The Hitchhiker

Louis' POV

"How long has it been since you've seen her last?" Eleanor asked me as we entered my dorm room.
"Since I left for college last year," I reply sitting down on the bed.
"Hard?" She asks quietly, sitting by my side. I feel her watching me, and I kind of feel bad, dropping Ty on her this way without any heads up, but it was Tyra after all, and I can't just start to explain her out of nowhere.

"Not in the way you think," I answer looking up at her.
"She is that girl you told me about ha?" She offers me a weak smile.

"Yeah.. I need to tell you something," I turn to face her.
"All right," She sits up a little straighter.

"So I know you know she was my high school sweetheart and all but there is more to Ty," I explain.
"My mom and hers are really close, so even though I haven't seen her in a while I knew what was going on from my mom,"
"Ok.. so.." Eleanor seemed confused.
"Remember when Niall was here?" I change direction, looking for an easier way to explain Tyra.
"Sure- your blond friend," Eleanor smiles.
"Yea! So he is Ty's older brother…" I say quietly.
"Oh…" is her answer, the smile leaving her face.

She knew all about Niall. She was here when he dropped by out of nowhere, she was here when he spoke about his dad, about feeling responsible, about him thinking Tyra hates him for leaving her and her mom behind like he did. That he doesn't know how to get out of this black hole he is in, when he fell apart, when he left.
"I know he told you about the day he left, but I have never told you what happened to Tyra because of it," I start again.

"When their dad died the whole family died with him- I mean not literally, but they had no more life in them- and I am talking about an all American family. Ni was QB and TY was a cheerleader, they were fun and outgoing and the heart of the party, and then one day that was it. I couldn't get any response out of Tyra. She quit cheerleading, and anything else she was part of. She stopped hanging out with her friends, stopped smiling stop living. All of them were like that, you know how close I was with Niall.. And then after a few months she snapped out of it- just like that, she was Tyra again, but only on the outside.

And I tried being there for her and making her talk, I gave her everything I could.. But I guess.. I don't know.. I guess I just couldn't give her what she needed, and she broke up with me… A year to their father's death, Niall didn't come to the memorial, and when they got back home he was gone.. The only thing he left behind was this journal he used to always write in- He left it on Tyra's bed…

That night she sneaked in through my window crying.. The journal in her hand, she wanted to go after him right then and there, wanted a ride with me, since I was supposed to be leaving to come here, wanted me to take her to NY.. But I refused.." I stop for air, the whole time I was speaking Eleanor sat by my side listening, her hand on my thigh.

"Louis, you made sure she went back to living her life, finished school, you did the right thing," She tried to soothe me.

"But that was the thing… she didn't… not really! She was so pissed at me, she stormed out, and I called her and she never answered, and I went after her- I went back to her house- but she didn't go back, and I ended up looking for her the whole night, finding her in the morning at the graveyard,"

I can still remember that day as if it was yesterday.

*Flash back*

I pulled my hood over my head, the early morning was chilly the sun not up yet. I had roamed the town looking all over the place for Ty. I was a dick! I should have handled this better! I knew better, her heart was broken, she lost so much, and I just told her no. I should have told her I'll think about it, or wait till the morning, maybe she would have calmed down and saw thing more rationally. I could have kicked myself over and over again for making her run out crying-Why the hell didn't I run out after her right away? I have been with her for years, I should have known she would do that..

'But that's just it isn't it?' my subconscious said, 'you don't know her anymore, she has changed- that girl is not your Tyra'.

I need to leave in a few hours, but I can't- not without knowing she is alright. I am full of fear that she had gone to the highway trying to hitchhike her way out. As I was getting ready to take the turn I see the sign to the cemetery.

Could it be? It's worth a shot. I pull in and park the car, getting out and making my way down between the graves to where we stood just yesterday.
Sure enough she was there, spread on the cold stone, staring straight into oblivion.

"Ty?" I run up to her, but she doesn’t move. I touch her and she is freezing.
"Tyra! You scared the crap out of me!" I shout at her peeling off my jacket and pulling it over her shoulders. She doesn't move.

"Ty?" I say this time quieter. I pull her up and lean her back against me, shaking her slightly trying to get a reaction.

"Tyra! Talk to me!" I demand shaking her a little harder scared out of my wits.
When I hear the sob escape her lips my heart breaks all over again but at the same time I am relived she is showing some sort of sign of life.

I rub at her arms trying to warm her up.
"Ty babe, let's get you back to the car it's freezing out," I am so used to calling her that way, it comes out without thinking.

"What has become of me?" She weeps
"What do you mean? Tyra.. you're all right, you are alive and strong! You are beautiful and smart and funny, you will get through this," I promise her.
"Dad is dead and he just leaves too, he didn't even say goodbye Tommy! He didn't have the decency to look us in the eye and say he is leaving," She cried turning to look at me.

"I know I-"

"You don't know!! You don't know anything! If you did you would let me come with you! You would help me look for him! But you won't! I hate him for leaving us! I hate you for taking his side!" She screams, crying so hard the hurt and betrayal shining in her red eyes.
"No- You don't hate Niall, and you don't hate me.. Tyra, Niall he probably needed time to figure things out.. He will come back- you need to let him go- you need to stop focusing on him and start looking after yourself! You need to live your life! You were doing so well- I saw you! You were better!" I say softly, trying to show her.

"No.. I wasn't.. Not really.. Niall was my anchor, we were trying together, pulling each other up and mom- but now that he is gone who will be my anchor? How would I do it on my own? How will I be able t o take care of my mom" She whispered, tears sliding down her cheeks.

"He will come back," I promise her.

"No he won't, he left me his journal Tommy.. He isn't coming back,"
She then laid her head on my shoulder, letting the rest of the tears flood out. I am not sure how long we stayed that way. I just hold her and run my hand down her hair until she finally calms down and falls asleep. I pick her up and take her to the car. She wakes up and gets in herself, falling straight back to sleep once she is inside.

I brought her into her house and up to her room laying her on her bed and pulling up the covers and then I left.

That was the last time I have seen Tyra- Until today.

Niall's POV

I Wonder if she ever came looking, if she ever got out. I think about going back a lot lately, ever since calling home that night and getting Ty on the phone.
I was wasted and I was crying and I scared her.

She must have been so mad at me that day.. I keep wondering what has become of her.. She was doing so well, she never went back to cheering but she was doing well with school, and she took up that charity.

That day when she snatched the cigarette out of my hand and screamed at me to snap out of it- I was so fucking pissed at her, but then it got me thinking. I was ready to leave then, but I knew I had to make sure they were alright beforehand, that they could handle it. SO I stayed, I stayed for another year.. I started to think I might be getting better along with them, but I wasn't, it was wishful thinking.. I knew it was a silly little dream of mine to think I could get through this, but our silver lining was that Tyra was better, she really was. She would make it, and make mom proud and dad if he is watching would be proud too, I hope like a little boy he is up there with god pointing at Tyra telling him 'that's my kid'.

I wonder if maybe she got back with Tommy, maybe she went up to see him? Or check out that college, then he would give her the phone.. Then she would look through it and see my message for her, maybe then she will understand and forgive me, maybe then I will finally be able to come home.

Notes

Hi!!!

SO I just wanted to let you all know, I have started another story ( I know.. I really need to stop coming up with new stories, I am writing to many of them)
However, I would love for you guys to take a moment of your time to check it out.. It would mean the world to me!
It is called 'THE DEATH OF ME' and it's about a bad ass Harry and I think you might like it..
It only has one chapter, so please read it and let me know what you think by voting, subscribing and commenting below so I'll know you like it and I should keep writing..
Thank you so much for reading! Hope you liked the chapter! x