Play the Love Away

Louis, Mary, and Miss Stacy

All she needed now was some special pastries Charlie always liked.

The bakery was around the corner and she had been now lugging around other spare ingredients in a bag one of the vendors had given her. She had been stopped several times, some recognizing her from the newspaper and others to ask if she needed help with her bag. She was perfectly capable.

It was exceptionally cold, she realized as she tugged her jacket closer to try and seclude any more warmth inside but she was still totally and utterly cold.

"Hey pretty girl."

Now this was an attractive boy.

The boy that started walking beside her was significantly taller than her, possibly even taller than Gilbert. His eyes cradled pastures of green in his eyes and sculpted cheeks like a foreign Greek statue of beauty. His hair was clusters of golden curls that complimented his rosey cheeks very well. His nose was skinny and beautiful which was tinted red from what Elise guessed was the cold.

He glimmered a stunning smile at her and Elise couldn't help but smile immediately back. She blushed and tried to hide her smile but he chuckled. "Here, let me carry those."

He tried to reach out and grab her bags but she pouted, "I am perfectly alright, thank you very much."

He smirked, "British and beautiful? Today is my lucky day."

Elise rolled her eyes but held a keen smile plastered on her face and then for a moment, her stomach felt like it was being hit. Gilbert's smile painted itself into her mind and she couldn't help but feel guilty for a moment.

She guessed the boy could see her regret and walked backwards while still talking to her, "C'mon, at least your name?"

Elise stuttered that he was about to walk into someone but he kept his eyes focused on her, completely on her, which made her confused and frustrated when he grinned again, "Tell me your name, and I will be perfectly safe walking forwards."

"Be careful- you're going to walk into- bloody- Elise."

They both stopped walking together, "Now, that wasn't very hard, was it Elise?" She scoffed and then drew his eyes to his side profile as he kept walking next to her. "And you are?"

"Louis."

Elise turned to him. He mirrored her. "It's nice to meet you Louis, but I must be on my way." He pouted and his lips were unfairly large and pink. She only noticed as he started to speak again. "The only thing worse would be a man around your shoulder, pretty lady."

"Don't talk too soon."

Elise was startled by the familiar arm laying itself onto her shoulder. She looked up at the figure and didn't mean to, but smiled. She couldn't help it, it was her habit whenever he was around.

Louis' face was no longer happy or flirty, he was angry. He glared at Gilbert, "Elise can speak for herself."

Gilbert's arm went from around her shoulders to locking their hands together. Elise could see Louis' jaw clench, similar to Gilbert's habit. Elise huffed, "You both need to take a breath, Gilbert it's totally fine." Her hand was set on his chest and he gave a small smile. She then turned to an annoyed Louis and her face frowned slightly, "Louis, I'm sorry. I have to leave. I'll see you around then?"

Louis tried a smile, just for her and nodded, kicking the extra snow on the sidewalk. His hands were stuffed in his pockets, "I have a feeling we'll see each other very soon, Elise, the girl who could carry her bags." And with that, he smirked, teasingly saluted Gilbert and walked away from the two.