Behind Her Smile [Louis]

The waiting room was the most horrible part. The guy was constantly staring at my bruises and face. He looked almost annoyed. Like I was doing something wrong. Since it was night, we were the only two people in the room, and to be honest nothing was more awkward than this very moment.
“My name is Louis” He still looked slightly annoyed, almost like he couldn’t figure something out. But a very smooth smile covered his annoyance partly.
“nice name” I muttered, not really wanting to start a conversation.
“Tomlinson” he added, and he said it almost like he was asking me it. He was wiggling on his chair, almost like a child, waiting for his mom to bring a cookie.
“Okay.” I nodded awkwardly my head.
“Okay sorry, but can I ask you how old you are?” he asked still a little annoyed.
“uh yea , sure.. what’s the date?” I asked, for the first time actually looking up at him.
“September 20” he raised his eyebrow faintly.
“Well then I just turned 19.” I smiled a little, the smile was crooked. Like always.
“Really? Your birthday is today? That’s a bummer” both his brows were now raised.
I just nodded, thinking this wasn’t even the worst.
“Happy birthday…” he mumbled.
“Thanks” I smiled again, the same as before. Trying to ignore his eye contact.
“So what music do you listen to?”
“I don’t really listen to music, actually”
“Oh..” that was the beginning of a very, long and awkward silence.
_
“Miss Richards?”
“Yes?” within the second I stood up and held my breath. I felt Louis standing up behind me, and I could picture his face right now. But he was not important, what the doctor was about to tell me was important.
“Your sister will be okay, but we have to call your parents, it’s –“
“I don’t have parents.” I said quickly, only realizing seconds later what I just did. It was convincing and I could literally feel Louis’ pity. I hated pity, never had it, so I don’t want it now either.
“Oh , I’m … I’m very sorry.” The doctor’s eyes basically spoke out “pity”.
“You don’t have to.” I uttered harshly. There followed an awkward silence and we still hadn’t move, I was staring at my feet until I asked him if I could see my little sister.
“Sure, she’s still asleep though.”
The doctors explained she had to stay in the hospital for at least 2 weeks, she broke a few of her ribs, also her left feet and leg, and a concussion. Also something else but it had an insanely difficult name so I didn’t remember. Anyway, since she’s still so young she has to stay in the hospital, because there is a big chance it won’t heal if she breaks it again in such a short time.
I stayed at the hospital every night, on a chair next to her hospital bed. It’s not that I had any choice, but it was lovely to see her face light up when she woke up and she saw me right beside her. She told me she’s relieved we decided to ‘run away’ even though the whole occurrence of the accident.
Louis is paying for everything, fortunately because we wouldn’t have made it so far. Speaking of Louis, he came to visit several times. He is a nice guy, my first impression was definitely wrong. I’m always happy to see him, not because I like him or anything, but he can make Laura smile, like nobody can. Watching how Louis makes her smile is like my drug, it keeps me away from all the misery.
When Laura was sleeping one day I’ve been searching for a job. After a while I found one, it’s not the best job I could get but it’s something and we need money. In 5 days we’ll be officially homeless. No place to sleep at all. I can’t see myself working in a coffee shop my entire life, but it’s okay for now.
“I brought some-“ Louis’ cheerful voice filled the room.
“Shhh! She’s asleep” I grinned a little to see his ‘I’m sorry’ face.
“Guess there’s more for us then.” He sighed like it was a bad thing.
“You don’t have to do it, I know you feel sorry for this” I pointed at Laura.
“I do. What are you reading?” he changed the subject.
“Reading” I smiled, and closed my book, move a little bit so that he could sit beside me.
“What is it about?” he smiled and looked right into my eyes. I shyly stared at my hands, and looked up again after a while. I tried to ignore how he looked at me.
“It’s about a rich girl who thinks she’s everything but then world war III breaks out and all the girls she bullied are with her in a basement trying to hide and all these girls are trying to explain her how to survive, but she doesn’t want to listen because she feels she deserves an explanation from someone better. So she ends up suffering a lot because she’s so stubborn. In the end she thinks everything will be like before the war, but her parents are nowhere to be found. So one of these girls who are according to her less worth, asks her to move in with her. But she, again refuses. So she has to live on the street, yea, it goes on like that but at the end she commits suicide.” He raised his eyebrows.
“Whoaa! Okay firstly that’s a horrible story, and secondly you already know the end?” I laughed softly.
“Yea already read this book like 7 times.” There was a silence for a while.
“Why don’t you read another book?” his smile had fade and he looked at me al serious now.
“I don’t own another book.”I smiled gently. “I’m just in love with words.”
He didn’t answer, we just started eating whatever he brought. He never really finished his sentence and I never had eaten it before.
“You know?” he asked still looking very weirdly at me.
“Nope?”
“You fascinate me.” I choked.
“What?” I gasped like he insulted me.
“It’s nice to hang out with you, you never ask questions about everything and you treat me like a normal guy.” I started laughing and somehow I couldn’t stop.
“What’s so funny?” he wanted to laugh along but he had just no reason, so he just looked at me with a wide grin.
“You think you’re so important then?” he smiled and wanted to answer but his phone buzzed.
“second.” He lifted his finger in the air.
“Sure, take your time.” I smiled, looking away from him and continued reading the book. Every time I hoped the book would suddenly change. But nope, the book always had the same sentences. The same chapters, no change at all.
“I’m sorry I have to go. I had a nice time, I see you soon.” He smiled and gave me a quick kiss on my cheek, that made me shiver all over with hate. He cannot do that again.
So, I saw him disappear and he left me without an answer.
I closed my book and decided to write down some ideas for a story. Just for myself though.

Notes