Picking Up the Pieces // Harry Styles

Thirty Nine

Sort of long. I'm sure you won't mind. :)

* * *

Chapter Thirty Nine

"Touch me and I will make tie dye shirts out of your blood."

"I'm walking away from you now." One of the boys mumbled. My eyes were closed as I laid on the couch. My beanie was dragged over my eyes, sort of like Indiana Jones and his hat when he fell asleep on airplanes. I had been trying to drown the boys out and get some sleep, but they thought cranky Scarlett was the funniest Scarlett.

"You were so sweet the other day." Louis cooed. "Did the Kitten lose her yarn?"

"That was five days ago, Louis. It is now day six of this road trip and you all are getting on my nerves."

There was silence and I felt all the boys looking at me.

"And for goodness sakes, I am not on my period."

They all sighed with relief, making me chuckle.

"Unless you physically see me open a pad, do not accuse me of being on my period just because I'm mad! When you guys are sleeping I don't assume you're dead and make plans to bury you in the yard!"

There was more silence and I heard a small cough.

"Okay. I'm done. I promise." I said, putting my hands up for emphasis.

"We're going sightseeing later."

"Take me to the London Bridge of Solitude." I muttered. "Or how about the Arc de Don't Try Me."

They rolled around with laughter and I cracked a smile.

"Okay, that last one was pretty good." I smiled, looking out from under my beanie. "Ten points for me."

"Leave her be, lads!" Harry called from the front and I smirked.

"Yeah. Leave me be." I mimicked, sticking my tongue out.

"Tomorrow's the last day, eh?" Liam asked.

"Yeah." Niall mumbled. Someone clicked and typed away at a laptop beside me.

"We still doing a bonfire?" Zayn asked.

"Bonfire?" I mumbled, a little confused.

"Before and after each tour we do a bonfire. Kind of reflect. Get deep."

"That sounds nice."

"We still haven't found a spot. We wanted to do it with you." Louis spoke up.

I frowned. "Me? Isn't that more of a band thing?"

"We've done it with Ed before so the band barrier has been broken through."

I think Ed was in the bunks. He seemed tired too. I wanted to crawl in and hold his hand again like I did when I was small. He used to hold my hand whenever we went out on long walks or crossed a street. He always made me feel safe when I was a kid.

"We'll be around Sheffield by then, right?" I asked softly.

"Pretty sure." Niall said. Another click. Another scroll.

"I know a spot then. Don't worry."

We explored London together, Harry and I holding hands as security created a boundary around us. We could get away with it when we were farther out in the more rural towns, but now that we were closer to the city, it was harder to go unseen. Me being the only girl, made all the other boys protective. Harry was the most cautious but each of the boys and Ed showed some concern for me. They told me not to answer the paparazzis questions and to keep my head down. I gripped Harry's hand as Ed placed his hand on the small of my back.