"Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light"
- Helen Keller
~~~~~~~~~~~

The house is full of people.

Well there's not that many, but considering it's a not a huge flat, there's barely room to move. It's Derricks birthday and Adele's been planning this surprise party for weeks.

I'm having to be extra careful. Once, in the 1800s the people who lived here had a huge party and I nearly gave an old woman a heart attack when she walked through me.

I can't help wanting to be part of it though. All of these people are so different. I mean, I know time and fashions change... But since when was pink hair a thing? How do you get it?

I watch the girl with pink hair laugh loudly. She has drawings on her skin too and a big metal ring through her nose like a bull. How odd. I can't stop staring at her but no one else seems to notice anything amiss.

After a while I feel a bit rude, she can't see me staring, but still. I appear in the kitchen where Adele is stood alone. Her cheeks are a little flushed, her hair curling wildly and she looks happy as she fusses over Derricks cake.

I watch her with a smile, listening to the sounds of laughter from the other rooms.

She giggles to herself in a childlike way and it's so unexpected that I laugh.

You're so happy tonight aren't you? You look beautiful too. I love the way your cheeks flush when you're excited. I can't believe you planned all this, that cake is-

Suddenly the door opens and Derrick walks in. He looks at Adele darkly and my stomach sinks. What now?

"Adele, why did you invite my boss?"

"Because you said you get on with him." Her happy mood vanishes instantly. We both know what's coming, another list of her failings.

"Yes. Exactly. I get on with him. Do you really think that seeing my girlfriends tiny flat in a shitty area of London is going to increase my promotion chances?" He hisses.

She stands awkwardly and he glares at her for a minute before sighing and crossing the room.

"I'm sorry darling." He strokes her hair.

She smiles at him tentatively.

His mood swings make me dizzy, I don't know how Adele puts up with it.

"I appreciate the effort. I really do, I just can't wait until we move in together, into a bigger house."

I freeze.

No way. He's not taking her away from me.

"No." I'm surprised at the firm tone on her voice. "I'm not leaving this flat Derrick."

"What, because of the 'ghost'? For Christ's sake Adele, grow up! Don't you dare start any of that ghost hippy talk in front of my boss!"

"I'm not going to!"

"You need to see a therapist, it's ridiculous! You're an adult and you believe that some bloody gorgeous model ghost is haunting your house!"

It's true though... Especially the gorgeous bit

I wink at him, laughing at how stressed he looks by the whole thing.

Adele shakes her head firmly.

"I'm not leaving this house. I feel safe here."

Derrick sighs irritably.

"We'll discuss this later."

Adele nods, turning back to the counter.

"You know I love you Adele? You're mine." He says possessively.

"I love you too." She says simply.

~~~~~~~~~~

I'm sat in the hallway with Mr T, my elbows on my knees, staring at the floor.

Love is a strange thing.

"It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."

That's what they say.

Its complete bollocks. It's far better to never fall in love and never suffer the inevitable heartbreak.

Mr T nudges me with his face, purring.

Well obviously I've got you. But that's different... No offence but you're not exactly my type pal

I close my eyes as I stroke his fur, enjoying the vibration of his purring under my hand, and listening to the sound of laughter from downstairs.

I sit like this until I feel Mr T has gone to sleep, soft snores issuing from his tiny body. I do love him. I don't know what I'd do without him.

I lean back, my eyes still closed. I wish I could sleep.

"Hello."

The voice comes from directly in front of me.

I open my eyes in shock.

A little girl is stood in front of me. She can't be older than five.

"Who are you called?"

I just stare at her.

She tugs at one of her plaits and frowns.

"I said, who are you called?" She enquires politely.

"L-Louis"

I can barely speak. This is first human to talk to me since Matthew left 15 years ago.

"Who is your cat called?"

I can't speak. I'm just looking at her little face in shock.

"Excuse me but it's very rude not to answer a question."

"Mr... Mr T."

"That's a funny name. If I had a cat I'd call him Timothy." She informs me.

"Maybe the T stands for Timothy."

She smiles, seemingly happy with this answer and sits down next to me.

I can't stop looking at her. She places one chubby hand on Mr T and begins to stroke him.

"I'm called Lola-Rose."

"That's a beautiful name."

"Fanks." She lisps, grinning at me. There's a gap where her two front teeth should be. She's adorable.

"Do you like spongebob?"

"What?"

"My favourite is Patrick in spongebob."

I nod, clueless to what she's talking about.

"Who's your favourite?"

"Um... Patrick?"

She grins again.

"Did you see the one where..."

She starts on a long story, something about burgers and secret recipes. I have no idea what she's talking about but I listen to every word, watching her little face, the way she waves her chubby hands animatedly and laughs so hard that sometimes she can't get her words out.

I wish she lived here with Adele, I could listen to her all day.

She'll be gone when the party is over.

I push the thought away.

"Why are you sat alone?" She asks.

"Well I guess I was just waiting for a funny little girl to come and entertain me."

She laughs.

"I like you Louis."

"I like you too." I smile down at her.

"Have you been here long?"

Longer than you can imagine sweetheart

"Not that long." I lie weakly.

She nods and begins to sing to herself, loudly and out of tune, but it's the most beautiful sound I can imagine.

"Why do you look funny?" She asks me suddenly.

"What do you mean?"

"Like you're all sparkly. Lucy Jones has a sparkly glitter pen and she lets Emma Johnson use it but not me."

"Lucy Jones sounds like an idiot." I wink.

She giggles, clamping a little hand to her mouth to stop the laughter.

"Grown ups aren't supposed to say that."

"I just did." I laugh.

"How old are you?"

"Erm... 20."

She nods and goes back to stroking Mr T.

"Why do you look funny and sparkly?"

"Well, that's just the way I am."

"You look like the other man."

"What other man?"

"The one in there." She points at the back bedroom that's been closed all night. I frown in confusion.

"What do you mean Lola-Rose?"

"There's a sparkly man in there too."

For some reason I feel nervous.

"Lola... Is his name Harry- I mean Haniel?"

"Nope." She smiles and looks back down at Mr T. "I want a cat. I only have a goldfish but I want a cat or a dog but mummy says they're too much hard work."

"Lola, the man in the bedroom, when did you see him?"

"Just before I saw you. I was bored so I went exploring like Dora the explorer, except that's for babies not big girls like me. Do you like exploring?"

"Did you talk to him, the man in the room?"

She nods, looking a little bored.

"What was his name?" I try to keep the urgency from my voice.

"Niall."

My whole body freezes.

What?

I'm in such shock I can barely move.

Niall is here?!

How?!

Suddenly my heart fills with hope at the thought of seeing my best friend.

"Can you show me where he is?"

"I'm sorry Louis but this conversation is very boring for me right now." She says solemnly.

Usually I'd laugh at the tone of her voice but my mind is whirring.

Niall is here.

"Lola." I say gently. "Can you show me where Niall is?"

She sigh irritably and I hide a smile at her little woes.

"Please sweetheart. It's important."

"Okay. But you aren't allowed to ignore me when we see him."

"I won't. I promise."

She stands up and tries to grab my hand but I pull away.

"Aren't you my friend?" She pouts.

"Of course... But you wouldn't like to hold my hand, I'm cold."

"When we went on a school trip to the beach I had to hold Adam Williams hand and he was mean and wouldn't hold my hand properly because he said girls smell and I got in trouble but-"

She continues her little rant as I walk alongside her.

I can't even think straight.

Niall is here.

I'm going to see him.

We reach the door and she opens it slowly.

"He's not as friendly as you." She whispers loudly. "Hello Niall!"

I look round the room.

It's empty.

"Um... Lola? I-"

I break off seeing how cross she looks. She's standing with her little hands on her hips.

"There's no need to look so grumpy!" She addresses someone, I look at where she's looking but there is nothing there.

"Who are you talking to sweetie?" I bend towards her.

"Niall, silly!" She smiles at me.

"But there's no one here!"

She frowns and points to a spot next to me.

"He's right there!"

A tingle runs up my spine.

"Niall's stood next to me?"

She nods.

"Lola-Rose... Ask him if he can see me."

"This game isn't fun." She tuts.

"Please sweetie, please ask him."

"Niall? Can you see Louis?" She points right at me.

She looks right at me.

"He can't see you... But he's looking for you."

~~~~~~~~~~

AN- I'm so sorry I've gone so long without updating, thanks for the prompts, it pushed me along!
I won't go that long again I promise :)

The picture at the top/side is Lola-Rose.

I hope you liked this chapter. I'm dedicating it to sensing1D for her lovely comments! Thanks so much x

Please vote and comment to let me know what you thought! x