Falling Again [Larry Stylinson]

Chapter Fifteen-Stormy

It's been a few days since the incident where Louis touched my lips, and it's still raining.

Louis has also seemed... Off since I ran out of the kitchen.

Right now, we're sitting and eating dinner. Pasta.

We're pretty close to the beach, I've realised, since I can usually hear the crashing of waves. I actually find it quite calming.

We finish our dinner, them go put on a film.

I get bored halfway through it, and end up going upstairs and taking a shower, then going to bed, Louis on my mind.

I fall asleep quickly as I listen to the crashing waves.

***

I wake up with a jolt as a loud crack of thunder cracks through the sky, making me jump out of bed.

I lay there for a moment, waiting for another, but nothing comes. I've started to doze off once more, when another crack sounds, shaking the house.

That's when I hear a small noise from outside my door. I sit up, thinking I might have imagined it, so I wait for another noise.

Another crack of thunder, and there it is again. I slip out of my bed in nothing but my boxers as the thunder gets more and more frequent, along with the noise.

I step outside my room, searching for the sound. Thunder, then the noise.. From Louis' room?

I walk over and inch the door open, peering into his room to see a small, curled up figure under the blankets with pillows piled on his head.

"Lou-" I start, but the thunder cracks once more.

And with that, I see his entire body shudder, and I hear a whimper escape from the mass on the bed.

"Louis?" I ask again, closer to his bed now.

But another crack of thunder shakes the house, and I see his entire body shaking, and I hear a soft sobbing coming from his bed.

Oh, god, he's terrified of the storm.

"Louis?" I ask softly after the next crack of thunder, coming up beside his bed. "Louis?" I ask again, moving the pillows off him.

"H-" he starts to ask as he sits up, but a large crack of thunder interrupts him, and he jumps into my arms, shaking with fright, a whimper escaping his perfect lips.

"Shh, it's okay." I say softly, wrapping my arms around him tightly, trying to stop the shaking, which has barely calmed down when more thunder cracks.

I slide into his bed with him, despite the fact that my head is screaming that this is too close. But I don't care, he needs me right now.

He cuddles up to my chest as he continues to whimper, his fists clenched tightly as he presses them to my bare chest.

His face is pressed to my neck, and I can feel his tears on his cheeks.

His breath is warm, and I have to force myself not to shudder whenever I feel his breath tickling it's way down my neck.

Each crack of thunder sets on a whole new set of tears, and all I can do is hold him tight in my arms as the sobs shake his whole body.

Soon, he's been crying so much that he just starts to hiccup as he cries, and I just press my cheek to the top of his head.

Soon, in the closeness, I realise how much I truly want to remember everything.

Maybe if I remember, I won't have to deal with this... Feeling anymore. I just don't know how much longer I'll be able to handle it.

And I know that they're keeping something from me, Louis and Liam, and this only makes more tears come.

If Louis is my best friend, then why would he keep something from me? Something that I can tell is troubling him.

The storm is slowly starting to fade away, and Louis is falling asleep.

I can feel my lids getting heavy as a small snore escapes Louis' body.

Fuck it. I think, and let sleep pull me under.

***

I wake up, and Louis is still curled up in my arms.

God, but he's adorable when he sleeps. Gently, I press my lips to his forehead, then deeply inhale the sent of his hair.

He smells so good, and familiar, like some distant yet comforting memory. Like I never want this smell to fade away.

I feel my heart start to beat faster, and I realise that I have to get out of here now.

I slide him out of my arms, fixing the blanket around him before I rush into the washroom.

I sigh as I turn on the tap, splashing cold water onto my face. I grip the edge of the sink desperately, as I let the questions flow through my mind.

Why did he let me spend the night in his bed? Why did he feel so perfect wrapped up in my arms? Why does he smell so familiar? Why do I care so much about all of this?

I pause, rethinking my question over a few times, before coming to a conclusion, that is a question within itself.

How did I fall in love with this boy I barely know so easily?