He's Not Afraid || L.S AU

Chapter 26

Me and Niall stand up from the ivory bench and walk to my home, school already finished. 

"We need to mend that hand of yours, Lou." Niall tells me, nodding his head to my bright red knuckles that has a small amount of dried up blood. 

"Yeah," I sigh, touching the back of my hand then retreating my finger back, wincing. "My mum is a nurse anyway, she'll fix it."

We carry on walking until we reach my home. I take out my key, slotting it into the keyhole then twisting it, the sound of a lock clicking. I push open the door with the handle and close the door once we are both inside the warmth of the house. 

"I'll be right back, I need the toilet." Niall informs me then goes rushing upstairs. Seeing as the house is empty apart from me and Niall of cource, I treasure the silence. It's not everyday there's no noise in the Tomlinson residence. I dump my dirty bag that was in dry mud on the floor near the sofa and head towards the basement. I switch on the light. The last time I was here was when Harry and Cathy were cuddled up on the sofa in the living room. I remember being so envious while picking up my John Green book, my foot still in the contraption I called a brace. I shake the images out of my head, concentrating on the large space, spotting Buster sleeping in his bed.

I chuck Harry's muddy and soiled jacket in the hamper that's set in the corner of the room. No matter how much I tried to tell myself to just abandon it here, I couldn't. 

"Louis!" I hear Niall call, "Where are you?"

"Basement!" I answer, sitting on the bed, staring at the black books on the shelf. I shuffle to the back of the basement, taking out one of the thick books.

"You have a basement?!" Niall shouts, "Where?"

"Near the living room!" I reply just as loudly. 

I flip through the pages, noticing this is the book from a year ago. Where's the book this year? I put back the previous hardback and take out another. I should have put the years at the front of the cover, this is what I get for buying the same looking books.

"I didn't know you had a basement. This your room?" Niall says, looking around the walls in amazement. It's kept clean and tidy. I must admit, the basement looks better than my bedroom.

"Yeah, Buster sleeps here." I point to the sleeping dog. 

"You played football?" Niall asks, astonished, looking at my football medals and shirt.

I nod.

"Ah, I see. What are you doing?" Niall asks, picking up one of my football trophies from 6th grade. Everyone got one so it's not anything special. I don't know why I don't just throw it out.

"I'm trying to look for a black book." I tell him, tossing the other book I was examining to the side so I won't have to check again and pick up another.

"Heck, there's loads." Niall says, running his finger on the spine of the book.

"I know, which is frustrating because I'm trying to look for the one for this year." 

"You have one every year?" Niall asks in surprise. 

"Yes, now please help me." I plead, tossing another book then taking another. 

By the time we've checked all the books, and double checked again, I can't seem to find 2014. 

"Mate, maybe it isn't on the shelf." Niall puts his hand on my shoulder.

"Wait!" I run to the king sized bed and take off the covers, remembering I hid it when Fizzy came. Unfortunately, all I'm met with is the cream coloured mattress. I remember putting it there. Where is it?