Never Forget You {l.s. AU}

9

"Liam, Niall, Zain, this is Hope. Hope these are my brothers. I only have them to share the food with." I said as they stared at each other dumbfounded. Niall spoke up, " Hi Hope. I am Niall." Niall shook her hand through the fence and Liam and Zain followed suit. They sat down in the dry pasture and I sat down with them, but a bit inclined towards the fence so I could pass the food and things that she brought for us.

"Soldier, here." Hope said as she passed me four disposable plates. I lay them out for all of them and me too before Liam said, "Hope, have you been giving food to Lou everyday?" "To soldier? No, I just give him some milk or fruits and freshly baked bread from my mother's church kitchen. Not exactly food." Hope replied. "I have seen him giving away food from his plate to us. You are the magic that's keeping him alive." Zain said with an appreciative smile. She just blushed and said, "I just thought he was too pretty to be so skinny, and that one day I heard his stomach rumble from that tree, that's too loud of a sound. So I just gave him an apple. Nothing magical in that." Her voice was nothing like it was a week ago. It was more rough and in edge, a little deep and she talked slow. It was adorable.

All eyes were on me as she said it and I lost all track of the world around me. I looked into her eyes and she ducked her head, her curls falling in the way and covering her sides and making her blush that much more evident. After that, they just continued talking while I got lost in her innocent green eyes. They were greener than the most beautiful forest in earth, greener than the leaves and green like chlorophyll itself grew in them. The twinkle from the sun falling from the shade of the leaves made it look even more beautiful. And her eyes screamed happiness with all of us here. Slowly she started passing me small covered food articles, varying from packets of rice and roast chicken with salad, that she didn't tell me she brought, the gravy packets and water bottles.

The boys were very delighted at the sight of home cooked food that was so so heavenly. Tears pricked at my eyes as they moaned at the taste and their happy faces was all that I could care about. The dimpled smile and the twinkle in her eyes, along with the ever present blush on her face due to the compliments had me full even before I finished food off my plate. Her eyes met mine and my breath hitched at her frown, "Soldier, why haven't you eaten yet? Is it not good? Do you need something else?" Before I could think of a response my mouth tumbled out, "I am in love with you."

Silence.

I was met with absolute silence as I said that. A haunting silence spread and a small smile erupted on her face and she said,"Well, the feeling is mutual soldier." The boys coughed and I said,"Well, that is just lovely. This food is amazing. Thank you Hope!" I tried hard to divert their attention off of me but it was impossible, given they are all acting like immature 14-15 year olds, that they were. Hope just blushed harder as she passed us the cake and I swear to god, no lying, the cake melted on my tongue and I felt like I was in heaven. I was a moaning mess as I took another bite of it and Hope just gave me an appreciative smile and I smiled back at her soft eyes.

After she left though, the boys decided to give me shit for expressing my 'undying' love for her. Now, eventhough it came out as an impulse, I couldn't lie. Not to them, to her or to myself. So I do the best thing I could do. I write to mother. A simple letter letting her know about our well-being and ImighthaveslightlytoldheraboutHope. Yeah, that too. Everything worked absolutely marvelously that week.

It was the end of October when an early morning, before our time I found a glee looking Hope stood there a white cloth in her hands. I smile as I walk up to her. She smiles at me and turns to me before saying, "Lou, this...um, this is for you. We have knitting lessons every Sunday, and I kind of thought that this would look good on you and that mum won't ask what happened to it, I can simply tell her that it was ruined so she won't mind and I had you on my mind and it just happened. Oh my god! I am an idiot. I am so sorry." I chuckled at her inner monologue that was loud to the world. She turned her eyes to me and I saw tears prickle and I just pushed my arms across the fence and said,"Let me be the judge. Its for me afterall." She gives me a watery smile, before passing it out and OH GOD! It was made of soft wool and it had a H & L knitted on it and it was so adorable, and if I was torn from my seams and I fell apart right there and infront of her, no one needed to know. It was our little secret. 'H & L' it was Hope and Louis and I realized it was her way of telling me that she did love me and it was an, honest to god, beautiful way of expressing. It was soft blue with white and I cried, again and again infront of her and she just offered her hands that cradled my face and I ask, how could I not fall in love? I was in love, an undeniable way of love. We both shared it and I could die. Or maybe I am dead and this is heaven.

That night, tired from work and exertion in the sun, I fell asleep a happy man, a man in love, with the sweater on my arms, its white knit glowing in my eyes and yes, all I could think was H & L. H & L. H & L.

H & L.

H & L.

I am love with Hope and she is in love with me.

Little did I know that this Happiness is shortlived.