It was always you ~ L.S. ✅

11. Dress up bitches #2

LOUIS' POV

I was sitting at the edge of my bed, feeling like all the air has been sucked away from my lungs. Today was the day. Today I'm gonna face him after 5 years. I don't know how I will react. Ughh! Fucking Simon.

Knowing that I have no choice other than attending the meetup, I picked up my phone to call Liam. I need help in dressing up.

"Hey Lou, you alright?"

"Yeah, um Li, can you please come to my room for a sec? I can't figure out what to wear." I said scratching my neck; embarrassed.

"Of course Lou. I would've gone either way. I need help in dressing up too." He admitted sheepishly.

"Okay Payno! Bring up what you've got." I said before hanging up.

I shuffled through my suitcase to bring out a few hoodies, t-shirts and tracks, spreading them on the edge of my bed so that it would be easier for Liam to choose from them.

A few moments later, someone knocked my door and I opened it to find Liam, carrying a couple of suits and smiling sheepishly. My eyes widened. Is he seriously going to wear suit for a simple meetup?

I didn't question him though. Moving in, he threw his suits on the couch allowing me to take a closer look.

"Choose." He said after flopping down on the floor in front of the couch. I shuffled through them and found out an appropriate one and handed it to him.

"Here, try this one."

He looked satisfied.

"Um- can I use your room to change? I mean I know you don't really like company nowadays and its okay if you want me to go away an-"

"Shut up Li and change. It wouldn't be the first time that I'll be seeing you naked. And, yeah I don't like company but I don't have any problem with you changing in my room. Now hurry up! I need help too."

He smiled before turning scurring away from me to hide his half-naked body, not that I was interested, but I used to tease him back in those days so most probably, he dosent wanna get teased by me.

He didn't take long.
"Heeyya Tommo, how do I look?" He gave me a happy twirl at which I smiled.

"You look great mate. Now find me something. Choose from there." I said pointing towards the clothes that I've kept spread out on my bed.

His eyes widened and he looked at me with disbelief written on his face.

"What?" I asked.

"You're not gonna wear tracks and hoodies their! Christ." He screeched like a school girl. "We have a dress code and all of us are wearing suits."

"You can't be serious Lima! Why the hell would you wear suits for a meetup??"

"Lou, please? It's our first public appearance in a few months and most importantly, this is our first appearance 'together', after so many years. You know Simon will call paps for gaining attention. Please Lou... Wear a suit... For me? He said, giving me puppy eyes knowing I won't be able to turn him down.

"Ughhh! Fineeeee! Don't give me that look." I said before collecting the hoodies-tracks-tshirts and walking back towards my suitcase.

"Yayyyy! You're the best." He screeched.
I don't even know how we used to call him 'daddy direction'. I mean, he's so childish.

I walked towards him carrying the suits I've brought. He chose the red one and I was happy; red is my favourite colour; after green obviously.

"Um Li, will you just give me a few moments to change and then we can like, leave together." I asked scratching my chin caz there's no way I'm gonna change in front of him. He will get to know about my self harming habits.
He stared at me confusedly. I went to explain again but realization washed his face. He looked kind if dumbstruck caz back in our days in the band, all five of us used to change in the same room at the same time. And to be honest, most of the time, all of us used to roam around shirtless or just in our underwears.
Liam nodded nonetheless and walked out of my room. I felt bad for kicking him out but I have no other choice.

I changed into the suit Li has chosen for me and opened the door, allowing him to come inside. I watched as his jaw practically touched the floor after seeing me. Suddenly I felt insecure. Do I look that bad?

"Lou this is......" He trailed off.

"What?" I was panicking internally. Oh gosh! Do I seriously look that bad? Shouldn't I go out wearing this? Do-

"You look fucking awesome. How could you- how did you manage to look this good in a simple suit. Oh my god!" He rambled on.

"Calm the fuck down Li. Jesus." I said feeling relived moving towards my mirror. Liam's right. I do look good.

We both were ready when there was knocking at my door. I opened it and saw a guard from our security team, whose name I don't know. He asked us to follow him so that he can lead us to our designated hotel. I was frozen on the spot knowing there's no more escape. Liam maybe have understood caz the very next moment, he was rubbing soothing circles on my back and murmuring "everything's gonna be fine" in my ear. Somehow, I managed to get back to my normal state and followed the guard, after locking my room obviously. I felt dazed, but was grateful to not have a panic attack in front of them.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*