Calm after the Storm

Start of healing

The way you know somethin'
Your face reminding me
Of a love you cannot hide
But don't need to tell me why
Back dancin' in the dark
Back to the very start
Findin' pieces that can fit
We can hope for what we miss

I said you know me
Alone, we're only
Just as good as the rest

Together we're the greatest
We'll never be left cold again
No fallin' all to pieces
We're the greatest
It's you and me until the end
Life for us is never over
Greatest

(The Greatest - Louis Tomlinson)

[Louis]

The last few days at work have been quiet and Louis feels safer now that Harry is dropping him off and picking him up. Nevertheless, Louis keeps catching himself seeing Jake everywhere. It's in his imagination, he knows it. And yet it freezes him into a statue every time. When will this stop? Louis is afraid of losing his mind. He can't keep suspecting Jake in any man two heads taller than him. Especially in his job where he has so regular contact with other people and more than enough men have some resemblance to Jake. Be it the hairstyle, be it the eyes or the stature.

But there are also those moments that feel liberating. He's already told Holly and Mary that he's broken up with Jake. That he has his first love back and Holly in particular was overjoyed. „Harry Styles of all people is that person?" and when he told her about their past, she stared at him with a grin and Louis was so happy. All the good memories spoken for another human healed him in a special way so that his cheeks hurt from the big grin that wouldn't disappear from his face. Even pride swelled in his chest as Holly reiterated how handsome Harry is and she sighed that all good men are taken or gay - including Louis. Which got her an eye roll from Louis and him a "Stop looking like that Louis. Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? You are to die for," from her.

He doesn't have another shift with Dan for a few days, but he's already looking forward to it because he also wants to tell him that Harry is his boyfriend. It's just too good and if Louis had the courage he would shout it out to the world. But he didn't expect that this would come true sooner than he expected.

Holly comes into the Café with a magazine, because they are sharing a shift again, and happily waves it over her head.

"Hey Louis," she chirps, lengthening his name extra long. Louis just raises his eyebrows and stares at her questioningly.

"I've got two lovebirds on the cover here," she calls, and the next moment she's next to him. Louis practically snatches the magazine from her hand and stares wide-eyed at a photo of Harry and himself. Harry's arm wrapped around his shoulder while they were strolling around London last night. They both look at each other in love and Louis remembers this moment exactly. Just not that someone who obviously seems to have photographed them.

Harry Styles - not just a new show but a new love for our best export!

"Isn't that cool? You're a bit of a celebrity now too," Holly grins as he looks up from the magazine.

"Wow. I kind of never thought about it being something I have to live with now," Louis murmurs, looking at the picture again. It's basically the first couple picture since their breakup and it feels beyond weird. Harry is beautiful as always, but here in this picture he realises for the first time how much he has changed visually. He now understands why everyone is concerned about his weight and he doesn't like how fragile he seems next to Harry.

"Do I really look like that?" he quietly asks Holly as he hands her back the magazine.

Holly searches for words but can't seem to find any and just smiles wryly.