“Louis, go to sleep,” Harry mumbled, not able to sleep because of Louis’ fidgeting. It was four in the morning by now, and he wanted to sleep at least a little before they had to check out of the hotel. “If you don’t at least lie still, I’ll knock you out, I swear.”
“I can’t stop thinking, I’m sorry.” Louis had been watching Lilly sleep for some time now, convinced that he knew her. Of course, just because she was born in Doncaster, and her parents are from there, doesn’t mean, he knows her. But he’d thought that they’d met before, he just hadn’t said anything. He wanted to know why she looked so familiar, how he could possibly know her, and that kept him awake. Well, not only that, but also Lilly asleep in his hotel bed. He hadn’t wanted to let her go back to her room alone in case she woke up in the middle of the night and needed someone to talk or something.
“Just talk to her tomorrow.” Harry nudged him in the side. “And stop watching her. She’s asleep and everything’s fine. Sleep now.” Harry turned away from Louis and faced the wall, trying his best to fall asleep again.
Louis couldn’t help but watch her a moment longer, but then he stopped and closed his eyes. He wasn’t able to fall asleep for another hour, but he tried to keep his eyes shut to not look at Lilly again. She was so defenseless, so peaceful, that it betrayed what was going on inside her.
She woke with a start the following morning and sat up in bed straightaway. This was not her hotel room and this was not her bed. She could hear breathing from across the room. And then it hit her. Everything that had happened the day before. The news about her father’s death, the long phone conversation with her family when she had been back at the hotel, mainly with Jonathan, and the surprise the boys had had for her. That had really brightened up her mood, even though she’d fallen asleep not even halfway through the movie.
“Good morning,” Louis said after he’d sat up in bed and seen that she was awake. Lilly looked at him, suddenly self-conscious about the way she looked. Her face was completely devoid of makeup and the jersey she was wearing was too big. But the boys had seen her like this the evening before, so, why should it matter now? Especially because Louis’ hair was sticking up at the back of his head and he wasn’t wearing a shirt.
“Did you sleep well?” Louis asked, not too loud, because he wanted Harry to sleep a little longer. Slowly he got out of bed and walked over to her. Before he could sit down on the bed, though, Lilly got up.
“Yeah, I did. Sorry that I occupied your bed.”
“Don’t be sorry. You can occupy my bed anytime.” Louis saw her eyes widen, and quickly added: “That came out wrong. I mean that you’re always welcome and if it makes you sleep better, I’ll gladly give up my bed and share one with Harry.”
“Thank you, Louis.” Before she could think better of it, she hugged him. She didn’t care that he wasn’t wearing a shirt, or that they didn’t know each other that well, but what he and the boys had done for her, had really moved her. They didn’t even have to be nice to her, because she was merely working for them, but they’d wanted to get to know her, and integrate her.
“Any time.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight for a moment, feeling his heartbeat quicken. Whether this was welcome or not, he wasn’t sure, but he didn’t think about this any longer. He just enjoyed having her in his arms with a smile on her face after what had happened the day before.
Eventually, Lilly broke the embrace and took a step back. She thanked him again, and said that she had to pack her suitcase before they had to check out of the hotel. And she wanted to shower and have breakfast. Louis encouraged breakfast.
With a smile on her face, Lilly returned to her room and ordered breakfast, Louis words still ringing in her ear. Suddenly, an image from the night before flashed through her mind. Louis had picked her up and put her on his bed. He’d carried her. Oh God, this was weird, but nice at the same time.
She had to stop thinking about this, so she headed towards the shower. Refreshed and clean, she enjoyed her breakfast, and then started to pack her suitcase. All that kept her busy until she had to check out and meet with Paul and the boys. When she entered the lobby, only Paul was there.
“You doing okay?” he asked as soon as she was next to him.
“Yes,” she nodded, adjusting her purse on her shoulder. “It was really nice of the boys to do this film night thing for me.”
“That’s why they wanted chocolate and popcorn and stuff. And I thought they’d wanted all that for themselves. I do underestimate them sometimes.”
“Yes, you do,” Niall piqued up from behind him, making Paul swivel around.
When all the boys were there, they were ready to go to the airport. Now that they had time, and a reason to distract Lilly, they told her about the movie premiere. She listened eagerly, dreading the flight back home, so she welcomed the distraction.
At the airport, everything was a bit hectic. Lilly had to get a few souvenirs for her family and friends, because she hadn’t gone to the city and looked around. The airport was her last chance, so she flitted around, until she had everything and met the boys just in time to hop on the airplane.
As soon as she was seated, she buckled up. Louis sat down next to her, meeting her confused face with a grin.
“I thought you might like some company. We can chat to distract you from the flight. I know you don’t like it that much.” Louis smiled at her, but looked down for a moment to fasten his seatbelt.
“Liam told you, huh?” Of course. He’d seen her on the flight to NYC.
“Yeah. So, if you get scared, just grab hold of my hand.” Louis winked at her, putting his hand palm up on the arm rest, so that she could indeed grab hold of it whenever she felt like it.
“Thank you.” She looked at his hand, before looking at his face again. She wouldn’t need that, but it was nice of him to offer this.
In quiet they listened to the announcements of the pilot and the crew as they started rolling to get the plane in position. Lilly took a deep breath when they were on the runway. When the plane left the ground, Lilly put her hand in Louis’ and squeezed. She hadn’t wanted to do this, but it had somehow happened.
“You’re from Doncaster, right?” she heard Louis say next to her.
“What?” She opened her eyes and looked at him.
“You said that you and your Mom are from Doncaster yesterday right before you fell asleep.” Louis was looking at her, his thumb slowly drawing circles on the back of her hand to keep her calm.
“Yeah. We are. But we moved away and left that life behind. Mum wanted a fresh start, so she broke off contact with the people in Doncaster. My Mum’s parents live in Manchester and I never had a lot of contact with my father’s parents. It’s not that easy. I haven’t been there since we moved away.”
“I’m from Doncaster as well, that’s why I ask.” Louis said, looking at their joined hands, then looking up at her. “Maybe we’ve met before.”
“It’s possible. I don’t remember that much to be honest, because my Mum told me to forget about it, and concentrate on our new life. There are only a couple of things I remember.” She tried to think back, but it was no use. There were only a few images from their garden or preschool. She’d have to ask her Mum about this. “But yeah, maybe we have.”
“My Mum still lives in Doncaster and I visit her and my family as often as possible.” His Mum, of course! He could ask her, if she knew Lillian. Maybe he was onto something here.
“It’s a small world, huh?” Lilly said, following it up by a yawn.
“You should try to get some more sleep. Everyone else is asleep already, so we should follow their example.” Louis quickly looked around, at Zayn who was sitting back with his mouth agape, Niall with his face buried in a pillow.
Lilly looked down at their hands and suddenly let go of his. Embarrassment tinted her cheeks pink, and she mumbled an apology. It was really cute, because in Louis’ opinion, she didn’t have to worry about this at all. What was wrong with holding someone’s hand?
Both of them put in their earphones and closed their eyes. Yes, sleep would be good for them, and that way, the flight would be over in no time. Lilly was already looking forward to feeling British land beneath her feet again.

Notes

I was eight years old and running with a dime in my hand
Into the bus stop to pick up a paper for my old man
Id sit on his lap in that big old buick and steer as we drove through town
Hed tousle my hair and say son take a good look around
This is your hometown, this is your hometown

Bruce Springsteen - My Hometown