If You Only Knew

Chapter 16

—— Almost 2 Months Later ——

It's the 20th of December now, and the last month and a half have flown by in a whirlwind of laughter, late-night talks, and stolen kisses. Louis and I have gone on a handful of dates—each one leaving me more smitten than the last. We've spent countless nights together, switching between his house and mine, always finding comfort in each other's arms.

Mum has been working longer hours, picking up extra shifts to prepare for the holidays. I'm happy for her, proud even, though her absence doesn't sting the way it used to. Louis is my constant now—he was always there, but something has shifted. His presence feels warmer, more grounding. He's my anchor.

Honestly, home isn't a place anymore. It's not four walls and a roof or the scent of Christmas cookies in the oven. Home is Louis—his crooked grin, his raspy laugh, the way his arms feel around me when the world seems too loud. As long as he's there, I'm safe. My sweet, kind, compassionate boyfriend, who somehow turns eighteen in just four days. How does time move so fast?

We're sitting in the cafeteria now, our usual table crowded with Niall, Liam, Zayn, Louis, and me. The five of us have grown closer over the last couple of months. The boys have seamlessly joined our Friday night tradition, making those evenings even more chaotic and hilarious.

"So, what are everyone's plans for the holidays?" I ask, leaning back in my chair as I take a sip of my drink.

"I'm flying back to Ireland tomorrow," Niall says with a wide grin. "I'll be back the day before New Year's Eve, though."

"I'm spending it with my family," Liam chimes in. "We're just staying home this year—keeping it simple."

"Yeah, same," Zayn adds, his voice soft but warm. "My family's doing the whole stay-at-home Christmas thing, too. It'll be nice."

Louis leans forward, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Well, I, for one, will be spending Christmas with my dear Hazza here," he says dramatically, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. "We'll be hiding in my room, away from my sisters, watching movies, and eating as much junk food as humanly possible."

I laugh, shaking my head at him, but he's not entirely wrong. That's been our tradition for as long as I can remember—sneaking away from the chaos of his family Christmas to have our own little celebration.

"Two things, Boobear," I say, grinning at him. "One, you're forgetting that the day before Christmas we'll be celebrating you turning eighteen." I give his shoulder a playful nudge, and his cheeks flush ever so slightly. "And two, no matter how much we try, we are not getting out of ice skating with your family. Your mum won't let us."

Louis groans, leaning his head dramatically on my shoulder. "Ugh, why do you have to remind me?" he whines, but there's no real bite in his tone.

"Because someone has to keep you in check," I tease, running my fingers through his hair as he grumbles half-heartedly.

The table bursts into laughter, and for a moment, everything feels perfect. The cafeteria is alive with chatter and the clatter of trays, but all I hear is the laughter of my friends and the soft sound of Louis humming under his breath.

It's strange to think how much has changed in just a couple of months. These boys have become family, Louis has become home, and for the first time in a long time, the future doesn't seem quite so scary. Wherever we go, whatever comes next, I know one thing for sure: as long as I have Louis, I'll be okay.

Here's an expanded and more detailed version, adding more imagery and emotional depth to the scene:

Louis rolls his eyes dramatically, his lips curling into a playful smirk that makes his eyes twinkle. "They really should let us get out of it. You, my dear, are a menace on skates," he teases, his voice low and full of teasing affection. The flicker of humor in his tone is impossible to ignore, and despite my mock offense, I can't help but laugh.