The Fatal Flaw | LT

XXXVI

CHAPTER XXXVI

September

"Happy Birthday Niall!" We all screamed as we raised our glasses together. We were celebrating Niall's 21st birthday at the boys' house, the whole gang was here, the football team, a couple of the boys' friends, even Mason but Louis was still nowhere to be found.

The past few weeks have been difficult for us because of his football practice but I wasn't complaining. He was happy even though he looks very exhausted. His practice was becoming intense to the point that he had to skip a few days because of how tired his body is.

I was becoming busy as well since third year was beating my ass off all the laboratory time we did. We barely see each other anymore but all I have to do is look at the ring on my finger to feel at ease. At the end of the day, he was mine.

"Where's Louis?" Zayn asked as he slung his arm over my shoulder. "Still nowhere to be found?"

I just shrugged and scanned my eyes through the crowd. It wasn't old news that he was, yet again, missing in action.

"He's been MIA a lot these days, he didn't even come to our boys night out last week."

"Yeah, I heard about that." I replied.

"I know that he's living his dream but I can't help but ask, is this how the whole year's going to be? Is it going to get worse once football season starts? And what if he gets famous for what he does and be in demand, be on the whole football tour and all, would it get worse or easier?" Zayn asked, leaving me speechless as he removed his arm from my shoulder and turned to go to Perrie.

I tried so hard to push all the thoughts away as I mingle with Mason and Niall. I still couldn't help but wait for his arrival to make these thoughts go away.

He never came.

-

Two weeks later

"I'm sorry I'm late." Louis said as he pulled the chair in front of me.

"It's okay." At least you came, even though you're an hour late.

"So, what's new with you, love?" Louis asked as he grabbed my sandwich and took a bite out of it.

"Nothing." I smiled softly, nothing is really new with me. "I visited the orphanage the other day."

"That's good. I miss them." Yeah, I miss you.

"Yeah." I said and looked away.

"Is there something wrong?" He asked, looking at me with his eyes swimming in concern.

I couldn't help but notice the tiredness his eyes and the bags underneath it portray how tired he is. I heard he's been practicing back and forth, for Manchester United and for University of Manchester. I was a bit bummed that I didn't hear it from him, instead heard it from Zayn but it's just how it is these days.

"Nothing, really, just tired." I smiled gently.

"Have you been eating lately? You seem thinner."

"I am eating, I have just been working out lately." I lied. Between my classes, my laboratory time, my home works and thinking about Louis' well-being, I didn't really have time to eat and if I have, my appetite was always lost.

"That's good." He nodded as he munched on the remains of my sandwich. "Coach Higgins told me you were beautiful."

"When?" I asked furrowing my eyebrows together. Coach Higgins was his Manchester United coach and I was sure as hell he still hasn't seen me. "How?"