Call Me Baby: Chapter 2
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday passed quickly and relatively uneventfully. Daisy and Phoebe were very happy with their new school; they absolutely adored Harry. Louis was quite fond of the preschool teacher, himself. Every morning that week, Louis had brought the girls to the daycare early, staying and talking to him for ten minutes or so before heading off to work. Everyday after school, Louis was the last one in, staying and talking to Harry some more before the girls started complaining that they were hungry, and they really should get going anyway because Lottie, Flick, and Georgia would be home soon, and he needed to be there to answer the door.
Harry really brightened Louis' mood, and just about everyone had noticed his change in demeanor. Louis would waltz into work everyday, greeting everyone with smiles and a chipper “good morning!”. He treated the rudest of customers with kindness, something that was impressive in itself. This had gone on for a week, and as Louis glided through the door that Friday morning, barely making it on time for the fifth time that week, Zayn finally cracked.
“Did you meet a girl, or something?” Louis looked at him, confused.
“No... What makes you say that?”
“You've nearly been late everyday this week! And you come in with this massive smile and a great attitude, and I'm sorry, mate, but as happy and nice as you generally are, this is excessive, and not the you I know.” Louis shrugged at him.
“I've been late because I've had to drop the girls off at daycare, and my life if a lot easier now that I don't have to find someone to watch them. They come home and sleep, too, because they're so worn out from preschool. Harry says they're very competitive during physical games, and they run around a lot during recess, so when they come home, they're completely worn out.” Zayn raised an eyebrow.
“Harry? Who's Harry?”
“The twin's preschool teacher.” Zayn's eyebrow disappeared into his hairline.
“I don't usually deal with my sister's or kid's teachers, but aren't you supposed to address them the same way the kids do? Like Mr... Whatever his last name is?”
“Me and Harry are friends, sort of. We don't hang out, or anything, but we're friendly enough that it'd be weird if I called him 'Mr. Styles' and he called me 'Mr. Tomlinson'. Oh, that reminds me: do you think you might be able to watch the girls this evening? From about 6:45 to eight?”
“I mean, sure, but why?”
“It's parent's night at the preschool.” Zayn smirked.
“You going to talk to your new 'friend'?” He raised his hands, making exaggerated quotation marks with his fingers as he said “friend”. Louis rolled his eyes.
“I don't know, actually. I may not even get the chance to, because there'll be a lot of parents there.”
“Lot of MILFs tryina steal your man?”
“Why do you keeping trying to insinuate that Harry's my 'man'?”
“Mate, it's obvious that the reason you've been so happy this week is because of him. He's the only thing that's really changed in your life, recently.” Louis looked at the floor.
“That's the thing, though. Every thing's changed. Harry makes me feel normal, less like a dad. I haven't been this happy, or felt this at home since my parents died. At this point, I'm not really up for questioning it, I'd rather just be for once. Not that you and Liam haven't been great, but... I don't know. He makes it easier. When I'm talking to him, I forget that I have obligations, and that my parents are dead, and that I'm the parent now. I feel like a kid again. He just... I don't know. He makes me feel better.” Zayn looked at him with a soft expression, a small, sad smile touching the corners of his lips.
“I get it, Lou. What time do you want me at your house tonight?” Louis smiled softly back at him.
“Around 6:40? That's probably a bit early, but it'll give me a chance to explain what needs to happen, and maybe even be a bit early.” Zayn nodded, and threw an arm around his shoulder.
“Sure. Now c'mon. We've wasted enough time in here, and Liam'll have our arses if he's out there bussing tables by himself much longer.”
*~*~*~*
When Zayn arrived at the Tomlinson house, he was surprised to see Flick answer the door. She grinned at him and reached up for a hug.
“Are you watching us tonight, Zayn?” Zayn grinned down at the eight year old, kissing her cheek.
“Yes, love. Where's your brother?” Flick giggled pointing upstairs.
“He's having one of his episodes. Daisy and Phoebe are upstairs getting into every thing and-”
“Daisy, if you touch one more thing, I will tell Zayn that you're on lock down, and there'll be no tv, no sweets, and you'll be in bed early. Do you understand?”
Zayn shook his head at his friend. Maybe he should have gotten here sooner, to help him out while he got ready. He sighed, turning to address Flick.
“Go on back to the living room, I'll go see if I can help him out.”
Flick nodded and scampered off. Zayn turned and loped up the stairs, taking them two at a time. When he reached the landing, he turned down the hallway to the right, where Louis, Daisy and Phoebe, and Georgia's rooms all were. He knocked on the door at the end, exactly opposite Lottie's door, at the other end of the corridor. There was a yelp and some scrambling, before the door opened to reveal a shirtless, disheveled Louis, and a slightly frightened looking Phoebe and Daisy. Zayn snorted at him, giving him a once over, before turning to the girls.
“Come on, ladies, let's go downstairs and let your brother have some time to choose his outfit. He has to make a good impression, doesn't he?” Daisy and Phoebe ran over to him, giving his legs hugs.
“Thank you, so much, mate. I don't know what I'd do without you.” Louis sent him a grateful, yet exhausted, smile.
“Don't worry about it, what are friends for? Come down when you're ready, I'll be in the living room with the girls.” Zayn said, before turning and walking, with the girls still attached to his legs and giggling, toward the stairs.
*~*~*~*
At 6:53 p.m., Louis came rushing down the stairs, grabbing his shoes before running into the living room. He hopped, trying to fit his shoe onto his foot, before realizing it was the wrong foot. Switching, he looked at Zayn.
“Okay, Daisy, Phoebe, and Georgia need to start getting ready for bed at seven thirty, I'll put them to bed when I get back, but if I end up being later than eight thirty, go ahead and put them to bed. I'll text you or something if that happens,” he switched to the other shoe, pausing momentarily as he pulled the laces out of the inside, “Flick should start getting ready for bed around eight, but I should be home around then anyway, so I wouldn't worry too much about that. Again, I'll text you if you're going to have to end up putting them to bed. Make sure Georgia takes her cough medicine before brushing her teeth, I've put the stuff on the counter next to the sink in the bathroom. Um... No more than a half hour of TV, I'd like them to play, or read, or do something else. If they want they can have one scoop of ice cream, each,” here, he looked at the twins and Georgia pointedly, “but no more, because they won't sleep otherwise. I think that's it. You've got my cell phone number, and the number for the daycare center is on the fridge, in case of emergencies. Have fun lovelies, I'll be back soon.” He bent to give each of the girls a kiss and a hug, squeezing them gently, and smoothing their hair. He looked towards Zayn once he'd made his rounds.
“Thanks so much for doing this. I'll see you later, mate.” Zayn smirked at him.
“Have fun with Harry, mate.” Zayn winked at him, and Louis rolled his eyes in return. He made his way towards the door, tossing one last good-bye over his shoulder.
*~*~*~*
Louis realized, upon entering the classroom, that there were a lot more people than he had anticipated. A cursory glance around the room told him that many people were here in pairs, and a feeling of inadequacy setting in his stomach, suddenly feeling very out of place. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. No one had noticed his arrival, he could always just leave. His plans of escape were thwarted, however, when a beaming Harry came up to him, holding a name tag and a sharpie.
“You came! Here, write your name, and the names of the twins underneath. It'll help people identify you.” Harry handed him the name tag and sharpie, watching Louis look at it for a moment before rolling his eyes and taking it from him. He pulled off the anti-adhesive backing and smacked the name tag to the left, breast pocket of Louis' shirt. He uncapped the sharpie and wrote, in small, neat lettering, “Louis Tomlinson. Daisy and Phoebe Tomlinson”. Louis resisted shifting uncomfortably at the strange sensation of someone writing on him through his clothes and the paper of the name tag. Harry straightened up when he had finished, looking at Louis as he recapped the sharpie. He tapped Louis' cheek with a large finger.
“Don't look so scared, they're only parents. C'mon, I'll introduce you to a few.” Harry gently tugged on Louis' arm, pulling him in the direction of a small group of parents to their left.
Harry put on a huge grin as they approached, is hand slipping down to Louis' wrist, keeping a firm hold as if to say “you're okay, I've got you”. The parents looked up from their conversation, smiling politely at the two young men.
“Hey, everyone, this is Louis Tomlinson. He's new to the town, so he doesn't know much of anyone yet.” Harry said, smiling around at the group. They looked him up and down, and Louis squirmed internally under their scrutiny, waving awkwardly and muttering “hello”. A blonde haired woman with too much rouge on her cheeks glared at him critically.
“You look a little young to be a parent. How old are you, anyway?” She asked, a bit rudely. Louis shifted nervously.
“Er, I'm twenty, but I'm not a parent. I have custody of my little sisters, and two of them are enrolled here, for while I'm at work.” A mousy looking brunette looked at him sharply.
“How do you have custody of your sisters? And how many do you have, anyway?” Louis' eyes shifted over to her, defiance settling into his features. He felt Harry grip his wrist a little tighter, grounding him. He took a little breath before attempting to communicate again.
“I have five, and I have custody of them because four months ago, my parents died in a car crash. I'm the eldest, and rather than have them split up and put into foster care,” he spat these words as if they burned his tongue, “I agreed to take legal custody of them.”
He was slightly shocked when a young brunette woman, in her mid thirties, smiled brightly at him. She had her arm around a tall, relatively young looking man with a quiff. Their name tags said 'Caroline Murs' and 'Olly Murs'.
“I think it's admirable. You must have sacrificed a lot for your sisters, and I'm sure that, even if right now they don't understand, they'll be very grateful when they get older.” She said, sweetly. He instantly liked the woman, not just for standing up for him, but she and her husband seemed like very nice people. He was just getting those... Vibesfrom her. Her smile widened a little bit as her eyes flickered to his name tag.
“You're Daisy and Phoebe's guardian? My son is in love with them. He doesn't stop talking about them ever. He has a lot of trouble telling them apart, you see, so he just talks about them like they're one person. I hear they're very intelligent, as well.”
Louis grinned at her. Yes, he definitely liked this woman. He and Caroline got quite caught up in their conversation, not really noticing as the other parents kind of moved away. Olly and Harry stood beside the two, chatting about sports and other “manly” things. Louis ended up getting Caroline's phone number, in exchange for his, and they planned to set up a play date with her son, Jonathan. Louis was sad when eight o'clock rolled around and it was time to leave. He waited with Harry as he bade good-bye to all the parents leaving. After the last one left, the two of them exited, Harry shutting off the lights and locking the classroom door behind them. He grinned down at Louis.
“So, did you have a good time?” Louis laughed heartily.
“Yeah, I did, in the end. I was a bit apprehensive at first, some of those parents seemed really horrible. But Caroline was lovely, I'm really glad I got a chance to meet her.” Louis said, skipping a little bit all the endorphins making his body feel light. Louis, while looking over at his new friend as they walked to their cars, was struck by an idea.
“Would you like to come over for dinner tomorrow? On Saturdays, my work mates come over for dinner, so I would already be cooking for eight, what's nine? If you're not already busy, of course.” Harry looked at him, slightly incredulously.
“Really? It won't be weird?” They had stopped by Louis car for the moment. Louis shook his head vehemently.
“No! No, not at all! Daisy and Phoebe would be ecstatic, and I'd really love to have you there as well! Please?” Harry looked at the ground, biting his lip as though he were considering it, when in reality he was just holding back a smile. He looked back up at him.
“Yeah, I'd love to.” Louis beamed, launching himself towards his friend and wrapping his arms around his neck. Harry froze for a moment, before carefully wrapping his own arms around Louis' waist. He slowly relaxed, a warm, fuzzy feeling settling in his stomach. Louis eventually pulled back, knowing he had to get going and put the girls to bed, as it was already gone eight.
“Great!” he smiled, “dinner'll be at six thirty, but you can come around six. And thank you, you know, for getting me out tonight.” Harry grinned down at him.
“It's not a thing. Good night, Lou.” Louis opened the door to his car as Harry started to walk away.
“Good night, Haz.”
Continued here