Open Book (One Direction Fan-Fiction)

Chapter 3: The Library

The next day I waited longer than I should have to ask my mom if I could go out again. She was being extremely difficult and I knew I couldn't lose my temper, or it would never work.

"Grace, you've never been on walks before," she said. "Why do you want to go out three days in a row?"

"This is only my second walk," I explained quietly. "The first was a trip for you. When I was walking home from the bus stop, I realized I liked being out in the fresh air like that."

"That's why we have a backyard, Grace."

"But it's so confined," I complained, irritation seeping through my voice. I glanced at the clock and started freaking out. I should have been there two minutes ago. "Mom, just please! I'm eighteen!"

"I'm scared for you," Mom replied. She gave me a sad look. "I don't want you to get hurt. I love you too much."

"This is a good neighborhood," I put in quickly. "I promise I'll be careful and I'll be back in time for dinner again. Okay?"

I could tell she was giving in, but I didn't know what else to say to help her along. Poor Louis. What if he already left by the time I get there and thinks I don't like him?

"Alright," Mom agreed with a loud sigh. She hugged me tightly. "Don't be late or you'll have to talk to your dad about this."

"I won't," I promised again. Happiness filled me once again. I grabbed my shoes and slipped them on. "Bye, Mom. I love you."

"Love you too."

I raced out to the bus stop, crossing my fingers that Louis was still there. It would break my heart if he left without talking to me. I hoped it wasn't too late.

"Louis?" I called as I reached my destination. No one was in sight. Disappointment now flooded me. "Louis? I'm sorry I'm late."

"Boo!"

I screamed as something jumped out at me from the bushes. Then I realized it was my friend. "Hey, what'd you do that for?"

"Sorry," Louis apologized, a wide grin on his face. "You were taking so long, so I'd thought I'd scare you. I won't do it again if you don't want me to."

I shuffled my feet. "I don't," I said. "But it's okay."

An uncomfortable silence hung in the air. Both of us were just staring at each other, waiting for one to break the silence.

"I tried looking you up on twitter," Louis spoke up finally. "I couldn't find you. Do you use a different name on there or something?"

"Twitter? What's that?" I asked.

Louis gave me a shocked look. "It's an Internet website that you make an account on. People follow you and you can talk to others? You really have no clue what I'm talking about, do you?"

"I don't have a computer," I stated simply. "I've never used one, so I don't really know what's on it."

"You've never used a computer?!" Louis shouted. I winced and stepped backward. He put his hand on my shoulders. "Sorry for shouting," he apologized, looking concerned. "You okay?"

"Yes," I answered, nodding my head. "My mom is kind of really protective of me. She didn't get a computer because she's worried something on there might hurt me."

Louis' eyebrows raised. "Twitter is amazing. You'll love it. Maybe we could make you one on my phone and whenever we meet, you can get on."

"What about the library?" I asked suddenly. "It's close by here and then you don't even have to be with me."