university (an l.s. fic)

chapter eleven

Louis led me outside to our smoking spot in the courtyard. Once we were settled, I tested the temperature of my tea on the tip of my tongue. Realizing that the Earl Grey was no longer scalding, I took a thoughtful swig.

"So," I fumbled for my pockets, trying to find my pack of cigarettes. Once I realized I'd left mine in the room, Louis rolled his eyes and smiled as he handed me one of his. "Did you bring me here to smoke and snog?"

Louis tapped his foot and smiled, "Partially."

I giggled at my nervous boyfriend, "What else then?"

He reached for his composition book, "I wrote you something."

I was pleasantly surprised. I was usually the one giving gifts or sharing art. I doodled Louis in the margins of my notebook usually, but nothing that was good enough to show him, let alone give as a gift. "You did?"

"Don't look so shocked," he laughed. But I was. "It's a poem."

"You wrote me a poem," I repeated back to him. "I just cannot wrap my head around this."

He punched my arm lightly, "You better believe it." My fingers inched closer to his and our fingers interlaced as he began to read.

"I was stumbling, looking in the dark

With an empty heart

But you say you feel the same

Could we ever be enough?

Baby, we could be enough

And it's alright

Calling out for somebody to hold tonight

When you're lost, I'll find the way

I'll be your light

You'll never feel like you're alone

I'll make this feel like home."

Louis had never shared any of his writing with me so I was thoroughly shocked as he read the delicate and sweet words. They were coated in honey, the kind of sticky sweet that you didn't want to wash off. Louis spoke with sunshine in his words, which was not surprising when compared with the rest of his personality. He left me speechless every time he acted.

"I'm sorry," Louis grit his teeth. "It's honestly rubbish."

I stopped his hands as he went to tear the page out of the book. "Are you kidding me? Louis." My heart was soaring. I could have never dreamed of a person meaning so much to me.

We leaned our foreheads together as I continued to hold the unlit cigarette in my opposite hand. We sat for a moment, feeling each other's presence. I was the one who broke the moment by taking his pack and putting the cigarette back. "I want to go back to our room."

"Because?" Louis cocked an eyebrow.

"I'd like to lock our door and spend some time alone together today." Louis grabbed our cups as soon as the words left my mouth. I'd never seen a boy who was more eager to get me alone.

I walked in front of him on our trip back to the room, trying to keep a head start the whole way. He tripped over his own feet as he continually struggled to catch up to me. I occasionally glanced over my shoulder, trying to play coy. I ran inside our room before he could get there on purpose so I could spray cologne under my arms. Before I knew it, I was turning around and Louis was locking the door. My heart beat hard in my chest as he placed our drinks on the shelf next to the door.

"They'll be cold soon," I said sheepishly.

Louis approached me and pressed his body to mine, "Now you're going to get all shy on me?" I just giggled back in reply.