Your Addictive Heart || l.s

Give Em' Hell!

Louis was a mess. This was everything he had been preparing for and this game was going to set the tone for the rest of the season. He had to buckle down and be the best leader he could be.

Louis stood on the sidelines with his teammates as more and more people filed in to support them. Anna and Olivia had been early as they were allowed to be.

Olivia's sign was...glittery. The intention was definitely there and Louis appreciated how Olivia went all out to support Zayn, even though Zayn hardly gives her the time of day.

Anna came dressed to the nines in school spirit attire. "You ready to kick some ass Tommo?" The small Latina girl punched his arm with all her might.

Her abrasive greeting brought Louis back down to Earth. "Jesus, lucky this is football you almost took off my whole bloody arm." Louis rubbed the sore spot. 

"Just getting you psyched up!" Anna laughed her husky laugh as she checked her phone. "Niall said he's on his way."

Louis let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. If Niall was on his way that meant Harry was on his way. 

"I apologize in advance for the sign we made you Liam." Anna pressed her lips together.

Liam gave her a distressed look. "Oh god. What did you lot do?"

"I don't want to give too much away. But um...I will say artistically it was a very bold choice of Niall." Anna poked fun at him.

"I knew it. I knew I made a huge mistake." Liam cursed himself for trusting the pair.

"Huge." Anna motioned how big the sign was with her hands and Louis couldn't help but laugh with his friends.

Niall walked up to them as more than half the seats were filled up. The game was starting in less than half an hour. Louis could feel the weight in his stomach get heavier.

Niall's sign was unmissable. The sign had a picture of Liam kicking a ball with the phrase "Kick some Titan booty" written in huge black letters. Liam's body was an appropriate length while his head was blown up to a laughable size that could be seen at the opposite end of the field. Everyone started cracking up immediately.

Louis joined in but felt a little jealous of the grand gesture Niall made for Liam. It was at that moment Louis realized the curly boy's absence.  "Where's Harry?" Louis asked urgently.

"Probably somewhere trying to decide which button-up shirt he's going to wear today." Niall jested.

Louis didn't have time for Niall's antics. "Seriously!"

"I don't know, he said he was having car trouble and was waiting for Gemma to get home from work to give him a ride."  He shrugged his shoulders like it was no big deal.

Louis scoffed at him. "Why didn't he ride with you?"

"He was still working on your poster. He said he'd meet me here." Niall made a face at Louis like he didn't owe him the explanation.

Louis bit his nail. He hadn't considered the possibility of Harry not being able to make it. He needed him here. He just did.

Louis pulled out his phone to give the boy a call. Nothing.

Soon their friends took their place in their seats and the rest of them anxiously awaited the game to start.

Zayn gave Louis' neck a tight squeeze. "You doing okay, mate?" He checked in.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm good." Louis rubbed his hands together. He took in the sight of the nearly full stadium. The chatter filled the air around them. Louis was going to be sick.

"He's going to show." He gave Louis a pat on the back.

"Yeah, I mean it's- whatever. It is what it is." Louis' intention was to talk himself down rather than convince Zayn his captain was in the right headspace.

"Hey! You got this. You've been kicking our asses for weeks. We got you. Don't put so much pressure on yourself." He gave him a few more pats before giving him some needed space.

It was minutes until the game was set to start and he needed to get his team in order. He searched the sea of people one more time before turning to face his scattered team.

"Lou!" He heard a voice getting closer.

Harry was running onto the field in some outlandish pair of sparkly boots. Louis' face lit up. He sprinted towards the curly-headed boy.

"I'm sorry I'm late. Gems was running late and then all the traffic and shit!" He swore as he was still catching his breath. "I forgot your sign in the car! I'll be right back."

Louis grabbed the boys arm just as he was getting away. "Hey! Just forget about the sign. We're about to start. I just- I really need you to be here." Louis pleaded with his eyes and Harry agreed.

Harry found his seat among his friends and only when he sat down in his place did Louis feel at peace. A feeling of Euphoria started to radiate inside him. He was ready. This was his moment.

"Alright boys," he clapped his hands together "You see those signs in the crowd? What do they read?"

"Go, Blue Devils?" Collin asked hesitantly.

"That's right, Blue Devils." Louis smiled. "And what do we do?"

"We give Em' hell!" Liam shouted with a raised fist.

Louis put his hand up to his ear encouragingly. "Give em' hell!" The team fired back with the right level of enthusiasm.

"That's my team."

***
Strong enough, to get it wrong. 💪🏻

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