Running Away (a Louis Tomlinson fanfic)

Chapter 4

Chapter Four:

(Alice's point of view)

After gym, according to the boys, we were going to have lunch.  They led me to a picnic table in the middle of a courtyard where, apparently, everyone eats and hangs out until it gets too cold.  It was just me and the boys at our table and I started to look around at some of the others.  A lot of people were looking right back at me.  There was girls whispering, but then smiling like they wanted me to be there friend, there was guys cocking their heads at me, or winking, or raising their eyebrows, but I was used to stuff like that.  The thing that really got to me was one group of girls at a table right near us.  They just stared at me and gave me dirty looks through their clumped up mascara and excessive self tanner.  I had no idea what I had done to them, but I wasn't worried about it right now.  I was more focused on making sure these five boys stayed my friends so that I wouldn't have to start over and make new ones tomorrow.

I looked back over at the boys who were laughing at something I must have missed.  Niall through his head back and let out the most adorable and contagious laugh.  He had so much food in his mouth that it almost caused everyone else to stop laughing.

"Niall, that is disgusting." Liam scolded him.

"Seriously dude there's a lady present." Harry said gesturing at me.

"Where?" I joked looking around causing everyone to laugh again, including Niall.

"Swallow it!"  Zayn shouted forcing Niall's mouth closed with his hand.

"That's what he said." I mumbled under my breath.  Everyone stopped laughing and just looked at me as their jaws dropped. Shit. They had been making dirty jokes all day so it felt natural for me to do it.  I didn't think anyone would even hear it.  My thoughts were interrupted by an outburst of laughter so loud it made me jump.  Everyone at the table was clutching their stomachs in fits of laughter.  Relief washed over me as I realized they were just shocked by my statement.

"Where did that even come from?" Zayn asked trying to catch his breath.

"And here I was calling you a lady." Harry joked.

"Seriously though, that was hilarious." Louis said, patting my back, "Who knew you had it in you?"

"I guess there's a lot you don't know about me." After I said this I realized how true it really was.  For once in my life these people knew nothing about me.  All I could do was hope they would never ask about my past, but I knew if we stayed friends it would happen eventually.

As we got up to leave lunch I went to follow Harry and Louis to English, but something in the corner of the courtyard caught my eye.  It was Lily's red hair.  She was sitting at a picnic table in the corner, alone.  I could tell she hadn't chosen to sit by herself and I felt guilty for not seeing her sooner.  Thankfully she was in my English class and now I would definitely save her a seat.

When I walked into English I saw Harry and Louis sitting near each other with one seat in between them.  They motioned for me to sit down, but that wouldn't work because I needed to talk to Lily.  

"Sorry guys," I said walking towards them.  "I told a friend I'd save her a seat, so I'll sit in the back."

"Little miss popular, already making her own friends," Harry said winking at me.

"Well I"m not completely socially disabled.  I know how to make friends." I joked with him and then went towards the two empty seats in the row behind them.  Just as I was sitting down I saw Lily walk in and she came and sat with me.

"I saw you at lunch today, well everyone saw you.  Do you realize that by sitting at that table you're basically a celebrity around here?" She rambled but I kind of missed the second half of her rant.