I Promise // l.p.

Chapter 16

"Do you think I stressed Liam out by telling him?" I flop down on Louis' hotel bed.

He shakes his head, "Modest has just been running him around more than usual this past week."

Liam has definitely been running around. The only times I've seen him this week is when I wake up and before I go to sleep. And if I'm lucky, I see him for lunch. That's why I've been hanging with Louis lately.

"So this kid, Riley, is from grade school?" Louis tries to understand.

"Can you believe that? He and his friend were Liam's bullies for awhile, and kind of became mine too. In a way.." I don't tell him about how Riley really harassed me. You know.. the weird way.

"That's sketchy. You don't see this guy for three years, and all of a sudden he just so happens to be in the same town as you?"

"Yeah." I can't help but think back to my dream where Riley said he was stalking me. But that wasn't real, he didn't actually say that.

"What do they have Liam doing anyways?" I change the topic. Talking about Riley makes me uneasy.

"Different things," Louis looks away, "probably promoting some new product."

"Wouldn't all of you be doing that?" Why just Liam?

"The mind of management can be corrupted." Louis jokes. "I can get the other boys and we could play a match of football?"

"Football? Do I look like a girl who'd play football?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Do I look like a guy who'd play football?" Louis mimics.

"Yes, you do actually."

"I know, be jealous. Now let's go."

Louis gets Niall, Zayn and Harry and we all meet out at a small field next to the hotel.

"I don't know how to play, Lou." I tell him while Niall bounces the ball on his knees.

"You can be on a team with Harry. He knows a lot, but absolutely sucks and I bet you do too. There's no way I'll be on the loosing team."

"What about Zayn?" I motion towards him.

"You need him more than we do." Louis jokes.

"Hey, I said I don't know how to play. That doesn't mean I can't."

"Whatever you say," he rolls his eyes and turns around, "Alright boys! It's Niall and I against the rest of you."

I hear a few groans and 'that's not fair' but they eventually get over it and we start playing.

I'm not that bad at this, but I'm not good either. I score a couple goals, but most of the time I keep tripping over the ball.

It's so hot out here and we've been at this for a while. When we take a break for water, Louis takes his shirt off. I don't realize I'm doing it, but I can't help but stare.

"Can't get enough, can you Katie?" Louis laughs.

I roll my eyes, "You wish."

The boys go back to the field but I turn to get one last drink. I freeze and drop my water bottle to the ground. I swear I can see Riley in the distance with a knife in his hand.

Once I blink, he's gone.

I feel a hand on my shoulder and I jump.

"Are you coming?" Harry asks. I nod and follow him back to the field.

We start playing again and Louis gets the ball. I decide to go after him and try to take the it, but he's too quick for me. I get ahead of him and end up tripping the both of us. I fall to the ground and Louis lands on top of me.

"Sorry." Louis' face turns red, just inches from mine. He doesn't move, he just looks at me.

"Now who can't get enough?" I smile and shove him off of me. I can hear Niall cracking up as we both stand. Louis kicks the ball at Niall's head, but he dodges it.

"Now someone has to go get that!" Niall whines.

"I got it." I roll my eyes and chase after the ball. I go to where it stopped but someone already beat me to it. "You're everywhere aren't you?"

"No, we're just staying at this hotel." Luke laughs and hands me the ball.

"Don't you live here?"

"Yeah, but we're closer to the stage this way." He explains.

"You sing?"

"A little. We entertain mostly." He nods.

"Luke, stop flirting! Lets go!" One of his friends call after him.

"Do you have time for a break?" I hold the football up.

Luke nods and gets his friends to play.

---

Just as I score another goal, I spot Liam on the sideline and run off the field. "Hey, stranger."

"Looks like you've become quite the athlete."

"Well, I have had a lot of free time lately." I look down.

"I know, and I'm sorry." He grabs my hand, "There's just been some tension between management and I lately."

Tension? Why?

Instead of asking, I keep my mouth shut and just nod.

"Who are they?" He notices the 5 extra boys.

"Just some friends."

"Oh. Anyways, can I make it up to you?" He gets back on track.

"How?" I smile.

"There's a mall not too far down the road, want to go tomorrow?" Liam offers.

"Sure, but I don't really need anything new." I shrug. I don't want him spending his money on me.

"I saw this batman t-shirt, and it would look so badass on you."

"Is that right?" I giggle.

Liam smiles and nods.

"Then it's a date."

------

"I guess this is pretty badass." I laugh.

"Told you." Liam smiles.

"Thank you." I lean up to kiss him, but he dodges it and hugs me instead.

He's been pulling stunts like this all afternoon. He won't hold my hand, he doesn't walk close to me, and he's constantly looking around us.

"Did I do something?" I finally speak up.

"What?"

"It feels like I'm not even on a date with you." I mumble.

"I think I've come down with something, and I don't want to give it to you. That's all."

"Okay.." I'm not convinced.

"Do you want to get some food?" Liam changes the subject.

"Sure." I guess I'm kind of hungry.

We walk into the food court and he leads me over to a table.

"I'll go get us some food, yeah?"

I nod and he walks away. I mess around with my phone for a while and then decide to text Louis.

K: Liam's acting weird.

L: Weird how?

K: I don't know... Has he said anything about management to you at all?

L: No. Why?

K: Ok. Just forget I asked.

I send and lock my phone. I look around and Liam's still not back. What's taking him so long? I glance over to the restaurant he went to and see a crowd of paparazzi surrounding the place. I instantly rush over to him.

Ugh, sorry for the short chapter. I just needed to move the story along since something big is going to happen in the next chapter c:

Special thank to CaitStyles94 for helping me with this chapter ❤