Chapter 16

**Louis' POV**

~ 20 minutes earlier ~

I was standing at my locker with Zayn when I suddenly heard a loud yell.

"Shut up!"

I glanced in the direction of where the voice had come from only to see Harry, sitting with his head in his hands on the floor a few yards away. Only a few seconds later, he got up and sprinted past me, out of the building.

I didn't know what to do. Every part of my body wanted to run after him, to see if he was okay, or if there was something wrong, but something told me I couldn't.

You're with Zayn now, you can't run after him.

But I loved him! I couldn't just stop doing that!

With a frustrated sigh, I leaned my forehead against the locker.

"You coming, babe? The bell is going to ring in a few seconds," Zayn said with a small smile on his lips.

I nodded. Zayn and I didn't have many lessons together, just like me and Harry, just Maths, P.E. and civics, and right now we had Maths. I took Zayn's hand and together, we started walking towards the classroom.

On our way there, we caught more than half of the school staring at us when we passed them. It was rather creepy, to be honest. Some of them even leaned in to their friend and whispered something in their ear. However, I could only hear what one of them said. "How could Zayn want to be together with that fag? And how is it even possible that Zayn is gay?!" My reaction was to furrow my eyebrows and look down at the floor.

The bell had yet to ring once we were standing outside the classroom. I was just about to turn to Zayn when I was suddenly pinned to the wall. "Lou, are you alright? I heard what some of them said... just ignore them, okay?" Zayn mumbled, his breath fanning my face.

I nodded, smiling cautiously.

"Good."

He leaned in so close that our lips were only centimeters apart, and I panicked. We hadn't kissed yet. I hadn't kissed anyone in my entire life, for God's sake! I always wanted my first kiss to be with Harry... that I would never have it, that is. But I wanted it to be that way! I couldn't do this. "Zayn, I'm sorry, I can't do this. I'm so sorry," I said, placing my hands on his chest and pushing him away a little.

He sighed heavily. "I'm sorry Lou, I shouldn't have gone that f—"

"No, Zayn," I cut him off. "It's not your fault, and when I say I can't do this, I mean that I can't do this with you. I'm sorry, but I don't think I can be together with you. I always think about Harry. It's always him, and it has always been him. I know he won't ever love me back, but I can't move on from him, I just can't. I would rather end up alone than be with someone else. Please forgive me." I shook my head, feeling tears welling up in my eyes.

Zayn took a deep breath. "I know, Lou. I knew you would make this decision sometime. Maybe I didn't expected it to happen this soon, but I knew it would eventually. It's just, I wish I was him you know?" he whispered, tears pricking his eyes.

Right then, the bell rang. He stepped away from me and started heading for the classroom, but before he could do so, I grabbed his arm firmly. "Wait Zayn, please. God, I'm so truly sorry for everything. I shouldn't have dragged you into this. I should've made my mind up earlier. You don't deserve someone like me. You deserve someone that loves you, someone who wants to be with you for the rest of their life. Before we got together, I didn't know you were such a sweet person. I thought you were an angry, stupid jerk. I'm really sorry for thinking that, but what can I say? You were bullying me," I chuckled through the tears that were running down my cheeks. "The thing is, you are such a caring person who cares for the ones you love, and I want you to stay that way. Please promise me that?"

Tears were now running down his cheeks as well. "I promise Louis."

I leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek.

"I love you, Louis," he sniffled in my ear as I hugged him.

"I love you too, Zayn," I mumbled.

"And we both know how much I wish that was enough."

I sobbed into his shirt. "I'm so sorry."

He shook his head. "Don't be. I hope Harry has the same feelings for you as you do for him, by the way. I wouldn't want you to end up alone," he smiled through his tears.

I grimaced. "Thank you," I whispered.

He returned one last smile before pulling out of the hug and heading into the classroom. I, on the other hand, had no intention on going inside. Instead, I started heading in the opposite direction. I was going to find Harry.

The only question was where he could be. At home? In his car? Then it hit me... where else?

I headed straight for the destination, and only five minutes later, I was walking on the football field. There he was, leaning against one of the goal posts.

I was just about to walk over to him when he suddenly yelled. "Could you for once just shut the fuck up?!"

"H-Harry," I whispered mostly to myself, but I bet he could hear me.

Right then, he looked up and our eyes met.

——-

**Harry's POV**

It was Louis. He was standing over there, and I could see from all the way here that he had tears in his eyes. I was just about to stand up and walk over to him when he started walking towards me instead. Within just a few seconds, he was standing right beside me.

"Is it okay if I sit down?" he mumbled.

I nodded, and he sat down so close that our legs were touching. I could feel how sparks ran through my body at the touch. "How... how did you find me, and why?" I whispered.

"Oh, I'm sorry... if you want to be alone, I can just... well, I should probably g—" He started getting up with a blush covering his cheeks, but I gripped his hand, cutting him off.

"No, that's not what I meant. Please sit down again."

My heart fluttered at the feeling of his hand in mine, and I just couldn't let it go, so I kept his hand in mine even when he was sitting beside me again.

"Oh, um, it wasn't hard to figure where you were. This is practically your home, so that's how I knew you were here and why? Eh, I guess I was worried about you," he admitted, biting his bottom lip.

He was worried about me? Oh God, I loved him.

FINALLY! You're admitting it yourself!

I smiled to myself. Yes, I finally did.

"How could you know that this is practically my home?" I smirked.

He blushed a crimson red. "Well... I've... I've seen you in P.E. You're really great by the way, so I figured—"

"I know you're lying, Lou," I said knowingly with a smile on my lips.

He blushed even harder. "Am I that obvious?"

I shook my head, chuckling. "No, but I've seen you here," I said, looking around the field.

"Oh, well. I guess you caught me then," he mumbled awkwardly.

Still with a wide smile, I turned to him. "I actually have something to tell you," I smiled. "But, you have to promise me to keep attending every practice and game I have, okay?"

His eyes widened in surprise. "You kn-know about th-that?"

I chuckled. "Yes, and what I have to tell you might sound weird, but I want you to know, okay?"

He nodded.

"Well, it all started about three years ago during a practice. I was just running around the field when I spotted a feathery haired boy, trying to hide behind everything he caught sight of." I laughed at the memory and turned to Lou who just sat there, shaking his head in disbelief, so I continued. "I never really saw the guy's face, but I assumed that he went to my school at least. Somehow, I started to need the boy to be there. They gave me motivation to play well just by watching. I wanted to show someone that I was good at football. Then at the party only a few weeks ago, I saw a guy who was sitting on a bar stool. I immediately recognised him as the guy who usually sat on the bleachers. It's weird that I didn't recognise him at school because I mean, they were in two of my lessons, after all, but I guess this person was simply invisible or something," I smiled. I looked at Louis again and noticed that his cheeks were red. He was just too adorable, I swear. "I started talking to him and noticed he was a wonderful person, but also that was bullied by none other than one of my best friends. I think we both know who the boy I'm talking about is, don't we Louis?" I looked at him pointedly.

"Y-You... You knew who I was all along?" he stuttered.

I shook my head. "No, I didn't know it was you until a few weeks ago. I was lucky to hear someone calling your name just when I walked over to you at the party."

"I-I can't believe..." he shook his head. "Is it still like that? Th-that you need m-me to be there?" he blushed.

I nodded. "Yes, about that. Two weeks ago during the game, I noticed you weren't there. I panicked. It was the day I'd made my first mistake around you. I let them score! I hadn't let in a goal in a year, and it wasn't one, but two! Then I finally spotted you up there in the audience beside Niall, and it was not until then I could go back to normal."

"I can't describe the feeling I have right now. I can't believe you actually need me to be there." He shook his head with a bright smile on his lips. "Why haven't you told me before?"

I shrugged. "I didn't know if you would stop showing up if you knew, so I wanted to keep it a secret from you," I mumbled. I looked down at my lap and noticed I still had Louis' hand in mine. How could I forget? Tingles were literally shooting up and down my arm for Christ's sake!! I started playing with his fingers.

"But I wouldn't, Harry. I won't. I love watching you... all of you play. I know I can't touch a ball without falling over, but I still love watching football," he murmured.

"That's great, because I can't play without you there," I said, leaning my head on his shoulder.

There was a short silence until I spoke up again, "So, how's it going with Zayn?" I asked against my will. Okay, I wanted to know what he felt for him.

To my surprise, he tensed up. "I... Well, I broke up with him," he mumbled, looking down at his lap.

I lifted my head from his shoulder, squeezing his hand in mine. "What? Why? But, weren't you only together one day? What happened? Did he beat you? Oh, I swear, I'm going to kill that bast—"

"No, Harry! He didn't beat me! He was lovely. He cared for me just like a boyfriend is supposed to do," he mumbled.

I relaxed a little but still felt jealous of Zayn. He'd had the chance to be with the one I was in love with. How could he threw that away? "Then what happened?"

He shrugged, looking me in the eyes. "I'm in love with someone else," he whispered, looking away again.

I froze. Wait, he was in love with someone else? But wasn't he in love with Zayn just yesterday? How could he fall in love with someone else in only a day?! Did love work that way? Well, who was I to know? I'd only known what love is for about fifteen minutes. "H-how? I mean, weren't you in love with Zayn yesterday?" I frowned.

He shook his head. "No, I never was. Sure, I love him now, but I'm not in love with him. Sometimes, you can't be with the one you want, you know? Especially if you're gay. It's not like you can go up to ta guy and tell him you love him." He rolled his eyes. "I've been in love with this guy for far too long. I was fifteen, and he made me realise that I was gay. I broke up with Hannah and then I just longed to be in his arms... but he's as straight as a ruler." He looked at me with sad eyes, and I just wanted to hug the living life out of him. "He won't ever love me back, even though I will love him for the rest of my life." He shook his head, letting a tear fall.

Whoever the guy Louis was talking about was, I was really jealous of him right now. I would never get the chance to be him. I wasn't straight, so it couldn't be me... but wait, he didn't know that!

Of course it's not you! my brain told me.

It is you! the voice that'd been talking to me earlier said.

I shook my head. No, it probably wasn't me.

I hugged Louis, without letting go of his hand. "I'm sure he loves you back," I smiled at him when we'd pulled away a little.

He shook his head. "I was together with Zayn because I didn't want to end up alone, but this morning when he tried to kiss me... I couldn't do it anymore. I always wanted my first kiss to be with the love of my life, or else I didn't want to kiss anyone. I've done well so far though, since I still haven't had my first kiss yet," he smiled.

I smiled back. That was kind of sweet actually, but I didn't want him to end up alone...

Suddenly something clicked in my head and my eyes widened. Louis' did too when he realised his mistake.

He wanted his first kiss to be with the love of his life? Then why had he tried to kiss me if I weren't... him?

Because it is you, dumb head!

Oh my God, he was in love with me! I could practically scream out of happiness. Louis Tomlinson, the lad that was my first love ever, loved me back!

Without a second thought, I leaned down to press my lips against his. At first, he stiffened at the touch and didn't do anything but sit still, but when I bit down on his bottom lip, he snapped back to reality and started kissing me back. Holy shit. I'd never felt this way when kissing someone before. Sparks were shooting through my entire body and it felt as though it was on fire. His lips were soft, yet rougher than a girl's. The feeling of them on mine was amazing, and I swear I could kiss him like this for the rest of my life.

A moan escaped his lips and I scooted even closer to him. I started moving my lips more forcefully against his, trailing my tongue along his bottom lip. He granted me access almost instantly, and I instantly took the opportunity. Eagerly, I explored every inch of his mouth, not wanting to leave a single spot untouched. I then rubbed my tongue against his, which caused him to let out another moan. Smiling into the kiss, I reached out to grab his waist with the hand that wasn't holding his. His other hand reached up to my hair and started playing with my curls. I didn't know how long we sat there, lip-locking until we eventually ran out of breath.

I pulled away a little, but only so foreheads were still touching. His glasses were almost falling off, so I pushed them up with my finger. "You love me?" I smiled playfully at him, and he nodded with red cheeks. "I love you too."

His eyes widened in surprise, and he pulled away. "No, you don't. You can't. You only kissed me because you realised that you were the one I loved, and you probably didn't want me to end up alone or someth—"

I cut him off by kissing his wonderful lips once more. "I love you, Louis. I'm in love with you."

He shook his head. "No, you can't be! You said that you had never been in love with anyone, that you were still trying to find someone to love! You can't just fall in love with me if you didn't have feelings for me since the start," he said desperately.

"Louis, please look me in the eye."

He did as told and met my gaze. His beautiful blue eyes were sparkling like I'd never seen them doing before. He still didn't know that I loved him, but I could see that he was happy anyway.

"I love you, okay?"

He shook his head, opening his mouth to speak, but I put a finger over his lips. "No, wait. Let me explain, please?"

He hesitated for a while before nodding a little reluctantly.

I took a deep breath.

If you blow this chance, I swear, I'll beat you up somehow!

"It all started at the party. Not to be mean or anything, but you were kind of invisible before that. Anyway, when I saw you sitting on that bar stool... I've never felt so drawn to someone before. It was like a voice in my head told me to walk over to you. Believe me, it wasn't just because of the way you were dressed, but also how you made yourself visible for the first time ever that night. I've never seen an outcast with red chinos before, and you just looked so amazing. When I first looked into your eyes, I knew I'd found a new friend. They were so kind, sweet and yet so frightened. I could bet you were scared to be at a party. Then it was your lips... well, honestly, I've wanted to kiss those perfect, pink lips of yours ever since. But anyway, after that night, it was impossible not to notice you in the hallways. I tried, I'll admit it, but that was just out of fear and because of the fact that I was scared of losing my reputation, which you already know. Please don't hate me for that, by the way.

Another thing is that I have never been in love before, which you already know too. Then Zayn also kept beating you up, and I couldn't just let you be abused like that. It hurt so much, and I'm not that kind of person who just watches when something like that happens. You were nothing but kind to me, but despite that, I had to make those stupid mistakes that made you hate me. I'm so sorry for that.

When it comes to all of my girlfriends lately, it was mostly because I wanted to forget about you. I knew I had feelings for you that weren't exactly friendly ones, and I was just so scared. I've never liked a boy before so I just wanted to make those feelings go away, but it wasn't that easy. You showed up at my house because our stepfathers apparently are workmates, and it was then I realised you were just too amazing to be ignored.

Then it was our almost kiss." I smiled at the memory. "Oh, how I wanted it to happen, but right then your mother interrupted us." I shook my head. "What I was trying to say in the school nurse's office was that yes, I was scared of what everyone would think, but that was nothing compared to how embarrassed I during the situation your mum called us, I mean. I just felt like I couldn't stay there to see what would happen, so I ran off. I'm so sorry for doing that. I regretted it as soon as I'd stepped outside your house.

Then it was the slaps," I chuckled quietly. "Wow, I've never been so surprised in my life, to be honest. The first time was the worst though. I sat in a daze for minutes! The other slap didn't come as a big shock though. I knew I was being a jerk by kissing Lucy. Sure, she was the one to initiate the kiss, but I didn't shove her away just because I was mad at you for rejecting me. I wanted you to at least be my friend again.

After that, Zayn came into the picture all of a sudden. I was so furious at him for almost killing you all those times that I just had to know the reason why he beat you up. The reason shocked me as much as it shocked you, but one thing you weren't that I was, was being jealous. That time in the lunch room when I stared back and forth between you and Zayn angrily and you walked out, I was nothing but jealous of what Zayn had told me. He fucking loved you! I couldn't be anything but jealous. And as if that wasn't enough, he even told me to tell you everything. I swear I would have rather sunk down into a puddle or something similar to it right then. It was on that occasion I realised I had feelings for you, and it only did matters worse when you and Zayn got together later on. The reason I'm here now is because I was jealous this morning again, and I couldn't handle it so I ran away from it.

Actually, it wasn't until you told me you were worried about me only a few minutes ago that I first realised I am in love with you. I know I'm a little late to realise it, but I've been in love with you ever since that day at the party. It was just that I was afraid of loving someone, and especially that this someone was a guy. But the main thing is, now I know that I really am in love with you, Louis Tomlinson."

I looked into his gorgeous blue eyes and noticed that tears were running down his cheeks. Was he mad? Was he happy? If he didn't show me any sign within five seconds, I would ask h—

My thoughts were interrupted by a pair of pink, beautiful lips that crashed into my own. The hand that wasn't holding his immediately reached out to grab his waist and pulled him closer to me. Our lips moved against each other in a kiss filled with love and passion, in comparison with the one we had shared a minute ago that was eager. I pulled back a little and looked him in the eye. "Does this mean you believe me?" I asked, a bit flustered.

He smiled, nodding cautiously.

My face broke out into a smile and I hugged him as tightly as possible. I wanted to feel him pressed against me, so close that you couldn't see who was who among the two of us. I peppered his face with kisses and whispered "Thank you, thank you, thank you" over and over again.

He giggled as I kept kissing his face.

Eventually, I actually pulled away a little and rested my forehead against his. "You wanna know the real reason why I've watched you play football all these years?" he wondered, a playful glint in his eye.

"Yes," I whispered.

"I wanted to see you."

A blush made its way to my cheeks. He'd been there every practice and game just to see me?! Unbelievable.

"Or well, that was the reason the first year, but then I grew some kind of obsession to see you play. It just looked so fun," he smiled shyly.

I kissed his nose. "Then I'm gonna show you how to do," I said, getting up and releasing his hand for a second before grabbing it again to pull him up on his feet.

"I'm going to make you the best player in the world," I promised.

"Good luck with that," he said, rolling his eyes.

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They kissed! Oh My God! Wow, I almost started crying when I wrote this...

However, I hope you liked this chapter as much as I did. Well, I feel really bad for Zayn... It'll sadly be only one chapter more, then the epilogue :'( I'm going to miss this story!

Well, thank you again for the feedback. I will forever love you for supporting this story <3

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Lots of love, Pauline .xx