Falling Fast (Louis Tomlinson AU)

Chapter 5

“Sorry I’m late sir” Louis said, not sounding sorry at all. He loped over to the nearest desk and leaned casually against it. “Something I had to after class.” My heart pounded. Louis was extraordinary. Everyone was looking at him, and yet he didn’t seem the slightest bit embarrassed.

“Right, well you’re here now.” Mr Nichols coughed nervously. I held my breath, was that it? Mr Nichols hesitated. I was sure he wanted to tell Louis off properly, but something was holding him back.

Louis stared at the teacher, his arms folded, a look of contempt on his face. Mr Nichols turned his attention to the two boys playing servants 1 and 2. They started saying their lines. Badly. Mr Nichols stopped them and explained in some detail what the lines meant. The boys gave meaningful nods and ‘oh yeahs’, snatching looks at Carli whenever they could. I was avoiding looking at Louis. The power of his presence was making me feel off balance somehow. I couldn’t explain it. He was like a thunderstorm waiting to happen. Like when the air gets all heavy and you can almost feel the rumbling before you hear the thunder itself.

Very slowly, I raised my eyes a little, so I could see his face. He was staring at his shoes. They were worn and scuffed. His clothes even looked a bit worn. None of this however stopped him looking totally hot. Suddenly the hairs on the back of my neck prickled. He was looking at me, I knew he was. Oh god, he’d seen me staring at him. I averted my eyes to the floor, to let them travel sideways. I was still sure he was looking at me. I glanced up; the intensity of his stare almost knocked me out. His face was rigid. Furious. Almost like he was challenging me not to laugh. I stared back; a fish caught on a hook. Why was he so angry? My heart was pummelling at my chest right now, so loudly it was drowning out Mr Nichols. I wanted to look away. But I couldn’t. It was like Louis was holding me in his gaze, pinning me down. As we looked at each other, the hard look in his eyes softened. He wasn’t smiling exactly but at least he didn’t seem angry anymore. I gazed at him, mesmerized by his face, by the shape of it, the lines of it. His eyes were the best feature. In the bright overhead light the sparkled, like the sea on the coast of the Caribbean.

And then Mr Nichols’ voice boomed out more loudly. “Once more, then, we’ll move onto Romeo noticing Juliet for the first time.” Louis looked away. As everyone bustled about, saying lines, listening to explanations, Louis moved slowly towards the centre of the room. He walked as before, in that loping, slightly swaggering was of his. This hot, powerful glow radiated through my body. It was terrifying how strong it was. How it took me over. How I knew what it meant, instinctively, even though I’d never felt anything like it before. I wanted him to touch me. To kiss me . . . I looked down at my hands. They were actually shaking. Louis started speaking. Oh my God. I’d forgotten what a brilliant actor he was. He was in a totally different league form the others. He finished his speech, his voice low and trembling.

“Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight;

For I never saw true beauty till this night.”

He walked back to where he had been standing before, against the desk. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. But he didn’t look at me again.

The next part of the scene involved the boys playing Lord Capulet and Tybalt. I was oblivious to everything except Louis.  And then I remembered Carli. Had she noticed? I whipped round, expecting to see her watching me with raised eyebrows. Phew. She was poring over her script, frowning. Sensing my gaze, she glanced up and grinned, beckoning me towards her.

“See any cute boys yet?” she whispered. I grinned back and shook my head. What had just happened with Louis was private. Personal. I didn’t want to be teased about it – even my best friend.