Guess Who? (Larry AU)

Chapter 6

Louis P.O.V. –

            Nervous, that’s the word I was looking for. I was extremely nervous about my mum meeting Harry and his mum. I don’t know why I was so nervous. It’s just dinner between friends, right? Before going downstairs, I checked my reflection in the mirror once more. My brown hair was in a messy side-sweep that complimented the facial hair I had forgotten to shave. I had on a pair of black jeans accompanied by white converse, and a red button-up shirt. “Breathe, count to three, you look hot,” I mentally encouraged myself.

The doorbell rang and I made my way downstairs to greet Anne and Harry.

“Hey,” I said plainly trying to keep my cool. Harry flashed me a smile in return. We looked at each other with a knowing glance as our mothers engaged in that baffling girl ritual thing they do when they act as if they’ve missed each other for ages on end. I shake my head and invite them into the kitchen. Once the girls are settled in, the rest of us take our places while Mum places the food on the table.

When she finally sits at the head of the table, everyone indulges themselves in their favorites.

“So, Harry, what are you majoring in?” my mother asked politely.

“I can’t really decide. I’m thinking of a musical degree, but law is also rather interesting,” he replied as he popped a mouthful of green beans into his mouth.

“Well I’m sure you’ll be successful with whatever path you choose,” she said sweetly. My mum tried so hard to be sweet all of the time I could swear she had given me a cavity. It was better than her hating and criticizing all the time though.

“So who are these lovely children?” Anne asked to keep the conversation flowing.

“Oh, I forgot to introduce my own children I was trying so hard to make everything right! Of course my oldest is Louis, and the sassy blonde teenager over there is Charlotte, the twins are Phoebe and Daisy, say hello girls!” she urged.

“Hello!” they chorused with mouths full of potatoes. I laughed at their cuteness.

“I thought you said Louis had three sisters?” Anne tried to whisper to Harry. Unfortunately, it wasn’t soft enough.

“MUM, shut it!” he warned. His gaze fell upon mine and I looked away. I was not going to cry at the dinner table.

“It’s alright, Harry. Yes, Louis does have another sister, Felicite. She’s in the hospital right now though,” Mum replied sadly. I could see regret flash in Anne’s eyes as her hand went to cover her mouth. It was as if she were trying to recapture the words she had spoken.

“Oh, Jay, I’m so sorry! I had no idea. I wouldn’t have…”

“It’s alright, really. I should probably talk about it more. Keeping my emotions inside isn’t really good for anyone.”

“No, nope we will not be discussing our feelings at the dinner table. That is not allowed. I don’t particularly feel like seeing what half digested steak looks like,” I retorted in order to prevent the unnecessary torture of “the feelings talk”.

“Well how do you think I feel? Every time I close my eyes all I can see is you and Harry ‘expressing your feelings’!” Lottie smirked and faked a shudder. Harry’s eyes went wide as my fork clattered onto my plate. If I were looking at Mum right now I’m sure her jaw would be dropped wide. Anne choked on her wine and started to cough. I glared at Lottie with a look that said I’ll-kill-you-later.

Looking between Harry and me uncertainly, she turned to Harry in the end. Thank God. “Um… Harry?” she asked.

“Yes?” he replied sheepishly. Carefully and calmly, his mother set down her utensils and looked him in the eyes.