This Is Us ~ l.s.

Chapter 4

September 17, 2011

It is 3:30 in the afternoon. Louis and Harry are supposed to meet Eleanor at W Mandeville Bakery in half an hour.

"At least talk to her." Louis asked Harry.

"No, she's stealing you from me." Harry pouts.

"Harold, I am yours. Only yours." Louis smiles and kisses Harry's dimple.

"At least smile at her or something."

"Fine. But I'm not shaking her hand."

***

"She's late!" Harry whines.

"Give her some time. She's probably nervous too."

"Hey! So sorry I'm late!" Her thick accent fills the small bakery.

"Hi, you must be Eleanor." Louis stands to shake her hand.

"Yes, and you're Louis." She smiles and take a seat.

"Is this Harry?" She asks Louis.

Harry rolls his eyes and took out his phone.

"Yes, this is my 'friend' Harry." Louis says, taking Harry's phone from him.

There was an awkward silence before Louis hands Harry's phone back to him.

"My mum's calling." Harry lied.

"It's okay, you can answer it." Eleanor smiles.

"I was going to anyway." Harry mumbles and walked outside.

"What's with him?" Eleanor asks.

"He's just mad that you and I have to date."

"Oh, I forgot you two had a thing."

"Had? We're still together." Louis says calmly, not trying to say anything he'll regret.

"Oh, sorry, it's just that.." She began.

"What?"

"Last week when I called you. It sounded like Harry ran away from you or something."

"Oh.. We're getting off topic. Let's talk about you." Louis changes the subject.

"Okay. Uhm.. My full name is Eleanor Jane Calder and I've just turned 20 in July. I go to University of Manchester and I study politics and sociology."

"Is there anything you're into?"

"I love fashion, but that's about it."

"Fashion? Cool, maybe we can go to a fashion show sometimes."

"Yeah, I'd love that."

Harry walks in and trips over a cardboard sign.

"Lou!" Harry whispers, telling him to come.

"I'll be right back." Louis says to Eleanor.

"Okay."

"What?" Louis says to Harry.

"How long do we have to be here?"

"You haven't even spoken to her."

"If I do, can we go?"

"Yes.."

Harry walks over to the table as Louis walks out.

"Hi." Eleanor says reaching her hand out to shake Harry's.

"Hey." He mumbles and shakes her hand.

Eleanor knows that Harry doesn't like her. Harry knows that she knows.

"I know you don't like me, but just know that I'm not taking Louis from you. I'm being forced to date him. We're not a real couple. Just remember that." Eleanor explains.

"It's just.. You're going to be kissing him and holding his hand and doing the stuff that him and I did together."

"You don't understand now, but when you have to date someone by force, you'll know."

Louis walks in to make sure everything's fine.

"I think we're done here." Eleanor announces and stands up.

She gave Louis a small hug and left.

"What happened?" Louis asks.

"Nothing. Can we go?"

(I'll be updating twice today! 😊 don't forget to vote or comment!)