When You're Gone [Sequel to SOOS] [Laylor]

Chapter 1: The Wedding Invitation

"We could get married, have ten kids, and teach them how to dream..."

A/N: I know I said Friday...but I think y'all deserved an early update :)

-Taylor-

I wake up and stare at the blank white ceiling. It's been 2 years, and I still can't get over him. After that day, I sold my house in LA and moved permanently back to Rhode Island.

I couldn't handle being so close to him.

I climb out of bed and down the stairs to the kitchen. I make myself a bowl of cereal and eat it up slowly. It's already noon, half the day is gone already. Not like I would spend it doing anything.

I go outside, still in my pajamas and grab the mail before going back inside. I scan through the pieces of mail, tossing them onto the table. I stop and look more closely at one letter.

It's from Niall.

I turn it over and scrunch my eyebrows in confusion. Yeah, Niall was still my best friend, but why is he sending me a letter? I open the letter and scan the card.

You're invited to Niall Horan and Kate Evenlist's wedding!

When: October 26, 2020

Where: Saints Chapel, Los Angeles, CA

RSVP by July 5

Hope you can join us!

I take a deep breath and set the invitation on the table. How am I going to go to this? I know Niall and Kate have been dating for awhile, but now their getting married!

I want to go to the wedding so bad, but how am I going to go? I know Louis is going to be there. I haven't talked to him since that night, and I can't bring myself to. I lied to him. I fucking lied to him and he knows I did too. He knows I wasn't dating Cam, because he figured out later Cam has a girlfriend. He probably doesn't want to talk to me.

I pick up my phone and click on Niall's contact, calling him. "Hello?" I hear his voice flood through the speaker. "Hey..." I trailed off. "Taylor! It's good to hear from you again," Niall says and I can tell he is smiling. "You too. Um, congratulations on the wedding," I start off by saying. "Oh! Yeah, thanks. So, you got the invitation?" He asks. "Yeah, I-uh-I did," I mutter out.

"Listen, Tay. Kate loves you and I know you two are friends. You and I are best friends for god's sake. Taylor, Louis is my groomsman, but please don't let that stop you from coming. I love you so much and I want you to be there on my special day. Please, will you come? For me?" Niall pleads with me, knowing exactly what is going through my mind.

I sigh and bite my lip, thinking about his words. "I haven't seen him since that night, except from across the stadium at awards shows. I can't talk to him, Ni. But-" I trail off. "But what?" Niall asks and I take a deep breath.

"I'll go. For you. And for Kate. I love you both and I won't let what came between me and Lou keep me from spending the day with my best friend," I say and I hear Niall cheer. "I promise Tay. You won't have to talk to him. You could wear a disguise?" Niall offers and I chuckle. "I'll try it. I'll see you soon. Come and visit me soon if you can okay?" I tell him. "Alright. Mark the date for October 26!" He yells through the phone before hanging up. I chuckle to myself before setting my phone back down on the table.

I leave the mail on the table and I turn on the TV, leaning back onto the couch. I scrolled through the channels before settling on one and curling into the couch to watch it.

Great. I'm going to a wedding where the one boy who made me like this is going to as well.

Won't this be fun.

-Louis-

"Congrats mate!" I slap Niall's shoulder after he tells me about the wedding. We are at my flat in LA and Niall just told me about the wedding. I mean, I knew Niall was going to propose, and I know he did propose, but now I know the wedding is soon.

"Yeah, listen, mate. There's something I wanted to ask you," Niall says and I raise my eyebrows in question. "I was wondering if-well-you're my best friend and well-I wanted to see if you'll be one of my groomsmen?" He asks me and my eyes go wide. "Are you serious?" I ask him in disbelief. "Yeah...Greg is my best man and I guess, well, you're just my best friend and the other boys will be my groomsmen as well, but you're the first one I've asked so far..." Niall trails off and I nod. "Of course I will! Thank you. Oh my god, I'm gonna be a groomsman," I say and Niall laughs. "Thanks mate," Niall says and we kick back onto the couch.

Niall turns on the TV and turns the channel to a derby match. We get engrossed in it, but my mind was on the wedding.

I was supposed to be the first one to get married.

But she left.

She lied to me about cheating on me.

But my question is, why?

Why did she lie to me?

Why?

A/N:

It's short. I know, but this is the FIRST CHAPTER OF THE SEQUEL WHOOP.

So ik how like the first book is always really good and the seconds book just kinda tumbles downhill, but this won't be like that okay? I'll do everything and anything to stop that from happening.

Shoutout to @UntouchableSwift for half giving me the idea for this chap. Enjoy babe ;)

God, I love you guys.

-Em