Chapter 25 ~ The Text

[Harry]

Once I had finished singing the song, I was instructed to walk behind the scenes. They were still live out there with people in the audience as well, making me feel nervous since I was going on in a few minutes again to do a small interview. I should be used to interviews and being on television by now, but I wasn't. Well, it just felt different now ever since I visited home. It was like I was becoming famous all over again, feeling all new to the nervousness.

Taking a deep breath, I could suddenly feel a hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see Paul giving me a smile, which I returned. "Are you nervous, son?" He asked, sounding surprised.

I shrugged, biting my bottom lip. "I don't know, but my heart is racing," I admitted, making him chuckle.

"Was a long time ago I saw you acting like this."

I bit my lip, nodding my head without looking at him. "Yeah... I guess I've changed."

He was quiet for a second, staring at the floor while thinking about something. I was just about to turn around when I heard him speak.

"I like this you better."

A smile formed on my lips as I nodded my head. Right then, I was ordered to go back on stage again. I did as told and strode out to the guy sitting on one of the leather couches in the studio.

Sitting down on the one opposite of him, I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and ran a hand through my curls.

"Welcome back, Harry Styles," the interviewer greeted, a smile playing on his lips. He had short cut brown hair with brown eyes and looked to be in his late thirties.

"Thank you."

"So, how does it feel to be back on tour?" The man asked.

"It feels great, but I do admit it was very nice to be home for a while too. It's been a long time since I had time to meet my family," I admitted.

He nodded. "Yeah, it must be tough to be away from them for so long. I mean, you're only eighteen and were only sixteen when you became famous."

"Of course," I said, pursing my lips. "Even though I was young I think I've learned a lesson from these years. I think I've started to realize what matters into my life and what doesn't. It's been a great experience."

The man looked a bit thoughtful by my words. "You say you've realized what matters into your life. What do you mean by that?" He wondered.

It didn't surprise me that he asked a follow-up question to that. Interviewers job was to practically suck interesting things out of famous people. "I mean that there are things that matter a lot to me that I didn't realize before. It's actually sad how long it took for me to realize it."

He nodded his head slowly as if trying to understand what I meant, but I could tell I was speaking in tongues according to him. "I see..." He trailed off.

Just as he was about to ask another question, someone in the audience shouted; "Are you together with the boy who was out with your mother?"

The question made me freeze in my spot. I was not expecting that. It seemed like the interviewer was surprised as well considering he raised his eyebrows. "Right. A boy has been pictured with your mother. Is this your friend from before you were famous?" He asked, ignoring the fact that the person in the audience had included the fact that there could be a romance between us.

I swallowed hard, breaking eye-contact with him and looking down at my fiddling fingers in my lap. Ever since I auditioned for the X-Factor, I had done my best not to bring Louis into anything, but I guess that time was over now.

"Yeah, we were friends before I got famous," I admitted, also ignoring the fact that we had also been in a relationship. I didn't have a problem with coming out, but I wasn't so sure my management would be too happy if I did since they had decided to put up dates with different girls for me when rumors about me being bisexual had started bubbling up.

"I see. So he's a close friend of yours?"

I pulled at my lower lip with my index finger and thumb as I nodded my head slowly. "We were very close, but we kind of drifted apart when my life changed," I said, not wanting to tell the whole truth. I was too embarrassed about it.

"I see. Would you mind if you told us his name?" He asked gingerly as if it could be sensitive for me.

Furrowing my eyebrows together, I pursed my lips. "I'd rather not. I wouldn't want him to get more unwanted comments like he's already received."

He seemed to understand me as he just nodded his head. After that, he asked a few more questions until it was time for me to head off stage. I waved goodbye to the audience and walked back to Paul who was still standing in the same place he had when I went into the studio.

"Was I alright?" I asked to which he smiled.

"You did well, son."

I nodded my head curtly and fished my phone from my pocket to see if I had any new notifications. My heart literally stopped beating in my chest at the sight of a message from an unknown number. It didn't take a second for me to realize who it was from. I could tell from the first word.

Hi! I know you probably won't see this cuz you haven't replied to any of my texts in two years, but I just want you to know that I... I miss you, and I kind of want you to come back?

//Lou

-

[Louis]

I clicked 'send' and threw the phone onto the couch because I was afraid to see whether he would answer or not. It had been a year and a half since I sent him the last message, but it felt like it was longer. This was like writing to your crush for the first time, not knowing what response you would receive or if you would even get one.

My heart was beating frantically in my chest as I looked over at Lottie who clapped her hands in pride with a big smile on her face. "I hope you're happy now," I told her.

"I am, and I know you are as happy as I am," she said matter-of-factly.

I rolled my eyes, looking back at the television as Harry walked off stage. It meant he would see the text in any minute... God, why was I so nervous about this?

"God, I can't take this. I'm gonna go grab something to eat," I announced, getting up from the couch, leaving my phone there with the screen turned towards the cushion.

"Don't be so dramatic. He loves you, Louis," Lottie said, following me to the kitchen and sat down opposite of me.

I sent her a glare, munching on a granola bar. "You don't know that for sure. What if he's already forgotten about me and doesn't want anything to do with me now that he's living his 'famous' life again?" I grumbled.

"Just watching him on stage tells me he's not changed back to the ass he was before."

I snorted, looking away from her. I honestly had no idea what was going to happen now. Only the future and fate could tell whatever was going to take place.

Once I finished my bar, I got up from the chair and was about to head upstairs to my room when Lottie stopped me. "Aren't you gonna check your phone?"

Turning my head to her, I looked at her as if she was insane. "Of course not. That would be suicidal."

She chuckled, shaking her head incredulously. "You're unbelievable."

"I could live with that," I said before walking up the stairs and into my room, shutting the door behind me.

I decided to bring out my computer from under the bed and turn it on to watch some series. What better way to make time pass than some movies? I opened up Netflix and clicked on a series that sounded interesting and began watching, the fact that my phone was still downstairs leaving my mind by the second.

After about two hours, I could hear a knock on my door, making me turn my attention off my computer. It opened just a second later, my mom's head showing up in the gap.

"Hello, honey. How are you today?" She asked, giving me a small smile.

She had been worried about me ever since that day I got home in the middle of the night when Harry left. It was obvious I didn't take his leave well, so she had asked me every day ever since if I was feeling better.

"I'm better, thank you," I replied, returning a genuine smile.

"I heard you texted him," she said, raising her eyebrows at me in excitement.

I snorted, looking back at my computer. "Yeah, but I don't think it'll make a difference. I've messaged him before, you know?"

"Yes, but I think this time will be different."

Pursing my lips, I just shook my head. "Tell me when dinner's ready. I'll be down there," I muttered.

Mom seemed to catch that I wasn't keen on talking more because she just nodded her head and shut the door behind her. Letting out a sigh, I clicked 'play' and continued watching the series. However, it didn't take more than an hour until mom was at the door again, telling me that dinner was ready.

I scrambled up from the bed and put my computer to the side, walking down the stairs to the kitchen where everyone was already sitting, waiting for me.

"When are you gonna check your phone?" Lottie asked, raising her eyebrows at me in expectation.

Sending her a glare, I reached out to plate some spaghetti. "I'm not," I muttered.

She snorted. "Yes you are. You're doing it after dinner," she told me determinedly.

I didn't reply to her but just began eating my food. It was my favorite dish after all. She was not going to destroy that for me. It turned out she didn't either because she dropped the topic with that, and thankfully, mom started talking about something else instead.

"How's it going with you and boys, honey?" Mom asked Lottie, making her blush.

This made me interested, a wide smile breaking out on my face. "Yeah, how's it going with the boys, Lotts?" I winked, earning a glare from her.

"It's great, thank you very much. Actually, I'm going on a date on Friday," she replied, flicking her hair.

I rolled my eyes while mom looked happy. "That's wonderful. Who is he? Do I know him?" She wondered, bringing her fork to her mouth.

Lottie shrugged, pursing her lips. "I don't know. His name's William Perry and we are in the same Math class."

Mom nodded slowly, but it didn't seem to ring a bell. It didn't for me either, but I knew that if it turned out he was an ass, he would surely get a dose of his own medicine.

Once we were all finished, I headed back to my bedroom, but not before going to the living room to fetch my phone. I made sure not to look at it though as I brought it to my room.

Another hour went by with me watching series until I was finally ready to check my phone. Or, I wasn't ready, but I had mustered up enough courage to do so.

With a deep breath and a pounding heart, I picked it up from my nightstand and clicked the button. Nothing. I just had a notification from Hannah, asking me if I had texted Harry yet. I could feel how my heart broke into tiny pieces in my chest even though I knew I shouldn't be surprised. I knew this would happen.

Biting my bottom lip, I threw the device across the bed so it fell onto the mattress at my feet. I hated my life.

-

He hadn't replied the next morning either, and by now I had stopped getting my hopes up that he was going to answer. He had read it, I could see that, but he hadn't bothered to reply.

It made me feel more down than I had the last couple of days, which I knew would happen. That was why I had been so determined not to text him, to begin with, but both Hannah and Lottie had persuaded me to do so.

With my face turned towards the floor, I made my way to the cafeteria that day, not bothering to wait for Hannah. She had noticed in the morning that he hadn't answered since I didn't say very much, and thanks to that, she hadn't brought it up either, which I was happy about.

I never replied to her last night, and I think she had already realized then that it hadn't gone as she expected. None of Lottie or Hannah had expected this, and just because they had been so sure, they had made me get my hopes up too. Yet, I couldn't blame them for anything. It was my decision in the end after all.

I bought my lunch before sitting down beside Niall. The chair on my other side was still empty since Hannah hadn't arrived yet.

"Hi there, mate," Niall and Zayn greeted, having no idea what had taken place yesterday. They probably just assumed that I was still just as sad that Harry had left.

"Hey."

They noticed right away that I wasn't in the mood for having a conversation, so they kept talking to each other while I started eating my baguette, munching on it slowly.

About five minutes later, Hannah finally arrived, sending me a sad smile as she sat down beside me. "Hey guys," she said, giving Zayn and Niall a genuine smile.

They nodded they head in acknowledgment. "Hello."

When neither of Hannah or I started talking, Zayn finally had enough of the silence. "Alright, what happened? I thought Louis was just grumpy over Harry, but now you are quiet as well, Hannah."

"We broke up," she shrugged.

Zayn seemed surprised by this while Niall didn't show any sign of reaction. It meant he had probably seen it coming. "But that's not why we are quiet," she continued, letting out a sigh.

Zayn seemed even more surprised by this, his mouth now hanging open. "I made him text Harry to tell him to come back, but he hasn't replied which is why Louis is mad at me."

I looked at her. "I'm not mad at you," I mumbled.

She gave me a knowing look. "I'm not stupid, Louis. You don't have to lie. I know you're mad."

"It's not your fault," I said, shrugging my shoulders. "I'm the one who texted him even if I knew the consequences. There's no one to blame but me."

Hannah sighed, shaking her head. "Louis, please. I deserve it."

"No, you don't. You were just trying to cheer me up," I told her honestly even if my voice didn't really show it. I was being honest though. I didn't blame her.

"Okay, what? You broke up but you're still friends? And you encouraged Louis to text his ex... what?" Zayn said, looking between us incredulously. "What have I missed? I thought you hated the thought of Louis being with Harry just as much as Niall and I did?"

Niall raised his hand then. "I've actually changed my mind," he butted in, looking at Zayn apologetically. "I think Harry is good for Louis when he isn't being a total ass."

Zayn rolled his eyes. "And you think he isn't? You just heard what Louis said. He hasn't replied to him."

Niall shrugged. "He could have a reason."

"Yeah sure," Zayn muttered.

Hannah cleared her throat. "Well, I can see that Louis loves him, Zayn, and I can't be in the way of that. I want what's best for him and if I'm not that person, I'm not going to force him to be with me."

I gave her a small smile, reaching out to squeeze her forearm in appreciation.

"You're the weirdest girlfriend I've ever heard of," Zayn said, shaking his head in disbelief.

Hannah sent him a glare. "Wouldn't you do the same for Niall? If he loved someone else more than you, wouldn't you want what he wants?"

Zayn looked at Niall for a second before looking back at her, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "I think I'd be too selfish for that."

I let out a dry chuckle because his answer didn't surprise me. It was Zayn after all. Niall rolled his eyes, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Good thing I only like you then."

"Hannah's the best, that's just how it is. It would be impossible for me to be mad at her," I shrugged as if it was obvious.

Zayn seemed to understand the situation and we all left it at that. It actually helped us to loosen up a little as well, so we didn't go back to the silence that had started this lunch hour.

Once the bell rang, I made my way to my locker together with all three of them, which was highly unusual, but I enjoyed it. As long as at least one of them was with me, I could get my thoughts off the curly haired lad at least a little bit.

I was just about to open my locker when I could hear loud, girly shrieks erupting in the hallway. It caught all four of us by surprise and we looked at each other confusedly.

What was going on?

_____________________________________

I'm sorry for ending the chapter in such a cruel way, but I had to. I want the next part to be in a separate one. Stay tuned for that!

What do you think is happening?

Pauline .xx