ILTHY | l.p.

6 | uno-tastic!

CHAPTER SIX
❛ 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗶 𝗮𝗺, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶'𝗺 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲. ❜
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[ y/n ]

So, here's the game plan:

    1. Suggest the idea to the band.
    2. Beg Millie to ask her brother.
    3. Face humiliation and beg Louis Partridge
if I have to.
    4. Be fucking mature to face him every day.

I had everything ready and prepared.

Until the fucking universe ruined it all again.

"Louis has a film project in Paris, Y/N," Millie tells me with an apologetic look on her face.

Ah, shit. I didn't think this through.

"I forgot he's an actor," I whisper in defeat, annoyed at how I forgot that major detail. Of course my plan won't work. Louis is the Louis Partridge. He has a career with millions of fans all around the globe. Why the hell would someone like him settle into playing for a small school band like the 00's? We're nothing compared to him.

"We'll have plan B," Felix suggests, as if to make me feel better. But it really didn't. In fact, it made me feel a little worse. I can't even do a little help for everyone I love.

"Don't bother, it's hopeless," Lisa says. "We can't perform without someone to play the guitar."

"Which is why Y/N thought of a replacement," Millie butts in to back me up. "We just need to find the perfect one before show time." The group fell silent, all thinking of who it could be. No one was better than Sam when it came to strings.

"I'm fine with this all since it is my fault. I'm willing to help find my replacement." Sam offers and smiles at everyone. Unlike everyone else, Lisa was still obviously holding a grudge against him, but she sighed and turned to Sam. "Don't," Lisa says, shaking her head slightly. "Save the last of your energy to recover."

And I knew everything was going to be fine.

"There are literally 3 billion people on this planet, and we don't even know another one who knows how to play a bloody guitar. " Lisa is starting to sound a bit frustrated, and I couldn't blame her. I was the same. "The talent show isn't for two weeks. We've got time," Felix encourages, being the most optimistic one in the group.

"No, we don't," Sam says, finally realizing how heavy the situation is.

I sigh. Silence filled Sam's room, everyone on the edge and thinking hard to create a plan B. I really thought I had it covered and finally had the solution in my hands.

"It's 7," Millie mumbles after opening her phone and turning to me. "We've got to go."

I know she meant that she expected me to come with her, and I expected the same. I turn back to the band and give them a small, tight smile. "We've survived worse."

Sam smiled back at me, Lisa looked away, and Felix nodded.

Millie wore her thick jacket and hugged my arm, leaving the room with me by her side. As usual.

"Oh, you girls are leaving so soon?" Olivia looks up to us, sitting on the leather seat in the living room. The TV is open, with the daily news playing. "I've got curfew." Millie and I move to give her a quick hug and say our goodbyes.

"Be careful now!" We hear her last words before we close the door and leave the Tyron residence.

ⵌ

Louis is standing outside the house, talking to someone on a phone call. Suitcases that are packed and full are just displayed in the living room, and calm music is playing in the background. I sit at the dining table with Issie and Millie, the three of us playing uno.

"Oi, stop cheating, or I'm telling mum!" Millie grumbles at her sister when she notices Issie peeking at her cards. "I'm the eldest here, Mills. You can't do anything about it." Issie teased and placed a +4 card on the table. I groan at the sight, realizing I'm the one who's supposed to grab the plus four.

Damn it.

The door opened at the same time as I reached for the first card. Footsteps echo on the wooden floors, and I felt a presence behind me. Then I hear a deep chuckle.

"Was that Gilbert?" Issie asks Louis. There was no reply, but I imagine him nodding. There was just no way I'd turn just to look at him.

"When's your flight?"

"Tomorrow night. 10 p.m." Louis answers Millie, and then I hear a shuffle behind me and see him in my peripheral view sitting on the other side of the dining table—away from his sisters and me.

And he's done talking. He's on that stupid phone again, ignoring my complete existence.

"God, Y/N, you are terrible at this game." Issie grins once she places +2 cards on the table. I groaned again when I knew none of my cards would help my situation and save me. "No, you're just ruthless," I bitterly replied while grabbing what I needed to get.

"Not my fault; luck isn't on your side," she teases and shrugs. Millie takes her turn and then screams, "Uno!"

In pure defeat, I wallow in my own self-pity and cover my face with both my hands. These cards only prove how the universe really must hate me.

"What are you doing? The game's not over yet."

"I'm going to lose anyway." I frown, looking up at Issie's huge grin.

"You don't know that."

"The card you're holding is another +4, is it?"

Issie played the card down, and I hit my head on the table, hearing both the cheers and laughs of Issie and Millie.

"Louie, you should join!"

I snap my head back up, my hair covering my face in a messy way. Louis looked up from his phone and looked at his sisters, but never at me. "Oh, no," he said, his voice sounding like he's unsure.

"Oh, come on, don't be a wimp. Just for a little bit." Issie tries again. Louis visibly hesitated for a bit, then looked back at his suitcases and down at his phone before shrugging. He stood up from his place and walked toward where we were. He sat in front of me, beside Millie.

Issie gathers all the cards and shuffles them perfectly before giving each one seven cards. And of course, I still don't get a good card. Maybe the expression on my face gave me away, because Millie giggled and I kicked her underneath the table.

"Oh, wait! I've got a deal," Millie says, twisting her body to face Louis properly. "If either me or Y/N wins, you'll take Sam's place in the meantime in the 00's. But if you win, I'll do all your chores and be your servant in a week."

What the fuck is she doing?

"Millie!" I kick her underneath the table again, eyes wide, and I shake my head. She gave me a look and gave me a gesture to say, 'trust me'. I do, I really do. But has she lost it? Her brother literally has work overseas, and his flight is tomorrow. There is no way Louis would say yes.

Louis narrowed his eyes at Millie, then finally looked at me before looking back at his sister, who can be a pain in the ass sometimes. "Throw in Nana's cupcakes, and we've got a deal."

My jaw drops. "Seriously?"

He looks at me again, his eyes looking straight into mine, not looking away. "Yeah, seriously."

"Deal!" Millie yells and smiles, a confident smile leaving her lips.

My eyes never left Louis, even after he looked away to focus on the game. I knew him enough to know that he meant it. Because Louis Partridge always keeps his promises.

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