The Space Between Us | L.S

Reconciliation

"Liam and I got into this argument," he finally said as he crumbled up the paper wrapping his sandwich was encased in. I didn't look at him, but scooted my bum against the cement, our hips now touching. "It was about me leaving the store." All of his words were calculated, as if he was overthinking each word to ensure he didn't reveal too much.

I hated that.

"I'm sure you heard about that." A small scoff weaving within his words.

"I did." I said simply, staring ahead at the flickering street light across the street.

"Well I left and that fucked over Liam. But we were fine and there was this underlying tension." I didn't speak as he paused his sentence, his fingers chipping at a piece of yellow paint that was glued to the sidewalk indicating this was a no-park zone. "Then I missed their engagement party cause of something....and then Harry's nephew was born and I forgot the fucking cake," and he let out a bitter laugh.

Even though I loved his friend, my fists balled together and my ears became hot. An indication I was becoming angry. Louis was clearly going through something and they just abandoned him when he was at his most vulnerable, fuck that, fuck them.

"Fuck them." I repeated without thought, "Over a bloody cake?"

He let out a genuine laugh this time, "no, other things led up to the cake but it kind of ended there, I was unreliable and "not who I used to be", which I'm not so I get it."

"You're not unreliable though." I said softly, my fingers inching towards his, which were still picking at the sidewalk.

"I sort of am. Always have been but I guess people are finally starting to catch on," he looked at me through his eyelashes, "I've let you down plenty."

"No you haven't, you've hurt me. But when I need you, you're there." I told him without breaking eye contact, "always." I affirmed with slight force. Our fingers were not interlocked.

"You got mustard on your mouth," he breathed in before I could become embarrassed, he dipped down and planted an intimate kiss on my parted lips, "there." I giggled, using my free hand to pull him down for another kiss. He only broke apart to whisper against my lips. "I'll always be here."

It was after two when he pulled up outside my flat. His lights bouncing off the still street, all the nightwalkers and youthful students who occupied my building long gone.

"What are you doing this weekend?" he asked as my hand stilled on his door handle.

"Studying."

"Can you study on the road?"

"What do you have in mind?" I was more than likely going to agree to anything he said but I wanted to prolong this conversation. Prolong this night.

"Got this family thing, and I want you to come with me." Oh okay, I would agree to almost anything.

"Family eh?" Oh god, ever since he visited my family way back when I knew this day would come. And to think I almost escaped it but no, I just had to reconcile with him.

"Yeah." I looked at his expression, and he looked awkward. An attitude that I rarely saw on him. "It shouldn't be too bad. You'll just make it more bearable."

"I get that." I smiled, "Yeah, I wouldn't miss it."

Come Saturday morning, I wish I was missing it. 

Especially since I was watching the two of the most important men in life, aside from George, starred each other down. I intended to dart out the front door before Louis even text me that he was here. But I had misplaced my phone, which caused me to not see Louis' message that he was outside, and better yet, too preoccupied to hear his knock on our door. 

Now, Jonas and Louis were looking at one another without breaking eye contact. 

Louis was eyeing him out of curiosity, attempting to guess his next move. Jonas was eyeing him with uncertainty. He had been by my side the entire break up and despite Jonas' being fully aware of how much time Louis and I had spent together these past few weeks, he was still vocal about his distrust. 

"Jonas." Louis said with a tight smile, "how's it been?" his eyes shifted to look at me briefly. 

"Louis," my flatmate returned the tight smile, his eyes narrowing slightly. And just as I was about go to the kitchen to grab a knife to hopefully slice the tension. Jonas let out a loud sigh "You still doing freelance work, because look at this monstrosity mate."

He pulled up his sweatshirt pant leg to reveal the jagged lines that were suppose to be a hammer. I had almost pissed myself laughing when he came home a few months ago with it, first off because he had asked for a screwdriver which was a symbol for something that I had already forgotten. 

Since our break up, Jonas had made it clear that he would not go to Louis for anymore tattoos but the last two years have been full of dreadful fuckups, and for the sake of his skin I even begged him to go back to Louis. To which he declined, but I guess that pact of solidarity ended since our reconciliation. 

Louis eyebrows bunched together as he looked at the awful tattoo and before he could ask Jonas said, "I need a cover up mate, of anything." he slightly begged, "I'll even get a tattoo of Wendy's asshole to cover that up."

Geez Jonas. 

"I could work with that," Louis said and I watched the tightness in his shoulders roll off "but not Wendy's bum, I'm saving that idea for myself."