Chapter 4 - Summers

When Jamie and I decided to go partying just so I could forget about the dick I used to date, we didn’t expect to run into him although we should’ve figured it out, after all, almost all football players come to this bar. I didn’t expect that he was going to be so drunk so early and that he would be hitting on every female his eyes set upon, including me.

Really, what did I ever see in that caveman?

He can’t even take a no for an answer and he’s so big I can’t take him off of me and I’m starting to get not only pissed, but scared. I don’t really know what happens, but one moment I’m fighting to get rid of Connor, then next I’m being pulled away and shielded by another body that faces Connor, defying him.

“Didn’t you get the message? She doesn't want to see you,” the boy who set me free from Connor says, his voice firm although he is shorter than the football player.

“And what are you gonna do, Tomlinson?” Connor mocks him and I’m surprised, he knows this other boy.

But the boy, Tomlinson, doesn’t reply with words, he just punches Connor across the jaw really hard because the football player loses his balance —again—, but this time he trips over some tables, dropping some chairs and scaring some people. And before he can recover from the blow, Tomlinson is over him, hitting him again as to make sure he won’t stand up again.

I don’t realise what I’m doing, but I scream, horrified for what I’m witnessing and since the music stopped when the fight begun, my scream sounds above all the hullaballoo of the fight and that, apparently, stops Tomlinson from keep punching Connor.

He turns around and it’s the first time I see his face, the chestnut fringe falling over his forehead, the blue eyes looking at me with shock, the parted lips, the pixy features. He blinks, confused, before he steps back, leaving Connor on the table. I don’t know how hard Tomlinson hit him, but Connor recovers quickly and goes after him, and I scream again.

“Watch out!” I warn Tomlinson because I don’t really care that he hit Connor, he did it for me and I owe him this.

Tomlinson turns around and ducks just in time to avoid the blow and quickly he tackles Connor against a table again. This time, the table breaks under his weight and Tomlinson hurries back. And I run towards him but he grabs my shoulders before I can touch him. “You okay? Did he do something to you?” He asks so concerned I’m taken aback. I shake my head as I grab his wrists. “We need to get out of here. I’m no match for him,” he admits and I look at Connor who’s already recovering.

I nod and he doesn’t wait for another kind of answer, he pulls back and takes my hand to drag me out of the bar as quickly as he can. People move aside so we can pass and I notice how all of them look at us. I don’t even look for Jamie, I just follow this boy who saved me from a wasted Connor. I hope my friend is okay, though.

Tomlinson takes me out of the bar but he doesn’t stop immediately, we turn on the next corner and leave the bar behind. Only then we cease running yet he doesn’t let go of my hand. He turns to look at me as he fixes the fringe out of his forehead and eyes. His are so blue and somehow I feel like I’ve seen them before, but I don’t know where.

“Are you okay?” He asks again and I nod. “You sure? He was being nasty.”

“I’m okay,” I reply and he smiles almost imperceptible. “Thank you, for what you did. I mean, for taking Connor off of me. I was getting a tad scared,” I confess shyly and his smile grows wider.

“No problem. I didn’t mean to hit him like that but I’m tired of his bullshit. In the team we’re all tired of him, I bet my mates will be glad I hit him,” he tells me with a smile and scratching the back of his neck with his left hand. Only then he realises he’s still holding my hand with his right one. Blushing, he lets go. “Sorry,” he mumbles and I chuckle softly.

“It’s okay and you’re in the team with him?” I ask and I don’t know why but he loses his smile as if he doesn’t like the question, or as if he was waiting for something else. A shadow crosses his eyes and I frown, trying to understand why.

“Yeah, I’m part of the team,” he replies but he doesn’t smile this time and he even avoids my eyes.

I, however, keep staring at him, trying to figure out what happened and why his expression changed so much. I also try to understand why he seems familiar. Maybe I’ve seen him before, during a game or a practice… but no, it’s not only that. I’ve seen him before, I just don’t remember where.

“What’s your name?” I ask and he sighs heavily, almost tired, resigned. When he meets my eyes he actually looks sad.

“Louis,” he replies. Louis Tomlinson… Louis Tomlinson… where have I heard that name before?

Wait, I know! Of course I’ve seen the name before, he’s part of the team. I just never paid attention to him before. I think he is a right-back player, when he plays, which is not all the time, clearly. But no, that’s not enough, it’s not only the name I recognise, it’s his face. I’ve seen him before, but not during a game. I haven’t paid attention to him on any game, which tells me I haven’t been a good observer.

I concentrate even more, my eyes intently on him and I know it’s making him uncomfortable. “I’ve seen you before,” I say and his cheeks brighten up, so he looks away. “I know I have.”

He doesn’t say anything, but I keep thinking, tracking back. Where did I see him before?

And then it hits me. He’s the nice guy I ran into the other day, when I almost fell but he caught me. He’s the one who told me he loved my work and who was a big fan of my column. He introduced himself that day, now I remember! And he was at the practice today. I remember that, too. I watched him, from afar though, because he was watching me first when I saw Connor flirting with other girls. That’s why his face is familiar.

“I remember now!” I blurt out and his head snaps in my direction, surprised. “You’re the guy I ran into the other day. Well, stumbled into would be more accurate. You also saved me that day,” I tell him with a big smile and he is surprised, but gladly this time because the smile returns to his lips.

“Yeah,” he says. The sad expression has disappeared and maybe he was upset because I didn’t remember, because I was being an oblivious, obnoxious girl.

“I’m sorry I didn’t remember before,” I tell him, trying to apologise for my rude behaviour. “My head is everywhere lately.”

“It’s okay,” he says. “Don’t worry,” he adds later with a smile, a really nice smile.

Now that I remember who he is and where I’ve seen him before, I pay more attention to him. He has a really nice smile and he’s really handsome, in a very different way from Connor. Whereas Connor is tall and strong built, Louis is just a head taller than me and medium built, like any normal football player. He does not only look like a football player, he also looks like any other Uni student but also like a nice guy.

“Thank you,” I repeat. “For that day and just now. You have a great timing, did you know?” I ask and he smiles shyly.

“I just couldn’t stand there and watch that idiot trying to force you into something you clearly didn’t want to,” he says pulling the fringe to the right again.

“He’s such a dick,” I say and he chuckles.

“That’s being nice,” he adds and now I laugh, too. “You’re better off without him.”

I blink surprised that he knows Connor and I were together. “Oh, so you know we broke up,” I mumble and he nods, a light shadow of pink on his cheeks.

“Yeah, I was there the day you two broke up.” And now I feel my cheeks burning when I remember that day and how humiliating it was.

“I don’t really know what I saw in him,” I tell him, ashamed that I ever was with someone like Connor. “But in my defence, he was nice at the beginning.”

“He fooled you,” he says and I nod with a heavy sigh.

“I guess he did. Anyways, thank you again for rescuing me. And I hope you don’t get into too much trouble for this.” The grimace on his face tells me that he does believe this will cause him troubles. “I’m sorry,” I say and he shakes his head.

“Don’t worry about that, I’ll be fine. And Robin,” he calls and I just look at him, inviting him to carry on. “Do you, uh… Do you really have to go? We could go and grab something, you know, to eat? I have my bike over there,” he points at his back and I raise my eyebrows in surprise. I didn’t see him as the biker type of guy, but I must admit, it’s quite sexy.

“Uh… my friend is still inside,” I say and he loses his smile, looking away. “Let me call her first, okay?”

Surprised, he looks at me blinking quickly as I take my mobile out of my pocket and look for Jamie’s contact on my favourites list. After three rings, she picks up.

“Robin!” she exclaims. “Oh my God, where are you? Are you okay? One moment you were here and now I can’t find you.”

“Jamie, I’m okay. I’m outside with Louis, the guy who hit Connor,” I tell her.

“Tell him he’s my hero,” she says and I chuckle. “Are you okay? Did that arsehole hurt you?” she asks next and I know she means Connor.

“No, I’m fine. Louis was right on time. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Nothing happened to you, right?”

“I’m fine,” she answers. “Connor got in trouble, tough. I’m very happy about it.” I laugh again, Jamie didn’t like Connor before, now she hates his guts.

“Good,” I say with a smile and I look at Louis this time, whose eyes are on me. “Uh, Jamie, I also wanted to tell you that I’m going to grab something to eat. I’m leaving with Louis, I hope you don’t mind.”

“Is he cute?” My friend asks and I laugh as I take another look at Louis.

“Yeah,” is my answer as a smile plays on my lips.

“Then you have my approval! He hit Connor and he’s cute, all what a woman could ask for,” Jamie jokes and I laugh. “I’ll see you later, then.”

“See ya later, Jamie. Be careful,” I say before we both say our goodbyes and end the communication. Then I look at Louis with a smile on my lips. “She’s fine. Let’s go now,” I tell him and I see his smile growing wider. He really does have an amazing smile.

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Dedication to @4HIMonlyilive and to answer your question, I think Louis hit Connor mostly because he's Connor and Louis was fed up with him. He would've done the same for any other girl. 

Bel, xx