The Encounter |H.S|

19

"You what?!" Louis exclaims dramatically while turning around to face me, making me groan out in frustration.

"It's not a big deal!" I blurt out, trying to convince him and myself that what I just stated was true.

I had come home a few minutes ago and I just told Louis about the little scene in Harry's office while Louis attempted to cook dinner and he freaked out, understandingly so.

Hazel was in her high chair, laughing at Louis and his dramatic behaviour while I tried to contain my laughter, not only because Louis was overreacting but also because Hazel's babyish laugh is quite contagious.

"Not a big deal?! First he suggests having sex which is ridiculous and then you just run out of the room?!" He announces the obvious while I roll my eyes.

"Yes, I'm aware of that but what else was I supposed to do?! I already feel dumb enough for forgiving him, I'd feel even dumber if I had stayed." I explain briefly, crossing my arms over my chest with a sigh.

Louis turns off the stove before sitting down in the seat in front of me with a serious look on his face, but I can't help but let out a chuckle at how he looked. His hair is messier than ever, his shirt has baby food on it and most of his tattoos are coloured with, I assume, crayons.

"Look, you don't have to feel dumb for forgiving him, he seemed to have a solid reason I mean they would destroy his career if he didn't okay? Don't feel dumb," he states seriously, his eyebrows pulled low and his fingers intertwined on top of the kitchen table, "I just don't want you to regret anything."

"I won't, that is why I ran away." I laugh while Louis gets up once again and starts putting food on our plates and Hazel occupies herself babbling and trying to mimic our conversation while grasping a spoon in her hand and moving it up and down.

Hazel has started to sit by herself, sometimes she tries to imitate me and Louis which is adorable but in a way tragic because it just reminds me that she is a human being and that she will grow up.

"Ma!" She exclaims, a beaming smile on her lips when I turn my head to look at her with a smile as well.

"Hi, darling." I greet, leaning forward to leave a kiss on her rosy cheek which makes her let out a laugh before doing the same to me, but in a clumsy way.

Louis sets the plates in front of us while laying a bowl of soup in front of Hazel, to which she grimaces while hiding her mouth with her hands. "Yes dear, Louis is a terrible cook." I say, brushing a curl out of her face and she scrunches up her nose while Louis rolls his eyes.

"You guys simply don't understand what real food is, I am excellent at cooking." He announces, taking a bite of the food he made and closing his eyes as if this food came from Heaven.

"It's hard to think that I will be away for a while." I sigh, this has been on my mind ever since I woke up and it honestly made me feel miserable.

Every day I came home and told Louis about my workday, I played a little bit with Hazel before we all watched a movie together and as pathetic as that sounds it has become a habit for me. Not only that but not being able to see them every day is sad, they both made my days so much better and it scares me to think about what might happen in Italy and not having them next to me.

"Hey, it's going to be just fine Eve." Louis tells me, noticing my sudden change of attitude and looking at me with worried eyes.

"I'm going to miss you guys, it's just going to be hard to not have both of you by my side." I confess, letting out a defeated sigh and moving my almost empty plate to the side.

"Well, we'll try to call as much as possible because I know for a fact that Hazel cannot spend a day without speaking to you." He affirms, air quoting the word speaking before looking at me with a faint smile, "we'll be here for you anytime."

For some reason, I start tearing up. It is just too much at the moment and Louis' words did make me feel sentimental, it is what I need to hear but listening to it only makes it feel more real and without thinking I get up, grab his arm so he stands up and pull him into a tight hug.

I hear Hazel letting out a sound and I turn my head to glance at her, who was looking at us with furrowed eyebrows and I take the chance to move away from Louis and walk towards her before kissing her forehead.

The rest of the night was spent this way, hugs and kisses every now and then because it just made me feel better somehow. For a few moments, I thought I was overreacting but I am not seeing my own daughter and my best friend for an undefined amount of time, so no, I am not overreacting.

Time has flown by, and before I know it I am already laid down in bed with Hazel peacefully sleeping in her crib next to my bed. Not thinking of what I'm doing, I sit up on the bed and look down at her.

She has gotten so identical to Harry, it's scary. Her hair is curlier, her eyes are a light shade of green and a dimple is already noticeable on her left cheek. My thoughts swirl around my head and I end up thinking about Harry, how would he react to Hazel?

I don't think I should tell him just yet, I'm not even sure if we are indeed something, the only thing I know is that Harry is being forced to date Charlotte and as decent as that sounds, I can't help but feel pathetic when I'm next to him. I always thought I'd tell him to fuck off and never talk to me again if I ever saw him, but now that I'm here and he told me everything it just makes sense and although I feel like I should've been tougher on him, I also don't regret my decision.

I shake my head to myself before laying down once again, closing my eyes while silently hoping I don't regret anything right now and drifting off to sleep

Finally an update! As I've said before, I really think these filler chapters are important so I'm sorry if you find them boring! Also, updates will be slower since school started :(( I hope you're enjoying nonetheless♡