When We Were Young

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We startin to get to the good stuff Yeep Yeep
Xoxoxoxoxo
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#Louis#

The sun was beaming in through the windows when I woke up. That plus my headache did not make a happy Louis. I sat up, rubbing my temples to make the hangover go away. The bed next to me felt empty, probably because it was. Eli was gone and so were her clothes off the floor. Disappointment swelled inside me but I knew what to expect.
    When I called her, it went straight to voicemail. I tried not to assume the worst. We'd only known each other a little over two months but she was already my best friend. And although I'd hate to fight that status with Darcy on Eli's scale, I like to think I'm that close to her. That I'm as big of a best friend as Darcy, or almost as big.
    With a groan, I got up to close the blinds on the windows so the sun wouldn't bother me anymore. As I was about to pull the second pair shut, a sight in the building in front of me catches my eye. A girl standing in the window holding a coffee mug in her hands smiling at me. She looks strangely familiar. I was sure I'd seen her on a magazine or tv or somewhere. The girl with the dark hair waves at me, and it's then I realize I'm still naked. I give a quick smile and pull the curtains shut.
    Hopefully, I won't see her again. I wouldn't want to hear what she has to say about seeing Louis Tomlinson naked. I lay back down and close my eyes. Hopefully, I'll be granted more sleep to cure my headache some.

#Eli#

    When I get out the cab, I check my phone and see a missed call from Louis. My phone was turned on silent for the upcoming wedding, in which the bride demanded I be three hours early for.
    I'd slept in past noon with Louis regrettably, which meant I had to rush to get to the venue. It didn't help that the venue was in another town two towns over from where Louis' hotel was, and the only way I had to get there was a cab. Luckily, there was enough time to get something to eat then continue going.
    I let a sweet, old couple out the doors of a coffee house before entering myself. Emotions start flooding back in to me as I take in my surroundings. I haven't been here since I was eleven.
    This coffee house had been here for years, way longer than I'd been born. Obviously, it's been remodeled since then, but the smell is the same. Strong coffee and old wood. I knew they still uses the same homegrown coffee because I recognized the smell. Somehow, it was different than other coffee smells. The original owner of the coffee house had a friend who owned a farm, and grew coffee beans. Both businesses have been passed down through generations ever since, and they've always been allies.
    The two-story shop was half full, people coming in and out. The line at the front counter wasn't too long, but long enough to give me time to get my wallet out.
    The person in front of me moved to the side to wait for their order and the guy behind the counter smiled at me. "Hi there, what can I get you?"
    "Double shot of espresso, no whip, thank you." I hand him the money as a voice speaks up behind me.
    "You have good taste," an Australian accent I assume is talking to me says. I turn around and confirm the person behind me is the Australian accent and is talking to me.
    "It's just a coffee," I tell him casually. The clerk hands me my change and I move to the side. Australian accent orders, and I try not to check him out. That plan doesn't work.
    Australian accent has tattoos running up and down his arms, something that's always attracted me. He had plenty more tattoos than Louis, not that I was comparing the two. He had dark stubble and a shaved head. The black tee he wore fit him nicely, as did the dark jeans. He looked strangely familiar as Louis did when I met him. Maybe he was famous too.
    When he started to walk my way, I looked away and admired the new, modern style the coffee house had adapted.
    "Hi." Australian accent appeared behind me.
    "Hi Australian accent," I said, using it as a nickname. It was easier than learning his name, because if I learned his name, I'd want to get to know him.
    "You come here often?" He asked.
    "You use that pickup line often?"
    Australian accent smirked. "Not really, but I'm starting to become a regular here, and I was hoping you'd be too."
    The barista called out my order, giving me an excuse to get away before I agreed to see this guy again. Apparently, I was attracting all the guys with accents lately. I looked at him before walking out with my drink.
    "Wait," he called as I reached the door. "What's your name?"
    I thought of the way I attracted Louis that first night, being cool and slick. So I sipped my drink and asked, "what's yours?"
    Australian accent licked his lips. "Zayn."
    "Eli."
~
    Later at the wedding, I'd gotten enough photos to put together at least three albums. This was a big wedding. At the reception, the head count doubled. Apparently, most didn't want to stay for the lovely dovey 'I dos'. Sadly, I had to.
    It was a beautiful wedding, though. Despite the whole family being from New Jersey, they had high-class New York taste. The reception was outside a classy hotel right next to a huge lake. Round tables with white cloths and purple flowers in the middle were spread out for yards on either side of the dance floor. The dance floor itself was almost completely filled. And that was just one half of the tables. The other half had people scattered around at different tables.
    It sometimes baffled me how someone had so many people that loved them-or at least tolerated them enough to show up-at their weddings and other events. If I ever had a wedding, the only people who would show up are Darcy, Sage, and Louis. Maybe even 50-year-old Robert who'd smoke a cigar with me, and Sam the bar tender. Darcy'd bring Averon and the two of us could fix up a date for Sage. Louis? I wouldn't know. He probably attracts women left and right. Overall, it'd be a small wedding.
    All of a sudden, a women in a tight navy blue dress-one of the bridesmaids-that showed plenty of cleavage holding a baby ran up to me.
    "Marie went into labor and Joey's having a panic attack over it! Can you hold Maggileno for me?" She shouts in my face with a thick Jersey accent, then proceeded to shove the baby she's holding into my hands. 
    "I-what?" I don't even have time to react. The woman is already running toward the hotel-or trying to. It's obvious she's struggling in the heels and the dress. Two others dressed similarly are trailing behind her.
    I look around me to see if anyone else saw what just happened, but everyone's attention is focused on the crowd doing the Cupid shuffle. I stare at the chubby baby names Maggileno in my hands. Maggileno stares back at me with big brown eyes and chubby cheeks. He can't be older than two at the most. He's wearing a baby tux that you could only get at a special bridal shop. Afraid of the drool coming out of his mouth, I hold him at arms length, but close enough to not drop him.
    "You smoke?" I ask dumbfounded at the fact I'm holding some random woman's baby.
    I wait patiently for the mom to return, which takes a while. No clue what to do, I stay standing where I am holding Maggileno in the air. People at the tables stare at me and whisper but I'm too far to hear anything.
    "Ok, any minute now. She will be back any minute now." The baby gurgles and wiggles his chubby legs but besides that, we stay like this for a little while. "Any minute no-" I'm stopped mid-sentence of my complaining because Maggileno has a different idea. What started as a simple cough ended with spit-up on my face and shirt. I close my eyes for a minute and take in what just happened. "This is why I'm never having children."
    Ten minutes later, the mom hasn't returned and I've taken camp to an empty seat at an empty table near the edge of the dance floor. I do my best to bounce Maggileno on my lap, but I can't tell if he's amused or not.
    "Ok baby, I know your mama is gonna be back real soon. Just real soon. Just reall...soon." I drag out my words as I stare at the hotel for a sign of any woman that looks like the one that came up to me. I sigh and continue to wait. "So your names really Maggi...Maggile...no I'm sorry, I can't say that with a  straight face. Where'd your parents get that?" The baby doesn't answer me but continues to drool. I've placed him so his back to me and the crowd can awe at him and his cuteness as they pass by. "Ok well, I'm gonna call you Leno cause I can't say your full name with a straight face, ok? Is that okay with you, Leno?" I bounce him some more. Leno tilts his head back to look at me and babbles. I shake my head and bounce him some more. "I'm sorry, I don't understand baby. Even when I was one."
    Lucky little me is still holding the baby for a good half hour while none of the woman who disappeared inside have returned. I got so bored, I sent separate texts to both Darcy and Louis with a photo of Leno and me with the caption 'having a great night!' Louis replied with a thousand laugh-crying emojis and Darcy hasn't replied.
    "Oh thank god!" The woman from before comes running back to me, or more like waddling back. "Thank you so much for taking care of little Maggileno." I don't say anything, just hand her the baby, pick up my camera, and leave.
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Hi theree
I know, I know Maggileno is a strange name and it doesn't even exist but it's what I thought of
You guys like how I introduced Zayn into dis chapter ???
Hope you lovelies enjoyed it
Xoxoxoxoxo