Given A Chance (1D Version)

31.

Harry's POV

He had really no bloody clue what was going on down on the field. To him, it looked like the players were all mindlessly and aimlessly running around and after a stupid ball but that was probably his own fault. Although he had gifted Evelina tickets to a game of her favourite football team, he had not bothered to read up the rules to prepare himself. He had never understood football. He didn't hate it per se but he just didn't get it. Thankfully, he had a fiancé, who really liked the sport and could explain everything to him when he felt stupid again. And because he was really the luckiest man on the planet, his perfect man never made fun of him for not knowing what was going on most of the time. No, he held him close the entire time and explained step by step what was happening.

"See? Now we're in possession of the ball" Louis pointed down on the field. "But we need to step up our game if we wanna score again. Their defenders are really good. Absolutely ace".

"They're mid, at best" Evelina snorted arrogantly. "We're ...".

"About to lose the ball" Louis looked pointedly at her.

"Because of your negative attitude," Evelina rolled her eyes at him.

"Oh, sorry. I'll just stop thinking negatively. That will definitely help them play better" Louis was taking the piss now and Harry just watched them interact. "Didn't know I had mind control powers".

"You don't" Evelina groaned exaggeratedly.

"No, you're right. Otherwise, you would shut up and watch the game in silence" Louis countered amusedly.

"No one watches a game in silence" Evelina shot back.

"Most definitely not you. That's for sure" Louis replied smoothly. "And now pay attention. Maybe your positive attitude will help them win, after all".

"I hate you" Evelina grumbled but focused back on the game.

"Will you two ever watch a football game like normal people?" Maeva questioned them totally unimpressed.

"You mean roaring and shouting like animalistic hooligans?" Louis cocked an eyebrow up at her. "Probably never, Love".

"That is so not what I meant" Maeva shook her head at her father.

"But isn't that how football fans stereotypically behave?" Louis touched his chin in fake thought.

"I mean, you're not wrong but still not what I meant, Dad" Maeva had to give him that.

"I know, Love" Louis pressed a kiss into her hair. "Are you having fun despite all the animalistic behaviour?".

"Yes, don't worry, Dad. It's not like I hate football" Maeva assured him with a smile.

"Good. Maybe you can help your Papa understand the game, mh?" Louis suggested sweetly but hearing Louis refer to him as their Papa still sent shivers down his whole body.

"Of course. You can count on me" Maeva started beaming. "Papa, what do you not understand?".

Swallowing his usual emotions at hearing his daughter calling him that, Harry took a hold of her hand and glanced down at the field. "Everything? Are we winning or losing?".

"So far, we can't say but we're doing a good job. Kind of. We could play a little more offensive but other than that, we're doing fine" she told him like a real expert, making Louis smile at her words.

"I'll just have to trust your words" Harry squeezed her hand.

"You can".

From then on, Maeva kept holding his hand and explained every little step to him in a quiet voice, trying not to disturb the people around them. Strangely enough, Harry hadn't known that Maeva knew this much about football because he had only pegged Evelina as the football fan alongside her father. But apparently, she knew just as much as her sister, if not more in the technical sense. She just wasn't into playing it herself for more than fun sometimes. With a smile on his face, he listened intently to everything she had to tell him, still not understanding a word about the game in itself.