"Hey Dad, I found one of your old picture albums in the attic, and I just have one question, who's this hot chick?" Freddie asked as he came down the stairs into the kitchen where his dad was making breakfast.
"I'm not sure who you're referring to, but for future reference, don't call ladies 'hot chicks'. They don't seem to like it too much." Louis said to his son as he walked over to him to check out the photo album.
"Ok, dad, but she is seriously hot. Who is she?"
Louis took the photo album and stared at the picture. A thousand memories swirled through his head as he looked at the picture of her...and him, from so long ago. He became lost in his own world of memories and thoughts... before his son waved his hand in front of his face, and said
"Earth to Dad ...Wow. She must've been someone important. Seriously, dad, who is she?"
"She was my first love, Eleanor. We dated for three and a half years, but then we felt we had to break up." Louis said concisely.
"Why, what happened?" Freddie asked, genuinely curious.
"Well the whole time we were dating, I was touring as a part of One Direction, and so even though we spent as much time as we could together, eventually the long distance took its toll on us, and we just...grew apart. Miscommunication and fights occurred, and we knew we had to say goodbye."
"But did you love her?"
"Yes, Eleanor and I did love each other very much for a while, and she will always have a place in my heart, but like I said, we grew apart, we broke up, and it is what it is."
Freddie was quiet for a short while as he processed the information, but as he was never one to stop until he knew everything, he again pressed his father by saying,
"So, did you get together with my mom before or after you broke up with Eleanor?"
Louis had had just about enough of all the questions, but he also realized that at 16, Freddie had a right to know this part of his past and how he came to be.
"After my breakup with Eleanor, I wasn't sure what to do with myself, so I kind of went crazy. I went to night clubs and was partying and drinking all night, almost every night, and during that time your mom and I were friends, and sometimes we would be at the same night clubs. Well, one thing would lead to another, and it was during one of those times, you were born, as you know."
"Didn't you and my mom ever love each other, though?" Freddie asked as he looked at his dad with a sad and somewhat pleading face.
"We were friends, so we respected each other and cared about each other's well-being, but no, we didn't love each other in the truest sense of the word. I'm sorry, Freddie, but that is the truth, and I feel like you are old enough now to hear it."
Freddie sat at the table silently for quite a while, contemplating what he had heard from his father, and just as Louis was about to try to wrap up the conversation, he slowly said,
"I think you should check around or Google what Eleanor's doing, Dad. You never know, she could be available."
"I wish you would stop bringing up my past, son."
"Well, you know what I wish, Dad? I wish Eleanor was my mom, because at least you loved her!!"
Louis stared aghast at his son and was speechless. Normally he would have a snappy comeback ready at hand to say, but Freddie seemed to be one of the few people who could hit a nerve just right and leave him speechless at times.
Despite how upset he was at Freddie for yelling at him and not showing him respect, however, he knew in his heart of hearts that he was most upset at himself for agreeing with him.
