20 [Hoodie]
Description: After going through a breakup with Lewis Redman, who was a co-worker of yours at Sidemen Clothing, feelings return when you see him at work. He notices that you are wearing a hoodie of his causing you to regret ever breaking up with him. Eventually, both of you end up trying to fix your relationship.
• • •
You walked into the Sidemen Clothing warehouse with Freya, laughing along to something she said. You hadn't been here for a while as you were going through a breakup and your now ex-boyfriend, Lewis Redman, also worked here. Even though you were the one to break up with him, it still hurt; you didn't want to do it but you knew it was for the best.
Lewis heard your laugh, his head snapping up immediately. You looked at the brunette boy in front of you and frowned. Lewisʼ once bright brown eyes were now dull and bloodshot, presumably from crying and he looked like he hadn't slept in months. He had bags under his eyes and you immediately felt guilt knowing that you were the one who caused Lewis to look the way he did. His once baby-smooth face was now covered in facial hair, something you had never seen in the seven months that you and Lewis dated for. There was no doubt that Lewis looked attractive with facial hair, but you had to shake off the thoughts.
You stood there, staring at Lewis open-mouthed until Freya clicked her fingers in your face. "Y/N? We've gotta sort out the orders for Lewis and Matt," she had a questioned look on her face. You walked into the other room with Freya.
As the door closed, she looked at you, confusion written on her face. You hadn't told anyone about what happened between you and Lewis, so Freya was completely and utterly bewildered.
"What's happened to you and Lew?" She asked.
"I broke up with him," you shrugged, logging on to the computer to sort out some orders for Sidemen Clothing.
Freyaʼs mouth was hung open in shock. "What?" she yelled, completely oblivious to the current tension you and Lewis held. "Why? When? How? You two were so in love!"
You sighed, taking a sip of water from your water bottle. "Freya we weren't in love. We were dating for barely seven months. We never got to that stage of the relationship."
"It doesn't matter about the time you were dating for, you could see in both of your eyes that you were smitten with each other. But why did you break up with him?"
"It wasn't working," you shrugged, knowing it was a complete lie. The real reason you broke up with him was that you were scared of falling too hard for Lewis. You knew it was going to end similarly to your last relationship and you didn't want that; you saw yourself marrying him and becoming Mrs Redman. It was a dream, a dream that wasn't going to come true. "I'm over it."
Freya raised an eyebrow. "If you're so over it, then why are you wearing his hoodie?" You looked down to see that you were indeed wearing his hoodie. You sighed in annoyance, knowing that she was right. "I can tell you're still in love with him and I'm going to sort it out."
"Frey, just leave it, please?" You begged her, holding on to her wrist to prevent her from walking out and talking to Lewis. Freya sighed, but gave in, making a mental note to talk to Lewis.
• • •
You walked out of the room, handing some orders to one of the other employees as you and Freya were now on your lunch break. Freya walked over to Matt and Lewis, dragging you along with her. "Wanna come to get some lunch with us?" Freya asked the boys.
You mentally groaned, knowing she was attempting to get you and Lewis to talk to each other. Matt nodded, while Lewis shook his head.
"I've got a lot of work to do," he said, knowing that you felt uncomfortable with him being there. That, and the fact he couldn't bear to look at you for more than a minute before he felt like breaking down. You and Lewis may have been dating for a short while, but what you had was special.
"You don't have a say in the matter," Freya pushed, with Matt agreeing.
"Come on, Lewis. You've been working non-stop since six am!" Matt said. "You need a break, you look exhausted."
Eventually, Lewis gave in and you all walked to the nearest food place together. Freya and Matt were talking about something together, leaving you and Lewis to trail behind awkwardly. Lewis was biting his nails, something he tended to do when he was in an awkward situation or when he was nervous.
"Stop doing that," you told him, putting your hand over his to stop him.
His hand tensed, so you removed yours, shoving your hands into the pockets of Lewisʼ hoodie. This was your favourite hoodie; it smelt of Lewis, which was a mix of his natural scent (which you loved) and the deodorant he used daily. The restaurant was in clear sight now and you sighed, relieved that you could get out of this awkward situation.
"You're still wearing my hoodie?" Lewis asked, stopping his nail-biting because you asked. You nodded, embarrassed that he noticed. "It looks good on you..."
You blushed scarlet, thankful that your hair was covering your face so he couldn't see the blush. You arrived at the restaurant and it was only then that you noticed how hungry you really were.
"What do you guys want?" Freya asked, being the mum like she always was.
"Usual please, Mummy Freya!" You smiled, messing with her jokingly.
Lewis also told Freya his order while Matt decides to stay to help with the trays of food and drink when it was ready. You knew it was just a plan so that you and Lewis would have to talk to each other. You handed Freya the money, Lewis doing the same.
"You two go and find some seats, then," Freya smirked at you and you rolled your eyes.
You sat down, facing each other and you could see Freya glaring at you. "Sit next to him," she mouthed and you sighed, getting up.
Lewis looked at you in confusion as you sat next to him. A curl of hair flopped down over Lewis' face and you smiled at how cute he looked. He smiled back at you, and he looked less tired, a natural glow appearing on his face. You gave him that natural glow.
You felt a pang in your heart, regretting that you broke up with him. You looked away from him, feeling a pang in your heart each time you looked at him.
• • •
Once you finished your food, you made the short walk back to the warehouse, however after eating you were full of energy. You jumped on Lewis' back, placing your head on his shoulder as he placed his hands underneath your thighs to keep you supported. "Hey," you smiled. Your breath sent a shiver down Lewis' spine.
"Hey there," he smiled back, your arms placed around his neck.
You took a sip of your drink through the straw that you still held in your hand. It felt like you and Lewis had never broken up, as you were still acting like little kids together. Lewisʼ eyes seemed to brighten up a bit. "Lewis?" You whispered.
"Mhmm?" He answered.
"Iʼm sorry I broke up with you... I don't know what I was thinking."
He stopped dead in his tracks, placing you down and turning to face you. "I know why you did it," he said, sadly. He looked down and you grabbed his hand. "You were scared. Scared that I would do something and hurt you. I would never, ever, think of hurting you, Y/N. The truth is, I-I love you," he whispered 'I love you', too scared to say it.
"How did you-"
Freya turned back. "Are you coming guys?"
"We'll come in a minute, we're just talking about something." Freya nodded, carrying on walking with Matt. "How did you know that was the reason?"
"Because I know you, Y/N and I have for a long time now!" Lewis groaned, running a hand through his hair, messily. "I'm a mess because of you. Can't you see that? I know you still have feelings for me too, I just don't know what you want from me."
"I don't want anything from you Lewis, I love you too. But I'm scared. We're in our early twenties and I keep seeing visions of us in the future, married with kids! Do you know how scary that is?"
"Don't you want that?" Lewis asked.
"Of course I do! But it's scary to think about it. We were only dating for seven months..." You trailed off.
Lewis pulled you in for a hug, his taller frame towering over you which gave you a sense of comfort. He kissed the top of your head. "I know it's scary but I'm here for you. We have to grow together, not run away from our problems." Lewis told you.
You looked up into his mesmerising brown eyes, smiling. "You think brown eyes are just brown eyes until you fall in love with someone with brown eyes," you thought and it was true. When you looked into Lewis' eyes in the sun, they were no longer brown, they melt into golden rays of the sun, creating a sunset of their own. "Are we good now?"
"Of course we are." Lewis pressed a swift kiss to your lips, his lips gone as quick as they touched yours.
As the two of you walked towards the warehouse, hand-in-hand, you finally felt happy. "I like you with facial hair," you told him.
"Do you?" Lewis asked, laughing.
"Yeah, you look hot."
"Looks like I'll have to keep it then." He smirked, kissing you again.
You were completely and utterly in love with Lewis Redman and there was no denying it.