Under The Willow Tree • Louis Tomlinson

viii.

viii. kiss me

— • —

"To get the dancing started I will be playing Kiss Me as requested by Jenna." Ed's voice filled the hall as the guests started to converge on the dance floor. I wanted to watch the first dance but I also wanted to watch Ed Sheeran. After tossing up the two options, I found a spot on the edge of the dance floor at just the right angle so I could also watch the performance. Ed started to strum his guitar as he started Kiss Me. I watched as Louis and Jenna walked into the middle of the floor. A few others followed their lead. I smiled to myself as they started to slow dance. From a distance, they did look cute together but there was something about them. Something wasn't right. I then focused on them, ignoring Ed's melodic voice. Louis didn't seem comfortable as he danced with Jenna. It looked as if his mind was roaming somewhere different.

"Would you like to dance?" A guy with blonde hair asked me, holding out his hand.

"No thanks. I'm fine with just staring at Ed Sheeran."

His face drooped and then he shrugged, turning to face a girl next to me.

In the instrumental break, I noticed that Jenna had stopped swaying. She was talking to Louis. Her back was to me but I could read Louis' face. He was smiling, genuinely smiling. He quickly broke his gaze with her and glanced up. I don't know if he meant to do it or by chance but he stared straight at me. His smile faltered and turned to a frown. Something was up. I knew it.

I watched as Jenna nodded her head as she waited for Louis to reply. Everything would have been fine if he replied to whatever she was asking but instead he looked straight at me. I didn't see what happened next because the dance floor became crowded as soon as the break finished.

I wonder what had happened...

— • —

I was at the front of the stage a few songs later swaying to The A Team.  I didn't mind hanging by myself but what had happened on the dance floor kept worrying me.

It's not my life. Louis is an adult he can work his own problems out. I thought smiling up at Ed, focusing on the way he played his guitar.

I was quite happy in my little space I had made when Niall joined me, platter of food in his hand.

"Hi Niall!" I exclaimed, "Are you a waiter now?"

Niall laughed and shook his head, "No a waiter had to take a break so I said I'll mind the food."

"Ok then." I said slowly.

"Um Rose... have you seen Louis?" Niall asked, biting his lip.

"Not since he started dancing. Why do you ask?"

"Well none of us can find him."

"What about Jenna?" I ask, worried about what was happening

"She is in the bathroom crying." Niall smiled awkwardly.

"Shit." I muttered, "Well I'll try and find him. If I do I tell him that you're looking for him."

"Thanks Rose!" Niall grinned, handing me a canapé, "Here's some food for your journey."

"Thanks Niall." I examined the food before walking off in search for Louis.  I looked around the edges of the hall, searching for exits to the outside. I spotted one next to the stage so I decided to look out there. I walked outside into the cool night air. There wasn't a soul in sight. I walked to my right, away from the front of the venue. Nothing much was out here besides crates, bins and pipes. As I neared the back, I heard a noise. I stopped and waited to hear the noise again. A few moments later, I saw a stone fly out from behind a wall and land on the grass.

"Louis?" I slowly asked the night

"Go away Rose." His voice sounded pitchy. I walked over to the over side of the wall where the building formed an alcove and I saw Louis. He was sitting on the ground leaning against the side of the hall. He looked sad. Louis was not a sad person.

"Why are you sitting out here?" I asked him while I searched for a crate to sit on, "Niall is looking for you."

"I didn't want to stay in there."

"Some more explanation is needed."

He breathed in slowly, "She said it."

"Said what? Oh" I bit my lip.

"While we were dancing. She stopped during the instrumental break and told me that she loved me."

"I'm guessing you didn't say it back." 

He nodded, tossing another stone into the distance. "I just didn't reply. I was...."

"Looking at me." I finished his sentence for him.

"Yeah. I don't know if she knew who I was looking at or not but she stormed off when the song finished. I didn't know where she went so I decided to come sit out here"

I frowned, scouring my head for the right wording. "Why were you looking at me?"

He did not respond straight away. Instead, he took his time before staring at my eyes. "Because growing up you were the one who helped be understand everything. When I was with you I always made the right choice. Once we lost contact I realised that I needed you to help me through tough decisions." He paused for a few moments and slimed slightly, "I guess tonight you made me realise to follow my heart instead of other people's heads."

"And what did your heart tell you?" I asked Louis feeling like a psychiatrist.

"My heart told me that I don't feel the same way about Jenna as she did. My heart told me from the very beginning that Jen was not the girl for me. But I listened to other people's ideas." He slowly stood up and I followed suit. With heels on, I was the same height as Louis. I felt out of place in heels. I liked my usual height of 5' 6''.

Louis smiled at me and opened his arms. "Do I get my 'Nice to see you again' hug now?"

"Since when did you get a raincheck?" I retorted. Louis laughed and wrapped me up in his arms. It was a friendly hug, an I Missed You hug. This hug took me back to when we were young, when we were innocent. I do not know how long it would have lasted but we were interrupted. We were interrupted by last person I wanted to see right now.

"Well now..." Jenna's voice rang out in the silent night air.