Chapter 16: Epilogue (Pt. 1)
"I'd walk through fire for you, Just let me adore you, Like it's the only thing l'd ever do"
Harry finishes singing in the recording booth, getting a thumbs up from the producer. He smiles back, leaving the booth and going out into the hallway, where his assistant is waiting for him.
"Hey Harry, there's someone here to see you," his assistant says as they begin to walk down the hall.
"I thought we weren't letting fans into the studio? And I thought we managed to make it here without them seeing?" Harry says.
"Well… the guy's insisting that he knows you personally."
"Isn't that what a desperate fan would say?" Harry chuckles. He's not mad either way. He's used to fans overstepping a little. He'll take a picture with whoever it is, and then be back to work.
"He says you wrote some songs about him.”
Harry stops dead in his tracks. "He did?"
"Yes," the assistant nods.
"What was his name?" Harry asks.
"I didn't ask.. sorry," she replies.
"…um, it's okay... it's.. fine," Harry's mind begins to move quickly.
Because even as five years have passed since he saw Louis, he remains the only person he's written his songs for.
"I can ask him to leave," she suggests.
"No" Harry shakes his head quickly. "Don't."
"Well, um... he's in the waiting room, so I'll... give you some privacy."
Harry is left alone in the hallway just outside of the room that Louis is supposedly in. He's insanely nervous.
It's been five years. Five years of feeling hollow and alone. His heart still aches for him. All this time, he's just learned to live with it.
But even now, his heart still beats for Louis the same. He feels eighteen again.
Finally, Harry takes one final deep breath before finally walking into the room.
He looks mostly the same, a bit more facial hair, but just as attractive.
"Hey," he says, small smile playing on his lips.
His eyes look a bit watery, but Harry feels the same. It's surreal to see him after all this time.
"Holy shit," Harry says, stunned. "I can't believe you're here.. I mean, it's been so long, and…”
"I know... it's crazy," Louis replies. "I always wanted to come to England and see where my family lived.. but lately I've had more motivation to actually do it... because I wanted to see you. Sorry it took me so long."
Harry frowns. "What do you mean?"
“I know you came to see me," Louis says. "But I wasn't there. And Zayn told you to leave. He finally told me about it."
"That was four years ago," Harry says. "He kept it a secret for that long?"
"No... he told me about it a couple months later," Louis admits. "And then I started saving up to come see you."
"You've been planning this for that long?" Harry asks.
"Well, it hasn't always been smooth sailing.. but yes. I have," Louis nods.
Harry thought this whole time that Louis didn't want to see him, or that at least, they shouldn't see each other. But in reality, Louis has been working his ass off to get to this moment. He's spent four years planning it.
"How long are you in town?" Harry asks.
Louis smiles. "Harry... it didn't take me four years to save up for just a trip. My books have been on the bestseller's list, sales are high…I came to stay."
"What?" Harry can't believe it..
"I bought a house. I live here now" Louis says.
Harry can only stare. Because for five years, he's been struggling and feeling so lost without Louis, but now it's like he's being rewarded. For the first time ever, Harry is hopeful.
"Do you... uh... wanna go get some coffee?" he asks.
"So.. um.. how have you been?" Harry asks.
"Good….. for the most part. Writing and publishing books has been great after I wrote Summer Love. I actually have a big following of young adult readers now, which is pretty cool," Louis answers.
"Well, you deserve it... You're an amazing writer," Harry says.
"You've read my work?" Louis asks.
"Of course I have.. every bit of it," Harry admits.
Louis smiles softly. "Wasn't sure if you would want to.."
"Honestly, it was hard at first, but I always wanted to..." Harry admits. "I was kinda desperate to just read something you'd wrote... to feel some sort of connection to you again."
"That's how I felt listening to your music," Louis says. "Even after all this time, I never stopped missing you."
Harry's heart speeds up. Louis missed him.
"I know it's been a long time, and a lot of things have changed… so, you probably are… but... are you seeing anyone?" Louis asks.
"No," Harry says quickly. '"I'm not... There hasn't really been anyone… since you."
Louis looks down, a light blush spreading across his face. "Not for me either.”
"So… we are both living in the same city... and we both feel the same... I almost don't even know what to do," Harry grins.
"Isn't it obvious?" Louis asks.
"I wanna hear you say it," Harry says.
"Harry, will you go out with me... again?" Louis asks.
Harry can't contain his happiness as he smiles widely and replies. "Yes."
"We can start all over," Louis says. "But this time, no expiration date."
"I'd love that," Harry says.
It's the beginning of something new and amazing, and Harry can't believe it. He is going to start seeing Louis again. Five years feels like almost nothing now with how incredibly whole he feels just in Louis presence.
They continue to catch up, talking about all the things they'd gotten up to since they last saw each other. Eventually, they leave the coffee shop, Harry keeping his head low as they walk out so he doesn't get recognized.
They walk back to the studio, where Louis' car is parked.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow then….. for our first official date?" Louis says.
Harry smiles. "I can't wait."
"Bye, Lou," Harry waves goodbye, turning to go back into the building.
They're starting over. But Harry is still in love with Louis. And he's pretty sure that Louis is too.
"Don't say it," Louis mutters, seeing that look in Harry's eyes. "Don't. Because once you say it, you can't take it back. And that will make this a million times harder."
Harry takes a deep breath, looking down at the floor. He nods. "Goodbye, Louis."
Harry doesn't feel any differently today than he did that day. He's not going to walk away ever again.
"Wait-" he says, turning around and walking right up to Louis.
And then he kisses him, connecting their lips with heavy meaning. Louis kisses him back, their bodies pressed together as they stand there on the sidewalk.
It's everything. Every bit of love, pain, fear, hopelessness, and regret Harry's felt in the past five years. But it's also every bit of hope, every bit of closure that he's ever needed.
It's like coming back to life after being in a five year slump. It's like waking up in heaven. It's cigarettes and ice cream on the beach. It's warm blankets and sex at midnight as the waves crash onto the shore. It's poetry and music. It's walking in on the love of your life dancing along to Grease. It's holding your lover close on the last night of your great summer love affair. It's kissing on the Ferris wheel. It's embarrassing yourself in front of your crush. It's fireworks and falling in love.
It's finding the one person you're meant to spend the rest of your life with and never letting them go.
When the kiss ends, Harry leaves his forehead pressed to Louis.
"I love you," Harry says. "I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I don't need to start over because I am exactly the same as the day I left. I've loved you for so long, and I've waited for the day I finally get to tell you. I didn't know how badly I loved you until I left, and maybe I was stupid for leaving, but I don't regret the things that brought us to this moment here and now. Because I amnever letting you go again. If you want to start over, I'll do that, but I'm telling you that I don't need to..."
Louis looks into his eyes with tears in his own. "Harry, I don't need to start over either. I'm right where you left me. Hopelessly infatuated, obsessed, in adoration, in love with you."
Harry doesn't waste another moment, kissing him again and again.
Finally, he feels at home.
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