instagram // l.s.

fifty three

Yawning, Louis shuffled into the kitchen, the racket of his siblings arguing over the tv in the living room assaulting his senses. He winced, rubbing his eyes as he went to open the fridge, glancing briefly at his mum with a smile. Just as his hand landed on the handle, Louis registered a familiar case in his mum's hand.

He looked back over to her sharply, his eyebrows drawing together in confusion. "What're you doing with my phone?" he asked, his voice still scratchy with sleep.

Jay smiled sheepishly. "Your phone kept going off, and you weren't waking up, so I answered, and look!" she exclaimed, holding the bright screen out to Louis. Louis blinked, waiting for his eyes to focus, and when they did, his eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Harry, hey!" he exclaimed. "I hope my mum hasn't bothered you at all, she can be quite nosy," he said, looking pointedly at his mum. She rolled her eyes with a smile, pulling the phone back to face her.

"Oh shush," she said. "Focus less on that, and more on Harry here. I mean, you said he was pretty, but I didn't think you meant this pretty!"

Louis winced, hiding his face. "Mum," he groaned.

"You called me pretty?"

Harry's quiet voice sounded through the speakers, and even though Louis couldn't see him, he could hear the curiosity in his voice.

He flushed, taking the phone from his mother with a bashful smile. "I— yeah, I mean you're— you are. Pretty, I mean," he finished lamely.

Harry looked away, biting back a smile. "Thanks," he mumbled. "So are you.

Louis' fading blush returned in full force, his face burning.

After a moment, Harry spoke again. "I should go," he said reluctantly. "My free period is almost over, and my next class is across campus."

"Right, yeah, you're in school right now, sorry," Louis said awkwardly, stumbling over his words. "I'll talk to you later then."

"Bye Harry, it was lovely meeting you," Jay called, and Harry grinned, his dimples appearing as he waved cheerfully.

"Bye Jay! And bye Lou, I'll text you later," he said, smiling softly one last time before hanging up.

Louis stood for a moment, blank screen in his hand, before coming to his senses and shoving his phone into his pocket. As he turned to pull the milk out of the fridge, he felt eyes on his back, and he purposely ignored them as he made himself a bowl of cereal.

Only when he was seated at the counter, eating his breakfast, did his mother speak. "Louis," she said softly.

Reluctantly, Louis turned to look at her. She wore an infuriatingly fond expression, smiling knowingly at him.

"I see what you meant."

Louis cocked his head, confused.

"Last night. You said he was wonderful. Like an angel. I get what you mean."

He smiled softly, focusing his gaze on the countertop. "Yeah," he whispered.

"And I think I was right last night as well," she continued. "He really is fond of you. Before you woke up, you came up in our conversation, and Louis, he lit up when he talked about you. He had the biggest smile on his face the whole time, and he thanked me like four times for birthing you."

Louis chuckled, looking back up at Jay. "That sounds like him," he said affectionately. "And you see what I mean now? About not knowing what I'm going to do being around him for over a week?"

His mother smiled, nodding. "I do. But I know it'll sort itself out in time."

He frowned at her oddly cryptic tone, but before he could press further, Phoebe burst into the room with a scowl.

"Mummy, Lottie won't let me watch my show and I've been waiting all morning," she whined, stomping her foot indignantly. Jay sighed, rubbing her shoulder soothingly.

"Let's go see if we can't resolve this without shouting, yeah?" With that, she led Phoebe back into the living room, leaving Louis alone in the kitchen with his now-soggy cereal.

His phone chimed, and he smiled, knowing without looking who it was.

harrystyles: 12 days!!

louist91: 12 days :)