Another shot of love (Harry or Louis love story) [AU]

Chapter 10

-CHAPTER TEN: "IT'S YOU…"-

"It's you… It was, it is and it always will be…"

Three hundred thirteen. Three hundred fourteen. Three hundred fifteen.

And the numbers went on.

Shira has been counting the number of steps she took as she walked beside Louis along the shoreline that night on what seemed to be the longest, and most awkward three hundred and seventeen steps of her life. None of them were talking: Louis kept looking up at the night sky and she was just looking at the sand on which she walked on.

She stopped counting for a moment and pondered: How long have I wanted to walk on the beach with Louis?

Too many times, she figured. She imagined them walking hand-in-hand, laughing and blushing at the same time. Then, Louis would stop and she would too. And their walk would end with a romantic kiss under the moonlight.

But this was just not the same. There was no romance. In fact, there was nothing.

Three hundred twenty five. Three hundred twenty six. Three hundred twenty seven.

At the three hundredth and twenty seventh step, Shira stopped. She looked back to see that the boy she loved so much was about five steps away from her, staring intently. She wanted to read what was going on in his mind through his blue eyes, but there was nothing there: no hint of anger, guilt or even compassion. It was empty.

"Why did you come, Louis?" Shira finally spoke. She mustered all the courage she had to say those words as calmly as possible. Now she barely found it hard to stand. She waited in silence for whatever Louis's reply was. In the background, the waves could be heard as they splashed playfully on the sand.

"What happened to you and Eleanor?" she continued.

Still no reply. Louis was now looking sideways. He looked uncomfortable.

There! Shira thought. She saw a slight glint of guilt that flashed across Louis's face.

"If you've come to apologize, there's no need. I'm not angry anymore." She lied.

Louis was still silent.

"Well, if you're not going to say anything, I'd like to go back to my room—"

"I love you."

Shira's lips went dry and her throat felt like something just got stuck in it. What did he just say?

"I love you…" he repeated.

"Wh-what?" Shira asked, doubting. She wondered whether she heard him wrong or that was some other person saying those words to her.

"Didn't you hear me, Shira? I just said that I love you didn't I?" A smile, not too grinny and not too compassionate, a real smile played across Louis's face.

Shira could hear the thumping of her heart. She found it hard to move even a little bit.

"And… And you're saying this now, why?" she asked, trying to sound tough and cool. In reality, she was almost bursting with emotions that she didn't know whether to kiss him like crazy or slap him silly.

"Because I was stupid. And I still am. When Eleanor told me that she loved me, I didn't know how to respond. I guess it was wrong that I had chosen her over you—" Louis's gaze kept shifting direction.

"Uh-huh." Shira grunted. She wanted to show him how angry and depressed she had been.

"—and you probably want to kill me right now—"