Extricate // l.s

6

A/N- I imagined a song for this chapter. I was listening to it while writing this.

Give me love by Ed Sheeran.

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Taken.

He had a girlfriend. He was straight. I should have known. I was so fucking stupid for driving all this way for a boy that didn't even matter. He didn't.

Did he?

As I hurried back to my hotel, tears threatening to fall from my eyes, I promised myself I would never be this stupid again. It was a pretty idiotic promise but hey, I was an emotional wreck and I wasn't thinking straight.

Well, I was gay so of course I wasn't thinking straight.

Not the point.

When I was finally locked in the comfort of my own room, I finally allowed myself to let it go. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks and I just wished I could find happiness for once. I buried my face into the plush white pillow, tears staining the fabric, and I let out a scream. That didn't help enough. I needed alcohol.

The thing was, I barely knew this boy, but I was still crying over him. I couldn't seem to control my emotions. I felt this strange connection to him and I had no idea why. Maybe I should see a therapist. Maybe I was going crazy.

Before I could dive any deeper into my thoughts, I left the hotel to find a bar. Any bar would do, really. I settled for one that was sitting on a street corner, bright neon lights catching my attention and drawing me in. Slim Jim's. It wasn't the biggest pub I had ever gone to but if it had a good drink, I was set.

I sat myself at one of the leather bar stools and rested my elbows on the countertop in front of me. The lighting was dim and cigarette smoke lingered around the whole area, making me wince. I hated smoke.

"Want a drink, kid? Or are you just going to sit here and daydream?" The bartender asked when he finally approached me.

"Do you have any vodka?" I asked, keeping my head down and my voice low.

"I got you, bro." He replied, smirking a bit before walking away from me to craft my drink.

When I downed my first drink, I immediately felt better. Loose. I needed more. I needed my blood to be drowning in alcohol. So, I ordered another, asking it to be a tad stronger this time. Was I stupid? Yes, but when did I ever claim to be smart?

Four drinks in, I began to sway. I had to grip onto the countertop to keep myself upright. The bartender told me that I had had enough drinks for tonight but I still continued to beg for another. I needed to forget about him. Forget.

I didn't look when I heard the bells by the door chime, signaling another alcoholic customer. I wasn't an alcoholic. I only drank on occasions.

"Louis?"

I knew who that voice belonged to. Even shit-faced drunk, I knew.

I flinched when I felt a hand on my back, steadying me. Did I almost fall again? I had no idea.

"Louis, we should go." Harry said to me, his hand still lingering.

I swiveled around in the chair to face him, causing his hand to fall back to his side. "Why would I want to go anywhere with you? You have a girlfriend."

He ran a hand down his face and gave me a pained look. "She's not my girlfriend, Louis. It's hard to explain."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "I have time."

Harry looked around the small but crowded bar and then turned back to me. "Not here. Come with me." He held out his hand for me to take.

I considered my options. It was either stay here and try to find my way back to my hotel but end up getting kidnapped or go with Harry which isn't quite kidnapping but hey.

So, I took his hand.

-

When I found Louis inside of that old, musty bar, my stomach dropped. I didn't think seeing me with Kendall would affect him that much, but it turns out it did and I felt absolutely terrible. This was Jeff's fault. If he had just accepted me in the first place, none of this would have happened and Louis and I would still be friends.

When Louis looked around and finally put his small hand in mine, a sense of warmth spread through me. I loved it.

"Let's get out of here." I told him softly before dragging us both out of that American style bar. Where would we go? I had an idea.

"Where are we going?" Louis asked, his arm snaking around my waist to keep himself steady.

I scratched the back of my neck, second guessing my original plan. "Um..." He was seriously drunk and he wouldn't remember any of this conversation in the morning. Was it worth it? "Maybe I should just take you home. We can talk tomorrow. You need to rest."

He didn't reply for a minute so I looked over to find his eyes drooping shut. I was definitely going to take him home.

"Where are you staying?" I asked him gently, my hand on his lower back to keep him steady.

He hummed and started walking, taking the lead. He led us to his hotel and we went inside, ignoring the looks from the girl at the front desk and rode the elevator up to his room. He took out his key and gave it to me to swipe. I opened up the door and helped him into the room, still not letting go after we were inside.

"Bed." Louis muttered so quietly I could barely hear it.

I scratched the back of neck. "I should get going now." I said but then I saw him struggling with his clothes.

"Help..." He cried out helplessly, struggling with his shirt.

I smiled softly before walking over to where he stood. I took the soft fabric in my hands and slowly lifted up before tugging it off of him, making sure I wasn't hurting him. He was absolutely beautiful. I wanted to kiss him from his collarbones all the way to his bellybutton, but I didn't. He fumbled with the button of his jeans before finally undoing it and attempted to push them down. He ended up just falling onto the bed with them halfway down to his knees. I smiled at how cute he was. I finished taking them off until he was just in his boxers and I helped him under the covers, bringing the blankets up to his neck.

I grabbed his room key and went downstairs to the lobby to buy some aspirin and a water. By the time I got back to the room, he was already fast asleep, slow, even breaths escaping his lips. I set the items on his bedside table and turned the lamp off. I leaned down to press my lips against his forehead before leaving the sleeping boy.

My sleeping beauty.

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