In A Twinkling (Larry Stylinson)

December 22 - Wednesday

Part 21 recap...

Louis made progress on his turnip plan and then went to see Harry at his show, meeting Zayn instead, and asking him to pass on a message to Harry...

The train ride back up north is a very different experience to any that he's taken since he moved out of his childhood home. For the first time, he feels like he's heading towards his future, not away from it.

The blurred scenery whizzing past as he looks out of the window is the same, the rocking motion of the train as it speeds along the rails is the same, but Louis isn't the same man that took the reverse journey two days ago. He's more settled, more sure of what he wants out of life and what he needs to do to secure his happiness.

He hasn't heard from Harry, which he's disappointed about, but also isn't all that surprised. If Zayn did pass on Louis' message, Harry might be needing some time to process it. Or he's decided that exploring things with Louis isn't what he wants and is waiting to let him down more gently in person, and that's okay too.

At the very least Louis hopes they can become friends now that he's moving back home permanently. Harry's a good person with a kind heart and great outlook on life who has already been welcomed into this small community. Louis' Nan and the Crochet Circle adore him, and he'd slotted in so naturally at the pub with Niall and Liam. Added to that is how well Harry and Louis get along with each other, trading witty banter and sharing a comfortable ease Louis rarely finds with another person. So he feels like they could have something special, even if only platonically. It wouldn't be an easy adjustment for him, of course, his heart still holding out hope that they can be something more, but if friendship is all that's on offer, then he'll respect Harry's decision and do everything he can to make it work.

Louis had called his Nan before he boarded the early train, not elaborating on his life-changing decisions, just letting her know things had gone well even though he hadn't spoken directly to Harry. She'd been understandably disappointed and he could tell she was about to launch into a longer question and answer session than he wanted to have over the phone, so just let her know he was coming home and not to worry about picking him up from the station. She'd insisted on doing just that though, saying that she was going to be in town catching up with the girls anyway, so at least he won't have to fight for a cab.

He'd slept surprisingly well, all things considered, his mind seeming to settle even with the weight of his future plans filling every available space. He perhaps hadn't realised how much he'd been running in place, striving for some undefined goal that he couldn't articulate, and how much that was exhausting his naturally schedule and structure driven personality.

The thought makes him chuckle, remembering Harry's unique (and incredibly hot) dirty talk when they were having sex. It's a good memory and doesn't make his heart clench like he might've expected. That's healthy though, he thinks, that he's able to recall it fondly without any hint of regret for what he may have lost. Only time will tell if he's really lost that forever.

The train pulls into the station and Louis disembarks, finding his Nan in the waiting room, chatting away to a young girl who is smiling at her fondly.

"Oh, Louis!" His Nan says brightly as he comes up beside her, leaning down to give her a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey, Nan. Y'alright?"

"Lovely, thank you. I was just telling Emily here about your travel adventures after uni. She's currently backpacking through the UK," she says and turns to the girl. "That's right, isn't it dear? Backpacking?"

"Yeah. I am," Emily says, her Australian accent coming through strongly.

"She's heading out to Brindle's farm to work for a few weeks and I said we'd give her a lift."