Love Uncovered (Larcel/Loucel AU)

Chapter 7

A/N: OHMYGOD GUYS WERE ALMOST AT 1K CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS BECAUSE I CANT. I know it's not a lot to some people but its a lot to me. Sorry we haven't posted in a while school just started so we can basically only write the weekends. I WASN'T EXPECTING TO GET OVER 400 READS TBH BUT OHMYGOD THANK YOU SO MUCH ENJOY.

Louis’ POV

    Angst and regret weighed down on my chest as I sped in my car, with the younger lad in the passenger seat. I tried to focus on the band playing on the radio or the street in front of me, but I could see Marcel reaching his large hands up to adjust his vest or make sure the collar was folded down just right. It felt to me like I could apprehend every movement he made and I could imagine myself sitting with him for hours, just to watch him move. It was a strange feeling and made the angst in my chest weigh down even heavier.

“So. Louis, where exactly do you plan on taking me?” His voice was louder than I was expecting and I could hear the small quiver when he said my name.

“Huh? Oh! I… Um…” I tripped over my own words a few more times then said. “Well, I could drop you off at home. Where do you live? Oh duh! I know where you live! You live with Harry right? Or no? I mean I don’t know…”

“Louis!” He almost shouted at me and I caught myself rambling. What the bloody hell has gotten into me? Get it together Lou.

   “I live on the complete other end of town. I have to get home.” He said with worry. He was right, I had driven nearly all the way to the south end of our city, while Marcel lived in the north. It wasn’t far too late, only 4 o’clock. I could get him back home in time to do homework and such, but as I passed the neighbourhood carnival on the corner a playful smirk played across my face and I said, “Oh come on! Just have a little fun. It’s the least you could do, after all, I practically saved your life.” I made sure to add in enough sarcasm and he made a show of holding in his laugh.

   I shouldn’t be doing this, it’s really in my best interest not to be seen in public with him. Zayn was probably still fuming at me, but somehow I always found myself adding fuel to the already blazing flames. I could just imagine him grumbling around his home talking about how he knew ‘Louis couldn’t be trusted’ or how I was ‘Just some prick..’ I scoffed at the notion and for the first time in a while I didn’t care too much about my reputation or what Zayn would think. I cared about showing Marcel a good time. The regret began to become lighter upon me and I exhaled while pulling into the nearly full parking lot.

   “Louis, what if someone sees us here? It’s not exactly safe to be seen with you…” He looked down at his lap in embarrassment. I figured he needed comforting, so I placed a hand on his slumped shoulder and said as softly as I could, “Marcel, no one from school is here. Come on let’s just go have some fun yeah?” He stared at me with those green doe-like eyes and he broke into a smile so large you would think he had been holding it in for years. I had never seen anything like it and it was absolutely stunning. I couldn’t repress the compliment that escaped my lips. “You should smile like that more often.”

Marcel’s POV

   I found myself blushing far too many times as we walked through the carnival chatting about anything that came to mind really. Louis and I got on surprisingly well, considering our past. When he would speak about the things he was passionate about, like football or his mum, his cerulean eyes would intensify and he would speak with his hands. It was truly magnificent to watch. Suddenly, Louis gasped and ran over to one of the booths. I walked over with him and saw the goal net set up and a ball on string attached to the ground. “Marcel! Do you have any money on ya?” I dug around in the pockets of my khakis then handed him a few pounds and he pecked my cheek. His lips were just as soft as I had remembered them. He gave the money to the attendant as she told Louis the objective of the game, which was to knock over the cardboard cutout of a goalkeeper by kicking the ball. I stood off the side and watched as Louis placed the ball in the flat area of the fake grass, he bent down and I blushed as I caught myself staring at the curves from his legs to his bum. He stood and backed up to get just the right angle and he ran towards the ball. I saw him lean to his left as he struck the ball with his right foot and his arm flew up into the air. The ball flew faster than my eyes could see and he knocked over the piece of cardboard easily. I laughed in amazement and applauded him. “Thank you, thank you very much.” He said with sarcasm and bowed towards me. He went to pick out his prize, picking up a small bear with glasses and an argyle printed vest that looked an awful lot like mine.

We strode past the illuminated lights of games and coasters, and attempted to find the car in the maze of a parking lot. After about 10 minutes of searching we found it. Louis strode over to the passenger side and opened the door allowing me to get in. "Thanks." I blushed. As I sat in the car waiting for Louis to get in as well, I thought of how awful this day could have turned out. Right now, I would be at home icing my face or my stomach and trying to hide the wounds from Harry, if it weren’t for Louis. But instead I was playing carnival games with the adorable boy I snogged not over a week ago. He was actually very smart, which made him even more attractive than I thought possible. When he spoke his adorable Doncaster accent was prominent. Nothing could ruin this, except me of course. On the way home I was still confused as to why he brought me here with him, so I tried to ask him, but I couldn’t control myself. “Why are you doing this Louis? Why did you take me here? I thought you said you wanted nothing to do with me? What about your precious reputation?” The bombardment of questions tumbled out of my mouth without thought and after seeing the look on his face, I immediately wished I could take it all back.

    He stared at the street in front of him in silence, his lips pressed together and his brows furrowed in thought. “I mean… I-I just want to know why all of sudden you want to spend time with me? It’s not like I didn’t enjoy it but…” I trailed off and Louis glanced up at me. A grin spread across his face and he chuckled as we pulled up the front of my house. “Marcel, listen. I don’t know if you are just completely oblivious, but I like you. I like you a lot more than I should. I told you and myself that I needed to stay the hell away from you, but that didn’t exactly pan out as I’d hoped. You probably hate me as I have made your life a living hell and I thought maybe a day out would change your mind about me. It might not, but it was worth a shot. I've had a great time by the way.” All his words flowed out of his mouth smoothly, but my words seemed to falter and I couldn’t create full sentences if my life depended on it. “Uh…well I-I like you too Louis.” was the best I could choke out as I stared at the stained floor of his car. I could feel my blood rush up to my neck and crawl onto my cheeks. “I have to go, thanks for.. you know.” I said and I quickly got out his car and I heard him say a quick goodbye before I shut the door.

   I was thankful that Harry was working late tonight as I ran into my flat and slammed the door before screaming at the top of my lungs. Louis. fucking. Tomlinson has a crush on me. Me? Of all people? And I couldn’t even say anything back to him. All I could do was stutter like a love-struck teenage girl. I wanted to tell him how adorable it was when he would laugh and throw his head back, or how his hips looked fucking gorgeous when he walked. I wanted him to know that when he was drunk, his eyes would occasionally cross and that his tattoos peeked out from under the sleeve of his shirt. Or that when he smiled his cheeks would scrunch up his eyes, but you could still see the bright blue. I wanted him to know that he was perfect in every way I could imagine.

Louis’ POV

    I pulled out of the Styles’ driveway and let out a sigh of relief. I took deep breaths and tried to steady my breathing. I can’t believe I just told Marcel that, my rep is now officially fucked, but what really scared me was I didn’t seem to care. I was actually relieved that he knew. This whole day went exactly how I didn’t plan. Spending time with Marcel gave me the most exhilarating feeling and I wasn’t even thinking about cutting or the scars. When we walked our hands would graze and it felt like my heart was on fire. I didn’t really mind that he didn’t say he liked me back, I knew he did. I could see it when he smiled like a fool for me and I could see how grateful he was that I took him from Zayn. I stopped at a light and glanced into the backseat at the teddy bear I had won. I picked it because it reminded me of Marcel, the sweater the glasses, the fluff, I smiled to myself again and drove all the way home with a smile on my face and a content mind. For once everything seemed to be alright.