Count the stars - 1D HS LT

Before I go

"Shit. Sorry guys. Carry on, carry on," the words slurring ever so slightly, Louis waves his hand above his head. I look at Lana then back at Louis and then back at Lana. She nods for me to go to him and I untangle myself from Harry. "Oops, looks like someone has had more than me to drink! Anyway, like I was saying thank you all..." I stop listening to Lana as I approach Louis. "Are you okay Lou?" I ask with concern as I reach him. He's picking up bits of shattered glass and his hands are bleeding. Waiters suddenly appear to help him and clear up the mess. "I'm fine." 
"Clearly you're not. Here, let's go somewhere out of the way." I go to touch his shoulder and he flinches away. "I thought you said you weren't marrying him?" His eyes lock with mine and my heart aches at the sadness in them. "Things have changed." I say shrugging slightly. 
"In 24 hours?" Louis queries, his eyes burning into mine. 
"Yes in 24 hours." Harry replies for me and he's at my side now. Louis looks from me to Harry and nods slowly with his teeth clenched. He brings his hand up forming a fist and wraps his other hand over it almost as if he's going to crack his knuckles. "We are all meant to be friends Louis, come on. Don't cause a scene on their evening." Harry asks reasonably.
"Can you see a scene? Cause I can't," He says shrugging, "You think you're so fucking slick don't you. Harry fucking Styles." He's right up in his face now.
"Okay let's not do this here Louis, come on," I reach for him one more time and this time he lets me take his arm; I pull him into a back room where the food is being kept. "Let go of me," he stumbles out of my grip and flops over a chair slightly. He then steadies himself. Harry, who followed us, goes to help him. "I don't need your fooking help." Louis says swatting him away. 
"Louis come on, you do need help mate." Harry is genuinely trying to help.
"Guys, what's going on?" Liam enters the room. I've been so busy that I hadn't even noticed him this evening. He looks very suave in his Hugo Boss black suit. "Oh, here's the dad of the group to come save us," Louis laughs and throws his hands in the air. I roll my eyes. "Louis, let us help you," Harry says compassionately.
"Bet you would love that wouldn't you," Louis' face changes to anger, "Harry Styles the fooking hero." He's up and in his face again but Harry is smirking slightly. "Look at you smirking you fooking loosah. You think you are mister big shot because you've got Paige, well guess what... I let you have her!" My mouth drops open. "I took myself out of the equation. If I hadn't, she would be with me right now. I fooking guarantee it." Within seconds Harry has him by the collar and is dragging him through the building where he hurls him out of the back doors onto the street.  
"You wanna do this Louis. Fine. I'm not doing it where I can ruin someone's happiness. We take this out here into the street." I hear Harry say as I'm running after them. Harry's jaw is set firm and his eyes are frowned into anger. "I wanted to help you but when you say shit like that you ain't got no fucking chance." 
"No!" I plant myself in front of Harry his eyes grow sad.
"See." Louis says over my shoulder and Harry pushes into me slightly as if to get to him. "She'll always want me Harry." Harry lunges forward but I push him back.
"Shut the fuck up louis," I turn to him, "You are not fighting over me. Not now, not ever. I'm with Harry, you're going to have to come to terms with that." Louis presses his knuckles together and nods again, jaw clenched. 
"Fine." His blue eyes full of sadness. "Fine." He's says once more and he starts to walk away.
"Louis." I call after him, he doesn't listen so I follow him. Harry watches us and it looks like he's debating whether to follow or not, I glance back over my shoulder to let him know I'm okay and he heads back inside.
"No, it's fooking fine Paige. You've made it quite clear; do you know what I mean?" 
"Louis come on." He turns around so quickly that I almost walk into him.
"Come on what? What Paige? You're marrying him. You're with him. What do you want me to do? Tell you I'm in love with you and I can't ever see myself loving anyone else for the rest of my life? That I pine after you every fooking day. That I wish I hadn't walked away that night?" I blink back tears, shocked, listening to his honesty. "Does that even make a difference?" I shake my head with the tears spilling over. "Then enjoy your life." He pulls out his car keys and presses the button, the black Range Rover next to us blinks in response and he heads over to it.
"Louis, you can't drive," I cry, He turns around and shrugs.
"What do you care?" 
"I will always care about you. Please Lou." I beg.
"The thing that sucks the most about all of this is that I know that you love me." He has his hand paused on the car door handle. I'm frozen to the spot and speechless.
"I... I don't." I search for the words.
"Don't or can't?"
"That's not fair." I say my breathing becoming faster as Louis walks back and stops centimetres in front of me.  "Look me in the eyes and tell me that you don't love me." The whole of me longs for his touch and I look up into his ocean blue eyes. "I..." he lowers his head and he kisses me. It scares me slightly, it's deep, slightly aggressive and passionate. The butterflies fly around crazily in my stomach. He breaks it off as quickly as he started it and I feel unsatisfied. He is grinning as he climbs into his car and drives away.

I walk back to the party dazed and confused; Was that a goodbye kiss? Was that a I'm going to fight for you now, when it's too late kiss? I rub my lips with my fingers. 
"You okay love?" Harry makes me jump as I approach the door. I go to him and wrap my arms around him. Breathing him all in and letting his calmness wash over me. "Paige?" 
"I'm okay." I say into his torso. His grip tightens around me. We walk back into the room and people congratulate us. Lana and Niall remain oblivious to the Louis situation and soon I let myself go numb to it too. 

"That was literally the best night I've ever had." Lana says yawning and stretching. We are back in their apartment now, heels off, comfy clothes on and friends talking with tired eyes. I swirl my teacup full of rum, "It was great," I agree. Lana looks at me suspiciously. "Did you see Louis?" She asks. I take a sharp intake of breath. 
"Yeah. He had to leave early." I reply and she nods in response. Harry, who has his arm around me, moves unconsciously. 
"My favourite part was when Niall failed at the worm." Liam pipes up. 
"Yeah, yeah. Hilarious." Niall says rolling his eyes dramatically. We all laugh and Harry gets up trying to act out the moment. The doorbell rings. "I'll get it." Liam says as he's closest to the door. Harry is being overly dramatic and Niall joins him to show him how it actually went. Lana joins in too and I'm crying with the laughter. Someone clears their throat and we all look up to see Liam with a serious look on his face. Behind him stand two policemen who look very intimidating. I'm not sure how long it is before Liam speaks again but part of me knew exactly what he was going to say before the words even leave his mouth. "Guys, there's been an accident." I stop breathing praying that the next words don't come out of his mouth but then my world comes crashing down as he speaks. "It's Louis."