Chapter Text
He was late. And not in the ‘I didn’t want to appear too keen’ kinda way. More the running like a frantic idiot through Cambridge City Centre- I really shouldn’t have forgotten to set my alarm- sprint. Not only was he probably knocking small children and the occasional tourist out with his swinging bag, which he had at least had sense enough to put together the night before, but he was almost certain that he had put his jumper on the wrong way round, the white label itching at his throat. After all the work he had put into getting into Cambridge to study Medicine, all the revision, hours of community service at the old peoples home and persuading his Mum that it wouldn’t be a waste of money. He couldn’t even make it to the first lecture on time . All those people who said Louis Tomlinson would never get into University, never-mind one of the top Universities in the world were sure as hell laughing down at him right now. Louis stopped when he finally reached the door of the lecture room, he had only just recognised from his interview, before leaning over slightly to regain his breath. With out even looking in the mirror he could tell his face was a slight puce and his hair was definitely not looking artfully messy but more a woops did I run through a bush on my way here. Back home his teachers were used to him being late but here he had wanted to make a good impression. He was someone new here.
Checking his watch only confirmed for him that it really was ten past nine although having only woken up about twenty minutes ago he was rather proud of himself for even getting here. His room still a mess of unpacked boxes from when he had arrived late last night. Although by the way the numbers of his watch were a little bleary he could tell for a fact he had forgotten to put his contacts in. He just hoped there wasn’t much written down on the board. That this would be more a welcome to the course lecture. He could dream right? Taking one final deep breath to calm his racing heart, Louis pushed the door open.
The room was almost full; a sea of Apple Macs and open collared sky blue shirts greeting Louis as he entered. Sure Louis owned a suit and tie- had even worn it for the interview- but that was the only one. His Mum had been out to buy it especially; ignoring Louis’ complaints that it was too expensive and that the money could be better spent on something more essential. She hadn’t listened; something about wanting Louis not to stand out. Standing here in his old faded- and not in a stylish way- Topshop Skinny Jeans and an even older H and M jumper, Louis could feel the eyes of the audience looking him up and down, some of the other guys looking disappointedly at his chino-less attire. In some way he had expected this; he knew that he wasn’t going to fit in with everyone here. That he wasn’t going to be able to join in conversations about holiday homes and ski chalets. But seeing photos of his friends starting University, of them asleep in lectures barely out of their pyjamas had definitely caused him to create a false illusion of how much he would stand out.
“I’m so sorry for being late.”
God did he really sound that Yorkshire? Perhaps he should have had invested in elocution lessons. Or accepted that place at Sheffield. The rather elderly professor sounded bored, when he replied, barely looking up from his computer to acknowledge Louis’ presence.
“Don’t let it happen again. Take a seat- Mr?”
“Louis Tomlinson, Sir.”
“Take a seat Mr Tomlinson.”
Rearranging his satchel on his shoulder, Louis let his eyes locate an empty spot before he traipsed through a row of tutting, pedicured girls and boys, probably knocking their laptops onto the floor as he past. He’d embarrassed himself enough for one day. Thankfully it didn’t take him long to spot one, right in the middle of the lecture theatre at the end of the row, the girl in the seat next door busy glancing down at her phone not haven taken a visible interest in Louis’ arrival or the people sitting next to her. Reassuringly she actually had a pen and paper in front of her too; which made Louis feel less concerned about his decidedly laptop less bag.
It was only as he sat down into his seat that the girl looked up. She was definitely pretty; large green eyes and long brown hair falling gently around her slightly oval face, dusting over her slim shoulders. Her cream jumper matching her blemishless faintly tanned skin, complimented by an expensive looking scarf. Placing her phone down onto the desk in front of her, Louis was pleasantly surprised to see Candy Crush on the screen; she smiled warmly albeit shyly at him.
“Hi I’m Eleanor.”
She sounded nervous not the self-confident voice he was expecting. She was southerner for sure- her gentle o’s a stark contrast to the brash Yorkshire accent he was used to. Louis returned the smile, reaching down into his bag as he did so pulling out the notepad his sister’s had gotten him as a good luck present and placing it onto the desk, cursing himself when he realised he hadn’t even got a pen
“Louis. Probably shouldn’t make a habit of being late to these things.”
Eleanor laughed; her laugh as delicate as she was, although there was a twinkle in her eye that told Louis that there was definitely a wilder side beneath the collected exterior. He had always been good at reading people.
“Yeah possibly not- although not going to lie I only arrived 30 seconds ago. Ooh I love your notebook! That’s so cute.”
Yeah she was a definite keeper. If only he was into girls in that way.
“Ahh ta – my sisters got it for me.”
“That’s so sweet. How many do you have?”
“ Five sisters and a brother.”
Eleanor tried hard to hide her look of surprise. Louis should have maybe realised that no one knew him and his family here.
“I know- we are kind of a tribe. You have any?“
“ No- I’m so jealous. I’ve always wanted siblings.”
“You can have one of mine if you want. You wouldn’t happen to have a pen I could borrow do you?”
Instead of any harsh remarks, Eleanor only laughed and reached down to bring out an immaculately neat pencil case filled with an array of coloured fine liners and expensive looking pink pens. Lottie would love her.
“Sorry about the colour…”
“Thanks so much. No worries it matches my personality. I’ve always been partial to a bit of…”
Louis’ reply was interrupted by the doors he’d only just walked through moments ago, opening again. He could feel the words leave his mouth as he took in the boy who had just walked through the door. Apparently it wasn’t only him who had taken notice, the slight murmuring that had filled the room disappearing. Endlessly long legs clad in beige trousers that accentuated the slight curve of his hips and a black fitted shirt- this guy was flipping gorgeous. Add to that the mop of curly brown hair and face adorned with an award winning smile raybans carelessly twirled in his right hand, Louis felt like his Mum did when she watched ER and George Clooney walked on to the screen. The pink of he could feel rising on his cheeks rivalled the colour of the pen Eleanor had just given him.
The voice that left this God of a man reverberated through Louis’ body. It had a northern twang- mancunian of sort- but it was hidden by a well trained mannered tone, pronunciation rivalling that of the Royal Family or the people from Downton Abbey.
“I’m terribly sorry. I –“
“It’s no bother Mr Styles. Please find your self a seat- I was only just about to start.”
So wrapped up in staring blatantly at ‘Mr Styles’ ‘ ass, Louis didn’t even notice the change in Eleanor’s tone. Or the fact that she was the only one pretty much unimpressed by the newest arrival.
“Oh my Lord. Please tell me Harry is not here.”