I Hate You ~ Louis Tomlinson

GOOD DIFFERENT?

Natalie is laying on Louis' bed, parallel to the footboard when Louis comes in after his shower and lays his head on her tummy. It's Saturday so the two have off tomorrow and after laying there for quite a while it's now almost 2 am.

"When did you know you liked me?" Louis randomly asks.

He's staring up at her as she cards her hand through his hair. With all the time they've spent talking it's almost completely dry now.

"Oh, well I guess I did for a while." She says with a shrug. 

"Like the whole time?" He asks cheekily.

"Yeah from the moment I met you. The way you ignored me, wow it was really something." She says rolling her eyes with a laugh.

He turns around so his chin rests on her and puts his hand on her stomach, gathering the material gently and then letting go after a second. He keeps doing that for a little while, his smile slowly turning into a pout.

"I mean it was always different with you. Yeah, I joked around with the boys but it was always much more intense with you and I don't know. I guess it just felt different."

"Hm," he hums, "Good different?"

"Weird different. Sorry baby, but I didn't know how to feel. I guess, I kinda started thinking about you like that on that day I did your make up. I didn't really notice how attractive you are until you pointed it out. Like I had noticed it but I wouldn't let myself think about it." 

She's not sure if she's making sense, but it's honest. 

"It was just so up and down with us, I tried not to think too much about it because I didn't think you'd like me."

She says the end shyly but continues when he doesn't respond, "And then I thought about it more that time you found me crying in the kitchen. I wanted you to stay and so yeah that made me think about it. Then you took care of me and I started to see this other part of you that I like so much."

"So it happened slowly?" He asks, his eyebrows furrowing. Trying to process all she just said.

"Yeah I guess, I just didn't think I'd ever have a chance so I had to try not to think about you like that. It hurt too much." She says, she's not trying to hurt him, but she doesn't see any value in lying. It's how it happened. 

She really was in limbo for a while and it was hard for her.

"I'm sorry it was so hard." He says sadly.

"It's okay, you don't have to apologize. It all worked out." It gets quiet so she tries to distract him from what was just said, "When did you realize?"

"I guess I noticed I was jealous before I realized I liked you. Ya know when Zayn did that body shot off of you." He says and she can't tell how he feels about it.

It was before they were together so it's not like it was wrong for her to do and he knows that. But she also knows how jealous and upset she would have been if the roles were reversed.

"Yeah, I would be mad too if I'm honest." She says cautiously.

He huffs out a laugh. "I sort of was, but I had no right to be. But yeah I knew I was jealous then but one night, like the first or second month you were here. Do you remember when you and the boys had that game night?" Louis asks.

"Oh yeah, that was fun. We should do that again sometime. And this time you can play and oh! Maybe you can be my game buddy, we can be a team." She says happily.

"That would be great love. I would really like that." He says and he's smiling so big the corners of his eyes are crinkling.

"So the game night?" She says, redirecting things back to their previous conversation.

"Oh yeah, well Zayn was beating you at one of the games and you got fake upset and you were like yelling happily. Then Niall said something and you just laughed and laughed. And I don't know, it was weird but it was like the best thing I ever heard. And then I just sat there watching you play for a while because you seemed so happy and your smile, it just seemed natural on your face. I didn't get to see you smile all that much back then." He says.

"I might cry." She coos.

"Oh come on love." He says rolling his eyes and trying to hide his blush.

"Louis I'm not teasing you. That is the sweetest thing I've ever heard." She says sitting up a bit, resting on her elbows so she can look at him better.

"You think so?" He asks.

"Yeah. I didn't even know you were looking at me." She says, trying to recall the night better.

"I looked at you a lot when you weren't looking." He pauses for a second, "Well, not in a creepy way."

She laughs at that and it falls silent for a moment.

"Wait, you did like me first! Ah hah! I knew it." She exclaims happily.

"Really? You just ruined such a beautiful moment," he says wiping away a fake tear.

"Forgive me?" She asks leaning down to peck his lips.

"Forgiven." He says with a wide smile.

She smiles happily and moves his head off of her so she can lay down next to him, putting her head on his chest and fitting into his arms.

"I know I'm full of questions tonight, but what made you like me anyway?" He asks quietly.

"Harry used to ask me the same thing all the time, but I don't really know how to explain it. I mean I know why I like you now, but back then it was harder to explain." She says.

"It was easy for me, you were always nice." He says and she can't tell if he's happy or sad about that. "Sassy as anything, but nice." He teases to try to cover it up.

She's told him a million times she isn't upset with him, but that's not the problem. He is upset with himself for the way he used to act and she can't change that for him.

"The heart wants what it wants I guess." She says with a smile.

"I'm really glad it wanted me," he says, holding her closer. She can tell he is getting more and more tired by the second.

She moves to look up at him and she brushes her thumb up and down his cheekbone.

She whispers to him, "And I'm glad yours wanted me."