Young & Beautiful

Because, see, Harry had texted him that he was coming back today. And, putting two and two
together, it’s likely that he’s one of those people waiting in Zayn’s rooms. Which is good. Just the
fact that Harry has even begun texting him at all is good. And it’s not like it’s a lot or anything,
and they haven’t spoken on the phone since New Years, but Harry texts him, he does, and that
tells Louis that Harry’s thinking of him and that he cares. In some way he does.
Oftentimes, Louis will wake up to these texts—Harry always sends them late at night, creeping
into morning—and sometimes it’s just one word (‘loblolly’ or ‘scurryfunge’ or ‘de profundis’ and
Louis has no fucking clue what any of those mean but that’s sort of the majestic beauty of it all so
he, maybe, takes a screenshot of each one), and sometimes it’s just a tiny, insignificant, random
sentence. Like saying, ‘I wish I could sail,’ or ‘Bluebirds are the most beautiful bird in the world
and they were made for the morning,’ or ‘I will never match the beauty of my vanilla candles.’
And, on one such occasion, ‘I should like to be a pincushion.’ Sometimes he’ll just send Louis
quotes. ‘’I knew I should create a sensation,’ gasped the rocket. And then he went out.’ Or ‘I
believe in Willie Hughes.’
No, Louis hasn’t memorized every text. Nope.
But that’s it. Those are all the texts he gets.
To an outsider, each message may appear to be a tiny drop of nothingness. But to Louis, in some
strange, intangible, inexplicable way, they hold the secret of a universe in them, and each word is
sweet on Louis’ tongue, and each word he cherishes.
It’s actually very pathetic.
But it is what it is and that’s why Louis needs to go to Zayn’s rooms, preferably now, because
Harry is probably there and Louis would really like to see Harry.
So after Niall and his mum have shared enough laughs and drank enough tea (Niall stuffing 7
sugar cubes in his cup and all the cream), Louis finally bustles out, clapping his hands with finality
and smiling a little too brightly.
“All right kiddies,” he sing-songs, holding out his mum’s jacket for her, inviting her to slip her
arms in. “Time’s a-wasting! We’ve got books to buy and schedules to print and stories to
exchange! So, mum, thank you again for being an incredible travel hostess, it’s appreciated
greatly, and I hope you have a safe trip back. Make sure to mind the girls 'n all that. Tell them I
love ‘em and miss ‘em already.” He somewhatly forces her arms into the jacket, but she relents as
she chuckles a bit, Niall’s eyebrows shooting up at the spectacle.
“In a bit of a rush there, Louis?” Niall asks with amusement, still perched on the kitchen stool.
“Rush? What? Never! No,” Louis insists breezily, flitting about the room and gathering her purse
and keys. “Just trying to get a head start to the year!” he chirps. He stuffs the remaining
belongings in her hand.
She’s got one eyebrow raised, but she’s smirking in response.
“All right, then,” she says. “I can take a hint. Bye, loves.” She presses a kiss to Louis’ forehead,
then Niall’s.
Just as she’s walking out the door and Louis and Niall are waving, Louis calls out a:
“And text or call Niall if you ever need anything!”
Which makes Niall laugh and his mum smile and then she’s gone. And it’s…good.