Tattoos
Flashbacks.
CLAIRE'S POV
No one has said a word since we left the motel. It's been almost an hour and a half we've been in the car, it was almost two in the afternoon, and there was silence.
Liam and Lyn were passed out in the back, so it's not like I expect them to speak. Then there's Louis, sitting next to me who hadn't looked at me, spoken to me, or even glanced. But I know why, it's because of what happened back at the motel.
"What time is it?" I asked five minutes after he told me that my clothes were washing.
Louis looked at his watch, "Uh, ten thirty." Even though we were talking, it made this situation even more awkward.
I suppose I could just put my dirty clothes back on, but I've been wearing that same outfit for three days now. I sighed and held the towel tightly around my body, these towels weren't the biggest, it just barley covered me. The fact that Louis hadn't said anything about it kind of surprises me.
The Louis I met two months ago wouldn't have hesitated to remind me about how short the towel was. Now, his back is facing toward me, almost as if he feels like he doesn't deserve to look at me.
"Louis? Are you okay?" I asked, I felt like there was something wrong with him.
"Yeah," His voice was scratchy. He cleared his throat and repeated, "Erm, yeah I'm fine. Why?"
"Well you've been acting weird lately." I paused waiting to see if he would say anything, but he didn't so I continued, "You seem nicer." I hesitated to say nicer, I didn't know if he would snap and get at me for calling him, Louis Tomlinson, nice.
He sighed, "Well if we're going to be stuck with eachother there's no point in being a complete asshole."
Something told me that wasn't all of it, "Well yeah, I agree. But that's not everything, seriously tell me."
"It's nothing, Claire." He said rushed, his back was still facing me.
I pursed my lips, contemplating if I should walk to the other side of the bed where he was. I didn't want to get in his personal space, so I just stood up and walked into the bathroom, then shut the door.
My clothes were still folded on the counter, I thought at least for now, I could but on a bra and shirt and use the towel as a skirt. It would be more, appropriate I guess you could say.
I slipped on my bra and shirt, then tied the towel around my waist. Before I opened the door, I looked in the mirror and almost cringed. My eyes had dark circles under them from lack of sleep and food.
Maybe I can take a nap while I wait for the laundry to finish washing, then we'll leave after everyone gets their clothes. Right before I unlocked the bathroom door, there was a light knock.
I opened it and Louis was standing there with a look that said 'I need to talk'. He grabbed my arm and led me to the bed, he sat me down and he stood in front of me with his arms crossed.
"Um, is everything okay?" I asked, I had no idea what to expect from this guy.
Louis kneeled so our faces were even, "I need to know how you feel about me. Do you hate me?"
My face went from confused to shock, major foreshadowing from the gas station. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, how do you feel about me as a person. Do you hate me still?" He asked with the most blank expression on his face.
"What makes you think that I ever hated you?" I questioned, "And to answer your question, no I don't hate you."
Louis shrugged, "Well you did tell me that you hated me the first week we met."
Oh yeah, "Yeah well, like you said if we're stuck with eachother then might as well be sorta nice." I mumbled.
Louis was silent for a good five seconds, just staring at me as if he was looking for the right question to ask. "If you don't hate me, then how do you feel about me?"
I was caught off guard and had no idea how to answer. "Why are you asking me this?"
"Just answer the damn question." He didn't speak in a harsh tone, but it clear that he was frustrated.
I began to play with a few strands of my hair, another nervous habit I have. "I dunno, honestly I don't."
"Let me ask you another question, and you have to answer. Am I clear?" Here comes bossy Louis again.
I just nodded, not really wanting to promise anything with words because I didn't know what I was getting myself into.
"When you kissed me, while you and Lyn were still fighting, you didn't pull away after two seconds. Why?" Now Louis looked determined, he wanted answers but so did I.
I chewed on the inside of my cheek, still playing with my hair. "I don't know, maybe because you're a good kisser. Why do you keep interrogating me?"
Something changed in Louis' facial expression. His eyes changed, before they were rough and angry, now they were softer but still determined.
He nodded, "One more question."
"Fine, but last one because I'm tired and I wanna sleep." I could practically hear the pillows calling my name.
"Would you want to do it again?"
"Do what again?"
"Kiss. Would you want to kiss me again? And the truth, Claire, it's not like this is a reality TV show."
He said he wanted to the truth, so I gave him the truth. "Well, I wouldn't mind I guess.."
Louis' lips curved lightly into a smirk, a fucking smirk because that's how he is. "Great to know."
Louis stood up and walked over to the other side of the room toward the window. He opened one of the blinds and peered outside, then shut it.
I looked at the floor and bit my bottom lip. I usually did this when the situations were awkward and I didn't know what else to do.
"God." Louis mumbled under his breath.
I looked up at him, he was staring right at me. "Huh?"
"Don't do that, th-that lip thing." He stammered.
A confused expression etched across my face, "Why?"
"Because," Louis walked toward the door, "It's a major turn on."
We didn't speak after that. He got my clothes, threw them in my bag and set them on the bed for me, and that was it. It went smoother then I expected, but it was still unexpected and weird.
You would think after being stuck with him for over two months, I would get used to him asking questions that were blunt, but no.
"Earth to Claire." Louis' voice broke me out of my thought.
I looked over at him, "Sorry, what?"
"I was asking if you were getting out of the car." He gestured to the parked car that was in a driveway, a driveway.
"Wait, where are we?" I asked while unbuckling my seatbelt.
Louis was silent for a second, probably thinking if he should tell me or not. "A close friend of mine, he's rich and he's letting us stay for awhile."
I looked up at his friend's home, and it wasn't just your simple house. No, it was a mansion. I looked up at it in awe, this was heaven, especially for someone who's been in crappy motels and sleeping in the dirt for two months.
"Coming?" Louis asked.
I was wondering if he was just going to act like nothing happened earlier. For now, I'll play it off but I'm definently asking him about it later or anytime I get the chance.
The huge doors, which in assuming are the main doors of this heavenly home, were wide opened. Lyn and Liam were both talking to someone, I'm guessing the owner of the home.
They both turned and smiles at Louis and I, I got a chance to see Louis' friend. He was tall, very handsome and looked young like Louis.
He walked over to Louis and I, he gave a Louis one of those 'bro hugs'. He looked over at me, his green eyes piercing into my blue ones, "And who is this lovely lady?" He had a British accent also.
"This is Claire, my soulmate." Louis said while making eye contact with me. For some reason though, I felt like there was a tension between Louis and his friend.
I smiled, "Hi."
He gave me a stern nod and grabbed my hand, then placed a kiss on it, while keeping eye contact with me. "Pleasure, I'm Harry."
In the corner of my eye, I saw Louis' jaw clench. I didn't want to piss him off so I put on a plain face and didn't reply to Harry. "Well, I'll show you your rooms."
Harry led us all into a large living room that had stairs on the right side. He took us up the stairs and down a long narrow hallway, then he stopped.
"Okay well both rooms are across from eachother, they're both the same so you guys can choose. I have to finish some work, but my servents will have dinner at 6 pm sharp." He gave us all a half smile, but when he looked at me, he winked and walked off.
Louis huffed and grabbed my forearm tightly, then led us into one of the two rooms. He slammed the door, locked it and threw me into the bed.
"What the fuck!" I exclaimed.
He glared at me, "Why are you flirting with him?"
"What? I am not-"
"Oh shut it. It was obvious when you smiled and said hi. I'm not fucking stupid!" He yelled.
He was pacing back and fourth in front of me, honestly I was a little scared because I haven't seen him upset in awhile. Plus, he's getting upset over something that isn't a big deal.
"Look, I wasn't flirting. He kissed my hand and I didn't want to piss you off like you are now, so I didn't speak anymore. I literally said one word." I crossed my arms and waited for his response.
He stopped pacing and looked at me, "Then what the hell was that just now?"
"Him winking at me, I didn't wink at him or smile or anything. Why are you all pissy at me?" I snapped.
Louis didn't say anything, he just took a deep breath and clenched his fist.
I couldn't help but laugh a little, "You're jealous." I teased.
Louis glared even harder at me, "Am not."
"So you don't mind if I go downstairs right now and talk to Harry?" I stood up from the bed, only to be pushed back down by Louis.
I wasn't sitting on the bed, his force caused me to lie on the bed. Louis hovered over me, his face only inches from me. "You're not going to talk to him. Wanna know why? Because you don't belong to him." Louis held up his wrist that had my initials on it, "You're mine, not his. Understood?"
I looked at Louis' lips before looking back at his eyes. "Understood."
Louis stood up and looked at his watch, "We have half an hour until dinner. Harry expects us to dress up, so you and Lyn can find dresses in a closet somewhere. See you at dinner." And he walked out.
You're mine, not his.
No one has said a word since we left the motel. It's been almost an hour and a half we've been in the car, it was almost two in the afternoon, and there was silence.
Liam and Lyn were passed out in the back, so it's not like I expect them to speak. Then there's Louis, sitting next to me who hadn't looked at me, spoken to me, or even glanced. But I know why, it's because of what happened back at the motel.
"What time is it?" I asked five minutes after he told me that my clothes were washing.
Louis looked at his watch, "Uh, ten thirty." Even though we were talking, it made this situation even more awkward.
I suppose I could just put my dirty clothes back on, but I've been wearing that same outfit for three days now. I sighed and held the towel tightly around my body, these towels weren't the biggest, it just barley covered me. The fact that Louis hadn't said anything about it kind of surprises me.
The Louis I met two months ago wouldn't have hesitated to remind me about how short the towel was. Now, his back is facing toward me, almost as if he feels like he doesn't deserve to look at me.
"Louis? Are you okay?" I asked, I felt like there was something wrong with him.
"Yeah," His voice was scratchy. He cleared his throat and repeated, "Erm, yeah I'm fine. Why?"
"Well you've been acting weird lately." I paused waiting to see if he would say anything, but he didn't so I continued, "You seem nicer." I hesitated to say nicer, I didn't know if he would snap and get at me for calling him, Louis Tomlinson, nice.
He sighed, "Well if we're going to be stuck with eachother there's no point in being a complete asshole."
Something told me that wasn't all of it, "Well yeah, I agree. But that's not everything, seriously tell me."
"It's nothing, Claire." He said rushed, his back was still facing me.
I pursed my lips, contemplating if I should walk to the other side of the bed where he was. I didn't want to get in his personal space, so I just stood up and walked into the bathroom, then shut the door.
My clothes were still folded on the counter, I thought at least for now, I could but on a bra and shirt and use the towel as a skirt. It would be more, appropriate I guess you could say.
I slipped on my bra and shirt, then tied the towel around my waist. Before I opened the door, I looked in the mirror and almost cringed. My eyes had dark circles under them from lack of sleep and food.
Maybe I can take a nap while I wait for the laundry to finish washing, then we'll leave after everyone gets their clothes. Right before I unlocked the bathroom door, there was a light knock.
I opened it and Louis was standing there with a look that said 'I need to talk'. He grabbed my arm and led me to the bed, he sat me down and he stood in front of me with his arms crossed.
"Um, is everything okay?" I asked, I had no idea what to expect from this guy.
Louis kneeled so our faces were even, "I need to know how you feel about me. Do you hate me?"
My face went from confused to shock, major foreshadowing from the gas station. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, how do you feel about me as a person. Do you hate me still?" He asked with the most blank expression on his face.
"What makes you think that I ever hated you?" I questioned, "And to answer your question, no I don't hate you."
Louis shrugged, "Well you did tell me that you hated me the first week we met."
Oh yeah, "Yeah well, like you said if we're stuck with eachother then might as well be sorta nice." I mumbled.
Louis was silent for a good five seconds, just staring at me as if he was looking for the right question to ask. "If you don't hate me, then how do you feel about me?"
I was caught off guard and had no idea how to answer. "Why are you asking me this?"
"Just answer the damn question." He didn't speak in a harsh tone, but it clear that he was frustrated.
I began to play with a few strands of my hair, another nervous habit I have. "I dunno, honestly I don't."
"Let me ask you another question, and you have to answer. Am I clear?" Here comes bossy Louis again.
I just nodded, not really wanting to promise anything with words because I didn't know what I was getting myself into.
"When you kissed me, while you and Lyn were still fighting, you didn't pull away after two seconds. Why?" Now Louis looked determined, he wanted answers but so did I.
I chewed on the inside of my cheek, still playing with my hair. "I don't know, maybe because you're a good kisser. Why do you keep interrogating me?"
Something changed in Louis' facial expression. His eyes changed, before they were rough and angry, now they were softer but still determined.
He nodded, "One more question."
"Fine, but last one because I'm tired and I wanna sleep." I could practically hear the pillows calling my name.
"Would you want to do it again?"
"Do what again?"
"Kiss. Would you want to kiss me again? And the truth, Claire, it's not like this is a reality TV show."
He said he wanted to the truth, so I gave him the truth. "Well, I wouldn't mind I guess.."
Louis' lips curved lightly into a smirk, a fucking smirk because that's how he is. "Great to know."
Louis stood up and walked over to the other side of the room toward the window. He opened one of the blinds and peered outside, then shut it.
I looked at the floor and bit my bottom lip. I usually did this when the situations were awkward and I didn't know what else to do.
"God." Louis mumbled under his breath.
I looked up at him, he was staring right at me. "Huh?"
"Don't do that, th-that lip thing." He stammered.
A confused expression etched across my face, "Why?"
"Because," Louis walked toward the door, "It's a major turn on."
We didn't speak after that. He got my clothes, threw them in my bag and set them on the bed for me, and that was it. It went smoother then I expected, but it was still unexpected and weird.
You would think after being stuck with him for over two months, I would get used to him asking questions that were blunt, but no.
"Earth to Claire." Louis' voice broke me out of my thought.
I looked over at him, "Sorry, what?"
"I was asking if you were getting out of the car." He gestured to the parked car that was in a driveway, a driveway.
"Wait, where are we?" I asked while unbuckling my seatbelt.
Louis was silent for a second, probably thinking if he should tell me or not. "A close friend of mine, he's rich and he's letting us stay for awhile."
I looked up at his friend's home, and it wasn't just your simple house. No, it was a mansion. I looked up at it in awe, this was heaven, especially for someone who's been in crappy motels and sleeping in the dirt for two months.
"Coming?" Louis asked.
I was wondering if he was just going to act like nothing happened earlier. For now, I'll play it off but I'm definently asking him about it later or anytime I get the chance.
The huge doors, which in assuming are the main doors of this heavenly home, were wide opened. Lyn and Liam were both talking to someone, I'm guessing the owner of the home.
They both turned and smiles at Louis and I, I got a chance to see Louis' friend. He was tall, very handsome and looked young like Louis.
He walked over to Louis and I, he gave a Louis one of those 'bro hugs'. He looked over at me, his green eyes piercing into my blue ones, "And who is this lovely lady?" He had a British accent also.
"This is Claire, my soulmate." Louis said while making eye contact with me. For some reason though, I felt like there was a tension between Louis and his friend.
I smiled, "Hi."
He gave me a stern nod and grabbed my hand, then placed a kiss on it, while keeping eye contact with me. "Pleasure, I'm Harry."
In the corner of my eye, I saw Louis' jaw clench. I didn't want to piss him off so I put on a plain face and didn't reply to Harry. "Well, I'll show you your rooms."
Harry led us all into a large living room that had stairs on the right side. He took us up the stairs and down a long narrow hallway, then he stopped.
"Okay well both rooms are across from eachother, they're both the same so you guys can choose. I have to finish some work, but my servents will have dinner at 6 pm sharp." He gave us all a half smile, but when he looked at me, he winked and walked off.
Louis huffed and grabbed my forearm tightly, then led us into one of the two rooms. He slammed the door, locked it and threw me into the bed.
"What the fuck!" I exclaimed.
He glared at me, "Why are you flirting with him?"
"What? I am not-"
"Oh shut it. It was obvious when you smiled and said hi. I'm not fucking stupid!" He yelled.
He was pacing back and fourth in front of me, honestly I was a little scared because I haven't seen him upset in awhile. Plus, he's getting upset over something that isn't a big deal.
"Look, I wasn't flirting. He kissed my hand and I didn't want to piss you off like you are now, so I didn't speak anymore. I literally said one word." I crossed my arms and waited for his response.
He stopped pacing and looked at me, "Then what the hell was that just now?"
"Him winking at me, I didn't wink at him or smile or anything. Why are you all pissy at me?" I snapped.
Louis didn't say anything, he just took a deep breath and clenched his fist.
I couldn't help but laugh a little, "You're jealous." I teased.
Louis glared even harder at me, "Am not."
"So you don't mind if I go downstairs right now and talk to Harry?" I stood up from the bed, only to be pushed back down by Louis.
I wasn't sitting on the bed, his force caused me to lie on the bed. Louis hovered over me, his face only inches from me. "You're not going to talk to him. Wanna know why? Because you don't belong to him." Louis held up his wrist that had my initials on it, "You're mine, not his. Understood?"
I looked at Louis' lips before looking back at his eyes. "Understood."
Louis stood up and looked at his watch, "We have half an hour until dinner. Harry expects us to dress up, so you and Lyn can find dresses in a closet somewhere. See you at dinner." And he walked out.
You're mine, not his.
Notes
30 VOTES? OMFG YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD EVEN GET 10! UGH IM SUPER HAPPY THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH I LOVE YOU!!
-JJ ,xo
aw fuck
1/19/18