Running Away (a Louis Tomlinson fanfic)

Chapter 21

Louis's Point Of View:

"Good morning, babe."  I said in my usual cheerful tone as Alice got in the car.

"Morning."  She replied.  I couldn't help but notice she wasn't being herself.  She didn't kiss me when she got in the car, she didn't even look at me.  She didn't reach for my hand, or tell me about her night.  She just closed the door and rested her head against the window.

"Something wrong?"  I asked.  I was pretty sure she wasn't mad at me, but last night she was acting weird.  She didn't text me back at all and she didn't tell me why she didn't come over like she said she would.

"Nope."  Was all she said as she continued to stare out the window.

"Are you sure?  You're acting kind of-"

"I said nothing's wrong."  She said, quietly.  I knew Alice too well.  Something was really wrong.  Whatever it was she was so upset by it that I knew it would take more than asking for her to tell me.  That's just how Alice was.  She wouldn't tell anyone what was really going on in her head, even if they begged her to.  There was nothing I could do about it right now, so I took her hand and decided to stay quiet for the rest of the car ride.

We walked into school, like every morning, but this morning wasn't the same.  I put my arm around Alice, but she just stared forward and didn't say a word.  I squeezed her shoulders tight and hoped that eventually she would tell me what was bothering her.  

I tried to get through the school day, but I couldn't stop worrying about Alice.  She was practically silent every time I saw her all morning and as I watched her walk into the cafeteria I could tell her mood hadn't changed.  She just walked in with her head down and sat down next to me without saying a word to anyone.  Her face was lacking it's usual bright, beautiful smile.  That smile that could make anyone's day better.  When people looked at Alice when she was happy they couldn't help but smile too.  I had seen it happen.  But today it was gone, and everyone knew it.  I didn't know how to do it, but I had to get her through the rest of the day.

Alice's Point of View:

I walked over to Louis's car and got in.  I was trying to act normal, but I knew he realized something was wrong.  I just could't do it anymore.  I couldn't keep acting happy all the time.  It was exhausting.

"Are you gonna tell me what's wrong, babe?"  He asked as he pulled out of his parking spot.  I know he was trying to help.  God I wanted him to help, but I didn't even know what was wrong.  Was this about the phone call I got the other night, or was it something bigger?  Would talking to Louis help me figure it out, or would it make it worse?  I had been trying so hard to let Louis in, but it was getting harder and harder as I've had to tell him more and more.  "Well?"  He asked again, acknowledging the fact that I completely ignored his question.

"I don't know."  I said quietly.  How could I put all this on him?  He didn't need to hear about all the shit going through my head and I didn't want to force him to listen.

"How many times do I have to tell you…you can tell me anything."  He said in a kind and concerned voice, almost like I was hurting him by not confiding in him.

"It's not that simple, Lou."  I practically whispered.  It wasn't.  How could I simply tell him what was wrong when there was so much?

"Then explain it to me."  He said in that sweet yet desperate voice.  The one that he used when he told me he liked me.  The one that made me weak.

"There's just so much…" I sighed.  

"I'm listening."  He said and he pulled to the side of the road and put the car in park.  For the first time all day I turned and looked Louis in the eye.  He nodded and raised his eyebrows, letting me know that I could continue.  Letting me know he wanted me to continue.  "I can't keep acting like everything I've been through didn't happen."  I finally said.  "That's what I've been doing.  I've been pushing it to the back of my mind, but that isn't working anymore.  All these memories…I can't ignore them anymore."  I said and I looked down at my hands.  I felt tears forming in my eyes as pictures from my past flashed through my head.