Call Me Baby: Chapter 3
Saturday morning dawned bright and cold, the grass on the front lawn frosted a bit and crunching under the toes of Louis' slippers as he ventured outside to get the paper.
On any normal Saturday, Louis would get up at around 7:30 am, when the twins came in complaining that they were hungry. He'd take them downstairs and set them up at the table with some food, cereal, eggs, whatever he felt like cooking, while he went outside to get the paper. He'd then come back inside and sit with the twins, reading the paper as they ate their breakfasts.
This morning, though, Louis was having trouble concentrating. He was sat at the table, as usual, Daisy and Phoebe chattering at each other over their bowls of Captain Crunch. He cleared his throat, flicking the paper back into its upright position in his hands, trying to focus on the words of the article. By the time the twins had finished their breakfasts, he had read about three sentences. He decided to give up on the paper all together, moving to put the girls' dishes in the sink. The three of them went upstairs, Louis getting them their clothes for the day, and helping them into them. He decided on something plain for now, he'd change them later, so that their clothes wouldn't be dirty when Harry got there.
He spent the day cleaning frantically, wondering how on earth he managed to live in such a state, much less how he had managed to keep the girls alive. By five o'clock in he was in such a state of panic that all the girls could do was sit and watch him. Why had he invited Harry again? He couldn't see him in this pig sty! Oh god, what if Harry thought he was gross, and didn't ever want to talk to him again. Louis looked up as Georgia scampered out of the room, a little while later. An excited shout of “Liam!” was heard from the doorway. Oh thank god.
Liam entered the room with Georgia in his arms, smiling a bit at the sight of a very frazzled Louis.
“Alright, Lou?” He smirked.
“No, I'm not alright! Why am I such a pig? Harry's going to see this mess and think I'm horrible and never want to see me again and I can't-” Liam put one of his hands on Louis' shoulder, cutting him off.
“Lou, calm down. This place looks great! Better than I've seen it in a while, so stop worrying. Have you started dinner yet?” Louis shook his head. Lottie snorted.
“No, he's been panicking too much.” Louis glared at her.
“Shut it, Lottie, I have not.” Flick snickered.
“You have so, Lou.” She giggled.
“You be quiet, too.” Louis poked his tongue out at them. Liam rolled his eyes.
“Tell you what: you get dinner started, and I'll get the young ones changed, then I'll come down and take over for you while you get changed. Good?” Louis nodded gratefully.
“Sounds like a plan.”
*~*~*
When Zayn walked in fifteen minutes later, he found Louis on the floor, face down, the girls sat around playing games. He prodded Louis with his foot.
“Is Liam here?”
“Kitchen,” Louis grunted into the floor. Zayn walked into the kitchen, where, sure enough, there was Liam, cooking dinner. He nodded at Zayn, who gestured over his shoulder with his thumb.
“Why's Louis on the floor?” Liam snorted.
“He finally hit his breaking point. I got here about forty-five minutes ago, and he wasfreaking out. I basically had to take over for him, because he was in no state to be handling fire or children,” Liam said, rolling his eyes. They both looked up at the strangled groan that floated through from the living room.
“MY LIFE IS OVER. I GIVE UP. I'M DONE. GO ON WITHOUT ME.”
The two young men snorted.
“He's so melodramatic.” Zayn nodded in agreement.
“Why are we going on without you? And why are you on the floor?” An unfamiliar voice drifted through the kitchen door, amusement evident in it. Zayn looked at Liam as they heard Louis squeak, and a shuffling noise as Louis presumably got up off the floor.
“That must be Harry.” Liam and Zayn exchanged mischevous looks before running out to greet the newest arrival.
Harry was stood in front of Louis, with his back to Zayn and Liam, but they could see Louis' face. It was flushed, and he couldn't seem to look Harry in the eyes. They watched Harry take a step forward.
“Come on, Lou. What's wrong?” His voice had changed, going from amusedly exasperated to concerned. Louis finally looked at him.
“Nothing, I was just freaking out a bit, because I didn't think the house was clean... Just me being dumb.” He smiled sheepishly. Harry grinned at Louis, surveying the room.
“It is a bit messy,” he teased gently, the grin still evident in his voice. Louis poked his tongue out, shoving Harry gently. Zayn and Liam watched as Harry pulled Louis in for a hug, Louis automatically melting into the touch, his arms wrapping around Harry's back. He looked startled when he caught their eyes over Harry's shoulder, but relaxed again as Harry squeezed him a bit, before pulling back. Louis turned him gently, gesturing towards his friends.
“That's Zayn, and that's Liam. Liam's been cooking dinner, and I suppose Zayn's been helping him...” Louis trailed off a bit as Harry turned his smirk on him.
“You were laying on the floor this whole time, weren't you.” It wasn't a question, so Louis felt no need to answer him, merely turning his nose up at him, causing Harry to chuckle before extending a hand to Zayn and Liam, each in turn.
“Harry Styles, it's a pleasure.”
“Zayn Malik, I work with Louis.”
“Liam Payne, I work with these two, as well. Though they mostly just chat and leave me to bus the tables.”
“We do not, Liam!” Louis spluttered. Zayn nodded.
“Yes, we do, Louis.” Zayn grinned at him, as Louis rolled his eyes. Their heads turned at the sound of little feet on the stairs. Daisy and Phoebe flew into the room, excited smiles on their faces. Upon seeing Harry, they squealed delightedly, throwing themselves at him. He laughed, catching them up in his arms. He crouched down, letting them babble at him for a moment about the day, grinning up at Louis as they mentioned how frantic he'd been. Louis just flushed a bit. The girls then started pulling Harry towards the living room.
“Come color with us, Harry!”
“Dinner won't be on for a while-”
“Because Liam's a slow cook-”
“He almost always has to bin the first try-”
“And start again!” Zayn chuckled at Liam's indignant face, pulling him into a side hug.
“It's true, mate. No worries, though. Super Zayn's here to save the day!” And with that, he turned and pulled Liam into the kitchen once more. Harry looked at Louis, who shrugged.
“Zayn and Liam have been friends since they were kids. It's probably an inside joke.” Harry nodded, laughing as Daisy and Phoebe started pulling on him impatiently.
“Alright, alright, let's go, then.” The girls cheered, dashing into the living room to set up their coloring supplies. Harry made to follow them, looking to Louis to see if he was coming, but was cut off by a shout from the kitchen.
“LOUIS TELL ZAYN TO GET THE SPOON AWAY.” Louis chuckled, shrugging appologetically at Harry as he made his way towards the kitchen. He winced as a shrill shriek pierced the air, Louis rolling his eyes at his friends' antics. Harry followed the twins into the living room, settling down at the coffee table with them, grabbing the green crayon to color Ariel's tail.
In the kitchen, Liam and Zayn had Louis cornered. A pot of pasta was simmering on the stove behind them as they stared him down.
“So, Louis... What happened to not dating him, huh?” Zayn began. Louis looked confused.
“I'm not dating him.”
“Louis, people in a platonic relationships do not hug like that.” Liam told him, his gaze motherly in its sternness. Louis rolled his eyes.
“Whatever, guys. We're not dating, okay? Just leave it.” Liam and Zayn exchanged looks, looking like they wanted to press it a bit. Louis was saved by the pot of pasta bubbling aggressively, Zayn whipping his head around and shouting for Liam to “GRAB THE STRAINER, QUICKLY, LIAM”. Louis sidled out of the kitchen, making a mad dash for the living room-after last time, he did not want to be there for this part.
He found Harry sitting and coloring at the coffee table, Daisy and Phoebe chattering to each other and to him about everything that passed through their brains.
“You have to color the fire truck red, Harry-”
“Yeah, you can't color it blue-”
“Color the sky blue, Harry, and the truck red-”
“But don't color the windows red-”
“Or the firemen won't be able to see, and then they'll crash-”
“And the people will die in the fire.” The three of them looked up as Louis sat down next to Harry. The twin's faces lit up.
“Yay! Harry now you and Louis can have the drawing contest-”
“Yeah, Harry, you promised!” Harry laughed.
“Alright, alright. What should we draw?”
“EACH OTHER!” They cried in unison. Louis shrugged, pulling a piece of paper and a crayon towards him.
The two drew in silence for a moment, the noise of Daisy and Phoebe chattering at each other turning into a faint buzzing in the background. Louis winced. His Harry looked terrible-it was basically a stick figure with some curls. At least he'd made the eyes green, though. Oh, who was he kidding? This was awful. He curled his arm around his paper, peaking over at Harry's. Harry noticed him looking and quickly covered his with his arm. Louis poked out his tongue at him, and Harry rolled his eyes good naturedly in return.
“Times up!” Daisy yelled, brandishing her pink crayon at them. Harry turned his around. Louis' jaw dropped.
“What? What? That's not fair! Are you artist too? Is there anything you're not good at? AND HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO DO THAT IN CRAYON?”
Harry threw his head back, laughing heartily. He shrugged, still chuckling as he indicated Louis' picture.
“Let's see how you've done, then, Lou.” Louis was engulfed by a feeling of inadequacy. He whined a bit in the back of his throat, clutching the picture to his chest. Harry raised an eyebrow, motioning for the picture with his hand.
“C'mon, Louis. Hand it over.” Louis shook his head playfully, a smug smile on his face.
“Nope, Haz, you're never going to see this disaster.” Harry smirked.
“That so?” Louis eyed him warily.
“Yeah...” Harry's smirk widened, before he launched himself at Louis, knocking him to the ground. Louis squeaked embarrassingly, attempting to scramble away, while still holding onto his picture. They wrestled for a few minutes, Harry finally managing to pin Louis' hips down with his pelvis, battling Louis' arms to try and reach the picture. He finally wrestled it out of Louis' grip, dancing away to a safe distance before looking at it. His eyes widened, before laughter trickled in, his whole face lighting up with delight as the laughter bubbled out of his mouth. Louis was struck by the thought that if that was Harry's reaction to his drawings, he'd draw for Harry every day, just to see him like that. Harry turned it around, pointing at it with a delightedly incredulous face.
“Is this really what I look like to you?” Louis smiled sheepishly.
“Well, no, but art has never really been my strong point.” Harry looked at him sarcastically.
“Really, Louis? I never would have guessed that.” He rolled his eyes, a small, good natured smile on his lips.
“Oi, love birds, dinner's ready!” Zayn's voice barked from the dining room. Louis held out a hand to Daisy, who grabbed it.
“Come on then, my loves, let's go get fed.” Louis said to them. Phoebe dropped her crayon, attaching herself to Harry's hand, and they walked into the dining room together.
*~*~*~*
Dinner at the Tomlinsons was always a boisterous affair. There was a lot of chattering and clinking and “Daisy, forks are not weapons!”. At some point, every evening, Georgia, Daisy, and Phoebe would start flinging food. Zayn and Liam were never helpful when this happened, as they just encouraged , and even participated in, the food-flinging. That was fine for them, they didn't have to clean up later. Louis was particularly nervous that evening, as he didn't want Harry to think he had no control over his sisters. They had sat across from each other, Zayn and Liam sitting at the ends, Lottie nearest Zayn, Flick and Georgia on either side of Liam. Daisy sat next to Louis, across from her twin who was chattering to Harry. Louis leaned over, cutting Daisy's spaghetti for her, when Georgia started kicking her. Louis shot her a look, subtly shaking his head at her. She just grinned, picking up her spoon and getting a spoonful of peas onto it.
“Georgia, no.” Louis said sternly. Georgia aimed her spoon at Daisy, pulling it back and launching it at her. The peas scattered, some of them hitting their target, others going on the floor. Daisy glared at her, picking up some spaghetti, pulling her arm back, ready to launch. Louis quickly grabbed her hand, forcing her to drop the spaghetti on the plate. Of all the nights to do this, Louis thought, this is not the one. He looked at the two girls sternly.
“Not tonight, girls. If you try and throw food one more time, you will go to be without finishing your dinner.” Georgia pouted, but she seemed to get the message. Meanwhile, on his other side, Lottie was snickering. Louis looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
“Eager to impress, this evening, aren't we, Lou?” Lottie smirked at him, Louis glared at her. He couldn't help it, he was stressed and he was tired of people making fun of him.
“You know what, Lottie? I'm tired of your attitude. Their deaths hit all of us, and I'm tired of you acting like it's all about you. You don't realize how much I do for you, and you've never once said thank you. Be sad, be angry, fine, but stop taking it out on us.” Lottie's face froze for a second, before she pushed her chair back from the table.
“Excuse me.” Lottie rushed from the room, her face dangerously close to tearful. Harry looked after her sadly. He looked at Louis.
“Do you mind if I go talk to her?” Louis shook his head.
“Be my guest. I can't get anything out of her, and it's killing me to see her so upset.” Harry nodded at his new friend, getting up from the table and making his way to Lottie's room. He paused outside her door, knocking gently. Her scratchy, saddened voice floated out in response.
“Go away, Louis. Shouldn't you be entertaining your party guests?”
“It's not Louis. It's Harry. Do you mind if I come in?”
There was a brief pause on the other side of the door, before it creaked open slowly. Lottie looked up at him, her tear-streaked face skeptical. He walked cautiously over to her bed, sitting down and gesturing for her to sit next to him. She did, after closing the door. He looked at her kindly.
“I know how it feels, losing a parent. My dad died when I was your age, and my mum remarried. It must be twice as bad for you, losing both, and having to relocate.” Lottie's eyes welled up at this, and she took a deep, shaky breath.
“I just feel like everyone's moved on, and I'm still stuck here grieving. I don't want to miss them all the time. I don't like the hurt or the attention this has gotten me. I just want to go back to how things were, when Louis was my brother, and not my dad.” She whispered this, almost as though she were confessing a dirty secret. Harry gave her knee a reassuring pat.
“When my dad died, I was just like you. My mum and my sister moved on, my mum remarrying and my sister just accepting what was. I was too young, though. My sister left shortly after, to go to Uni, so I was left at home with my mum and my step dad, who, as I'm sure you can imagine, I was none too fond of. It felt like everyone was trying to remove my dad's memory from the house, and my step dad was trying to take his place. I was furious-I almost dropped out of school. It was probably the worst time of my life. Do you wanna know how I got through it?” Lottie nodded quickly.
“I got through it by letting people talk to me. When you lose someone so close to you, you feel hurt, betrayed, like they abandoned you. Your first instinct is to close yourself off to the world and stop letting people in, so you won't get hurt. This is actually theworst way to heal. I only started getting better and becoming happy again when I stopped fighting everything and everyone around me. You are actually very lucky. The only person I really had to help me at that time was my best friend, Niall. My mum was busy with her marriage, though if something happened I could always have gone to her, and my sister was off at Uni. Your older brother is doing his very best to be there for all of you, to make sure you're all safe, and happy, and healthy. I'm not saying you need to stop grieving-that's something that takes time, you'll get there eventually. I'm just saying that, instead of spending all your time up here in your room, you spend a little more time with Louis, or your sisters. They are having similar feelings to what you are, and of everyone in the world, Louis is probably the closest to understanding what you're going through. He may not show it as much, but I know he's sad, and he misses them. He just feels like he has to be strong for you. I think it'd be good for you guys to work through this together. Do you think you could try that?” Lottie sniffled a bit and nodded. Harry smiled, and patted her knee once more before standing up and pulling her to her feet.
“Come on, then. Let's go see how your brother's doing, yeah?” Together, they returned to the living room, where Louis was waiting with Zayn and Liam, dinner having been finished and cleaned up. He looked up, concern written all over his face as Harry and Lottie entered the room. Lottie let go of Harry, running over to her brother and climbing on his lap, much like she had when she was much younger. She clung to him, whispering apologies into his neck. He just held her, rubbing her back and telling her it was okay. Everything was going to be okay.
Continued here