The Runaways
The Prank
*Carter’s POV
“I really need to start working out. Fighting and boxing are just not enough.” I said, my words a little muffled from me sprawled out across the hotel bed like a starfish, face down.
“Aww, Love. Don’t say that! You’re beautiful; no means of cardio necessary.” Louis’ voice sounded from my right. Thank god he couldn’t see me; I’m probably the color of a stop sign by now.
Curse you blushing!
“I agree with that, but the only thing I heard from that sentence is that you fight and box. Why didn’t you tell us? That’s the coolest thing I’ve ever heard!” Zayn said.
“Don’t forget hottest Zayn.” Harry piped up. I was waiting for his flirty side to break through…
I smiled and picked my head up, holding myself up by my forearms. “Well sorry! I didn’t think it was an important detail. Addy and I both do it. Oh and Harry? Never going to happen hon.”
The bed sank down behind me. Lou just had to be himself and roll completely on top of me. His muscles may look amazing, but they do make him 10 times heavier than normal. “Yes Harold, don’t you dare get all cheeky with my best friend over here!” he joked, wrapping his arms around me, instantly making me feel safe.
Oh god… I have to stop this. After what happened before….I just can’t open up; not anymore.
I snapped out of it and rolled my eyes.
“Seriously Carter, I’ve done some boxing before and it’d be awesome to see what you can do.” Liam said, leaning against the desk on the opposite side of the hotel room. The other boys nodded in agreement. I smiled. It may be fun to show them what I’m capable of. I mean, I haven’t been fighting since….before.
My smile must have turned into a grimace because the boys instantly asked what was wrong. I shook my head, ridding myself of the horrible time that Addy and I unfortunately had to live through. “Nothing. I’m completely fine!” I forced a smile. They didn’t seem convinced…
In a desperate attempt to change the subject, I said, “So! Where do you think Addison and Niall went?”
The boys took the bait.
“They said they were hungry, but judging from the way that they look at each other like they’re a piece of meat…” Harry trailed off, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Okay. I really didn’t need that visual. That would be my sister you’re talking about. Not saying I don’t trust Niall, it’s just….Ew.” I said, completely grossed out.
They all chuckled. “Don’t listen to Harry. We may not know Addison as much as you do, but Niall wouldn’t take advantage of her like that. He’s a good guy.” Liam said, walking over and clapping Harry on the back.
“I could’ve figured that. They really are great together.” I said wistfully. Louis looked down at me, puzzled. “Why do you say it like that?
I put my head in my hands. “Nothing. It’s just that I’m so glad that she’s found someone who will love her other than myself; her sister. We’ve been through… so much and if I can’t find it, at least I can feel relieved that Addy did. She means the world to me. I don’t know what I’d do without her.” I said softly.
Lou gently rolled off of me and sat up straight, pulling me up with him. He took my hands in his own. “Carter. You and Addison are not alone. The lads and I will be here for you no matter what. When we met you guys, you weren’t like the others. You were calm, collected, and treated us like….normal human beings. That’s hard to come by when you’re famous. To me, meeting you and Addison was the best thing that could have happened for us and I think the boys would agree with me on that,” he finished, moving a piece of my blonde hair out of my eyes.
I looked up and found the others nodding. They really do care. I tried so hard not to cry, but it didn’t seem to work. When the first tear started to fall, I was pulled into Lou’s arms. I sobbed into his chest, twisting his T-shirt in my fists until my knuckles turned white. They probably thought I was this insecure little girl who cried whenever she heard something nice about her. That’s not it at all. My heart is this cold, dark, and hollow…rock. It’s been that way ever since I was able to understand the horrible things happening to me and my sister in my old life. Now, with these boys… it feels like it’s slowly starting to revive itself.
After a few minutes of rocking and coaxing from the boys, I finally stopped my little episode. “I’m so sorry guys. You were never meant to see that.” I said hoarsely. I could tell from their faces that they wanted to understand what happened to the broken girl sitting before them. They shouldn’t know. They can’t know. If I told them, I’d put them all in for a world of hurt which is the last thing that I’d ever want to do. Addison would agree.
“Hey. We’re your family now. There is nothing that you could say that would scare us away.” Harry spoke up next, caressing my cheek with his thumb.
Oh Harry….wanna bet?
Some talking and a movie later, I sat up suddenly from the bed. The boys and I were all spread out on the queen sized bed. You’d think we couldn’t all fit. That’s what I thought before too. We all lay against the headboard. I sat in the very middle, my legs on top of Louis’s lap and my head in the crook of Harry’s neck. Next came Zayn, who was sitting the opposite way with his legs next to us and his head at the end of the bed. Lastly, Liam was at the opposite end of me and Lou. He was laying on his side, with his head on a pillow that was on top of Zayn’s back. Anyone seeing this would probably think we’re a bunch of 5 year olds. It really was a sight to see.
Wait! Did anyone notice that Niall and Addy didn't come back? Have they been out this whole time?! I sprang up into a sitting position, pulling my head out of the crook of Harry's neck and my legs off of Lou. They all tore their attention away from the TV.
“What’s up love?” Lou asked, pausing the movie. “Does anyone remember Niall and Addy coming back? It’s been almost…” I looked up at the clock. “Four hours!?”
Before anyone could even get a word out, I heard a click come from outside of the hotel door.
Spoke too soon…
I waited until Addy and Niall both came into view. When they did, I noticed something different about them. They both had this…mischievous look on their faces; like they were in on some joke that no one else knew about. I’ve seen that look plenty of times on Addy and it usually didn’t end well for me.
I widened my eyes, finally realizing what she was planning for us innocent selves. “You wouldn’t.” I said nervously. Addy smirked and turned to Niall one last time. “Oh dear sister..I would.” She said, pure evil dripping from every word.
“Guys! Leave-“ I was cut off from getting the boys to safety by Niall screaming one word…
“NOW!”
“I really need to start working out. Fighting and boxing are just not enough.” I said, my words a little muffled from me sprawled out across the hotel bed like a starfish, face down.
“Aww, Love. Don’t say that! You’re beautiful; no means of cardio necessary.” Louis’ voice sounded from my right. Thank god he couldn’t see me; I’m probably the color of a stop sign by now.
Curse you blushing!
“I agree with that, but the only thing I heard from that sentence is that you fight and box. Why didn’t you tell us? That’s the coolest thing I’ve ever heard!” Zayn said.
“Don’t forget hottest Zayn.” Harry piped up. I was waiting for his flirty side to break through…
I smiled and picked my head up, holding myself up by my forearms. “Well sorry! I didn’t think it was an important detail. Addy and I both do it. Oh and Harry? Never going to happen hon.”
The bed sank down behind me. Lou just had to be himself and roll completely on top of me. His muscles may look amazing, but they do make him 10 times heavier than normal. “Yes Harold, don’t you dare get all cheeky with my best friend over here!” he joked, wrapping his arms around me, instantly making me feel safe.
Oh god… I have to stop this. After what happened before….I just can’t open up; not anymore.
I snapped out of it and rolled my eyes.
“Seriously Carter, I’ve done some boxing before and it’d be awesome to see what you can do.” Liam said, leaning against the desk on the opposite side of the hotel room. The other boys nodded in agreement. I smiled. It may be fun to show them what I’m capable of. I mean, I haven’t been fighting since….before.
My smile must have turned into a grimace because the boys instantly asked what was wrong. I shook my head, ridding myself of the horrible time that Addy and I unfortunately had to live through. “Nothing. I’m completely fine!” I forced a smile. They didn’t seem convinced…
In a desperate attempt to change the subject, I said, “So! Where do you think Addison and Niall went?”
The boys took the bait.
“They said they were hungry, but judging from the way that they look at each other like they’re a piece of meat…” Harry trailed off, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Okay. I really didn’t need that visual. That would be my sister you’re talking about. Not saying I don’t trust Niall, it’s just….Ew.” I said, completely grossed out.
They all chuckled. “Don’t listen to Harry. We may not know Addison as much as you do, but Niall wouldn’t take advantage of her like that. He’s a good guy.” Liam said, walking over and clapping Harry on the back.
“I could’ve figured that. They really are great together.” I said wistfully. Louis looked down at me, puzzled. “Why do you say it like that?
I put my head in my hands. “Nothing. It’s just that I’m so glad that she’s found someone who will love her other than myself; her sister. We’ve been through… so much and if I can’t find it, at least I can feel relieved that Addy did. She means the world to me. I don’t know what I’d do without her.” I said softly.
Lou gently rolled off of me and sat up straight, pulling me up with him. He took my hands in his own. “Carter. You and Addison are not alone. The lads and I will be here for you no matter what. When we met you guys, you weren’t like the others. You were calm, collected, and treated us like….normal human beings. That’s hard to come by when you’re famous. To me, meeting you and Addison was the best thing that could have happened for us and I think the boys would agree with me on that,” he finished, moving a piece of my blonde hair out of my eyes.
I looked up and found the others nodding. They really do care. I tried so hard not to cry, but it didn’t seem to work. When the first tear started to fall, I was pulled into Lou’s arms. I sobbed into his chest, twisting his T-shirt in my fists until my knuckles turned white. They probably thought I was this insecure little girl who cried whenever she heard something nice about her. That’s not it at all. My heart is this cold, dark, and hollow…rock. It’s been that way ever since I was able to understand the horrible things happening to me and my sister in my old life. Now, with these boys… it feels like it’s slowly starting to revive itself.
After a few minutes of rocking and coaxing from the boys, I finally stopped my little episode. “I’m so sorry guys. You were never meant to see that.” I said hoarsely. I could tell from their faces that they wanted to understand what happened to the broken girl sitting before them. They shouldn’t know. They can’t know. If I told them, I’d put them all in for a world of hurt which is the last thing that I’d ever want to do. Addison would agree.
“Hey. We’re your family now. There is nothing that you could say that would scare us away.” Harry spoke up next, caressing my cheek with his thumb.
Oh Harry….wanna bet?
Some talking and a movie later, I sat up suddenly from the bed. The boys and I were all spread out on the queen sized bed. You’d think we couldn’t all fit. That’s what I thought before too. We all lay against the headboard. I sat in the very middle, my legs on top of Louis’s lap and my head in the crook of Harry’s neck. Next came Zayn, who was sitting the opposite way with his legs next to us and his head at the end of the bed. Lastly, Liam was at the opposite end of me and Lou. He was laying on his side, with his head on a pillow that was on top of Zayn’s back. Anyone seeing this would probably think we’re a bunch of 5 year olds. It really was a sight to see.
Wait! Did anyone notice that Niall and Addy didn't come back? Have they been out this whole time?! I sprang up into a sitting position, pulling my head out of the crook of Harry's neck and my legs off of Lou. They all tore their attention away from the TV.
“What’s up love?” Lou asked, pausing the movie. “Does anyone remember Niall and Addy coming back? It’s been almost…” I looked up at the clock. “Four hours!?”
Before anyone could even get a word out, I heard a click come from outside of the hotel door.
Spoke too soon…
I waited until Addy and Niall both came into view. When they did, I noticed something different about them. They both had this…mischievous look on their faces; like they were in on some joke that no one else knew about. I’ve seen that look plenty of times on Addy and it usually didn’t end well for me.
I widened my eyes, finally realizing what she was planning for us innocent selves. “You wouldn’t.” I said nervously. Addy smirked and turned to Niall one last time. “Oh dear sister..I would.” She said, pure evil dripping from every word.
“Guys! Leave-“ I was cut off from getting the boys to safety by Niall screaming one word…
“NOW!”
