Being Louis (Zouis)

Chapter 37

-Liam

I snap out of my thoughts and clear my throat.

"It's Liam." He smiles wide and we get back up.

"Oh, cool! Liam's my middle name!" He giggles and bites his lip. I hear someone clear their throat which makes me look back.

"Dad? Can we go back in the house? It's kind of chilly." I mentally face palm myself then turn back to Hayden.

"See you around, neighbor!" He giggles and walks back inside. I turn back and Harry is smirking at me.

"Dad has a crush!" He sings while poking me in the stomach.

"No, I don't."

"Cheryl Hughes once said: "The truly scary thing about undiscovered lies is that they have a greater capacity to diminish us than exposed ones. They erode our strength, our self-esteem, our very foundation." I stop walking and look at him.

"What's that supposed to mean?" He sighs.

"Instead of lying, man up and accept that you have a crush on our new neighbor."

"I'll never admit to anything."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah."

"You're sticking with this?"

"Yep."

"You're like the river in Egypt. Denial." I shake my head and walk back inside leaving a laughing Harry outside where he needs to be with those type of jokes.

-Harry

I walk back inside to watch cartoons, a few hours later the doorbell rings.

"Harry, could you get that I'm feeding Niall?"

"Okay!" I turn off the telly and walk to the door. I open it and see our new neighbor.

"Oh, hey. Mr. Hayden. What are you doing here?"

"Is your Dad home?"

"Dad!" He comes rushing in holding Niall at his side.

"What's wrong? I- Hayden." He smiles nervously and I walk back to the living room and turn on the telly while eavesdropping on their conversation.

"Wh-wh- what are you doing here?"

"I felt so bad just leaving like that."

"I mean we can't take hours checking the mail." Dad laughs nervously.

"I wanted to know if you would like to go to the park with me? Tomorrow?"

"Like a date?"

"Well, you could say that but only if you want to!"

"Yeah, that would be cool."

"Great, I'll see you tomorrow." He waves and leaves. Dad shuts the door and quickly turns back around. He bites his lip and looks up at the ceiling.

"Are you admitting to it now?" He opens his eyes slowly and nods.

"I have a crush on Hayden." I jump up and squeal.

"Victory is mine!"

>>

-Louis

I walk to Zayn's house with heart in my hand. I haven't seen him all day so hopefully he'll be home. I knock on the door and his sister opens the door.

"He's upstairs." I thank her and walk upstairs. I smile and open his door.

"Louis?" He looks up and smiles.

"I thought you were mad at me." I sit next to him on the bed and sigh.

"I thought about it and I've been really selfish."

"Don't say that."

"No, I have. I totally forgot about, you know, and you weren't ready and-"

"I'm sorry, Louis."

"No, I'm sorry, Zayn." We pull each other in for a warm embrace making me smile.

"Zayn?" He pulls away from the hug.

"I trust you." He kisses me again which makes me feel so many butterflies in my stomach.

-Liam

"And I said no, it's just water!" I laugh at Hayden's funny story. We continue to walk down the sidewalk telling funny stories. His hand somehow slips into mine. I don't pull away, I just smile at the thought.

"So tell me about your children."

"Well, Louis is my oldest. He's pretty laid back and can get sassy at times. Harry has a bit of a temper but overall he's a good kid, and Niall is just a cutie but gets super mad if I'm a couple minutes late feeding him." Hayden giggles at that last comment.

"What happened to your wife? Did you guys get a divorce or-"

"She passed away a couple months ago. She died giving birth to Niall." Hayden stops walking and shakes his head.

"Liam, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't of- damn it. I'm sorry." I shake my head and smile.

"It's fine, you're fine. You asked and I answered." He nods and we continue to walk.

"Next question please?" He laughs a little.

"How long have you been bisexual?"

"Since secondary school. People made fun of me for it so I learned how to box." He feels my muscle with his free hand.

"Yeah, I see that really paid off." We continue to talk but he stops again and looks at me with a scared look.

"What?" I look up and see a person with their hands on their hips and tapping their foot impatiently.

"Well, if it isn't my cheating husband."