The Hitchhiker

Tyra’s POV

“You got here kind of fast,” I point as I hug Calum.
“Got on a plane, What’s up man?” He bumps fists with Harry.
“Are you ready for a long drive?” Harry questions with a smirk.
“As long as you have good music- bring it on,” Calum claps and then tosses his bag in the back of the pickup.
“WE need to stop and get food on the way,” I remind Harry, while climbing into the truck.
“Why didn’t you get any here?” Calum raises his brows, pointing at the dinner.
“Not going near that clod blooded woman, we’ll stop on the way,” I rush to say.
Calum shrugs shutting the door of the car. Harry keeps quiet and starts the car, pulling out of the parking lot.
I am sat between Harry and Calum taking control of the music playing.
“So Liam and Luke didn’t mind you leaving after such a short visit?” I inquire starting a conversation.
“You kidding? They are meeting us in LA- that is where Luke’s family’s from, and the semester is over anyway in a few days, so Lima is joining him, we’ll be staying at the pool house,” Calum remarks.
“Where in LA is he from?”
“Donno, but he comes from money so probably in a fancy place,” Calum shrugs.
“He comes from money but lives in that shit flat?” Harry chuckles.
“People don’t know about his family, he keeps it quiet, he wants to be known for himself not his dad,” Calum explains.
“Who’s his dad?” I furrow my brows.
“Andrew Hemmings..”
“Wait what?! THE Andrew Hemmings?” Harry exclaims, glancing over at Calum before looking back on the road.
“Heard of him?” Calum sounds astonished.
“I read the paper you know..” Harry rolls his eyes.
“Sorry- but who is he?” I ask feeling left behind.
“He owns this huge company and ran for elections but then dropped out since Luke’s brother gt really sick and he decided that family comes first, so he dropped out to take care of him, and support the family,” Calum explain.
“Is Luke’s brother ok?” I question.
“Yeah, he pulled through, they are a good family, they give a lot to charity and such,“ Calum adds.
“Hey Harry- stop at that dinner over there so we can finally eat something,” I point almost sticking my finger in his eye.
“GOSH! I’m so sorry!” I shriek, bringing my hands to my cheeks.
“MY god Ty, keep your fingers close to you or I’ll need you to swop places with Calum,” Harry leans away from me.
“I’m really sorry,” I mumble, sitting on my hands, making both boys laugh.
Harry turns into the parking lot of this small gas station. WE all get out and head into the dinner, taking a seat at the table next to the front window.
“I’m going to the toilet, decide what you want to eat in the meantime,” Harry, touches my shoulder before walking off.
Calum and I look through the menu quietly.
“Calum.. I.. I wondered.. the time you spent with Niall.. did he seem.. did he seem different to you?” I ask in a small voice, scared of the answer I might get.
“What do you mean?” He questions sounding confused.
“Well it’s just, before you came, Harry and I asked the lady at the other dinner if she’s seen him and she has and she said such terrible things about him- I’m having a hard time believing her,” I stammer. Just the thought of Niall acting the way she described makes me shudder.
“What did she say?”
I tell him what happened, the whole time Calum was shaking his head.
“That doesn’t make any sense Tyra- she must be confused with someone else, don’t let it bother you,” He touches my hand. I offer him a small smile, to let him know I won’t however, secretly it was. I remember Niall when dad first died, he wasn’t himself, he was mean and grumpy and what if he went back to that? What if he got himself in big trouble that even we can’t get him out of?
“Did you decide what you want?” Harry questions bending over me and reaching out for the menu.
“Yeah.. I’m just going to have a soda.. I lost my appetite,” I sigh, slouching in my seat.
I am ready for him to tell me I need to eat, that I haven’t eaten all day but to my surprise he leaves it, asking Calum what he’ll be having, and then walking away to the counter to ask the lady for our orders.
“Tyra.. Niall is a good guy.. He’ll be alright- I’m sure of it,” Calum tells me in a low voice.
I node, but deep down I have a very bad feeling eating away in my gut.

Harry’s POV

“How can I help a pretty boy like yourself?” The lady behind the register asks me. She looks about 30, however it is hard to know for sure with all the makeup on her face.
“Oh hi, I would like 2 burgers, 3 sodas and a muffin please,” I decide to get the muffin for Tyra, even though she hasn’t asked for it. She needs to eat something even if it’s something small.
“You’re a long way from home sugar, what brings you all the way here?” She asks while giving my order to the cook in the back.
“Picked up on my accent did you?” I smirk. Americans I learned have to always comment on the fact I am british.
“Sure did, however your looks made me pay attention,” She winks, filling up cups for us.
“Yeah.. I’m driving down to LA with my girlfriend and friend,” I beckon towards Tyra and Calum.
“I guess it’s true what they say,” She frowns at me.
“Sorry?”
“That good looking people stick together- did you jump out of a catalog or something?”
“You’re very kind,” I thank her.
“So ya’all heading down for spring break?”
“Yeah, well- Tyra- my girlfriend, she’s looking for her brother, and last we heard he was headed down there,” I explain.
“How would you know where though? LA is one big place,” She points out.
“I know.. I reckon we need to try though? Start someplace,” I shrug.
“Well, here is your food,” She gives me a tray with my order.
“Thank you.”
I take the tray back to our table and place the muffin in front of Tyra.
“You know you need to eat,” I say when she looks up at me in question.
“Thanks man, this looks disgusting but I’m starving,” Calum picks up his burger.
“Ty, can I have Niall’s photo for a moment please?” I turn to her. It takes her a moment to get it out, and she hands it over to me. I get up and walk back over to the lady behind the counter.
“Need anything else hun?” She inquires.
“Yes, if you could please have a look at this photo- maybe you came across this lad before?” I show her the photo of Niall.
“Mike’s friend!” She smiles shaking her head.
“Pardon?” I’m pretty sure I have never heard that name before.
“Mike? Michael Clifford? Blue hair? Ripped jeans? Kind of a bad boy,” She raises her brows surprised I don’t know of him.
“I’m sorry, I don’t think I have ever met him,” I say glancing back at Tyra and Calum who were watching us.
“They were here a few weeks ago, Mike sweet talked my daughter into giving them free food, he has a way with girls I tell ya,” She seems proud.
“I see- do you know where they might have been heading to in LA?” I ask here.
“Tessa might know, is he your girlfriend’s brother? He seemed like a nice kid- very quiet but nice, I was surprised seeing him with Mike since usually the company he keeps are load and reckless,” She giggles.
“How can I get hold of Tessa? This is quite important,” I remark.
“Go eat your food, she should be here soon.”
I thank her again and stride back to Tyra.
“Was he really here?” She looks up at me.
“That’s what the lady says,” I bite into my burger, which is already cold.
“Someone up there loves you,” Calum states pointing to the ceiling.
“Why?” She questions. I reach and pick up her muffin placing it in her hand, reminding her to eat it.
She breaks a little piece off and puts it in her mouth.
“For some reason, this whole time you’re meeting the right people to point you in his way- first me-“
“No.. I asked a bunch of people before you and no one has seen him- you are the one who pointed us to Liam and Luke who gave us the phone number and sent us to Tommy who told us to go to LA,” I cut in, reminding him it wasn’t so much as for luck.
“Well yes, but what are the odds that two other people have seen him and you stumble upon them?” Calum asks.
“Well this is the main route down, and he was bound to stop someplace on the way,” I remind him.
“Nonetheless, you’re lucky girl,” Calum finishes.
A girl walks in then, she seems 15, dressed in fish net tights and short skinny jeans. She had on a tinny vest showing of her tummy and she had far too much dark eye makeup on.
“I’m here ma,” She calls, letting the door slam after her.
“How many times did I tell you not to let that door swing shut behind you?!” The lady behind the counter says in a cross tone, making the girl roll her eyes.
“Tessa- do you know where Mike Clifford is staying down in LA? These kids are looking for him,” She points at us.
“What do you have with Mike?” Tessa asks suspiciously, eyeing Tyra.
“With him nothing, we’re looking for the dude that was with him,” Calum says.
“The blonde one? What do you have with him?” She asks, still looking at Tyra.
“He’s my brother and I need to find him,” Tyra speaks up.
“Maybe he doesn’t want to be found- ever think about that?” She challenges us.
“Come one Tess, help the group out why don’t you? Don’t be a brat,” Her mum calls out.
“Look Tessa, I understand if you’re trying to look out for your friend, but we are trying to look out for ours, and Niall- Mike’s friend, his mum is very sick and he doesn’t know, we need to find him and bring him back home so he can spend some time with her,” I say softly, hoping to break through to her.
She shifts her gaze over to me narrowing her eyes.
“You’re from London right? I like your accent.. I always wanted to go there but she won’t let me,” Tessa says.
“Maybe one day you’ll get to go,” I smile, hoping if I’ll be friendly she’ll help.
“I don’t know where they are staying but I know that next week there is a party on El Porto beach- it’s this big thing and everyone is going,” She finally says.
I glance over at Tyra who’s eyes were sparkling with determination.
“Thank you for your help,” I smile, leaving a tip on the table as we get up.
I think this is the first time in a long time that we really felt close to finding Niall.

Notes

I"m back to updating this story!! woohooo!! Did you miss me?

I haven't read over this chapter so it might have mistakes and for that I'm sorry- I just really wanted to update for you guys already.

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Ok then.. I am off to start writing the next chapter xxx