Some things change. | l.s.

12

Summer finally came around at the start of June when the sun was shining all day, burning onto each surface it could reach and heating up the air so people were wearing their shortest clothes they owned, coated in thick layers of sunscreen to protect themselves from the aggressive UV-rays, with sunglasses over their eyes and hats covering the heads.

Louis could've thought of better things than being out in the heat, but Madison begged him to take her to the mall which he could endure because it was air conditioned, but on their way home she wanted some ice cream so he had to stop there as well and as soon as he stepped out of the car and into the sun he started to sweat.

"You're groaning like a grandpa." Madison giggled when Louis grabbed her hand when they crossed the busy street and pulled her along.

"Yes, because it's two thousand degrees and you can never be happy with what we have at home. The freezer is overflowing with ice cream." Louis complained.

"We don't have the ice cream I want and it's your own fault that you're wearing a long sleeved shirt." Madison argued and swung their hands back and forth until they reached the shop, but didn't let go of him.

Louis left that uncommented and simply hummed. What should he have said anyway? That he didn't want to wear t-shirts in public when he had to be in a crowd of people who could get close to him and possibly see all the scars under his tattoos? He was fine wearing short sleeved clothes when they took a walk or went anywhere where no people were around, but knowing he was going to be at the mall where thousands of people spent their time every day, there was no way he exposed his arms. And anyway, he tried to cover himself up as much as possible in front of Madison for as long as he could. There were times she had pointed some of the more visible scars out already, but she was always satisfied when he told her it was from an 'accident', but it was just a matter of time until she was old enough and understood where they were actually coming from.

They went inside of the ice cream shop and Louis noticed people stepping inside behind them as well and held the door open for them without looking who they were.

"How many scoops do I get?" Madison asked once they were standing in line.

"Two." Louis said abstinently when he fished his phone out of his pocket to check the message that just came in from one of his workers.

"Or three?" Madison wondered with pursed lips and looked up at him with big eyes.

"No. Two." Louis glanced at her with a quirked eyebrow, but she just pushed out her bottom lip and made it quiver. "Stop that, it doesn't work this time." He warned, but deep inside he knew it would- and Madison knew it as well.

"But dad!" She mumbled sadly and a woman in her mid thirties turned around chuckling at the scene.

"You can't win against that face." She said quietly to Louis who sighed deeply.

"I know." He said exaggerating, but with a soft smile on his face and she laughed before turning back around.

"Dad, please." Madison tried again pulling on his hand.

"You won't rather get it when you're ripping out my arm." Louis said unfazed.

"Please! I won't tell mum, I promise!" Madison whined and let go of his hand only to hug him with her chin resting against his stomach looking up sadly.

"Of course you won't. You'd do anything to get what you want." Louis huffed amused and brushed his hand through her hair. "Okay, fine. But only this one time and that stays between us."

"Yes!" Madison cheered. "Thank you!"

"Yeah, yeah." Louis rolled his eyes fondly. "Now go see what flavours you want."