The Hitchhiker

Harry's POV

We are in the car driving over to where Louis said we should meet for breakfast. I glance over to Tyra. She seemed nervous, biting her nails, and her knee jumping. I reach out and pull her fingers out of her mouth. Her hand drops to her thigh, and I lay my palm over it, closing my fingers over hers, giving it a slight squeeze of reassurance. I don't dare look at her, and am grateful when she doesn't pull away.

I can't explain what is going on between us. She is young, though you would never guess by the way she thinks and speaks.
I park the car outside of the coffee shop, and finally look over to her.

"All right there?" I ask softly.
"Yeah.. Let's find out where Niall is and then we can leave," She opens the door and gets out.

This morning when she woke she was her own self, smiling and laughing talking about, I can't even remember, too busy watching the way her mouth moves and her eyes sparkle.
But midway she quiet down and seemed somewhat restless and I wonder why.

I follow her out the car and we step into the shop together. Tyra spots Louis sitting with Eleanor at a table on the far side of the room, and she starts walking towards them, not before taking hold of my hand in hers. I try and hold the smile tugging at the corners of my mouth as I pace after her.

"Good morning," Louis smiles and gets up to kiss Tyra's cheek and shake my hand.
"How'd you sleep?" Eleanor questioned us.
"Very well, thank you, and thank you for letting us stay at such short notice," I smile at her kind face.
"No problem really," She says.
"Should we order something to eat?" Louis inquires, and Tyra and I both nod, and look at the menu.

"What would you fancy?" I whisper to Tyra.
"I'm not really hungry," She looks up at me. Her eyes were sad for some reason and my heart pinches wondering if it's my fault.
"Is everything all right?" I whisper.
"Yeah, it's nothing," She says laying her palm on my knee for a moment before pulling away.
"At least get something to drink then," I ask of her.
"Fine, I'll have a coffee," She sighs, and I order it for her with my tea and breakfast.

When the food is finally in front of us, Louis turns to Tyra.
"How's your mom doing? Have you spoken to her?" He questions. I feel Tyra's slight flinch and I glance over at her. She has a begging look in her eyes, but Louis is not letting go.
"My mom visits her every day, did you know?" He pooches.

"Yeas," Tyra whispers.
"You really need to go home then," He tells her.
"You out of all people know I can't," She says in a weak voice.

"Yes you can! He will come home when he is ready, you should live your life, do what you want to, not what other people ask from you," He goes on.

"The way you are asking me to go home now? I promised I'll come, and I am here now, so you can give me the phone and I'll be on my way," She answers stubbornly. I have never seen this side of Tyra, standing up to what she wants with such fierce.

"But this is different Ty- she is sick! She is dying,"

I am gobsmacked. I did not see this coming.
Eleanor is looking at the table playing with her fork, making sure not to make any eye contact with anyone.

"You think that because we used to date, and your mom is close to mine it gives you the right to tell me what to do? You lost that right a long time ago- the moment you left! The moment you decided not to call when Niall stayed by you! You chose his side when you were supposed to be on mine!" Tyra shoot at him, angry tears running down her face.

"Come on Ty, please don't cry.. I didn't mean it that way," Louis seems lost.

"Yeah well…" She got up from her seat, "I'm sorry.. I need some air," She says walking away.
"Louis, you should have stayed quiet," Eleanor told him off.
"I didn't mean it like that," He looks up at me.
"I'll be right back, excuse me," I say pushing my chair back and standing up. I pace swiftly after Tyra, wanting to make sure she's all right.

I step out of the shop, looking sideways for her, and find her leaning against my car in the car park.
"Are you trying to leave without me?" I try to lighten her mood.
When she looks up her eyes are red, and her cheeks are stained from tears. I step closer and open my arms offering her a hug. She doesn't think twice before falling into my chest, letting me comfort her with a warm cuddle.

"I know I sound like the most evil person in the world leaving my mom when she is sick with cancer, but I only did it because I had no other choice," She cries on my shoulder.
I pet her hair, trying to calm her down enough so she could explain from the beginning.

Tyra's POV

I can't believe that Tommy used my mom's illness to get me to return home. He has no idea what we've been through this past year. He acts like he knows everything since his mom is best friends with mine, and she is her privet nurse. But he knows nothing. My mom on top of her illness has a broken heart, and she will never win if she needs to struggle with both. I know that if I can find Niall and bring him home her heart will heal, and then we can fight the cancer together, she will get better!

"I made sure she is looked after before I left, I made sure she was not alone," I sobbed to Harry.
"I know baby, I am sure you did, it's alright, please stop crying," He strokes my hair trying to calm me down.

Listening to Harry talk to me in such a soft voice, and understanding, his strong arms around me for comfort, fills me with strength I never thought I had. For a moment listening to Tommy tell me I need to go home to my mom, made me doubt everything, my decision to leave her for finding my brother. He made me feel insecure reminding me of everything I lost and everything I might lose if this plan of mine doesn't work out.

But I have Harry, and I am not sure what it is that is happening between us but I feel stronger with him. I feel secure, and I feel that I can do it. That I can bring what is left of my family back together, that I can get my brother back and my mom back, and that we can truly be happy again.

I push myself from Harry, and I wipe my eyes. Harry reaches out and catches a tear I missed, wiping it away for me.
"Are you all right?" He questions me, tilting down slightly so he could see my eyes properly.
"Yeah, thanks," I look up at him and try to manage a smile at him.
"Oh darling, you have nothing to thank me for, I promised you I will stick around to help you find your brother and I am here for you whenever you need me,"
I nod at his words not trusting my voice to speak.

"Listen to me Ty, you do whatever seems and feels right to you. Don't let anyone tell you what to do or try and change your mind to suit them," He continues. I look up at those green eyes of his and can't help it, I step closer wrapping him in my arms squeezing my eyes shut as I squeeze him, and feeling overwhelmed by his words, feeling blessed to have him with me.
I feel his arms come around me once he got over the shock of my affection. I feel his lips touch the top of my head before he leans his cheek down.

When I am ready to go back into the shop, Harry links our hands together, entwining our fingers, letting me seep strength from him.

"Ty, I'm so sorry, that was a fucked up move I did, you should do whatever's good for you," The words were shooting out of Tommy's mouth before I am able to sit down.

"I need that phone," I say when he finally shuts his mouth, and I watch as he fishes it out of his pocket and hands it over. I hand it to Harry, who puts it in his own pocket.

"I know you think I am wrong for looking for Niall, and I should go home, but that doesn't feel right. I need to find Ni, my mom needs him too," I say, begging for his understanding even though I don't really need it.

"I understand," He says.

"Does Ni know?" I question, and watch as Tommy shakes his head.

"You'll find him Ty, I know it," He says a small smile on his lips.
"I really hope so, before it is too late," I whisper. Harry is still holding on to my hand and he tugs it slightly, making me glance over at him.
"It will be all right, everything will work out like it should," He says.
"She is lucky to have you," Eleanor speaks then.
"I'm lucky to have her," Harry replies, and I can't help the smile on my face.

I don't know what this is between us, but I can feel it grow, and feel it bring us closer. There is still so much I don't know about him, but for some reason I am sure I will find out soon.

"So what are you planning on doing now?" Eleanor asks leaning in.
"Well, I need to find out where he headed to, so I can continue following until I manage to catch up," I sigh.

"Well, he had a ride to LA from here, he might still be there," Tommy says.
I glance at Harry. Driving all the way from here to LA is crazy, how would I ever be able to do this? I can't ask Harry to come all the way there with me.
"So we'll go to LA then," Harry answers, drawing little circles on my hand with his thumb.


"I am so happy I got to see you Ty, it has been too long," Tommy says when we are standing outside the coffee shop.
"It truly was… I never got to thank you.. for that night.. bringing me home," I whisper as I hug him
"Don't. You would have done the same for me," He says.
"I miss him so much," I tell him.
"I'm sure you do.. But you must remember the good things Ty, remember the last time you saw him? How amazing was that?" Tommy grins at me.

The images of the last time I have seen my dad alive flash through my mind and I smile as well.

"It was the best time of my life,"

Notes

Hi,
Thank you once again for reading.
Please if you haven't rated this story yet- go on and rate it it takes a moment and it would mean a lot to me since I do work hard writing these stories.

Also I am reminding you to check out my knew story THE DEATH OF ME
It has already three chapters up, and it would mean the world if you could head on over and give it a chance to see if you like it too.

thank you, and I hope you have a lovely weekend.