mirrors (larry stylinson au)

7: That we're making two reflections into one

"She's a friend, mum."

Louis' body is all tensed up, but he turns back and smiles at his mum so she will leave them alone.

"Do you want to come in then, dear? Isn't it late to walk around alone?"

"Don't worry, mum, I'll walk her home."

Jay closes the door after her, smiling, and Louis grabs Gemma's arm, before she can protest, and drags her out of the property and across the street.

"Hey, let me go, I'm not your friend, I don't even..."

Louis lets go of her after pushing her out of the sight of his house.

"You might not be my friend, but you are not allowed to get in my house either then. What do you want?"

"Hey boy, calm down, I just wanted to check something."

"To check what?"

Louis is still shocked. Gemma. Harry's older sister. She is there, at his house, and looking totally defensive, as if she is covering she is really afraid.

Louis doesn't know what has brought her there, but he is sure of one thing.

That is not Harry's side Gemma, because she has certainly not come from his bedroom, and she is thinner and looks a little different. But then, if there is a Gemma on his side of the mirror... That can mean many things.

"For how long have you lived at the house?"

"I really don't understand why you want to know that, Ge... cough, girl."

"I am the old owner's daughter. I used to live there, until like...two years ago."

Louis listens to her carefully, trying to gather as much information as possible, so he can later try and figure out as much as he can.

"Oh I see. And why did you want to check if we still lived here now? You said it, it's been two years, it's not like you could have stopped us now if we were trashing the place."

"I was just...curious."

Louis knows she is lying. She is looking down, and when she glances back up, he can see her furrow her nose. That's what Harry does when he is not telling the truth.

"OK. But why now?"

Gemma starts walking away, taking long steps.

"I don't have to explain you anything."

"You should probably not be walking around the place alone. Let me drive you to your house" says Louis, coming after her and grabbing her arm again.

"Why should I get in a car with someone I know nothing about?"

"Maybe because I avoided my mom calling the police when you came into the house uninvited?"

"That does not mean you're suddenly a good person."

Louis is surprised; the Gemma he knows is much softer than the one he's talking to.

"We can walk there then? If it's not too far from here?"

Gemma sighs and nods, and starts walking ahead of Louis.

"You seem familiar" she said after a couple minutes. Louis swallowed dryly.

"Do I?"

Then, Gemma stops, almost making Louis crash against her back.

"You...your were with him..."she mutters, so low he has to put some effort in understanding her.