Extricate // l.s

5

I was really going to do it. In three hours, I would be in London, trying to find a ridiculously famous rockstar that I had the pleasure of spending a whole day with. My life was becoming a movie. Or a book. What could happen?

"Be careful, baby. Call me as soon as you get settled." Mum said, kissing my cheek as I prepared to leave.

I bobbed my head with a smile. "I will, promise. I should get going."

As I grabbed my bags and was about to head out the door, Lottie ran to me and gripped my shoulder.

"Are you sure I can't come with? I won't get in the way, I swear it. Please, Louis-"

"Lottie, I want to take this trip alone. I know you want to be with your big brother, but not this time. I'm sorry." I told her sincerely, looking into her eyes the whole time.

She pushed me away weakly and scoffed. "Please. I just wanted to see my idol in person again. I love him so much, I would do literally anything to see him in the flesh again."

I rolled my eyes and opened the door. "See you guys in two weeks. I already told my professors and they gave me the work already. Love you." I hugged each of them tightly and finally made my way out to my car. My stomach still didn't feel right.

I pushed the feeling aside and started up my car. It was now or never.

...

London was larger than I had imagined.

Yes, I knew that it was sad that I had never been to London in my nineteen years of life. To tell the truth, I had never had any reason to go. Until now.

I found my hotel within twenty minutes and went to check in after finding parking spot. The woman at the front desk gave me a flirtatious look and pretended to look interested in her job for a moment.

"I have a reservation for Tomlinson." I told her flatly.

Her mood seemed to dim down at my tone but she immediately perked up and gave me a bright smile. "Phone number?"

"Excuse me?"

Her cheeks flushed and she looked down in embarrassment. "It's policy, sir. We need that information in case anything happens to your room or vice versa."

I nodded, a bit embarrassed myself. "Oh, right. Sorry."

I gave her my cell phone number and any other information that was required until she finally handed me my room key with a polite smile. Too bad I was gay.

I rode the elevator to the sixth floor and found my room quickly. I swiped my key and opened up the door before stepping into the large room. There was a large king sized bed, a large bathroom with a huge tub, and a view I would kill for back home. Not literally.

I called my mum and let her know I was all checked and settled after unpacking my suitcases. I could hear Lottie in the background complaining and I laughed at that. We chatted for a bit before bidding our goodbyes. I tugged on my jacket and was set to head out.

Now the fun could begin.

-

"Harold!"

I groaned at the sound of her high-pitched voice. It was annoying and I thought I would never have to hear it again. I thought my little conversation with Jeff would clear everything up but apparently it didn't.

I stiffened up when she wrapped her thin arms around me from behind. I took her arms in my hands and unwrapped them, putting them to the side. "Hey, Kendall. You know, I'm just not feeling well today. I don't think it's a good idea for us to go out tonight." I faked a cough.

She huffed in annoyance. "Look, this is my job and I get paid for this. Don't be a dick and ruin this for me. It's not like I want to be seen with you anyway. You're not my type and your hair is too greasy."

Wow. That kind of hurt.

I sighed and ran my hand through my 'greasy' hair. "Let's just get this over with. It's already five."

...

When I took Kendall on 'dates', she ordered the most expensive thing on the menu every time. She only did this for the money and the publicity, even though she hasn't had a modeling gig in months. Ever since she did some commercial, the media has been blowing up about her and agencies just won't sign her anymore. Odd.

Tonight, it was Jeff's turn to choose the restaurant we went to. He made reservations for us at The Ledbury, of course. One of the most expensive dining places in London right on Notting Hill. Typical.

"Could I order the Cornish cod with a glass of white wine, please?" Kendall told the waiter, twirling her hair with her finger in an attempt to be flirty.

He wrote this down and turned to me. "For you, sir?"

"Oh, just some red wine would be great." I waved him off.

He nodded his head once and moved swiftly back to the kitchen. Kendall looked at me with widened eyes from across the table. I shrugged my shoulders and told her I wasn't hungry. No big deal. She was such a drama queen. A Kardashian.

"So, Harry. I was thinking I could star in your next music video. It would give me great publicity as your girlfri-"

"You're not my girlfriend." I interrupted.

She blinked. "Oh, yeah, forgot. Well, it would still help me get some gigs for modeling and stuff. It could help me out. Could you do that?"

I sipped my wine, looking around the restaurant at all of the real couple here on real dates. That would be nice.

"I'll think about it." No, I wouldn't.

"Thanks, Harold."

"Don't call me that. That's not my name." I muttered.

She cocked a brow at me. "Whatever you say, Harold. You know, you really need to lighten up. Just because you're gay, it doesn't give you an excuse to be cold to me. You're mother should've raised you better, I swear."

I growled and pushed my chair back roughly, causing a lot of people to look over. I stood up abruptly and made my way to the restrooms, shoving the door open and going into an open stall. How did my life get so fucked up? Being a rockstar was supposed to be everyone's dream. It probably was. It was just a pain in the ass being a closeted one.

So, I sat on the toilet and I sobbed. I sobbed for my mother, who deserved to live so much longer but was taken from us too soon. I sobbed for father, who told me to follow my heart when I was a kid and be whoever I wanted to be. I sobbed for Louis, the boy who I barely knew but somehow felt like I had known for a lifetime.

I sat in that stall for nearly twenty minutes until I finally wiped my eyes and walked back out to the table. Everything  was all a lie. As soon as I sat down, I had prepared myself for Kendall to attack me with questions but what I got was sympathy, which was rare coming from her. She rested her hand on mine, which was a bold move, and she looked into my eyes.

That was terrible timing because right at that moment, I spotted a face I thought I would never see again right past Kendall's head. He was looking straight in through the windows and right at Kendall and I.

Louis.

-