned on the heel of my boot and began to walk back in the direction of my own apartment. Today had been, well, confusing to say the least. So much had happened, it was hard to process.

In my pocket, I felt my phone vibrating, distracting me from my thoughts. I checked the caller ID, wondering who it could be. Niall, Perrie maybe. Deep down, I was dying to hear from them.

My heart dropped when I saw it was only Ryder. "Hey." I said, nonchalantly.

"Hi angel. I just thought i'd check in on you and make sure you got home alright."

"How did you know I was away?" I asked.

"Derrick mentioned it. He didn't know where you were going though."

"So how did you know that i'm back?" I was getting paranoid.

"I'm standing right across the street from you."

I looked up, staring across the busy intersection. Sure enough, Ryder was on the adjacent sidewalk, waving to catch my attention. I waved back, beckoning for him to come over.

I saw him hang up his phone and quickly jay walk across the street, almost getting hit by a taxi. He smiled when he saw me. Not smirked, but smiled. It was the first time I had ever seen him do that.

"What, are you following me now?" I asked, somewhat jokingly.

"Don't flatter yourself." The smirk was back. Ryder looked absolutely exhausted. He had tried to put himself together, wearing jeans, a sweater, and a nice leather jacket, but he had massive circles under his eyes. "I was in the neighborhood, taking care of some business."