Second Chances [work in progress]

Part 2 of Chapter 2

Liam's POV

Louis hasn't spoken to me, -- or anyone else for that matter-- much since the break up. Of course, I have been worried about him and so have the rest of his friends but we can understand that he needs some space. Louis is the type of person to isolate himself when he's upset. He likes to be able to just think and write without any interference. So in a way, it was probably good for him to have this time alone. At least, that's what I'm hoping. I don't think I've ever seen him this hurt, which is saying something since I've known Louis pretty much his entire life.

It's not like I blame him for being hurt though. I've had my heart broken before and I know all too well how it feels to be where he's at. Poor Lou, I think to myself. Honestly, I don't believe in love. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a pretty white lie. Happy endings are for fairytales and real life is no storybook. I feel terrible that Louis had to learn this the hard way. He's always been the optimistic one, the hopeless romantic. He tries to make me believe in it too, all the cheesy nonsense from the novels and movies. As much as I hate to admit it, several times he's almost convinced me that it's real. Almost. I just don't want him to lose that outlook, because what if he's right about all of it?

I shake off my negative thoughts and focus on the fact that I'm really glad he invited me over, I've missed spending time with my best friend and this will give me an opportunity to see how he's doing. I arrive within twenty minutes as promised and the key, as usual, is under the mat. I swear, if there was an award for being the laziest person on the planet, Louis would probably send someone to go get it for him. He had the spare key specifically made so that he never had to answer the door.

I walk through the front door and shout into the house, "I'M HERE!" I hear Louis yell back, "IN THE KITCHEN!" As I enter the room, Louis has just finished rummaging around in the freezer and he's holding a tub of strawberry ice cream. He grabs two spoons, hands me one and tells me to follow him to the living room. I do as I'm told, and literally face palm at the scene in front of me. There are tear soaked tissues everywhere, three empty tubs of strawberry ice cream on the table, and The Notebook is paused on the TV screen. I also now realize that Louis is dressed in Zayn's old hoodie and sweatpants. This is so cliché, it's pathetic.

"Lou... you've gotta be kidding me. What the hell are you doing?" He looks at me for a moment, his expression unreadable. "I don't really know." He responds. What does he mean by that? Noticing my puzzled expression, he tries to explain. "I mean, I thought maybe all this stereotypical break-up crap would make me feel better... but it's just making me more miserable I think... Sounds really stupid now that I say it out loud." For a moment, I just stare at him. Louis blinks. And then we both burst out laughing. This is a whole new level of dramatic, even for Lou. It's so ridiculous that it's funny. Apparently he finds it just as hysterical as I do, because we're both on the floor in stitches within seconds.

When we finally calm down, there is a comfortable silence. Which of course, Louis has to break. "Okay, so... can we at least finish the ice cream? This is my favorite flavor." And I don't know why, but I have to laugh at that even though I know he's probably completely serious. "Alright, fine. Gimme that!" After play-fighting over who gets to hold the tub for several minutes, we settle on just putting it in the middle of the couch. Now that I'm sure he's in a better mood, I know this is a good time to say what I came here to say. "Lou?" I start. "Hmm?" He replies, neither of us really paying attention to whatever channel the TV has switched itself to.

"Well, this might sound like a stupid question, but tell me honestly, how are you holding up?"

"It's not a stupid question, I'm glad someone at least gives a shit. And like I told you earlier, I'm kind of walking on a line. Part of me is accepting that it's over and trying to get myself together. But another part of me, --the part you just had the misfortune to witness-- is literally behaving like a thirteen year old girl. I'm switching back and forth between these two totally opposite points of view. I think I might be bipolar..." He sort of rambles throughout his response but at least he tried to explain.

"I can understand where you're coming from. I went through something similar when I broke up with Alex." I smile to myself when I realize my voice doesn't shake anymore when I say his name. Louis is smiling proudly at me for the same reason, and I continue. "But I want you to understand that we all have to move on someday. You will too, even if it takes a while. And just, if you need anything, let me know okay?"

He studies me for a moment, and says "You have more to say, don't you?" How does he know that? As if reading my thoughts, he says, "Li, I've known you since you were four. By now, I can be 200% sure you came here with some sort of speech prepared to try and cheer me up." I smile sheepishly, because he's right.

"Well, go ahead and preach," Louis teases. "Really? You'll let me babble and actually listen for once?" I'm amused. "Going once..." He begins. "Alright, alright!" I laugh.

"Well, what I was going to say is that I know you're hurt and everything sucks right now but you need to look around yourself carefully and see that you may have one reason to be sad but that you have so many more reasons to be happy. You have me, you have the drama club, you have your family and we all love you more than any guy ever could. Your writing is improving every day. Your grades are still perfect. You've got your whole future ahead of you! Now you can focus on yourself and everything you need to do to live up to your full potential. Being in a relationship was holding you back from putting your needs first and now it isn't. I know it doesn't seem this way at all right now, but technically your life is close to perfect at the moment and all you've lost is a boy that didn't deserve your love. You need to take this opportunity to make positive changes in your life so you can have much better things to think about than how sorry you feel for yourself. Channel your energy into your art, I know that helps you more than anything else. To put it simply, appreciate what you do have instead of reminiscing what you don't and try to be happy because there are so many of us who miss your smile."

I wait for his response, hoping he won't misunderstand me. I'm a little surprised when he smiles and tells me, "You know what? You're absolutely right. I hadn't really thought of it that way. Maybe this is good for me. Zayn mentioned something like that actually, saying that 'we didn't give each other enough room to grow.' Now I have all the space I need, and I should take advantage of it. Thank you so much for being here for me and helping me realize this. I was being such a twat until you got here."

I'm beaming at him because that's the Louis I know, confident and strong. "I'm happy to help and really glad that you're ready to get back on your feet. We should do something fun to celebrate!" I tell him excitedly. "YES! What did you have in mind?" I grin stupidly at his question, because I just had a really lame idea. I pause for a moment, and I begin to sing -- badly, might I add -- a Taylor Swift song. "It feels like a perfect night," I start. Louis eyes widen, "No! Not that song!" I just keep going, "To dress up like hipsters..." He's covering his ears so I sing louder, "And make fun of our exes," He's running for the stairs, I follow him and I'm probably shouting now but it's too damn funny and I don't care, "IT FEELS LIKE A PERFECT NIGHT, FOR BREAKFAST AT MIDNIGHT!"

At that, I stop running as Louis trips up the stairs and I fall on my ass because I can't stop laughing at him and we're basically in tears because holy shit we are idiots and this is why I love our friendship. "Alright, a-as punishment, for making me listen to that dreadful song, y-you have to take me to do all the things you j-just sang about t-tonight!" Louis manages to say between fits of laughter. I sigh as if that is the most irrelevant task I have ever been given but agree anyway because I'm actually excited. Louis can tell, and he feels the same way. This could be fun!

"We can plan the whole thing this afternoon. It's still early though, so we don't have to start right away. What do we do now?" He asks.

"Well, you said you were bored so I brought something with me to fix that." I tell him. I walk over to the living room and reveal two playstation controllers and the FIFA game from my backpack. Louis looks like a kid on Christmas. I spend the rest of my afternoon getting my ass kicked at my own game, and when Louis does his little victory dance I remind him that he's only better at the video game and that I would destroy him on a real field. He sticks his tongue out at me like a five year old and I just laugh.

He doesn't see it yet, but I think he's happier without Zayn.

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AN - Hiii! First of all, thank you so much to everyone who has read this far! I know this update is a little later than originally planned, sorry about that! I've just been really busy and haven't had much time to write. I didn't want to rush this chapter because my work sucks when it's rushed. What do you guys think of the story so far? Please vote/comment, your feedback means a lot! Next chapter should be up by Saturday night. xxx