Amour

My feet pound against the cold marble floor in my haste to get to the correct room in this grand building. Mr. C told me to meet both him and Zack at exactly 07h30 in Hall B but it appears I'm running in parallelograms here.


"Excuse me." I approach someone who looks like a professor here at London University.


"May I help you?" He looks rather baffled then disguises it with a smile.


"I sincerely hope you can. I'm looking for Hall B in the West Side, can you please direct me?"


"Of course. Carry on down this coridoor, turn left and you're in the West Side. Hall B will be right in front of you."


"Thank you."


I hurry off in the direction imposed when I glance at my watch to see it's 07h50 already. Dammit, Mr. C just may be upset with me for the first time because I'm late. It isn't my fault, turns out untangling yourself from a sleeping immortal and bathtowel is a mission I'm sure even Tom Cruise can't accomplish.


*FLASHBACK*


The intense humidity rouses me from my slumber. I open my eyes to uncover that Louis' unperturbed manner is quite an obstacle as he is practically draped on me like a vine. The warmth of his body only increases mine so I try to shift little by little and escape.


My attempts are to no avail, Louis only tightens his hold on my back. He mumbles something unintelligable then securing his grip so that I am a human teddy bear. The towel of course is now one with the bedsheets.


"Louis." I whisper into his ear but he doesn't respond.


My teeth clamp gently down on his earlobe and I tug playfully. He stirs in his sleep, opening his eyes he looks up at me with a train-of-thought-derailing smile.


"Goodmorning." He picks himself up to kiss me.


"Morning." I ruffle his hair a little with my fingers and he chuckles.


"Hot?" He glances down at our current position.


"A little."


"What time is it?"


"Um.......oh crap its already seven."


The digital clock on the bedside table informs me so and I fumble out of the bed taking the duvet with me.


*END*


I catch sight of Mr. C speaking to someone at the entrance of what is clearly labelled as Hall B. I skid across the floor and catch Zack's shoulder to prevent colliding with a door.


"I'm so sorry. I got terribly lost." I gasp and apologize at the same time.


"Its okay but you need to go in now. They're doing you both at the same time but with different panels in different rooms." Mr. C speaks hurriedly.


"Okay. Got it." Zack gives him a thumbs up and so do I.


"Remember, you're my students so make me proud."


He holds his hands up for us to high five before taking our bags and cellphones away from us.


"Calm down. You'll get it back when you're done, I'll be right here." He reassures our confused expressions.


"Good luck." Zack and I hug briefly then go into our inerrogation rooms.


I'm made to give my name and student number. As they find my documentation I play with my knotted fingers but maintaining eye contact so that my anxiety isn't too apparent.


"Let's get started." The man I imagine to be Head of Department announces.


Questions are thrown, flung, catapulted and shot at me with force and pressure. Each one requiring a detailed descriptive answer that cannot be ignored, any minor detail left out will cost you points.


When its over I make an imprompt mental thanks to my textbooks and hours of studying for getting me through what felt like a decade of medical student trauma. I can officially scratch this off my bucket list. Mr. C is indeed waiting for us when Zack and I exit the halls together.


"How was it?" Mr. C presses immediately as he hands us our belongings.


"Sunshine and rainbows." Zack responds sarcastically.


I quickly unlock my phone and send Louis a quick text telling him that I'm done. He told me to so that he can fetch me.


"How was it in there, Sam?" Mr. C asks me.


"Um.....I survived so I guess it wasn't all that nightmarish." I respond.


"Thank God. I was going to get the more relaxed teachers to do it but they weren't available because its Sunday."


"Its all good. No harm, no foul." Zack says.


"Perfect. Now tomorrow's your final assessment and I'd like you two to work together on it. It'll be less work for each of you but a greater outcome for both of you. No one knows what's going to happen tomorrow in the case of debates and discussions. Others have paired off already."


"What about Ella?" I ask.


"She and another student have to hand in their assessments early so she's already done hers."


"Oh okay. Sure we can work together."


"Yeah, we have been for these past two exams." Zack adds.


"Oh good. So I'll see you two tomorrow then."


"Tomorrow." Zack and I wave before walking out together.


We use everything short of a GPS to get out alive and sigh with relief when we find ourselves at the front entrance.


"So how are you going home?" I ask him on our jog down the front steps. I see the black SUV with its desired driver but restrain myself and stand with Zack.


"My mom's coming for me." He says simply. "How are we gonna do this final assessment?"


"Oh yeah. Hold on a second please."


I'm going to have to ask Louis either way here, so I leave Zack at the base of the steps and stride over to the SUV going over the drivers' side. Louis rolls down the window looking quizzically at me.


"What's wrong?" He asks me.


"Nothings wrong, Zack and I have an assessment to do that's due tomorrow. I need to go over to his place tonight." I give him the closest look to puppy dog eyes I can manage.


"Why can't he come to ours?"


"I didn't think you'd approve."


"Its your home too, you don't have to constantly worry what I'll think."


"If it is ours then I'm definitely going to need to know what you think. I'll be right back."


Striding back over to a patient Zack at the steps I tell him the plan.


"You can come over at one. I'll text you the address." I explain.


"I know where you stay." Zack laughs.


"I'm not.....staying there now and I don't need you getting lost for a second time today."


"Oh alright. Text me."


He goes off toward a shiny blue Mini Cooper at the border of the parking lot. The driver hoots and waves, I respond with a wave and smile, Zack's mom is such a wonderful lady. She always made Ella and I brownies with our initials iced onto the surface.


Heading back to the SUV I climb into the front passenger side seat when I remember my second mission.


"We need to go grocery shopping. Can we go now?" I cross my fingers.


"Sure. Why the sudden urge though?" He pulls out of the spot.


"Just remembered I needed to get a few things for the kitchen."


"Are you gonna cook dinner?"


"I think I will. On Tuesday night."


"Why Tuesday?"


Oh Fuzzball I didn't tell him about the sleepover. "Ella invited me for a sleepover at her house and I have to be there tomorrow afternoon, and return on Tuesday."


"When were you planning on telling me?"


"I forgot. I'm sorry."


"Aren't you too old for slumber parties?"


Says the two century old dude, my subby snaps but I silence her.


"You can say it, I'm way older than half the things around." His uncanny ability to answer my unasked questions comes into play.


"I wasn't going to say that. And yes, I am too old for them but this will probably be my last one for the rest of my life."


"Fine you can go under one condition."


"What?"


"You call me every hour."


"Text."


"Fine."


"Thanks, Lou." I stretch across to his seat and kiss his cheek.


"I'm driving here."


"Fine, I won't do it again."


"I didn't say that. Let's wait for a red light to show up next time."


And surely one does make an appearance but Louis isn't given another kiss. We pull into the local mall's parking complex and we get out. Louis takes my hand as we walk up to the glass entrance, I always felt nervous around glass. But I do love the revolving door, it took me back to my childhood when I'd give my parents grief by making my dad catch me - he never caught me.
This time is different, I channel my sophisticated persona as I walk through it. Louis is forced to let go of my hand because each wing can only contain one person. When we're both on the other end he retakes it and kisses my knuckles.


"So what are we here for?" He asks scanning everyone around us.


"Just some stuff. Come on."


On our way to the shoprite a video store catches my attention and I divert my path. Unintentionally letting go of Louis' hand I go into the store.


"Sam!" Louis follows me into the store."What? Suddenly you wanna go movie shopping?"


"We're already here so why not?"


"Okay, fine."


The comedy section is our welcoming commitee, several shelves and poster illustrate the most recent of Adam Sandler and Billy Crystal's films. Louis wanders off into one of the isles while I'm drawn to the stand-up comedy. Hailing from South Africa I'm familiar with Trevor Noah, an exceptional comedian from my home country. There are 3 discs that have his name on them and I take one of each.


"There's a horror section over there in the corner." Louis' voice makes me jump.


"Oh okay. I'm coming." He takes the DVD's from my hand and starts examining them.


"Who's this?"


"I went to one of his shows once. He's hilarious."


"Is he now?"


We've arrived at the section labelled Horror Fest and I feel at home. Browsing a few of the covers I find some awesome material.


"How about this?" Louis holds up his choice and I frown.


"Wrong Turn? No." I disapprove.


"Aw. Why not?"


"That one's silly. This one's better." I choose one of the Saw films.


"I just saw the entire collection somewhere here. Hold on." He holds his finger up telling me stay put before running off to find the desired object.


The song currently playing on the radio via the loudspeaker is one of my favorites. Lana Del Ray has such a soothing, angelic voice that I find myself humming along.


"I found it." Louis sets his head down on my shoulder. "Do you like this song?"


"Aha."


"I can tell. Chosen anything else?"


He brings the DVD box set around the front and hands it over for me to see the wrapping his arms around me. I toss the box around in my hands staring at the various pictures on the cover.


"Look what I found." I spot the familiar face of Edward Cullen plastered on the wall. Recognizing the DVD cover I pull it off the shelf to examine it.


"Ugh." Louis groans and averts his gaze. "Bullshit in its finest form."


"I kinda like Edward."


After spending another solid twenty minutes picking out films we depart and head for the large convenient store that appears to take up 80% of the square footage in this building. I've never been a lover of shopping but maybe it'll be fun this time.


I grab a trolley from one of the several rows but Louis takes it from me. I decide to start from one corner of the store since I haven't compiled a shopping list.


"Fruits and veg? What fruit and veg could you possibly want?" Louis pushes the mechanism at a leisurely pace.


"I don't know yet. Don't you like fruit?"


"I like carrots."


"Really?"


"I'll deny it if you tell anyone."


"I just never took you for a carrot person."


"What kind of person am I to you then?"


He abandons the empty cart on wheels and walks up to me. Stalking me like the prowling leopard he is making me the helpless gazelle. Sharing a glimpse left then right, he steps forward to put our bodies in close proximity.


"C-coconut."


"A coconut?" He takes my hands in his and opens them before flattening my palms on either breast pocket of his shirt.


"Yes, because you're all macho on the outside but inside you're all fluffy and sweet."


"You're going to unman me, Samantha Hunter. And your use of adjectives is one of my favorite things about you." He leans in to hold his lips to mine momentarily before letting go.


"Maybe when we're not in the middle of a public place."



I go on to take a pack of carrots at Louis' request and a bunch of other fruit. Louis' already started munching on the grapes before we've even left that isle. I'm more successful in the frozen food section, taking fish, chicken and even pizza without toppings. I get several other food items, filling the cart almost to the brim. Jeez, its as if I just moved to this country.


"Do I need to get a second trolley?" Louis raises his eyebrow mockingly at me.


"Nope. I think I'm done."


"Good, let's go. Your friend's gonna be waiting."


Upon Louis' reminder I pull out my phone and text Zack the apartment address. The queues are short so we're homefree in no time. Louis pushes the trolley out to the car and we load everything into the trunk before climbing in and driving off.


The apartment door is shut behind me and I go straight into the kitchen with one of the three brown bags. Leaving it on the counter I start to unload the bags when Louis brings in the other two and leaves them on the counter.


"So what time will your friend be here?" Louis leans against the counter whilst picking out fruit from the bags.


"One. Which is in ten minutes so I'll see you later." I kiss him swiftly but he holds onto my blouse at the waist.
Rotating he presses my back against the counter. Smiling mischeviously he leans into me to make the kiss last longer. He moves his hands from my waist to my lower back where the counter stone bites my skin, covering the region with his palms so that the counter is no longer in contact with me.


"I'll unpack these." He asserts after pulling away.


"That would be awesome. Thank you." I kiss his cheek once more before sprinting up the steps to my study.


The doorbell rings just as I finish packing the final textbooks onto my bookshelf. Ignoring all else I bolt out of the room and jog downstairs.


"I'll get it!" I shout unnecessarily. Louis' in the kitchen and finds my actions quite amusing.


"I'm sure you will. Be careful, will you? I don't need you slipping and falling on the stairs." He reprimands me like an errant child.


Ignoring him I answer the door to find Zack standing sheepishly on the other side, his eyes dart to mine the second I open the door.


"Hey. Come in." I move out of the way to let him in.


"Hey." He steps in and I close the door.


"Hey, Zack." Louis walks over to shake Zack's hand.


Zack's expression is stunned and intimidated when he takes Louis' hand and shakes it. He nods and smiles before looking at me for help.


***


"Okay, we just have the oral presentation to handle now." Zack reminds me.


Its six in the afternoon and Zack and I have completed two thirds of our assessment for tomorrow. We haven't left this room and have survived on chocolate bars and a shared apple.


"So what year are you two going to finish?" Ella's been Skyping with us since we started. She yawns while munching on a celery stick.


"Basing the answer on the fact that we started in 1850, we should be done by the invention of hover cars." I plaster a fake Malibu smile on my face.


"How was yours?" Zack asks while I resituate to my desk and grab hold of a writing pad.


"Its over and I couldn't be more grateful." She answers. "We still on for tomorrow?"


"Yeah. Why wouldn't we be?"


"Just checking. Sam, how 'bout you?"


"Yeah I'm still coming."


***


"So Zack just left and he took my car because it's too late for him to walk." I inform Louis after a quick shower to banish all the knotted muscles and stressful reminders.


"How do you plan on getting it back?" He asks me while I slip on a bra and panties with my back to him. Louis has seen me in my most nude so I don't find it as uncomfortable or awkward anymore.


"I don't know. Maybe after the thing at Ella's house." I answer him while climbing into bed wearing a set of my pajamas.


Louis envelopes me in the hug that never seized to crush my lungs. Discreetly tugging the shoulder of my shirt he kisses the exposed skin. My cellphone rings on the bedside and I wriggle a little trying to grab it. Louis laughs at me and tightens his hold around me. Helpful.


Its Nana. I hit the answer button immediately.


"Hey, Nana." I greet her hoping nothing's wrong. "What's up?"


"Hey, sweetie. Was just calling to see how you're doing. Its really boring here without you." She sighs dramatically and I smile fondly at the theatrics of my grandmother.


Louis' hand travels low then back up again as he ventures under my shirt. His fingers tickle me but I use every God-given ounce of willpower to resist laughing. He buries his head in the crook of my neck and I feel my skin tingle against his smile.


"Aw. I-I miss............you too, Nan. Where's Tommy?" My words bearly get out as Louis practically squiches me like the mortal teddy bear I am then dragging my face to his and planting a sloppy kiss on my lips causing the break mid-sentence.


"He's uh.....packing some stuff up."


Oh yes. The Grand Move will be taking place soon after my graduation on Friday. The thought of living away from Nana depresses me so I shove it back into a one-way cage.


"Oh. Where's Jase?"


Louis' obviously just getting started, he entangles our legs and brings the duvet up to cover us both.


"He's helping Tommy with the boxes. I'm getting hints that he's very excited to be living somewhere with ponies and geese."


"Is he now?" I bat Louis' hands away as he attempts to tuck me in - I'm not seven anymore. He reburies his face in my hair and starts kissing my neck, igniting the tiny flame in the depths of my belly that will soon blaze to life if I don't stop it. His hands have reclaimed their spot beneath my shirt with his palms flat on my waist pressing my back to his chest.


"Oh yes. Tommy even bought him a cowboy hat. Jase made him promise to take him out riding everyday after school."


I almost moan when Louis gets to the skin below my ear.


"Am I interrupting?" Nana's voice is thick with mock suspicion and Louis chuckles in my ear.


"Hey, Aggie." Louis doesn't shout but speaks loud enough for her to hear him on the other end.


"Hey, Louis. Taking care of my little girl?" She is almost mute so I put her on loudspeaker and place the device on the table freeing my hands to battle Louis'


"Oh I am." His voice is lower when he answers her. His teeth graze my skin and I feel the chill in my legs.


"I'm going to help Tommy and Jase. Bye, Sammy." I can hear her winking from here.


"Bye. Give Jase a kiss for me." I add in before we both hang up.


"Can I have a kiss now?" Louis asks in the closest to a baby voice he can get.


Using his strong hold on my hip he turns me around to look at him. I lay on my back and his fingers make circular motions on the skin of my abdomen, as per usual I feel it in every fiber of my physical and spiritual being. He crashes his lips onto mine, I feel his hunger and desperation in the kiss. I can deny him no more and I part my lips to let him in, allowing the kiss to deepen.


"I love you." His lips move against mine.


"I know." I whisper back and he grins.


Wrapping my arms around his neck I pull him down to me not giving him time to fight. Seizing his lips with mine I gently bite his bottom lip earning me a pleasured moan.


***


"Aren't you just happy to have everything academic behind us now? I mean, life doesn't get better than this." Zack feels like Rocky at the peek of the staircase.


"I recall saying that at high school graduation and look what happened." I playfully punch his shoulder.


"Don't jinx my happiness, Zack." Ella sticks her tongue out at him as we jog down the steps.


"Sam, do you need your car back?" Zack asks me.


"Um......no, drive it to Ella's house tonight and I'll take it from you when I leave tomorrow." I answer.


Our assessments and examinations are officially over and we don't have to return to campus making us free kids until Friday at graduation. I spot Louis' SUV park close to the entrance of the property, only a few feet from me.


"See you guys tonight." I hug them and complete the steps down to the ground.


"Not tonight. In an hour!" Ella shouts correcting me.


"Aha. That's what I said!"


Climbing into the front passenger seat of the SUV I can't help the grin on my face.


"Someone's very happy to see me." Louis matches my smile and leans over to kiss me. "How was today?"


"I thought I'd buckle under the stress but everything went off perfectly and now I'm a free woman for the next week." I say it like I'm in church.


"I know what'll make you buckle." He smirks.


"Louis!" I gasp at his dirty mouth.


He chuckles obviously unperturbed by his comment and continues to drive home. I jump out of the car the second we pull into the driveway and Louis slings my bag over his shoulder. We walk in and he dumps my bag on the floor much to my dismay.


"What shall we do now?" He grabs my hips and pulls me to him.


"I never got a tour of this building." I say and he frowns. Obviously he had an alternate plan.


"Okay." He takes my hand and leads me back out to the hallway.


Taking the elevator that I hadn't noticed before we go one level up and then the next followed by the highest floor that holds the penthouse.


"Why don't you live up here?" I ask him walking through the apartment. Its smaller than Louis' but the view makes up for it.


"I don't like it up here."


"Too secluded?"


"Too lonely." His answer makes my heart ache and I smile at him.


"You have a pool?" My voice is high and clearly excited.


"Yes." He says cautiously.


"Why didn't you tell me?"


The blue dip is large and circular, I note that the shade matches Louis' eyes when he hasn't fed.


"You never asked."


"I want to go."


"Okay."


Instead of taking my hand he bends and picks me up putting me over his shoulder and walking out without closing the door. I don't protest, there's no one around and the only thing that I hate about him doing this is that my head starts spinning.


He carries me out into the back yard before setting me down. He starts taking off his shirt and unbuckling his pants. I stare at his beauty, admiring the way the muscles of his back contracted with every movement and his firm well tanned abdomen. The abs were always my weakness, I could stare at him all day.


"Are you coming in or gonna keep staring at me?" He pulls me out of my trance and I blush from being caught.


"N-no. I'm not going in." I stutter.


He jumps into the water and little water splashes onto me.


"Aw come on. You wanted to see the pool."


He gets out of the water and I'm full-on swoon mode. The water droplets in his hair make the strands shine and I itch to run my hands through it. Walking up to me his fingers go for my pants. He unbuttons it and let's it fall to the ground. Without removing the t shirt I stole from him this morning he takes my hand and makes me walk right into the water.


Its cold enough to notice but not serious enough to make me shiver. We stand together in the shallow end but then he starts moving further in.


"Up." Is all he says and he hoists my legs up and around his waist.


He walks into the deeper end of the pool and picks me up out of the water before letting me fall back in and completely wet myself. Thankfully I do know how to swim so I rise to the surface instantaneously. I wipe my face with my hand feeling only a little angry at Louis for doing that.


"What was that for?!" I splash water at him and pull my hair back.


"For asking for a tour." He doesn't float or swim, his body simply makes its way over to mine pressing my back against the edge.


I see his eyes ablaze with something that isn't foreign to me in the slightest. He grabs my thighs and wraps them around his waist again. Using his hand he brushes some of my hair out of my face and leans in to kiss me only he doesn't. He moves to my neck and begins his trail of wretched kisses at the soft spot below my ear. He sucks on the skin forcing me to moan then moving down to my neck, his tongue leaving a wet line all the way. I grab hold of his shoulders, moving my hands up to his nape.


"I want to fuck you. I haven't felt you in days and I need you now." He whispers to me. His words alone are going to push me over the edge.


"I want you to. Please." I almost beg in response and he smiles pressing himself to me so that I feel his arousal against me. "Now."


There is no one who can make me feel the way Louis does and I want to feel that way again. He uses the zipping speed he possesses to get us out of the water, through the back door into his apartment and upstairs to his bedroom. Our bedroom.


"I'm a little bored of beds so I'm going to take you against the wall." He mumbles before smashing his lips onto mine not allowing me to respond.


My slight fear is overruled by anticipation and need. Keeping our damp bodies as close as possible he continue what he began in the pool, kissing my neck all the way down to my clavicle and grinding into me.


"Louis." I moan his name completely losing touch with all my senses. All I do is hold onto him as he sandwiches me between a wall and him.


His hand snakes its way up my shirt and hooks a finger at the gap between the cups, yanking on it he shreds the fabric and let's it fall to the ground. He uses the same hand to cup and massage my breast, his finger circles the sensitive area and pinches the nipple. My body responds to him faster than my mind can even catch up.


"Moan for me, baby." He says encouragingly and I oblige. Grinding into me once more I almost cry out from the feelings I'm experiencing. "I want to hear you."


His other hand curls around the band of my panties and removing it in a similar fashion to my brassiere. His boxer briefs drop to the floor as well and I pull him to me, giving his head enough access to hide in to crook of my neck again. Running my fingers through his hair, my other hand's fingernails dig into his shoulder as he enters me. I bite my lip to keep from screaming to early as he moves out and back in then picking up the pace and moving much faster. I expect to feel almost nothing but he is all I feel, his fullness each time he's inside me and his absence when he isn't. He whispers things into my ear that nearly make me combust, saying that I am his favorite thing to do in the world.


"Louis." I moan louder this time and my body buckles as promised, the action forces his entire length into me and his fingers dig into the skin of my hip.


"Fuck." He curses and seeks and finds my lips to kiss as he continues to pump in and out of me.


I've never felt this before, this time it's all heat and passion and I crave it. He entwines our fingers and holds my hands at my side to take complete control of me. My back arches as I give him the wheel and he drives me crazy. I feel it building and consuming me more and more, finally letting go with my body shatters into a million pieces in his hold leaving him to support me completely.


He curses my name just as he finds his release and I'm complete unravelled, my body unable to move at all. My thoughts are scattered beyond recovery and I close my eyes.


Louis hoists me a little higher with him still inside me and I throw my head back while the sensation passes. He pulls out of me and I feel us moving, he lays me down on the bed and climbs on top of me. I reopen my eyes so that I'm staring into the wonderous blue orbs that make me weak at the knees.........and every other joint. Louis slides back into me and I bite down hard on my bottom lip. His hands drift up my thighs to my hips, my waist then supporting himself with his hands on either side of me.


"Kiss me." He asks but I cannot move. My body is limp and tired, my breathing is hitched and ragged as is struggles to regain its balance. He presses his forehead to mine, our lips in constant contact but never uniting in a fierce kiss.


"I'm sorry, baby. Sometimes I-" I know he's going to ramble on and apologize. I cut him off by lifting off the pillow a little and holding my lips to his then knotting my fingers in his hair.


"Oh Sam." He kisses me back and starts to move ever so gently in and out of me again. Despite the ache in my lower belly I rock my pelvis up to match his rhythm.


Still reeling from my previous release my body begins to ascend again, as we rock together and my body begs for more of his touch, for more of his feel. We let go together and break the kiss because of our panting. My body can do nothing more besides lie beneath him as Louis pulls out of me and I realize that my shirt is still on.


"Do you have to go tonight? I really want to be alone with you tonight." Louis' breathing is as savage as mine.


"Sorry." One word to answer everything.


"I'll drop you off a little later. I want to lie here with you."


He nestles closer to me turning us on our side and resuming our sleeping position from the other night with his head on my chest breathing heavily and his arms wound tightly around my body to ensure I can't run away.


"Ella will be mad at me." My words are rushed and breathless.


He mumbles something against the fabric of my/his shirt and I continue to run my fingers through his hair.


"Will you sing to me?" He looks up with the most pure innocence in his eyes.


"But I can't sing."


"Hum then. Your heart sings with you and its my favorite sound in whole world."


"I'll try."


Running through my mental playlist I remember a famous old pirate song from a book I read when I was a kid. I catch the melody and slow it down enough to make it a lullaby - sorta. I begin to hum the tune I feel Louis settle into a pre-sleep state, his eyes close and after about twenty minutes of repeating the song his soft snores fill the air.


I hear my phone buzzing downstairs because of the nearly thunderous ringtone. Reaching around my back carefully I attempt to lift Louis arm and escape the vine that is his sleeping form. He grumbles a sleepy complaint about my movements and belting his arms all around my waist. The phone continues to ring three more times then finally goes silent and I exhale in relief.


As much as I'm forced to go I don't want to, not necessarily. I'd much prefer to lay here idly with Louis' body draped around mine as he sleeps.


I wonder why he suddenly decided to sleep now and not when we were together before. Like the first night we spent together, he told me that hed stayed awake all night watching me. Maybe its because of you, my subby offers. I mentally crease my brows not fully understanding what she's saying. She lights a cigar and sits in her thrown staring at me as if I'm failing to grasp the conept of first grade math.
You stay with him now so he doesn't have any other worries in the world; you're with him every night, he gets to hold you and he feels secure and satisfied enough to actually get some sleep, she explains. I could swear that my subby is almost a completely different person at times.


But I need this time.....to myself, away from everything and I need distance so that I can gather my thoughts and think about what to do next. We aren't officially living together yet so before I get the rest of my stuff I want to weigh the pros and cons. We're always so lost in one another that the definitive facts and fate remain oblivious to us.


***


"We thought you weren't coming. Why didn't you answer your phone?" Ella has a go at me the second I walk through the door.


"Good evening to you too, Ella. I'm happy you're glad I could make it." I roll my eyes and start trudging up the steps with my bags.


"Zack's in my room. Why aren't you in pajamas?"


"Because I still need to shower. Do you mind if I use yours?"


"Yeah, go ahead. We're all sleeping on the floor in my room."


I walk into Ella's room to find Zack indeed on the floor working on his laptop. He sees me and smiles.


I dump my bags on the floor beside his and head into the bathroom to shower. I feel only a little sore, a dull ache passes through my body in waves. After my shower I pull on a set of pajamas and go back out to Ella and Zack.


"So what are we doing?" I ask as I plonk weightlessly next to Zack on the sleeping bags with my back against the wall. I flinch but ignore the stinging pain that shoots up my back.


"We're looking for a movie to watch. Ella's scared of horror films so that limits our choices." He explains glancing suspiciously at Ella who shrugs.


"Why can't we watch a romance story? Or a comedy?" She argues.


I groan childishly and fall onto my side on the sleeping bags covering my face with my hands. Zack mimics my actions but falls with his head landing on my hip. Another wave of pain and I shiver. Thankfully it goes unnoticed sand Zack rests his chin on his hands looking at both of us.


"Its two against one so a horror movie it is." I hold my hand up to end the debate.


"Fine! Which one?" Ella relents.


We settle in to watch the movie and cover up with dozens of blankets on the floor against the wall. Halfway through we get hungry and pause the movie to make popcorn and salvage for snacks. Ella and I find chocolate bars - just what I need - and several juiceboxes. Time to be unhealthy.


When we return I toss everything at Zack and he laughs. Hitting play on the DVD I feel a little tired so I take my pillow and place it on Ella's lap before dropping my head onto it. Zack moves infront of me and puts his pillow on my tummy, copying what I'd done.


The movie ends and we haven't moved except to fight over chocolate or popcorn.


"It's eleven." Ella informs us of the time.


"How'd it get so late?" I yawn.


"It isn't late, grandma."


"Grandma's phone is ringing." Zack says with his eyes glued to the ceiling.


"Crap!" I forgot about texting Louis.


"Bad grandma!" Ella teases and I stick my tongue out at her.


I've eaten so much chocolate that the ache has almost disappeared but now I feel bloated and unable to sit up. Zack takes my phone and hands it to me when he notices my difficulty.


"Don't need grandma breaking a hip." He scolds.


I seize the gadget and fall back onto Ella's lap.


There are close to twenty texts, four missed calls and a voice mail from one number - Louis.


You didn't text me. I'm getting worried


Sam? Answer me.


Why aren't you answering my calls?


I'm coming over.


His last one scares me and I text him quickly.


Sorry I didn't text. I'm fine :) xx


I expect an answer after three seconds but my phone starts ringing with Louis' name and a photo I'd taken of him when we were in bed one day flashing on my screen.


"I'll be right back." I tell them before getting up and leaving the room.


Walking across the hall I go into one of the guestrooms and answer the call.


"Sam?" Louis asks before I can even greet.


"Yeah. I'm fine, I'm sorry I didnt-" I try to explain.


"I was so worried when you didn't answer my calls."


"Don't worry. I just....forgot." I admit bracing for his reaction.


"You forgot?" He sounds so disbelieving and even hurt.


"Don't be mad. Please."


"I'm not mad, baby. I'm just glad you're fine. Really wish you were here right now."


"I miss you but I couldn't bail on Ella this late."


"Our bed is so cold and empty without you."


I blush at the way he says 'our bed'. His almost pained tone shatters my heart and melts my insides at the same time.


"I'll be back tomorrow to keep it warm."


"You have to be back. I can't take this anymore."


"I've only been gone a few hours."


"I've been waiting over two hundred years for you, Sam."


How do I respond to that? What can I possibly say that will equal in depth to what he said? Sometimes I wish he didn't make me feel so naïve and silly.

Notes

I am so sorry for the terrible appearance :/ i had no idea it looked that way so i went back and uploaded everything again :) plus added this extra chapter in celebration of my birthday today (ugh) so i hope u all enjoy it and please do drop a comment.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

- S xx