I Remember You Laughing [Larry Stylinson]

Chapter 8- Meeting in the Kitchen.

"When a person has a best friend, Anne, they keep in touch!" Louis' father continued, eyes glaring as he watched her slide the folded paper over to Louis on the table. 

Anne frowned and was about to retort when Louis' Grandma walked in briskly for her age, and joined the conversation, asking why she could hear them from the living room.

She looked down at a distraught Louis and feebly squeezed his shoulders, "It's not a bad idea to get to know your mum's hometown. Anne spoke to me already. You and the girls can spend a fraction of the summer on the farm and the other in Australia." 

His Grandma had spoken assuming Louis knew what was going on which he didn't, and Louis knew from the way she spoke that she knew about all of this. When she realized this she said  "Oh, he hasn't read the letter yet? Let him read it first, then make his choice." 

Anne picked up the folded paper and held it up in front of Louis. "This will clear things up." she explained to Louis in a soft, parenty tone that painfully reminded him of his mother.

"We will also squeeze in a couple weeks in Wales as well. We're not gonna stop being a family, Louis." Dan quickly offered as he saw Louis' hand reach towards the letter. 

Louis paused at Dan's statement.Easy for him to say. His kids are going to be with him! Louis thought. He didn't want to hear Dan at the moment. He's doing the same thing Louis' dad did- which was- taking a third of Louis' siblings and bailing. 

Louis let out a tiny laugh. He couldn't help but think how ironic it was now that he gets reunited with his dad and two of his siblings it has to come at the expense of being separated from two other siblings and  losing his mother.

Louis was so confused, soon his brain was becoming a fog and his concentration was drifting off as they went on and on about the summer plans Louis felt none of them had any right to be making. He started to feel as he did back on the field when he had suddenly cared less about what was taking place, and more about. . . 

"Oops!" came an unfamiliar voice from the kitchen doorway.

Louis looked up. A slim boy of about sixteen with a slouchy posture had just bounced into the kitchen, breaking the conversation and Louis' trance.

"I'm sorry for interrupting," the boy said shyly.

Louis scanned the boy curiously from the dining table. He had on a tight, black t-shirt with a huge olive green jacket over it, a pair of  black jeans ripped at the knees, and umpteen rings and bracelets on his hands. His hair; a rich brown color, was the fullest, shiniest, curliest Louis had ever seen and for a second Louis found himself witnessing a shampoo commercial. His face was soft and pretty, like one of Louis' sister's dolls in his opinion- and his eyes. . . Louis recognized those eyes.

Oh my God!- Louis gasped sitting up straighter in his chair- It's the boy from the game! Louis nerves kicked into high gear. What was he doing here!?

"Uh! Mum, I just wanted to let you know, Gemma and I are here. . . "

 Louis' face went white. This boy was Anne's son?

"Great! Harry, come meet Johannah's family. Louis, this is my son, Harry!"

Louis stared at the boy as he timidly came up to the table. Their eyes met and Louis was sure he would need oxygen in the next few seconds. And positive that it would stop his heart from trying to jump out of his chest and straight out the door, Louis immediately broke off eye contact and looked across the table at his dad as a grounding for distraction. His heart raced while his mind quickly went into meltdown knowing he had to say something now that Anne was introducing them.