The Tommo Way

Chapter Two: Disastrous Pasta and Dinner Talks

Hey guys,

Thank you so much for the support on my first chapter! I'm very excited to have 18 reads already, so thanks to every one of you! Special thanks to MusicAndTVAreLife and calumsdiimples for voting on the first chapter, all of you guys made me smile yesterday!
I hope you'll enjoy the second chapter, a bit less action and more talk.
There is a bit of swearing in this chapter and most likely in the chapters to come but with no swearing at all, it wouldn't feel real. (Let's be honest, we all swear from time to time ;) )

The door fell into the lock behind me with a loud banging noise. "Abby, is that you?" Lucy's voice sounded from the kitchen. "No this is Santa Clause with a late present delivery!" I shouted back. "Of course it's me, Lu, who did you expect?" "Well, I thought I'd just ask in case it's someone who wants to rob us." She said and peaked her red-haired head out of the kitchen. "Yes and asking them who they are, will scare them off big time!" I replied sarcastically and rolled my eyes. "No need to sass me, I got my beliefs, you got yours, sister" Lucy grinned and looked over her shoulder to whatever was boiling on the stove. "Anyway, dinner is almost ready."

"You cooked?" I said, trying my best not to sound too alarmed. "Yes, I cooked. It might come as a surprise to you but I sometimes succeed without setting fire to the kitchen, you know?" Lucy looked at me sternly. "Someone's gotta make some food if you're out all day. Where were you, Abby?" "I was out in the park studying, practising the guitar and stuff." A smile crept on my face and I didn't even try to hide it. I knew Lucy could read me like an opened book and I had to tell at some point anyway. "'Studying and stuff', huh?" Lucy repeated. "Sure, whatever you say, hun. You need to tell me all about your 'studying' at dinner but first, be a dear and grab some plates for us, will you?"

Dinner was a disaster. Lucy was the only person I knew who was able to ruin pasta to a point where you couldn't even tell the difference between the pasta and your own fork. I tried my best not to look too disgusted with the food but even Lucy admitted that it 'didn't look the same' as the picture in her cook book. After finishing our tremendous meal, Lucy put down her cutlery and said "Alright, spill it. Who is the guy?" "What guy?" I asked, trying to sound innocent. "Come on, Abby, I know you. You met someone in the park today, didn't you? The way you smiled when you came back... I haven't seen you this happy in a while, Abs. So, please tell me, who is he?" I sighed and looked down. "His name is Louis and he is probably the most interesting and funniest person I've ever met but nothing can ever happen between us, so it doesn't really matter." I finished with a shrug and ran my fingers through my hair. I hadn't stopped thinking about Louis ever since we parted and I had picked up my phone more than once in order to text him only to be brought back to reality by my annoyingly responsible conscience.

"Why would you think nothing can happen between the two of you?" Lucy asked and piled up our plates. Suddenly she looked up at me, worry on her face. "Oh god, Abby did you do something embarrassing and messed it up again?" I pouted and put a hand over my heart. "You hurt me, Lu. Why would you say that?" "I'm just saying! You haven't had a date in years and we're not getting any younger, sweetie." She said with a serious expression on her face. "Cheers, Lu, always nice to know you've got my back" I commented. "But will you please let me talk now?" Lucy pretended to zip her mouth shut and threw the imaginary key over her shoulder. "Thank you" I said, giving her a stern look.

Then I told her everything that happened in the park today, about how I met Louis, how we talked for hours and my fears. "I just don't know what to do! I've never connected with anyone on so many levels and I feel like I really know him. But I don't think, it's a good idea to start anything at the moment. Anyway, he gave me his number in case I changed my mind but I'm not sure whether I should just delete it." I paused. "This is the part where you tell me what to do." Lucy chuckled. "Ok Abby, first of all, this guy sounds perfect! I haven't heard you talk this way about anyone since you and Dean broke up. And Louis didn't ask you to marry him, he just wants to get to know you so I'll say give the lad a chance." I opened my mouth to speak but Lucy cut me off. "Look Abs, I know you're worried about the exams and so am I, but we'll get you through this! I'll help you as much as I can and who knows, maybe this Louis guy turns out to be a Geography genius." I snorted at that idea. "Yeah, right!"

"So what does he do for a living? He's not going to uni, is he?" Lucy asked curiously. I hesitated but decided just to go with the truth. "No he didn't go to university. He, uhm, he is a singer of a boy group. He's sort of famous." Lucy stared at me. "You're telling me, this Louis guy you like is a well-known popstar?" I shrugged and tried to supress a grin. "It sounds pretty crazy, right?" "I'll say yes to that!" Lucy looked at me in disbelief. "What's the band he is in? 'Louis Tomlinson'...Hang on-" Her eyes widened and she stared at me with such intensity that I feared her gaze might burn holes into my head. 'Oh shit, here it goes' I thought as realization dawned on Lucy's face.

"Are you telling me that your Louis is the Louis from fucking One Direction?" She screamed the last words into my face, spraying me with her spit in over-excitement. I scrunched my face in disgust and wiped her spit out of my eyes. "Lu, you know I love you, but the next time I'm in need of a shower just tell me, don't do the job for me." She ignored my comment and jumped up. "So it is him, am I right? I can't believe it! Oh Abby, the one guy you like has to be from One Direction?!" "I know, I know, but it's not like a celebrity crush or anything, ok? I really like him!" I said defensively, feeling the heat rush into my face. Lucy didn't say anything for a brief moment apparently trying to calm herself down, then she reached out and squeezed my hand softly. "I know, ok? You should see your face when you talk about him. It's just... Please don't make me like them?!" She pleaded with a desperate look on her face.

For some reason, I felt myself cracking up, this whole situation was just ridiculous! Who'd ever thought we would have to deal with a problem that included Lucy having to meet One Direction? Lucy looked at me as if I had gone nuts, which was probably true but her face made me laugh even harder until I felt tears running down my cheeks. Lucy waited patiently until I had calmed down, a smirk playing around her mouth. I tried to catch my breath and dried my eyes. "So what do I do?" I asked her, my voice still slightly quivering from laughter. "Do you still think I should contact Louis?" "As much as it pains me to say it, yes Abby, I think you should call him! I still mean what I said before, I think this might be a good thing for you."

I looked down for a moment and then voiced a worry which has been bugging me since Louis gave me his number. "Don't you think, I'll receive hate for hanging out with him?" Lucy looked at me and shrugged. "Honestly? I have no idea. But you don't have to make it public the first time you grab a coffee together. You need to be careful, that's for sure but you'll just hang out as friends and famous people and yes even One Direction are allowed to have friends. Don't write him off, just because he's doing what millions of people dream of doing." She finished and send me a smile. I felt a little lighter in my heart although my worries were still there. "Keep talking like that and I'll say you're on the best way of becoming a Directioner!" I told Lucy with a grin. "Keep dreaming, honey!" Lucy said and rolled her eyes.

She paused. "Argh, I still can't believe this! You know what? I'll leave you to do the dishes. I need to take a long shower to think." "Well, I would not want to be the one to stop you from thinking. It doesn't happen that often so I'll let you enjoy it." I said in a sweet voice and was rewarded with a glare. Lucy walked towards the door and I picked up the plates. "Oh and Lucy?" I said just as she left the room. She looked back and raised her eyebrows expectantly. "Thanks!" I said genuinely. I really needed this girl in my life! Lucy smiled and disappeared.

I had trouble concentrating on anything while doing the dishes and dropped cutlery more than once. Well, at least I didn't break anything. I heard Lucy singing in the shower and chuckled at her horrible version of 'Somewhere over the Rainbow'. As I wiped the same plate dry over and over again, I couldn't help but staring at my phone. After two more minutes I threw down the towel. "Damnit, screw this!" I muttered under my breath. I picked up my phone and dialled the number of the one person I never thought I would. "Hello?" a voice answered in a Doncaster accent. "Louis? It's Abby."