Under The Willow Tree • Louis Tomlinson

xxxi.

xxxi. the public

— • —

"Two days ago One Direction finished their UK tour. Yesterday the band was spotted shopping and they were not alone. Accompanying them was a curly haired young lady who has not been identified as part of management. Some believe that this girl is the Rose Redwood that has appeared in some band members tweets but we cannot be certain. Many fans are questioning her relationship with the band and wondering who might have stolen her heart..."

"What have we learnt from this?" Michelle's sharp voice interrupted the news report which she turned off abruptly. We were back in the office building in the room that had started this all.

"Not to go shopping together in a busy public place?" Niall asked cautiously.

"Think again." Michelle hissed. She was angry and stressed about the news report. I don't blame her. I wasn't exactly peachy about the report either.

"To... uh..." Zayn mumbled

"To what?"  Michelle raised an eyebrow at him.

"Nothing. It was the same as Niall's." He smiled apologetically at Michelle.

Michelle sighed and strode a few steps towards Louis and I who were sitting in the middle of the room. "I told you two to stay hidden. On tour I could keep track of any incidents that could have happened. Now that you've been out of my line of sight for less than forty-eight hours and you get spotted." She shook her head. "And that tweet didn't help all the rumours" She directed her comment to Louis.

"Michelle," Louis sighed, "Every time something like this or similar to this has happened we've sorted it out. Most of the press will forget about it within a week."

Michelle bit her lip, "Expect a busy day in your boutique tomorrow Rose. Blame Harry if it gets overwhelming, not me."

I didn't understand what she was talking about until I remembered Harry's tweet. Today had been a bit busier than usual but it was mostly all my old clients begging me for new clothes. Now that my name had been plastered on TV I'm sure tomorrow would be busy, for all the wrong reasons. "I'll survive a few fans curious to find out about me."

"Paparazzi might lurk around the store." Michelle frowned.

"Sorry Rose." Harry grimaced opposite me. He had meant his tweet in a nice way to get my store known. He definitely had not expected this to happen.

"That's alright Harry." I smiled at him, "And Michelle, if anything gets out of hand I'll make sure I get in contact with you."

Michelle nodded briskly and scanned the rest of us to make sure she hadn't left out anything. "Ok I believe we're done here. All of you promise me to try and stay on the down low until next time I see you?"

"Of course we will!" All six of us replied before quickly leaving the room.

Harry, Niall, Liam and Zayn all stepped into the elevator but Louis held me back. "Can I talk to you for a few moments?" He asked. I nodded at him and he motioned to everyone else to know that they could go.

"What do you want?" I asked Louis when the hallway was empty.

"I'm sorry for getting you into this mess"

"What do you mean?" I was confused for a few moments, "Oh Lou it's not your fault! I could have turned down the little shopping outing and it's not your fault for the press." I hugged Louis to reassure him that he had done nothing wrong.

"What about tomorrow?" He asked into my hair.

"It will be fine. Emily needs to get a few fittings and so do a couple of my other regulars so the store should be closed off to the public for most of the day." I leaned backwards so I could see his face. Louis still didn't look convinced. "Yes I know they will put the face to my name and then your fans will use their super stalking abilities to find things out about me."

Louis chuckled "You don't seem worried at all."

"That's because I'm not" I rubbed his back a few times reassuringly

"Rose..." He pulled me back into a tight hug

"Yes?" I asked Louis' neck since I couldn't move my head.

"The next few weeks are mostly free for all of us." Even though I couldn't see him I could tell Louis was half-smiling

"You heard Michelle" I warned

"I didn't mean group activities... I meant you and me."

"Are you asking me out on a date?" I shifted so I was talking to Louis' face

"You guessed it" He grinned

"Let me think about it..." I trailed off.

"I already know your answer" Louis smirked

I rolled my eyes at him. "Like I said Louis, let me think about it." Louis rolled his eyes back at me and brought his lips to mine. I kissed him back, of course he already knew I would be more than willing to spend some time outside of my apartment.

— • —

"Who's the laziest?"

"What was it like to live with them in as bus for two months?"

"Which one are you dating?"

"Yeah, who's taken?"

I blinked a few times at the bombardment of questions coming from a group of twelve year olds who were standing at my desk. Miss Rivers was sitting in the chair next to me sorting through material preferences, ignoring the girls. "Are any of you here for the designs?" I interrupted them. The group shook their head and continued with their questioning. "Then please go stand outside. I think the freelance paparazzi might like some company." I stood up out of my seat and guided the girls to the door. Tori had 'volunteered' to be my mini security guard today. Her job was to keep any directioners outside. Her guard must have slipped when she let these annoying pre-teens in the shop.

All five of them walked out onto the pathway and the tallest of the said to me, "Whoever has you is lucky because you seem nice." I smiled at her and closed the door, returning to my desk.

"Someone's popular today." Emily mused, "Is it because of your boyfriend?"

"How did you know?" I hadn't told her about that yet. "Sort of. The hype today can be blamed on Harry.

"He's cute, that Harry fellow" Emily smiled at me before continuing, "I'm twice your age Rose, I can tell chemistry when I see it. I knew Louis was for you from the moment I met him" I just stared at her, "Oh and the news report kind of gave it away that something had changed between you two."

"You've shocked me Miss." I laughed lightly, grabbing a few designs and flicking through them wordlessly.

"I don't live in the dark ages" Emily pointed out, "I do listen to the radio and watch television and talk to people of all ages."

I found it hard to believe when most of the time she only told me about the fancy parties or elite balls that she was always invited to. I would never of guessed Emily Rivers to be the 'modern type'.

"Two in this and one in this." Emily said after a long pause. She slid a piece of light blue material and two yellow cotton variations towards me. I smiled and examined them, "Nice choice. My first casual clothes for you will be done in two weeks as a whole or it'll take a few days for each one."

"Thankyou Rose." Emily smiled, "Call me when you have the blue one done." She then grabbed her bag and stood up from my desk, "Catch up with you soon!" She then walked towards the door to contend with the small crowd out front.

Blue by Monday for Emily Rivers. I wrote down on the notepad next to me. I then glanced at what else I had planned.

- Start Spring Range

- Sort out all old couture

- Call Louis Back

The spring collection and sorting could wait a few days until I studied Vogue and had a spare hour or two. I picked up my phone from next to me and dialled Louis. Earlier he had called but I let it dial out to voicemail. I guess some things never change. I still hate talking on the phone

"Sure Louis." I said to his own voicemail, "Sunday sounds like fun."