Just A Flicker Of Hope - L.S.

Chapter 1

"Let me put it in simple words for you, I hate love,"

Louis stares out the window of the coffee shop, met with nothing but the raindrops sticking to the window sill that perfectly describes his mood. Since they were in diapers, Zayn, his best friend says nothing in return but Louis can feel his eyes burning into the side of his skull.

See, Louis loves his mum and wants nothing but the best for her but he didn't know having a wedding was that important to her. Let alone having all the rituals that come with it: planning, flowers, photographer, lights, music, and the stupid parties. Louis wouldn't say he is the grinch of love but that may be how everyone else describes him.

Zayn gives him a small smile and holds Louis's hand, he knows Zayn means well but Louis just wasn't ready for all of this. Life sucked sometimes, but he owes his mum a present, and a really good one at that. He was the oldest and her only son (except if you count Zayn) but he had to one-up everyone, Louis sometimes really hated his too much gene.

"What do you think I should get her?"

"Well, I suggest a wedding planner or even arranging the flowers."

"Wedding Planner? Does anyone actually need them? She's having the wedding in the backyard Z, I don't think she needs a planner."

"But she wants one?"

"I mean I guess, but no, not an option. I'm going to have to talk to them and you know I don't want any part of that."

"Okaaaaay, how about the flowers? I'm sure your boss would offer half off right? And you're really good at doing the bouquets, I'm sure it would mean a lot to Jo if you handmade her bouquet for her special day."

"I'm constantly surrounded by flowers, I'm surprised I don't have allergies to all of them at this point so no flowers. I don't want to spend my days off doing more work."

"Fine, well she needs a photographer. How about you hire someone for her?"

"That- that might be the greatest idea you have had all day. It's perfect, I don't have to talk to them. I just need to book them and that's it. Perfect and easy."

Louis looks at Zayn and notices a glimpse in his eye that tells Louis he probably wants to say something but he doesn't care, he has a photographer to book.

"I need to look for photographers, do you know anyone? I mean being a big hot shot tattoo artist I'm assuming you know someone."

"No I don't but let me text Li and see if he knows anyone."

"Where is Liam? I haven't seen him around in a while."

"He's busy, you know? He's off doing famous baker things."

"Yeah, right. You should probably let him know if he's still available to make her cake."

"He wouldn't miss it for the world Lou but I'll remind him anyway."

Louis nods and opens up his laptop, quickly typing into Google wedding photographers, thousands even millions of options show up but everything is out of his budget. Louis needs someone who is cheap but good, two bad choices put together but it's worth a try, right?

He scrolls and scrolls and scrolls for what seems like days but every ad, every website, and every person is either out of budget or not based in Doncaster. Why was Google showing him options for photographers based in LA or New York? Stupid Google. But just when Louis was about to close his laptop and bang it into his head, he notices something.

A website, Cheshire-based and family-friendly. He quickly opens up the website, skims through all the pictures, and even reads the about me section and it looked perfect.