Falling for you - L.S - Larry Stylinson AU

1

Louis POV:I take a deep breath, leaning into my forward lunge far enough to feel the familiar burn of my hamstrings as I try and warm-up for the game. It's cold today, and the thermal under my flimsy club shirt is doing nothing for the cold wind that bites its way through the loose material. I close my eyes and imagine the warm fire at home that will be lit by Niall before I even walk in the door. The crackling embers inviting me to take my kit off, throw on some PJs, and curl up next to the fire.

"Louis! stop daydreaming or you're benched!"

I snap out of my daze and send a glare toward my coach before resuming my stretches.

The first game of the season was against a team that had been relegated from the league above us last season. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. With five minutes before kick-off, I separate from the team and run to my bag, rummaging around in a panic before finally retrieving the small piece of metal and tucking it into my football boot. My lucky penny had got me this far so it better not fail me in today's game. A whistle blows just as I make it back to my team, signaling the beginning of the match. I feel a familiar tug in my abdomen as I walk onto the field as the crowd roars around me. I always get nervous, I can't help it.

Running as hard as I can at the ball I make contact as it drifts back toward defense, causing it to careen over half the field and land at the feet of our main attack. I smile to myself as the crowd roars and brings my shirt up above my head to swipe at the sweat and rain dripping off of me. I close my eyes for a split second to bring myself back to a serious headspace, and in that split second the ball has made its way back to my end of the field.

As I run for it again, I realize a moment too late that the opposing team's attack has also made a run for it as he jumps and we both slam into each other. Before I can process anything I feel a sharp sting just above my right temple, and bring my hand up to touch it, only to feel thick wetness there. Multiple blurred faces peer at me from above, but as I open my mouth to speak, it seems to fill with the same syrup that's coagulating around my skull. The faces get blurrier and finally, I drift out.

My eyes open. I'm in a white room filled with beeping machines. There's talking to my side, but all I can make out are two figures in white. As I try to sit up a sharp pain in the side of my head hits me so hard black spots begin to appear in my vision as I resign myself to lie back down.

"Mr. Tomlinson can you hear me?" a calm, deep voice asks.

I turn my head to the side and squint at the man hovering over me, trying to make out any distinct facial features. His intense green eyes catch my attention as I try to nod slowly, making sure to keep the pain in my head at bay.

"I'm Dr. Styles, nice to meet you, Louis. It appears you've been injured in a football game tonight, would you be able to recall anything from tonight for me?"

I close my eyes and try to think back to earlier today, but come up blank. "I - I... "

He turns to the nurse beside him, whom I'm yet to notice. "Try and get as many details from him as you can, I'll be back shortly, but please keep him awake," He says quietly and then turns toward me.

"It seems you have been quite severely concussed Louis, Claudia here is going to ask you some questions and I need you to answer them to the best you can within your ability. I'll be back soon, I just have some other patients to attend to." He smiles warmly at me and leaves the room.

"Hi there, I'm Claudia." The nurse says, with a sweetly fake tone. She smiles at me but without the sincerity of the doctor, her smile not reaching her eyes. It was late I guess.

"What's your date of birth Louis?"

"December 24"

She smiles again. "Okay erm, do you know what day of the week it is Louis?"

I pause for a second. "No."

She looks up from her tablet "That's okay" "What do you last remember?"

I close my eyes and try to think back. "Having dinner with my roommate. It was spaghetti."

She puts down the tablet. "Oh, is your roommate Niall? He's in the waiting room, you should be able to see him soon."

I nod. "Could I grab some water please?"

She stands up and turns to me. "Yep, would you like me to grab you anything to eat?"

I look down at my torso, seeing the bulge in my football shirt where my stomach was.

"No thank you, I'm not feeling up to eating at the moment."

She looks at me slightly curiously, narrowing her eyes. "Alright, but if you do please don't hesitate to let me or another nurse know, we don't want you fainting on your way out." I nod again and begin to close my eyes as her figure gets further away.