Epilogue
*Third Person Narration*
Haley sat backstage in the dressing room, texting Michelle as the interview the boys were currently participating in played on the flat screen in the corner of the room. The two girls had bonded over their shared and similar experiences, and it seemed the distance just made them closer as they felt the need to constantly check up on each other. Consequently, checking up on each other slowly evolved into a strong, unbreakable friendship with plenty of laughs and tears and half-conscious late night calls. Michelle was currently gushing about how cute Zayn looked and how he needed to talk more because she missed his voice. Haley smiled at her fluffiness, but she was also preoccupied with watching Niall. He was just so beautiful; how could she not? His laugh never ceased to cause butterflies to erupt in her stomach. She finished off her bag of Doritos as the interview ended, trying (and failing) to not get orange powder on her phone.
The boys flooded into the room, laughing and chatting amongst themselves. “How did we do?” Zayn asked while unscrewing the cap on a water bottle. Haley smirked to herself, remembering Michelle’s comment.
“Michelle said you need to talk more,” Haley answered honestly. A light sparked in his eye at the mention of her name, and it was clear how happy she made him, despite his futile attempts to hide it.
“Michelle was watching?” he asked nonchalantly.
“Mhm,” Haley nodded, internally squealing over how adorable their relationship was. “Oh, and you were all wonderful,” Haley added in a playfully mocking tone, “as always.”
“Aww!” Louis exclaimed in sarcastic flattery, catching Haley off guard as he jumped into her lap. She let out a small oof, but she giggled and wrapped her arms around his torso. His went around her neck as he curled up like a little child in her lap, despite the fact that he was about a head taller than her. Just to add to Haley’s struggle, Niall plopped himself right on top of Louis. All awkwardness was gone between the three, which all of them were extremely grateful for.
“Thanks babe!” Niall exclaimed, maneuvering around Louis to plant a swift kiss on Haley’s lips.
“No problem,” Haley replied in a strained voice. “You can thank me by getting off of me,” she rationalized, the weight of two almost fully grown boys becoming a lot to bear. Her hoped immediately dropped when Louis and Niall shared mischievous grins. “Oh god,” she groaned. The two boys hopped off of her, and she immediately fell to the floor in surrender, clutching her stomach and sides in preparation for a tickle attack. (Yeah, they hadn’t stopped. If anything, they had becomemore frequent since summer.)
“I’m not gonna tickle you Halez,” Louis laughed. “Now get off the floor.” Haley began standing up, arms still wound around her waist and stomach area protectively as she eyed Louis cautiously. He chuckled and shook his head, the dangerous grin playing torturously at the corners of his lips.
He watched as Niall unwrapped Haley’s arms from her waist, carefully replacing them with his own. They were so sweet to each other; it was adorable and sickening at the same time. Yes, the awkwardness was gone, but that was just because Haley and Niall assumed Louis’ feelings had dissipated as well. Of course they had gone away for the most part, but Julia was gone and the two barely spoke. They had tried, but what with time zones and schedules they decided the long distance thing wouldn’t even work for friendship, and so they detached themselves from each other. Louis felt an ache in his chest just at the thought.
His vital organ was only tugged and teased more as the group of six strode out of the building, Haley and Niall giggling together. He was happy for them of course, but there were still nights when Louis would lie awake, imagining what it would be like if Haley was his. Hell, there were even moments when he had the fuck it all mindset and just went and acting jokingly coupley with her, the recent lap-crushing incident a comparably mild case. He had no intentions of interfering with their relationship, he would never do that to them again, but he couldn’t honestly say the thought never crossed his mind.
Haley looked over her shoulder and back at Louis as they neared the exit, bracing themselves for the paps and screaming girls. Louis quickly masked his ogling with a smug grin, the boys sticking close to each other so as not to get hurt or lost in the mob. Niall kept a tight grip on Haley, Harry also placing his hand on the small of her back and keeping her close to him. Louis ached to keep her safe like that, but alas, he knew he just had to grin and bear it. He tried to distract himself from them burning need for Haley with the somber memories of Julia and how he had lost her forever. A definite sadness was easier to deal with than a sadness lined with the hope of alternate endings that were possible but not at all probable.
Harry and Megan, on the other hand, were quite the opposite. In fact, as soon as everyone was safely in the black van, (Haley sat in between Niall and Louis in the back with Zayn between Liam and Harry in the middle row) Harry immediately had his phone out to text Megan. They weren’t trying to hold up a long distance relationship, but they were still staying very close and always staying in touch. Harry missed her immensely, and he would often stay up very late just to talk to her. His body regretted it in the morning, but he knew he would never stop; anything it took to keep her close.
Megan also quite enjoyed their exchanges, as she missed Harry so much she was beginning to dream about him on a nightly basis. She zoned out in class, daydreaming about where he was and what he was doing. She was upset with herself for getting so attached, but at that point she was too in love to care. The bond was breaking due to distance, but they refused to give up on each other.
Liam and Sydney were both becoming very eager for time to fly, as there was only one day until he went to pick her up from the airport. He sat next to Zayn in the van, a smile stuck on his face as he texted Sydney, telling her about the interview. His heart fluttered at the very thought of seeing Sydney again, looking into her shining meadow green eyes. It had been months since he had seen a light like that in her eyes, and the yearning was just becoming more and more dire as the time slowly winded down.
Haley sighed lightly, strangely fatigued, and checked the time on her phone. It was only nine at night. She let out a small groan and buried her face in Niall’s neck. “Aww, what’s wrong?” he asked playfully.
“Why am I tired when it’s so freaking early?” she asked, looking up at him with big golden eyes. He smiled down at her lovingly, admiring every freckle on her face.
He didn’t notice Louis eyeing them enviously from right next to them.
“Are you sleepy, love?” he asked adoringly.
“Tired, sleepy, same thing,” she mumbled as she resituated herself so that her head was in Niall’s lap and her legs were sprawled across Louis’ lap. A small smile crept onto Louis’ face, but he turned and looked out the window so Haley and Niall couldn’t tell. Niall didn’t notice, as he was too caught up in Haley, but Haley could see his reflection in the window. She smiled to herself over her personal secret; the fact that she still sometimes thought back to her and Louis’ tiny little “experiment” fondly, and knowing he probably did too. She knew it was selfish, but she just couldn’t help herself. She tossed the thought aside and closed her eyes, snuggling into Niall’s side. She smiled to herself even more when Louis subtly rubbed her calves.
Life wasn’t flawless for them all, but it was wonderfully imperfect. They were taking it one step at a time, day by day, and appreciating everything they had. There were ups and downs, but those were to be expected, and they got through them together. There were a few bumps in the road, but at the end of the day life was pretty good.
And none of them would ever forget that first summer together.
~Don't forget me, for we shall meet again.~
**(a/n)
Well shit.
But! Don't worry one part is still left. :(
Z.♥
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