Love In Lights

I was sprawled across the couch, my breakfast bowl on the floor, my head turned towards the TV as Annalisa and I watched some mindless cartoon.

“Sweetie, Harry’s here.” My Mum called out from another room.

I sat up, confused. I hadn’t even heard the doorbell ring. Harry waltzed through after a moment; his boyish grin spread on his face as he took in my sister and I, still in pajamas, sprawled across different surfaces. His eyes flickered to the TV and it said a lot about my life in the last couple of years that Harry had seen me in worse times.

“Happy Birthday,” he announced with wide arms.

“What are you doing here?” I asked confused.

“Hi Harry.” Annalisa piped up at the same time.

“Hey.” He plopped down on top of my legs. “Louis told me to pick you up to take you back to his. Didn’t he tell you?”

I stared morosely at my phone that had been sadly empty of Louis’ text all night.

“Oh God are you two going to be all weird and angst ridden again? I thought we had finally gotten over all of this.” Harry groaned and rested his head against the back of the chair in defeat. His bony ass was starting to hurt my legs so I squirmed around until he let me out.

“Louis left last night pretty quickly so I had no idea that I was supposed to be going back to his place today or if I was ever seeing him again.”

The look Harry threw me basically judged my dramatic statement. “Come on, get dressed. I want to show you something.” He smacked my legs and forced me off the couch. I grumbled but headed into the room I shared with Annalisa.

I called goodbye to the house before following Harry down to his car. “What do you want to show me?” I asked curiously as Harry drove through the London streets.

“Just wait and see.” He said with a smirk. I rolled my eyes at him but let him drive me wherever. He stopped to get coffee along the way which I happily accepted before we ended up at Louis’ house.

“I thought you wanted to show me something?” I asked, confused.

“I am, it’s at Louis’ house.” He ran around to my door to pull me out of the car and guided me up to the front door. He pulled his own front door keys out and let us in. I was curious as to whether Louis had given him a key or he had gotten his own copy somehow.

“Where is Louis?” I asked.

“Studio, been there since like six this morning.”

Harry walked around the stairs to the back of the house. I realised I had been staying here with Louis but I hadn’t even really explored the place.

I followed him to the only room with a door shut. Harry shoved it open and I felt like I was stepping into my own dream. I gaped and stepped past Harry.

Everything within the room was perfect. There was a large bay window facing the backyard, with the most beautiful piano I had ever seen, sitting in front of the window. The piano itself was white, the keys a dark wooden brown. I ran my fingers over them gently before turning to the rest of the room.

The walls were an antique white, the dark brown border made the white stand out even more. There were instruments everywhere, every instrument I ever wanted, some I knew how to play and even some that I didn’t. A booth was connected to all of this, recording equipment and cords haphazardly lying everywhere.

“I told him about this.” I whispered, running my fingers over the few guitars on one side of the room.

“He spent months shopping for everything in this room. He was most particular when he got this room renovated.” Harry said from where he still stood at the doorway.

“Renovated?” I asked confused. “I thought he just bought the house like this.”

Harry shook his head, snorting. “You are both exceptionally stupid, you know that right? Louis literally bought a house the closest he could to his dream home and then spent every waking minute after that transforming it into a house that you and he would both love. Louis wants to raise his family in this house, Belle, Louis wants to have a have a family, with you, in this house.”

I stood there, shocked. This whole house he had made for me? My thoughts ranged from the colour tones of the guest bedroom I had been staying in, to the en-suite in Louis’ room that had the Mr. and Mrs. sinks and the bathtub that turned into a spa. The kitchen was perfect and even the front driveway I had dreamed about. I had told Louis about.

“How did I not notice?” I asked Harry, honestly confused that none of this had struck me before.

“Because when it comes to each other, you and Louis just decide to make it harder for yourselves and everyone else around you.” Harry said, sympathy lacing his words.

“I don’t know what to do.” I told Harry, honestly. I was now back at the piano, picturing myself sitting here every day, facing the beautiful back yard, the backyard that had a lounge swing hidden under a tree, there was even a tire swing. I had had one of them when I was a kid, until snakes kept deciding to make it home.

The point was I could also picture Louis here, in the room, at the door, surrounding me, touching me, and being with me. I could be in this room, in this house and spend a life with him. And that didn’t scare me like it used too, not as much as I thought it would.

“You talk, you tell him what you want, you let him tell you what he wants and you be together. It’s not hard Annabelle. It never was. You and Louis just forgot how to talk and actually communicate. It’s never meant to be this hard.” Harry shook his head fondly at me, coming over to pull me into a hug. I gladly held onto him.

“Don’t tell him I showed you this by the way, he’ll shave my head.”

I laughed, snorting into Harry’s shirt, holding on as tight as possible.

“None of us want you to be unhappy anymore Annabelle. You’re allowed to be happy and you’re allowed to love and be loved.” Harry’s large hand rubbed my back comfortingly and I hung onto him for a bit longer, before the front door was opened and a lot of noise ran through the house.

I followed Harry out, wondering what was going on. Louis was at the front of it all, a couple of boxes of pizza in his hand.

“Happy Birthday,” he grinned at me.

I stopped speechless at the people who had filled Louis’ living room. Even Frankie was here, out of the hospital, she was leaning against Aaron for support but she was beaming wildly at me. Perrie and the rest of Little Mix were surrounding Zayn, large smiles on their faces. My parents and sister were even here, they had apparently known all along. I could see Ed walking through the door, a couple of cartons of beer in each hand, Niall helping him with it all.

Louis began directing people into the living room and kitchen where areas had been set up. Harry had conveniently kept me from noticing either room.

“You didn’t think we had forgot did you?” Frankie came over to lean against me while Aaron helped Louis in the kitchen. More pizza boxes were being brought in.

“I didn’t really think it was that important.” I murmured, smiling and greeting everyone who came in and wished me Happy Birthday.

“Of course it’s important.” Frankie grew angry. “You’re important Annabelle, to all of us.”

I smiled, weakly, at her and allowed her to lead me into the living room.

It was nice and easy, everyone was happy to sit and talk and eat pizza. Music pumped through the speakers in Louis’ living room, which created a happy atmosphere for everyone that had come.

I stayed mostly with Frankie; extremely happy that she had been allowed out of hospital but also worried that she would move to quickly, hurt herself somehow. She allowed me to worry, despite the annoyance I saw flicker in her eyes, she kept quiet, though. Probably because it was my birthday.

She did eventually snap. “I’m going to the toilet and if you even think of coming in there with me I swear I will loudly tell every person in this house each and every single one of your secrets. It would be like reading out your diary.”

I didn’t doubt her, so I backed off and let her go by herself. I headed into the kitchen to where Louis had been sent to get more drinks.

“Hey,” he smiled, looking up when I walked in the door.

“Thank you.” I said immediately, heading around the counter tops - the white marble ones I had once liked on Pinterest - and pulled him into a hug. He let me, relaxing into my pull and wrapped his arms around my shoulders, his forehead resting on the top of my head. “You didn’t have to do all this.”

“I wanted to.” He murmured. “Just because it’s been, you know - lately, doesn’t mean we should forget about your birthday.”

I pulled back and shyly pressed a kiss to his cheek. A small blush spread across his handsome features. I glanced towards his lips as he swiped his tongue over them gently. I considered taking his bottom lip between the both of mine, just for a moment. They were so close and it would be so easy.

Louis wasn’t moving away, his hands holding onto my biceps tightly, my own touching his waist.

I made up my mind, focusing on his lip and moving forward. My eyes had already started to close when we were startled apart.

Liam stood in the doorway to the kitchen, his features scarlet and his hands wringing together in front of him as if he was unsure what to do. Louis pulled away from me and moved back to the fridge. Liam’s cough had been enough to destroy what ever had happened between us. I tried not to be too angry with Liam for interrupting. Thought I couldn’t help but glare in his direction.

“People were asking about cake?” He voiced.

I was momentarily distracted form hating Liam. “You bought me cake?” I asked Louis, hopefully.

He grinned fondly and reached into the fridge, using two hands to pull out a white box. My eyes widened and I stepped forward to grab onto it. Louis slapped my hand away.

“Liam, take her into the living room and make her close her eyes.” Louis glared at me.

I pouted at Liam but he listened to his friend and pulled me into the living room, despite my need to see what type of cake they got me.

Liam pushed me onto a seat in the middle of one of the couches, the coffee table directly in front of me. Everyone was going quiet and Kate covered my eyes with her hand, not trusting me to keep them closed. I attempted to lick her hand but my tongue wasn’t that long.

I sat there motionless, waiting until I could smell burning candles and everyone began a loud and awful version of Happy Birthday. Kate removed her hand and I smiled widely down at the cake sitting in front of me.

It was a black and white cake, white being the backdrop and the black was decorated into different musical notes at different places around the base. The top layer had been made to look like a microphone with the cord twirling down and around the three layers of cake.

I looked at Louis in surprise. I had expected today to be a quick thing, a quick rush job that they had thought of in the last minute. But this cake, this cake was beautiful and it would have to be booked and ordered, not just a last minute whim. This was not a plain store bought cake.

Everyone finished singing and I leant forward to blow out the rest of the candles. I wish… I faltered. I wish…. My eyes jerked around the people surrounding me. I wish that they will all be happy, I thought decisively, blowing out the last remaining candles to the cheers and claps of the people I loved.

My Mum took the cake away; Kate’s Mum followed her into the kitchen so they could start cutting it up. I mouthed a ‘thank you’ to Louis; Harry smiled smugly from beside his friend and winked at me. I ignored him and let myself be pulled into Lucinda and Aaron’s argument about apples.

It was well past dark by the time everyone began to leave the house. One Direction and the girls and I lay sprawled out along the couches, stomach full and energy spent. Annalisa had her head resting on my stomach; Mum and Dad had said she could stay the night.

Gracie disappeared out of the room before coming back in and pulling a large and full bag behind her.

“Presents.” She said excitedly, everyone finding energy to get up and grab the present from them.

I sat their wide-eyed; I hadn’t expected anything from any of them. Despite my weak protests I was excitedly curious.

The presents ranged from shoes and make up to books from my favourite author and piles of my favourite food. I dived into the Tim Tams and Caramello Koalas before daring Niall to eat Vegemite out of the jar. Liam bought me dresses, the ones I had been looking at online a couple of weeks ago, with Kate next to me. I laughed and took the next present and the next finding everything that I wanted.

Louis was last, his hand tugging on mine and leading me from the room. No one else followed.

I followed Louis towards the back of the house and he paused out front of the music room, door shut. I nervously stood there, aware that I wasn’t supposed to have seen this room yet. I was getting ready to be shocked and happy as well as seriously questioning Louis’ motive here.

Except I didn’t have to fake it because when Louis pulled me into the room, he pointed at the piano and told me it was mine. I was definitely shocked.

“What do you mean?” I spluttered out, he forced me into the chair and I carefully ran my finger gently over the shiny keys.

“I bought this, for you. You once described to me, ages ago, your perfect piano. So when I saw this I knew that I had to get it for you. So here it is.” Louis shuffled on the spot. “You can take it home whenever you need to. I don’t mind. Just let me know and I’ll ship it over for you.”

“Louis,” I began, not willing to accept this gift. I couldn’t, it was beautiful and dear and too amazing of a gift. I didn’t know what to say.

“I bought this for you.” Louis said forcefully. “For you okay? So don’t say no that you can’t accept it. I want you to.” He was pleading with me, his eyes beginning to panic as they jolted around the room.

“Okay,” I breathed out, my hands pressing down on the keys they were touching. I couldn’t help but caress them when I lifted my hand up. “Okay. But it stays here.”

Louis seemed confused, his eyebrows pulling together.

“I want it to stay here. In here, with you.” I spoke plainly, smiling up at Louis.

Notes

So I've been sick with a cold recently and that made me not in the mood to write and then when I did start writing again I really needed to update my other story so this got pushed back further! But I've gotten ahead of writing for my other story so this should get back on track!
Sorry lovelies, hope you enjoy!