Get Your Kicks

I let out a long sigh, shielding my eyes from the sun’s intense rays as we walked along the side of the highway. This was definitely the farthest 2.3 miles I’d ever walked in my entire life as we kept going through the scorching heat. I had tied my unruly hair up in a bun to keep it off my head and had changed into a sundress to make sure I stayed cool. I flushed, remembering awkwardly trying to change while the guys stood outside, their backs to the van. But I had seen a pair of mischievous green eyes peeking at Darcy every time I looked up.

Speaking of Harry and Darcy, they were walking up towards the front of the group, laughing and smiling like they’d know each other for years. I chuckled, Darcy seemed to have that kind of effect on boys, they just fell at her feet. Basically all of my friends didn’t really have to work too hard to get a guy’s attention. I found myself smiling as I brought up the end of our little group. Besides Darcy and Harry, Healey and Zayn were getting on quite nicely as were Brenna and Liam. Niall had volunteered to stay back and watch the van and Tay had also stayed to make sure he didn’t inhale our entire food supply.

“Penny for your thoughts?” I looked over to be met with those sky blue eyes that I knew belonged to Louis.

“Do you even know what I penny is?” I asked. His face scrunched up adorably at the question as he looked at me.

“What, just because I’m British I don’t know what a penny is?”

“No, because I figured you’d forget what anything less than a fifty looked like.” I muttered quietly. His small smile fell, but his eyes stayed locked on mine.

“Did I do something to offend you?” He asked, his eyebrows knitting together. I crossed my arms, letting out a small sigh.

“No, it’s not you I just…” I stopped, pressing my lips together. “You should go talk to Brenna or Darcy, I’m sure you’d have a lot more fun with them.”

“Well.” He said, shoving his hands into the pockets of his shorts. “Did you ever consider maybe I don’t want to talk to them? Maybe I just want to talk to you Elle.”

“Why?” I asked, not understanding this boy’s fixation on me. I mean, he was absolutely stunning, a solid ten. And while I knew I was pretty, it was in a very sort of ‘plain Jane’ way. He shrugged his shoulders before his eyes fell back to mine.

“You’re the only one who hasn’t spoken to any of us. You’re mysterious I guess.” I chuckled, my gaze falling to my feet as they kept moving forward on the hot pavement.

“Um, thanks. I guess.”

“No problem love.” He said. He then reached over and gave me a small, one armed hug, catching me completely off guard. I turned bright red as he pulled back, which only made him smile. “It’s so easy to make you blush.” He said.

“Shut up.” I muttered, my face getting even warmer under the gaze of his bright blue eyes. I had meant to be serious, but my sentence ended with a chuckle which only made his smile widen.

“Hey! There it is!” Harry hollered, breaking Louis and I from our eye contact to see a shadow emerging in the distance. A smile lit up everyone’s face as we picked up the pace and quickly found ourselves walking into a small, quaint little town that seemed completely out of place in the middle of the harsh desert.

We quickly made our way into the first little shop, knocking on the door which was answered by a small woman with a big smile. “Well hello!” She greeted, pushing her large glasses up onto her button nose. “How can I help you folks?”

“Our bus broke down a few miles out.” Healey explained. “We need to get it fixed.” The woman’s smile faltered as she took in our appearance.

“Are you all alright?”

“Yes, we’re fine.” Brenna reassured her. “Just a little stressed, that’s all.”

“Well come on inside and I’ll call the sheriff over here.” She quickly ushered us inside and out of the scorching heat, offering us all as much water as we could drink as we waited for the sheriff. As we sat down in a small booth of what I now realized was a restaurant I felt a hand ghost over my thigh. My eyes flew over to Louis, who was looking calm as he kept up his conversation with Harry. I grabbed his hand, setting it back on his own leg and trying to hide the heat snaking its way up to my face.

“So.” I said, turning to Brenna. “Do you think Taylor’s killed Niall yet?” I heard an angry huff at her name and turned to Liam, who was sitting beside me. “What?”

“How are you lot friends with her? She’s seems bloody mental.” He muttered. I pressed my lips together, wanting to shove the handsome boy as hard as I could. This was why I hated strangers, they didn’t know us, they didn’t know what we all had been through together, but they still just loved judging us, especially Tay.

“Well you’re kind of an ass.” I shot back. “I mean, she didn’t mean to break your phone, keep your pants on.” His eyes flew open as he looked at me. People didn’t usually know it because of how quiet I am when I first meet people, but I turn vicious when someone insults my friends. I saw Healey just smirking proudly as she took a sip from her water. I heard a chuckle beside me and turned to see Louis burst out laughing.

“She’s right Liam; you can be a bit of a stick in the mud.” Louis agreed. “Remember when we met those birds in Venice?” Harry and Zayn soon joined Louis’ laughter at some memory and Liam turned bright red, his jaw clenching tightly.

“Wait, I want to hear this story.” Darcy said, nudging Harry with her arm. As Harry and Zayn started retelling the tale, Liam often correcting them I turned to Louis, who was just smiling at me.

“Thank you.” I whispered. His smile widened again and I couldn’t help but smile with him.

“Anytime love.” He promised. We both turned, pretending to listen to the story, but I couldn’t help but let my hand slide over to Louis’, giving it a small squeeze before letting go again. He smiled, his eyes catching mine before the door opening broke us apart.

A tall man with salt and pepper hair walked over to us, a worried look on his face. “So, you’re the one’s who’s van broke down?”

“That would be us.” Brenna said, a sad smile on her face.

“Well, I’m Sheriff Hamilton, but everyone around here calls me Tommy. So, what happened exactly?” Darcy quickly recapped our situation to him, Healey adding in details about the van as the sheriff slowly nodded. When she was finished he let out a small sigh. “Well, our mechanic is out of town right now, he won’t be back for about a week. But then he should have your van up and running in no time.” Liam let out an audible groan. “But until then The Kennedy’s will put you up in the inn, free of charge.”

“Thank you Sheriff.” Louis said, standing and shaking his hand. “You’re really saving our arses on this one.” He smiled, shaking Louis’ hand right back.

“Of course, it’s not every day we get visitors. Now is there anything else you need?”

“Two of our friends are still in the van watching out stuff.” Brenna said. “If you could somehow get them and the van over here, we’d really appreciate it.”

“Of course.” Sheriff Hamilton said. “I’ll send the deputy out with a truck.”

“Thank you.” I said. He gave me a warm smile, tipping his hat to us.

“Anytime, now you all have a nice stay here, alright?” And without another word he left us at the table. Liam let out another long groan, his head falling into his hands.

“A week? A week just until we can see the mechanic?”

“Maybe you could call your manager or something and just have them come pick you guys up.” I suggested.

“What, and leave you lovely birds to fend for yourselves?” Louis asked, sitting beside me once more and giving me a small, one armed hug. “Never.”