I'll Be // Louis Tomlinson

Chapter Five: Wide Awake

“I wasn’t thinking,” I say in a hushed tone.

“Damn straight!” Liam shouts.

“Liam, calm down,” Louis says, putting a hand on my older brother’s shoulder. “We should just be thankful that she’s here.”

Liam sighs. “I’m going to call Mum,” he says, walking out.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Louis says.

“Me too.”

“I’m glad you came tonight,” I say to Louis, hugging him. “Derek stood me up. That’s three douchebags down the drain.”

“Hey, you’ve always got me,” Louis says, cracking a grin.

“You’re right,” I say. “I love you, Lou.”

“Love you, too, Katy Perry,” his nickname for me.

Little did Lou know, I really did love him… more than a friend should.

Those feelings were in the past, though. I was over it.

Liam comes back in with three boys hot on his heels. I noticed them instantly.

“Guys!”

“Katy!”

We all hug, subtle things such as: ‘Glad you’re back.’ or ‘Don’t ever give us a fright like that again.’ were said.

Mum soon arrived in her business outfit still. I assumed she had left work early. And Dad, he was in his business outfit as well.

“I’m so sorry,” I apologize, hugging Mum tightly. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“Boys, we’d like to speak to Katelyn alone,” Dad says, using my full name.

It had to be serious if he used Katelyn instead of Katy. I was a bit frightened to be honest with you.

“Liam, stay,” Mum says.

The other four boys walk out, leaving me alone with the three of them.

“Honey,” Mum says softly. “We’re getting you a therapist.”

My eyes widen. “Mum, no!” I protest.

“It’s for the best, darling,” Dad says.

“The best? What’s for the best is Liam actually staying,” I say. “What’s for the best is him not leaving after ten minutes.”

“Honey, we’ve talked about it and-”

“No,” I interrupt Mum. “It’s my turn to talk.”

The don’t say anything else, allowing me to go on.

“I’m eighteen and I shouldn’t be depressed like this. I need Liam in my life, and if he keeps leaving like he does, I’m never going to be okay again,” I say.

“Aren’t you being a little irrational?” Liam speaks up.

“Irrational?” I scoff. “Being irrational is never taking the time to come visit your little sister.”

“I’m going to try,” Liam says. “I’m going to try everything in my power.”

“Why now?” I ask, my voice cracking. “Why not when this whole tour thing started? Huh, Li?”

He puts his head down, shrugging his shoulders. “I was wrapped up in the fame.”

“I don’t want Liam Payne from One Direction. I want Liam Payne, my big brother. The one who beat up every single guy that ever hurt me. The big brother who set my turtle free with me because I loved it so much. The Liam Payne who knows me inside out,” I say, a tear strolling down my cheek.

“Honey, we’re going to leave you two to it,” Mum says, giving my leg a comforting tap.

She walks out with Dad, leaving Liam and I alone.

“What did you want me to do, Katy?” Liam raises his voice. “Drop the tour and come crawling to you the moment a boy breaks your heart? You’re eighteen years old, Katelyn. For God’s sake, grow the hell up!”

“Me, grow up?” I screech. “I don’t need to grow up, Liam. I need my big brother to be there for me when I need him.”

“I can’t just drop everything for you all the time,” Liam yells. “I have a life too, you know? You knew that when I stepped out that door to go to that audition, things were going to change.”

“Oh, yeah?” I ask, raising my voice to his level. “You want to know something? I’ve changed. You’ve changed. I tried to kill myself, Liam. Is that what you call irrational?”

Liam’s jaw tightens. “That’s it,” he says, throwing his hands in the air. “If you want to be with me 24/7, then you’re going on tour with us.”

Wait. What?