Midnight Memories

thirty // six

"Just like our eyes, our hearts have a way of adjusting to the dark." - Adam Stanley

Kissing Louis Tomlinson, well, it's everything that you would imagine it to be.

Kissing Louis is settling into clean sheets after taking a shower, the first bite of fresh out of the oven chocolate, the smell of rain on the pavement, and every other wondrous, magical little thing that you can ever imagine. But just like all good things, it eventually has to come to an end. 

By the time we picked ourselves up off the sand and meandered back to the apartment, I felt at peace for the first time in a while. Louis and I kissing both simultaneously meant everything and nothing at all. It didn't necessarily mean that things would change, but it gave me hope that it would. 

I undressed, putting back on my pajamas and changing the bandages on my "bullet wound", which was now nothing but a small abrasion. Niall was still snoring away in my bed, completely passed out. I got in next to him, settling into the soft floral sheets, exhaustion hitting me out of nowhere. It wasn't long before I was fast asleep, just as the sun was beginning to rise.

What seemed like just minutes later, I was woken up by Niall's arm hitting me in the face. "Niall!" I exclaimed. "Do you mind?"

"Sorry Stel!" He looked surprised. "I forgot you were here. It's been a while since i've had anyone else in bed with me."

"It's fine." I yawned, rubbing my eyes. "What time is it?"

Niall grabbed his Rolex from my night table, peering down at it. "Um, it's just about ten." 

"Do you think that the others are awake?" I plopped back down on my pillow, yawning.

"I'm not sure." Niall shrugged sleepily. "Does it really matter? We haven't had any alone time in weeks." 

"We haven't." I said guiltily. "It's been too crazy." 

"Tell me about it." He shook his head. "I can't wait for this to just all be over."

"Me too." I sighed. "Hey, what do you say we get dressed and go get some breakfast at the Biltmore?" 

"All the way in Coral Gables?" Niall looked surprised. "You're not afraid that anyone will see us?" 

"I'm tired of being afraid." I shook my head. "I just want to do something normal. Something familiar." 

"Then i'll wear Ralph Lauren and you wear Lilly, and the two of us will go have a fabulous brunch at the Biltmore." He gave me a small smile, pushing himself out of bed. 

I got up and followed him, heading to my closet while he went to the bathroom. Per instruction, I put on a light pink seersucker Lilly Pulitzer dress and a white cardigan with some Tory Burch sandals, quickly brushing my hair and pinning the front back with a clip. I went to Tori's bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face, debating whether or not to wear make up before settling on some mascara and blush.

"You ready Stel?" Niall knocked before peeking in, dressed in a light blue button down that perfectly matched his eyes.

"As i'll ever be." I sighed. "This feels weird." 

"What?" He looked confused. "You and I going to get breakfast?"

"No." I shook my head. "I feel like I should be more nervous about this. Going out in public. I mean, Derrick and his men could be anywhere."

"We cant live our lives worrying about them. Living our lives afraid of dying isn't living at all. We're all given a certain amount of time, we have to make the most of it." Niall reached out a hand for me to take.