Nothing Without Love

Josephine POV


Oh my God, is he sleeping yet? It's close to five am and I'm so tired but no way in hell I'm staying here till the morning. Talk about uncomfortable. Louis seriously just wouldn't shut up. This is why I don't do these kinds of things. I don't go home with random strangers. Well he wasn't technically a stranger, I know of him. Guess it's a good story to tell. If my dad and brother find out about this I'm dead. I need to get out of here.

When I hear him slightly snoring I take that as my cue and scoot to the edge of the bed, sticking one foot out slowly as to not disrupt the sheets. When I look back I notice he's still sleeping so I slip the other foot out, half my body is on the bed, half of it is on the ground. If Ophelia could see me now. I roll my eyes at my own life choices as I slip the rest of my body out of the bed.

I stand, my knees popping in the dark and I once again turn to gauge if Louis is waking up. I step on my phone, lighting it up and see I still have a battery life so I use it to search for the rest of my things, my shirt that wouldn't come off. That was cool, like I've never undressed myself at all before. I fiddle with my jeans and find one of my shoes, then the other. I dropped my purse by the door so I find it easily enough.

I take one look back in the room, it's dark so it isn't a good look and I quietly unhinge the lock, no need to leave a note, just leave this how it is. I close the door quietly and literally run to the elevator. If me opening and shutting the door has caused Louis to wake up I want to get out of here as soon as possible. I laugh to myself, of course this is how I end this night. Seeing Nick, sleeping with someone I don't know. Ranks in the top five.

Once I reach the ground floor I realize I don't even know which hotel Louis was staying in. I pull my phone out and search for Ophelia’s number. I'm for sure not going home to my fathers place. I told him earlier that I was staying at Ophelia's place anyway.

“Hello?” I'm sure she was asleep but I don't care, she's my best friend!

“Ophelia!” I all but shout her name when I get outside and realize I've forgotten my jacket in the hotel room. Fuck. It's not like I can go back. If I go back he'll know that I left in the first place. Oh well, guess I'll have to get another one.

“Josie, what are you doing? It's five am!” She groans. But if only she could remember all the times I've done this for her at four, five, even six am.

“I need a ride.” I almost whisper, like I really care if anyone hears me. No one is out this early except those crazy fitness addicts that think they need to run this early.

“A ride? Where are you?” I look behind me at the hotel name.

“I'm at the Chateau Marmont.” I tell her.

“That's all the way in west LA Josephine!” She groans again.

“I know, but it's early, seriously no cars, get your ass in gear.” I demand from her. We grew up across the street from each other, she's like the sister I never had. More of a love hate relationship now.

“Fine.” She tells me as I can hear background noises, I can only assume she's finally putting on clothes and getting her things together. “What are you doing at the Chateau Marmont anyway?” She asks.

“Um, this is Louis' hotel.” I mumble. A bit embarrassed still but I'm twenty four, I can do whatever the hell I want.

“Louis? The guy I left you with?” She seems to suddenly be awake now as I hear her car starting, she should only be about twenty minutes away.

“Yes, and thanks for that by the way.” I'm a bit sarcastic but Ophelia left with her friend Alex about an hour before Louis and I did.

“What? Alex asked if I wanted to go and I said yes. You and Louis were having fun.” I can mentally see her shrugging her shoulders.

“So did I interrupt anything with you and Alex?" I ask.

“With Alex? Hell no, we just split a taxi. He probably wanted more but I didn't so that's where it ended.” She informs me. I just want her to be here by now. Thankfully there is a bench just outside the hotel that I've made myself comfortable on. It's March in LA so it's not exactly cold, but it could be a hell of a lot warmer. “How was Louis in bed?' She asks and I'm sure if I was drinking something I would have spit it all over the place.

“What makes you think I even slept with him?” I ask.

“Because you're sneaking out at five am Josie. If you just went there and hung out, things wouldn't be awkward and you wouldn't have wanted to avoid things. So you two slept together, you think way too much so you needed to leave as soon as possible.” She knows me too well. Guess that's what best friends are for.

“It was fine.” I tell her, I know I'm caught.

“Just fine? Didn't you tell me he was some sort of rock God?” She asks.

“A rock God?” I laugh at the thought. “No, he was in a band.” I correct her.

“Nice, what instrument does he play? Drums are sexy.” She lets out a giggle, she's always got a soft spot for drummers.

“No instruments, they just all sang. One of them played the guitar.” I tell her.

“So he was in a boy band. Like N'Sync.” I roll my eyes.

“Whatever. It could have been better.” I change the subject back.

“Better?” She asks for more information.

“Like he left the party early.” I purse my lips.

“He came early?” I hold the phone away as she's literally just yelled into my ear. This is why I don't tell Ophelia things.

“Yes. I don't know, we didn't talk about it, I can only assume he misread me. It is what it is, he said something about doing it again but we just ordered room service and he fell asleep. So I snuck out.”

“Well are you going to see him again?” She asks.

“Phelia. I snuck out of his hotel at five am after I waited an hour for him to fall asleep, and I didn't leave a note. I don't think I'm going out of my way to see him again.” If I ever run into him again I just fear it will be so awkward. I mean, I snuck out, left no note, left my leather jacket, and it was just an all around off time. But it was fun. If we would have known each other better it seems like we would have gotten along easily enough.

“Okay, okay. I get it. Least you got a good story out of it. I'm almost there.” She informs me as I lean back onto the bench. It's still dark out, but the sun should be coming up soon. I'm sure Adam is already awake and working out with my dad. It's Sunday so I'm going to have to wait a little bit later. Maybe I'll tell them I went to church, I need some sleep before I face them, think of a good cover story. It's just been us three for so long, I became the one they always look out for. Even at my age, dad finds a way to keep tabs on me. I guess that's what happens when you're the baby of the family, and the only girl.

A honk pulls me out of my thoughts, for a fleeting second I'm worried that it might be Louis but I see Phelia's familiar red car. I hop up and open the passenger door before she fully stops.

“You owe me.” She looks at me, her face is still sleepy.

“I don't owe you anything, I've done this for you too many times to count.” I click my seat belt as she starts pulling away.

“So to your house, or mine?” She smirks at me, already knowing the answer.

“Of course were going to your house. I need a few hours of sleep before I meet the father and brother.” I honestly love them, but they drive me nuts too.

We drive in silence, my eyes are heavy from the lack of sleep but the sun is starting to come up and it's always a beautiful sight. The city is starting to come alive again as the night turns to light. A new day has officially begun and it's been quite an interesting night, the day can only get calmer.

Notes

Last one for the day! Thank you so much for reading, hope you all enjoy it, I'm planning on fun for this story. :)

xoxox