-15 years later-
—
Louis POV
:-:-:-:
"Up for school! Up for school! Get up, get up, get up," I shout treading through the hallways, "I wonder who's first today."
I stop in front of the three doors at the end of the hall and stand for a few moments, before jogging into the third with an excited yell, "Looks like it's you, trooper."
He groans, pulling the blanket tighter around him, "I was first yesterday!"
I ruffle his hair, "Get up. You have a minute."
When I walk into Angel's room, she's already up and tiredly moving around her room, gathering her outfit together. That's my girl.
But, then I see the indentions in her face again. Every time I see them, I know she stayed up reading her book all night and fell asleep with it on her face. Weekends were okay for that, school days were not. She catches me staring at her from the doorway.
"What, dad? I'm up."
"Where's your book?" I hold my hand out and she frowns, ready to turn into pleading mode.
"It wasn't my fault! I was right at the plot twist when it was time for bed! I couldn't just–"
"Book, Angel."
"Okay, okay I promise I won't stay up reading that late anymore—"
"I've heard it before. Give it to me or do I have to take your sketchbook as–"
"Fine, fine. Here!" She grumpily takes it from under her pillow and drops it into my open hand. "Don't remove the bookmark again! Last time, that was just cruel."
"We'll see," I place a kiss on her head and then back out of the room.
I sigh, mentally preparing for the argument to come. There was only one left. The difficult one.
My hand goes on the knob, ready to turn but— surprise, surprise it's locked.
I loudly knock three times, "Open your door right now." Unless someone was getting dressed or changing, we didn't have locked doors around this house. We were a family. No secrets. Except, with Brianna of course.
When she had a locked door, you knew she was hiding something. Probably texting that damn boy again.
She huffs, "I'm up! There's no reason to come in, dad."
"That's not what I said, now is it? I said now."
I hear her heavy stomping over to the door as she mutters a dramatic, "oh. My. God." She pulls the door open with a swing.
I rub my hands over my face. It was too early for this. "What were you doing?"
"What do you mean?" She tilts her head.
"Enough with the games, Brianna. What were you doing in there?"
"Nothing! I was brushing my—"
*ping*
Her sentence drops, cursing under her breath as I routinely hold my hand out.
"I love you Bri, why do you make it so difficult?" I sigh as she hands her phone over.
"I'm sure you do dad," she rolls her eyes to herself, "I'm going to get dressed now."
She closes the door, locking it again. This time, I allow it and begin my walk back down the stairs, taking deep breaths. Just wait until they're at school, Tomlinson.
