If You Only Knew

Chapter 13

Louis and I stand side by side at our lockers, the soft hum of the bustling hallway fading into the background as I focus on him. The fluorescent lights above buzz faintly, adding to the haze of anticipation building in my chest. It's Friday, and my heart is racing with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Tonight feels like a milestone—one I've been both dreading and craving for weeks. The nerves twist inside me as I try to steady my breath, but when I glance at Louis, I feel a sense of calmness begin to settle over me.

"Are you ready for tonight?" Louis asks, his voice low, soft, yet full of that familiar warmth that always seems to ground me. His eyes meet mine with a tenderness that sends a flutter through my chest.

I swallow the knot in my throat and force a smile, though it's shaky, uncertain. "I am a little nervous," I admit, barely above a whisper, and I feel the truth of my words. But there's something in me—something strong, something certain—that makes me add, "But it'll be okay as long as I have you."

As I say it, a deep warmth fills me—an undeniable truth. No matter how my heart pounds or how my mind races, Louis is the anchor in this storm. His presence beside me makes everything feel manageable. I mean it, every word, and as the tension in my chest eases slightly, I see the same understanding in his eyes.

Louis smiles then, his grin bright and knowing, and it's like the whole world becomes lighter, softer. "Okay, Hazza. I'll see you at lunch, and then we'll go pick up your mum, yeah?"

"Okay," I reply, my voice steadier now, a hint of excitement creeping in. We close our lockers in unison, and as we head toward class, I can feel my heart still thumping a little too loud in my chest. This is it. Tonight, I'll be sharing a part of myself I've kept hidden, not just from my mum, but from the world. And Louis will be by my side through it all. It's terrifying, but it's also thrilling, and the only thing that keeps me from being consumed by the nerves is the thought of Louis next to me.

The minutes drag during first period, each one heavier than the last, and by the time second period starts, I'm barely holding it together. Niall's loud, boisterous laughter and endless jokes keep me afloat, but my mind keeps drifting to tonight. When the bell rings and lunch is finally here, I feel a brief moment of relief wash over me, only to be replaced by the sinking realization that the clock is ticking down to the inevitable.

"Sorry, NiNi, I've got to go. Lou and I have to pick up my mum!" I cut him off mid-joke, my heart pounding harder now.

"No worries, H! See you tonight!" Niall calls after me, giving me a thumbs up, his bright energy infectious, but I can barely focus as I gather my things.

"Bye, Ni," I mumble, offering a distracted smile before I head out the door and make my way to my locker.

Louis is already there, waiting for me, looking effortlessly calm. The moment I see him, my breath catches a little. His presence has this uncanny ability to settle the storm inside me. His eyes, those deep, warm brown eyes, meet mine and I can see the same quiet nerves hidden beneath the surface.

"Hey, Lou. Ready to go?" I ask, trying to mask the butterflies in my stomach as I shove my books into my locker.

"Yeah, of course. Mum said she'd meet us at the restaurant," Louis replies, his voice soft and reassuring. He doesn't meet my eyes immediately, but there's a flicker of something—something unspoken, shared only between us—before he turns toward the door.

We finish putting our things away, and as we head out to my car, the world outside fades into the background. The familiar hum of the engine as I turn the key, the faint beat of the music filling the space around us—everything feels right in this moment. We drive in comfortable silence, the kind that speaks volumes even without words. Louis is beside me, close enough that I can feel the warmth of his presence, but not so close that it's overwhelming. The music plays on, its soft rhythms wrapping around us like a protective blanket. In this moment, it's just us. No expectations. No pressure. Just us, together, and that's all I need.