RUMOURS {AU}

Chapter 3

"Mum, I'm home!" Carla yells as she walks inside, toeing off her shoes onto the ever-growing pile in the corner.

"I'm the only one home, mum and dad have gone shopping!" Thom yells in reply from the living room. Carla doesn't reply, instead walking in and dumping her bag on the ground next to her current bed.

"Uh, go away. I'm trying to watch TV." Thom complains, turning the volume up slightly.

"Fine, I'm going to go and watch Louis at football practice," she shrugs, returning to the front door via the kitchen where she grabs an apple to eat.

Walking out the door and humming a random tune to herself, she receives a text.

Louis <3

Hey, football's been called off for some unknown reason. I'm home now xx

Carla shrugs and simply walks next door, going inside without knocking. They're next-door neighbors and have been friends for almost sixteen years. If that doesn't give us the right to walk into the other's houses unannounced, nothing must, Carla thinks.

"I'm home," she calls as she walks inside. Louis greets her in the doorway; his arms open wide asking for hug. She complies, burying her in his warm shoulder and inhaling his familiar scent. God, I'm in love.

"If this is home, why don't you stay here?" He whispers, and she smiles.

"Very funny," Carla chortles, pecking his lips.

"Mm, I love you."

"And I love you," Carla grins as Louis slips his arm around her waist and they make their way to the living room.

"Oh, afternoon Carla." Jay, Louis' mum, greets Carla. Their parents know, they're not hiding something so big from them.

"Afternoon, Jay." Carla smiles politely. Despite knowing Jay her entire life she still holds a great deal of respect for the woman.

"Have you eaten?" Jay asks, obviously not seeing the apple core in her hand. Carla lifts up her hand.

"Yes, thank you."

"Alright, you kids have fun." Jay smiles before returning to the kitchen to continue preparing dinner.

Phoebe and Daisy are mucking about on the floor of the living room, tickling each other. The couple laughs and ignores them, making their way up to Louis' room. Upon entering, they leave the door open. It's one of Jay's rules. Not like they'd do anything, but Jay insists anyway.