Calm after the Storm

Hello again

A/N: New update schedule: Tuesdays and Saturdays!

Because my beta is busy with other things at the moment I can't update daily as usual BUT I have enough buffer to offer you two times a week for now! Maybe it could happen that I can only update once a week again. I will let you know if that should happen.
————————————————-

Stolen images, baby, stolen images
Can you picture it, babe, that life we could've lived?
Hello-hello, can-can you hear me?
I can be your China doll, if you like to see me fall
Boy, you're so dope, your love is deadly

Tell me life is beautiful, they all think I have it all
I've nothing without you
All my dreams and all the lights mean
Nothing without you
We were two kids, just tryin' to get out Lived on the dark side of the American dream

We would dance all night, play our music loud
When we grew up, nothing was what it seemed

(Without you - Lana Del Rey)

[Harry]

"Hi," Louis whispers back, his voice so broken Harry wants to hug him right away. He immediately senses that Louis needs it more than he needs it, but it also feels wrong. Too much between them, too much time has passed and by Jay's stories, Louis is taken. Which put a huge tear in Harry that hasn't healed even after all this time. Both just stare at each other again while Harry sees out of the corner of his eye how Louis' colleague remains in her work and looks at them curiously.

Finally, Harry clears his throat. "It's good to see you again."

And then Louis actually blinks away his tears, lashes wildly fluttering as he looks up at the ceiling. Like Harry, his colleague seems to sense how upset Louis is and gently pushes him aside. Instead, she is now standing in front of him, but with the best will in the world he cannot take his eyes off Louis, who is stroking his eyes with his hands and then staring at the floor. He stands there like a miserable heap and what Harry would give to walk around the counter that separates them, almost symbolically, like the distance from London to New York back then.

"Hi, I'm Holly. Would you like something to eat or drink? There are still a few spots left and I would take your order there," the girl says gently and Harry finally tears his eyes away from Louis and smiles at her.

"Yes, thank you," Harry nods, looking around this upscale Café for the first time. It's cosy, the soft music is playing in the background and the other guests' breakfast looks more than delicious. It's hard for him to get away from Louis, but he walks over to a table with two comfortable-looking plush chairs and sits so he can watch Louis. But he doesn't have much time for it, Holly is with him shortly afterwards.

"You look familiar. Have you ever been our guest?" Holly asks, eyeing him curiously.

Harry shakes his head. "No, this is my first time here. I hosted the weather on 'Good Morning America' for about two years, so you might know me from there."

Holly's jaw drops. "Oh sure, that's how I know your face. You've been on enough tabloids here. The boy from England who broke through in America. Can I get an autograph?"

Harry chuckles softly, grabbing the pad she is holding out to him, the one she's actually using to take notes about the orders. He puts his signature on it, paints a small heart on it and hands it back to her with a smile.

"Is it true that you're getting your own show here in England now?"

"Yes, actually it's true. We start the show next month. Now I'm just trying to get settled in London."