A Life for A Life

*Caitlyn’s POV*

The timing couldn’t be more perfect. It was dark and no one was out in the streets as I neared the hotel the boys were staying at in Kansas City. They would be here until tomorrow morning, so I came back just in time to meet Louis in his room. I still had his card and I bought something small, but I knew it would be the only thing that would get me the number to his door.

I was at the front desk, telling the man working I had a special delivery for Louis Tomlinson. He eyed me at first, but otherwise saw nothing wrong. He gave me the room number, but I knew he was suspicious of a boy ordering Chinese in the middle of the night. I got on the elevator, going up to his floor.

It didn’t take long to find his door. I threw away the food in a nearby trashcan, not wanting the food’s smell to soak into my clothes. I knocked on his door. There was a small silence. I thought perhaps he was sleeping, but no, the door swung open and a hand grabbed my arm, pulling me in.

“Louis-“ I started.

I was pulled into a tight embrace. “Oh, my God, I was worried sick!” I heard him say.

He was acting strange. “Louis, what’s wrong?” I asked.

He pulled back, bringing his hands up to cup my face. “I thought… I thought they got to you first…”

I looked at him, confused. Then Michelle’s earlier words seemed to dawn in my mind. “They found you, didn’t they?” I asked.

“You know about it?”

“I had my suspicions, but I didn’t expect them to seek you out this soon… But how…?”

He pulled me in again for another hug. “Let’s just say that for once I was glad there were fans around, but I don’t care. I’m just glad to see you’re alive.”

To hear those words, I could feel my heart melt some. “I’m sorry it took so long.” I said, bringing my arms around him.

A knock erupted on the door. “Seriously…” Louis muttered, pulling away and going to the door. I stepped back into the bathroom door, allowing myself to be covered up by it’s darkness.

“What do you want, Niall?” Louis growled, trying to make himself sound tired.

“I smell Chinese. Did you order some?”

“What? This late? No! Go back to bed.” Louis said as he tried to shut the door. I could practically see Niall sticking his foot in as he stuck his head in the door.

“I smell it in here though. You’re not hiding it from me, are you?”

“I’m being serious. I don’t have any food for you. Call room service if you’re hungry. Go away, I want to sleep before we leave in the morning.”

“Fine. Fine. G’night…”

Louis shut the door, putting the metal latch on it. “Damn kid is always hungry.”

I leaned against the threshold. I reached into the pocket of my jeans, pulling out a card. “Here.” I said, holding the card up between two fingers.

He walked over, taking it. He looked at it before taking a sniff. “Wait…” He leaned down, sniffing my hair. “You really do smell like Chinese.”

“It was the only way they would let me up here.” I explained.

“You should probably shower then.”

“I have no clothes.”

“No problem. You can burrow one of my shirts. There’s a washer and dryer down the hall too.”

Guess if I wanted to get the smell off of me, I had no choice. “Fine. Give me a shirt.”

I could see the little grin on his face as he walked over to his luggage bag, getting out a shirt and tossing it at me. I fell back into the bathroom, shutting the door and locking it. I kept my shower quick and scrubbed enough to get the smell and dirt out of my hair.

I stepped out, grabbing my clothes and walked out of the bathroom. I found Louis dead asleep on his bed a light snore escaping through his mouth. I walked over, grabbing his keycard from his bedside and left his room, making my way down the hallway. It took a mere hour and a half to get the clothes washed and hurried back into the room to change.

The bathroom was occupied and I noticed Louis gone from his bed. I decided then to quickly change. I had my pants on and I was just clipping my bra whenever Louis stepped out. “Whoa!” He said, bringing his hands up to cover his eyes.

“I think we got bigger problems than you seeing a girl half-naked.” I said, taking my shirt and putting it on. Also, it wasn’t like I was revealing anything. Not only that, but I’ve heard the conversations he’s had with his girlfriend.

I was done changing and I turned to face Louis. He had his hands stuck in the pockets of his sweats and he was staring at me. “Louis.” I said, getting his attention.

“What?”

“I don’t think your girlfriend will like it if she caught you staring at me like that.”

He scoffed before looking away and climbing onto his bed. “Don’t flatter yourself, Cat. You’re a panther inside a kitten’s body, I doubt any guy would find that attractive.”

I walked over, sitting on the edge of the couch and rested my back against the wall. I felt myself smirk as I moved the curtain to look outside. A panther? I doubted that. Those beings fought for survival and killing was an instinct. I didn’t have that instinct. I was just a girl trying to seek out a way to be free.

I wouldn’t hold it against him, but I did see that look in his eyes, whether he would admit it or not. Perhaps he’s been away from his girlfriend too long, but either way, I had more important things to be thinking about.