Chapter 18 ~ The Coffee

[Louis]

After dinner that same evening, I went back to my bedroom and flopped down on my bed. What could Anne have possibly wanted to talk to me about? Sure, Harry might have changed... a little since he came back. Could it have anything to do with that?

With a sigh, I fished my phone from my pocket and went to my contacts. Once I found her number, I clicked on it and pressed the device against my ear. She answered on the third ring.

"Louis?"

"Hello, Anne. I heard you called."

You could practically hear her smile through the phone. "I did, yeah. I was wondering if you'd like to come over for dinner tomorrow evening? It's been a while since last time," she requested, making me shut my eyes.

"Anne..." I trailed off, sighing.

"I know what you're thinking, Louis, but he won't be a problem, I promise."

I shook my head even though she couldn't see me. "But he's going to be there, isn't he?"

When she didn't answer me right away, I knew it meant I was right. "Look, Anne. I'd really love to meet you guys, but I'm not sure I can do it if he's going to be there. We aren't really... on good terms right now. I'm really sorry," I apologized biting my bottom lip.

"I understand, Louis. I just... I want you to know that he's been starting to change. I don't know what happened, but ever since Christmas, he's been slowly returning to the one he used to be. I just thought you'd like to meet him then, but I understand. I'll see you another time, yeah?"

Letting out another sigh, I ran a hand through my fringe. I hated letting Anne down, but I really couldn't face Harry after what happened today. Well, at least not have dinner with him. I assumed I'd have to see him at school no matter what.

"I'm really sorry, Anne. I hope you know that."

"Oh, please, don't apologize, love. I completely understand you. Let's catch up some other time, just the two of us. How does that sound?"

A smile spread on my lips at her proposal. "That sounds awesome," I said honestly.

"Great. See you later, Louis."

"See you, Anne."

With that said, we both hung up on each other. I mentally smacked myself in the forehead once I had placed the phone beside me. Why did I always have to get in those difficult situations? It wasn't really fair, to be honest.

-

Next day in school was... better. Well, people didn't stare at me as much as they did the other day, but it was hard to face Harry in class after what happened yesterday. Good thing was that he didn't acknowledge me when I entered the classroom and walked over to my seat.

Mr. Waltz began class as he usually did, and it turned out we would work individually today, which I was more than happy about. I opened up my notebook and started writing. About twenty minutes into the lesson, I could feel someone staring at me from my left.

I pulled my eyebrows together, wondering who it could be. Though, I was quite positive that it was a curly haired boy. I didn't even have to look, I just knew it was him. It was just something my subconscious could feel.

That was also why I decided not to turn my head towards the source. I just couldn't face him after the incident. I didn't want to see his facial expression.

However, eventually, when he'd shot me about ten glances, I decided to turn my head a little so I could see him through the corners of my eyes. Big mistake. Not only could he see that I was looking at him, but he also had a disappointed look on his face. It made my heart drop.

Quickly, I turned my attention back to my notebook and picked up my pencil to continue writing.

Focus on school, Louis. Not some guy who broke your heart two years ago and definitely doesn't deserve your attention.

With that thought in my head, I stayed focus on my work the rest of class until the bell rang. I was quick to exit the classroom and head to my locker. Thankfully, I didn't see Harry until lunch that day.

All four of me, Zayn, Niall and Hannah entered the cafeteria together. We sat down at our usual table when we instantly noticed that something was going on with Eleanor. She was staring at me as if she hadn't seen me in ages.

"What?"

"You didn't hear?" She asked incredulously.

I turned to my friends who seemed just as confused as I was. "What do you mean?"

She rolled her eyes, looking over at the entrance of the cafeteria where the pop star right then entered the room. "Harry's friend dropped out of school."

Even if I already knew that, I pretended to be surprised by the news. "He did?"

She nodded vigorously."Yes!"

Hannah cleared her throat as she raised her eyebrows. "What does that have to do with Louis though?"

Eleanor waved her hand as if it was obvious. "Well, it obviously has to do with that interview. I bet he had a relationship with the pop star and got too offended of what he said on television."

I gulped at her words, knowing just how right she was. It was actually a little scary. From the corner of my eye, I could see Niall giving me an alarmed look, which I tried to ignore the best I could.

"That's ridiculous," Hannah snorted.

The brown haired girl shrugged her shoulders, looking over at the curly haired boy who was just about to sit down at his table together with a couple of girls. Fun fact was that he hadn't gained any friends that were guys since he came back. He only had girls chasing him around.

"What do you say, Louis?" Eleanor wondered, looking at me knowingly.

I opened my mouth to reply, but nothing came out. Instead, I shook my head and let out a deep sigh.

"It doesn't matter, though. Louis has moved on from him. End of story," Niall said to end the conversation.

I was actually really happy that he did that. I was sick and tired of talking about the curly haired boy. Couldn't he just go back to his normal life?

The rest of that day was pretty uneventful. I went to my classes and did what I had to do in them. It wasn't until after school that things changed when my phone started beeping in my jeans pocket. I was just about to enter my house as it did so.

Confused as to who it could be, I reached into my pocket to pull the device out only to notice that it was Anne who was calling me. I could instantly feel my heart clench. What did she want this time?

Hesitantly, I swiped my finger across the screen and pressed the phone against my ear. "Hello?"

"Hi Louis, it's Anne again. I'm sorry for bothering you like this," she chuckled on the other end.

I rolled my eyes at her ridiculousness. She could never bother me. "Don't worry about that, Anne. What did you have in mind?"

She was quiet for a few seconds until she spoke up again. "I was just wondering since you aren't coming over for dinner tonight if you'd like to go to the café downtown tomorrow and grab some coffee? It's been such a long time since the two of us met. I miss having you over, my son."

Her words made a smile form on my lips. To be honest, I missed being over and eat dinner at their place too. It was something I'd done quite often when Harry was gone and also before he had disappeared in the first place. I missed having our talks as well. However, I'd been a little hesitant since the curly haired boy came back. It literally seemed like she was willing to do anything to get the old him back, which scared me. If I were in her situation, I would probably have done the same thing, but now I was the person who could get hurt in between, and I didn't want that. That was why I hadn't contacted her since we were over for lunch last time. Now though, It seemed like her desperation had toned down a little, and I was happy about that.

"That sounds great. What time?"

"How about you call me after school?" She suggested.

"Sure, I'll let you know. See you then?"

"Absolutely. Bye, Louis."

"Bye, Anne."

-

When school ended the next day, I was actually getting a little nervous. I hadn't really talked to Anne alone after Harry came back, and I was a little anxious about what she was going to say and talk about. Sure, she was like my second mother, but she was Harry's real mother, which was what made me nervous.

Things at school were pretty much like how they were yesterday. Harry kept flashing me disappointed looks while my friends avoided bringing the curly haired boy up in our conversations.

I decided it was best not to go home before I called Anne considering school was located closer to the café I knew she was talking about than my house. When I was outside the gates, I dialed her number and brought the phone to my ear.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Anne. It's Louis. I've finished school now."

"Oh, great! I'll get in the car right away. Do you want me to pick you up?"

I shook my head even though she couldn't see me. "No, that's alright. I'll just take the bus and walk, but thanks anyway."

"If you say so," she said, and you could hear the smile in her voice. "See you there, then."

"Sure."

With that, we ended the call and I made my way to the bus stop. Right then, I could see a Range Rover pull up at the gates. I didn't recognize the man in the driver's seat, but there was no doubt that it was Harry's driver.

I rolled my eyes at the thought. However, since he didn't have a driver's license and Anne was about to meet me, I assumed there was no other way for him to get home safely otherwise. I mean sure, Holmes Chapel wasn't very big, but I was certain a lot of fans had caught up with the fact that he was home now and had tracked him down.

To be honest, I was surprised he could even be in school without getting in more trouble than he was. It was something his security guards had handled pretty well, I must say.

I was so lost in my own thoughts that I almost missed the bus that pulled up in front of me. Getting onto it, I sat down in an empty seat and waited until it came to a halt at the right stop. It didn't take more than three minutes.

Once I was outside the café, I could see Anne standing at the entrance. I walked over to her and she noticed me instantly, opening her arms to pull me into a tight hug. "It feels like it's been ages, my son. How have you been?"

I pulled out of the hug and gave her a wide smile. "I've been alright, and you?"

She returned the smile and nodded her head. "Yeah, things are getting better," she winked.

We entered the café and ordered our coffees before sitting down at a table by the windows. We were quiet for a few minutes as we took in the environment and sipped on our coffees a couple of times.

"Before anything, I just want to apologize again for the stupid way I acted last time we met at lunch. It was wrong of me to ask something as extreme as that from you. I mean, I've witnessed how hurt you've been after his disappearance and then I ask you to try and get together with him again? That was wrong of me on so many levels," she explained, shaking her head in disbelief. "I'm so sorry, Louis."

I waved my hand in dismissal. "Forget about that, Anne. I didn't take it to heart. I mean, I understand why you did it. He came back and acted like a real ass. I'd have wanted my son back as much as you did."

She gave me a small smile. "I'm glad you took it so well. I was worried you'd never forgive me."

"Of course, Anne. You're one of the closest people to me. I would never not forgive you."

She nodded her head, taking another sip on her coffee. "So, you've noticed that he's started to change as well? I mean, considering you were just talking in past tense about how he acted when he came back?"

I bit my bottom lip, looking away from her. "I... Well, a little, yeah, but I don't really know what to believe, to be honest."

"I understand," she said, grimacing. "After the way he treated you, I wouldn't trust him either. However, ever since Christmas, I noticed a change in him. I don't know what happened, but one day he got up early in the morning and made pancakes to the entire family. You remember how he used to do that back in the days?"

I couldn't help the smile that crept to my lips as I nodded my head. Harry always made pancakes in the morning on Sundays. It didn't matter if we were at his or my place. It was always pancake-breakfast on Sundays. "Of course I remember. His pancakes are the best."

She nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah, and not only that. He actually came to me one day and asked me how you were doing and how you had been over the past two years. I must be honest with you, Louis, I got tears in my eyes when he did."

My mouth formed the shape of an 'o' by her words. Was she speaking the truth? I mean, did he really care about me? Sure, he could be lying, but why would he ask his mother about something like that if he didn't even care one bit?

"Wh-when did that happen?" I asked, still stunned by her words.

The smile was constant on her face as she replied to me. "Right after the interview, if you watched it last week. Liam had just walked out of the door with all his bags and I was certain Harty would want to talk to me about him and nothing else, but the only thing he talked about was you."

She shook her head, smiling at the memory. "I know it doesn't change the way he treated you, but I just wanted you to know that somewhere deep inside of him, he still loves you very much. I don't think you ever really left his mind, he just pushed you to the very back of it."

I inhaled a deep breath, feeling nothing but taken aback by what she was explaining. Sure, Harry had told me himself that he had pushed me to the back of his mind when he talked to me the other day, but how could I have believed him after everything he did to me?

"Anne, I..." I trailed off, running my hands over my face.

She reached forward to lay a hand on my forearm. "Honey, I'm not saying this because I want you to forgive him for what he did. I just wanted you to know that he still has something good within him. He isn't as cold-hearted as we both thought he had turned. I'm not saying you should get back together with him either, alright? I just wanted you to know," she explained.

I gave her an appreciated smile because it meant so much to me. She respected my decision after everything he had done to me. This was the opposite of how she acted last time we met.

However, even if she said her intention wasn't to tell me this because she wanted me to forgive him, I didn't really see another reason for her to say it. I mean, if she didn't want me to forgive him, why would she tell me that he still cared about me in the first place?

"Thank you."

After that, our conversation went on like it usually did when we had talks. It was extremely easy to talk to Anne, and maybe that was because I always found it easy to talk to Harry back in the days. Harry was Anne's son after all.

It wasn't until we exited the café that I noticed something was off though, but it didn't have anything to do with Anne. It felt like someone was staring at us, and believe me, I knew that feeling all too well by now.

I searched my surroundings for something suspicious, and it didn't take long until I could see a car parked across the road. The driver had his window rolled down, which displayed the big camera in front of the man's face. Oh fuck.

"Anne," I said, motioning towards the man who had now realized that I had noticed him and was about to roll the window back up again.

She let out a frustrated grunt. "God, I hate the stupid paparazzi. I hope they won't come up with some stupid lie about this."

With that said, we made it to Anne's car and she drove me home. During the entire ride, I couldn't let the incident slip from my mind, only hoping that Anne's words were true and that they wouldn't come up with some false story.

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Hello guys! Don't have very much to say about this chapter other than I hoped you liked it! I am so happy to see your responses. They make my days <3

Pauline .xx