Count the stars - 1D HS LT

made in the AM

The party ended in the early hours. After sitting by myself for a while Louis came back to me as he refused to let me sit there and wallow in my self pity.
"You luv to dance Paige. I know ya" he smiled at me and dragged me into the space where our leather sofas used to be - now pushed right up against the walls to create a perfect dance floor.
Louis soon got me back into my natural rhythm and before long my mood had lifted.

Just before 2.30am when there were just a few stragglers left Niall and the girl he had been chatting to went to bed. Louis and I were laid on the sofa, my feet draped over his legs and we watched them make their way to Niall's bedroom. Niall gave us a wide smile and a thumbs up as he walked past. Louis and I caught each others eyes and burst into laughter. After many, many vodkas everything seemed hilarious. Then out of nowhere the ball in my stomach returned. I jumped up from my relaxed position instead pulling my knees up to my chin and wrapped my arms around them. Louis side eyed me. He moved slightly while doing this as the beer and vodka that are now mixed in his stomach had taken their effect.
"What am I doing Lou? A year ago I had a whole different life. I'm drunk and hanging with you on my thirtieth birthday." I looked at him.
"I don't see how any of that is a bad thing to be honest with you Paige." He half smiled.
"I don't mean you." I lean over and pat his knee. Half missing the spot I was actually trying to get. "I had everything. A great house. A great career. A greatttt boyfriend. I had you guys - You, Niall, Liam and..." I pause almost pained at the next word coming out of my mouth, "Harry" Louis looked at me. I'm sure he was checking if the tears were going to fall because I haven't been able to talk about him for the last year.
"One little thing happens and I pack my bags like Nellie the fucking elephant and turn up on Niall's door step! Why are you smiling Louis William Tomlinson?" My voice had slightly raised and I look at him - He was sat grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
"Paige. If you hadn't come to live with Niall we wouldn't be doing this right now. C'mon luv. This is probably the best thing that could've happen to ya. Do you really wanna be stuck in LA" he rolls his eyes dramatically "writing sketches for stupid tv shows" he pokes his tongue out "with a guy who quite frankly was always jealous of me?" He grins. Then catches my eye and clears his throat. "Ryan was an alright lad but something made you leave." I sigh heavily. He grabs my shoulder and pulls me into him. I move quickly to put my head in his lap so I'm far more comfortable. I look up at his eyes. They are tired. He closes them.
"It's just sometimes I think I made the wrong decision." Louis opens his eyes and looks sleepily down at me.
"Nah. Keep your head up luv. Remember some queens don't wear crowns." I smile. He wrote that song for me. He closes his eyes again and when I heard his breathing grow heavier and then turn into a dull snore I let the tears fall.

My mind drifted to three years ago and sitting on the sand with my feet in the sea. Being glad of my success with writing but also being humbled by the fact I had my best friend still looking out for me. Tour with the boys was a fever dream. I have never known anything like it. Keeping them in check was challenging but when it was great it was really great. The fans loved the fact I was part of the 1d family. More often or not I would end up on stage at some point either being the butt of Harry's jokes or to get up and being forced to dance with them. I quickly became very close with Harry. He was like me. Always grounded and he didn't want to have people know everything about him. He wanted to keep things private about his life. Being thrust into the limelight at such a young age had a negative impact. He was dragged through the press and more often than not in his down days I would be the one to help him come out of it. I, too, would end up in the news often being linked to either someone in the band, being labelled a groupie or even linked to someone who had nothing to do with anything and I hadn't even met. We helped each other. So when the band when on hiatus it was no surprise to anyone that I headed to LA with Harry. I was a writer in my heart. Before X Factor and tour my dream was to become a script writer. This had changed a lot in my tour days as I no longer had time to write scripts, stories or sketches instead I was helping the boys write songs. More often or not songs would be based around something I had done or said and we would stay up to the AM to finish writing. Harry wanted me with him because he was wanting to bring out a solo album, he wanted me to help write and approve the songs. So at 26 I headed to the states with my best friend unaware of where my life would take me. So hopeful about the future. It turned out great. I guess.
"Then just leave!" I hear him shout the waves violently crashing in front of me. My heart beating fast as I try frantically to turn around to look into his blue eyes.

"Paige?" I jerk awake. When did I fall asleep? I'm on the floor wrapped in a duvet. "You alive?" My head hurts. I let out a groan. I can smell bacon and I hear the faint singing of Niall coming from the kitchen. I look up, blink and make out Louis looking down at me.
"Is this what it's like to grow up to be thirty?" He chuckles.
I slowly get up still wrapped in the duvet. My head has turned into a throb. Water and bacon is my savour.
"You'll be lucky if you grow." I throw at Louis as I stand up fully like a human size burrito.
"Oh give over." He pokes at my side I sway on the spot. He smiles and lets out a small laugh. He looks perfect, obviously, like he hasn't even been affected by all the alcohol we consumed the night before.
"Bacon and shower." I breathe out slowly which turns into a yawn. Suddenly I can smell and taste the stale alcohol. "Maybe shower first." I head towards the bathroom.
"I'm gonna have a smoke." Louis shouts at my back. I put my hand up behind me to let him know I heard him.