Back to you and me - Larry

CHAPTER TWO

"Louis!"

I groan into my pillow, then take a moment to shake my lingering dream. "Fuck."

"Louis, come on!"

My eyes open instantly because that was not a dream, except it has to be because Mum is surely not trying to wake me up. But that's when I notice the noise, the morning chaos I haven't had to deal with since... I can't even remember. There are voices that are too young, voices that argue and complain and ask Mum where their sweaters are. There's running and shouting and creaking stairs when someone can't stop running.

Everything is wrong, yet so recognisably right that I must be stuck in a dream—my bed isn't right, my sheets are the wrong colour, this entire bedroom is childhood Louis', not adult Louis'. Nothing is making any sense, but I can't shake the realness, the sense that this can't be wrong because I wished upon a shooting star. But that's insanely absurd, right? I mean... there is no such thing as time travel... right?

I cautiously get up so I can walk towards my mirror, not too surprised when I see a seventeen-year-old. I turn away so I can get dressed because being seventeen means I haven't lost anyone yet. I rush downstairs, ignoring Mum's stern expression when I practically burst into the kitchen so I can bring her into a much-needed hug. Her arms come up to wrap around me as she chuckles gently enough to make me tear up.

"Mum."

"Honey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," I mumble, breathing in her scent. "I just missed you."

"Louis, Mum says you have to take us to school."

I turn around to bring Fizzy into my arms, picking her up as she giggles and wraps her legs around me. "I missed you so much."

Mum is puzzled to no end, but she doesn't say anything about my unusual behaviour. I've always been caring when it comes to my sisters, but that's not to say I typically acted this way in the morning—especially not in the morning. But I can't explain to her what's going on, not only because I've somehow travelled back in time, but also because I can't possibly tell her that they're no longer around when I'm thirty. I'm wondering how I'm supposed to travel back. And in case I can go back in time more than once, is it possible to go back to a handpicked situation? Because I know I can't miraculously cure Mum's illness, but perhaps I can save Fizzy.

"You have to skip your cereal," Mum says, handing me an apple as she urges me into the hallway. "I know you're sleeping over at Harry's tonight, but can you please come home early tomorrow? I need you to watch the girls."

"Sure."

"Really? You're not gonna attempt to argue?"

"No."

"Thank you," she says, kissing me on my cheek. "You can bring Harry."

Forgetting to brush my teeth is only typical with so much on my mind, but I have gum in my car, so I snatch a piece as we head towards the girl's school. It's surreal to drive through Doncaster, yet more so to park outside my high school once the girls are gone and probably settling down in their respective classrooms. I'm cautious as I walk towards the entrance, but Liam and Zayn are chatting by my locker. They're not quite as close as they normally are, but it's strange seeing them so young again, to witness their sweet, sweet crushes—they're not in any way sure how to act around each other.

"Louis," Liam says, "you have to tell Zayn that bees have hairy eyes."

"Liam is right," I say, vaguely recalling this conversation. "Do you know what date it is today?"

"August... something," Zayn says—we're not even a month into senior year, so they're certainly not dating yet. "Since when do you care what date it is?"