your hand forever’s all I want {private}

Mia had changed into leggings and a baggy sweatshirt once they’d gotten back to the house - after showering and getting all the sand off her body. So she felt pretty warm and cozy at that moment while she hovered around the house, unsure if she too was going to sleep, or stay up and talk with Louis like she sometimes did.

However Louis came back into the kitchen with a smile and poured a drink, offering her a glass as well. Mia shrugged and took it, figuring one couldn’t hurt. “I know I’ve said it a few times already but thank you for letting me join you guys. I didn’t realize how much I needed a breather until...well I got to relax,” she chuckled and glanced around the house. “I love this beach house. It’s so...cute and quaint,” she let out a content sigh.

Mia listened as he talked a little bit about his childhood, and of course she frowned hearing he had been bullied as a kid. But he had this place of escape it seemed, for him to go ahead and be whoever and whatever he wanted without restraint. She sipped her drink slowly while she listened until he finished. ”That’s pretty kind of your parents to think of you like that. I lived in the city for most of my childhood, and haven’t actually seen a beach up until the last few years,” she peered out one of the windows. She wished they could stay here all week instead of for just the weekend. ”I think I’d want to live in a house like this one day,” she glanced back at him pouring another drink. She wasn’t even half done with hers, she wanted to moderate herself. But she made no comments and instead found her way over to a radio which she turned on - volume low of course, and started turning the dial to find a station.

Mia eventually settled on a station, and then finished off her drink, returning her glass to the kitchen before she went and joined Louis on the couch. She noted he had the bottle now, and figured she was done drinking for the night. If he was going to continue, someone had to be the responsible one. “We both know I definitely cannot afford this house,” she replied with a laugh. “I wish we could stay longer though, I don’t want to have to go back to reality, this has all been nice,” she hugged her knees to her chest, leaning her head on the back of the couch.

Mia brightened up at the potential for staying longer. “Really?” she asked, “I’m not scheduled again until Tuesday anyways...?” she looked at him, a bit hopeful. Then she watched as he pulled up his hair as well as sighing. “You’re always so stressed..” she pointed out, and then stood up, holding out her hand for him. “Dance with me?”

Mia wasn’t sure what to make of his facial expressions. He had been confusing since the day she moved in, though they’d been nothing but friendly and platonic. At that moment however, things felt...romantic and intimate, but she had invited him to dance, so there was no point in stopping it now. Plus she couldn’t dent the fact that she liked the proximity to him. She put the hand not clasped in his hand on his shoulder, smiling at his humming along with the song. Mia let out a content sigh, even closing her eyes to enjoy the moment.

Mia laughed as he twirled her, and she had him do it one more time before she settled back into the soothing movements of dancing with him. She opened her eyes again at the sound of Louis singing. The last time she had heard him, he stopped when he realized she was listening. He usually had sang for his wife. It had been an awkward situation for Mia but she absolutely loved hearing him sing right then. She was completely enamored, especially by his smiling down at her and her eyes brightened as she returned the smile. Mia could get in a lot of trouble with this man, she probably shouldn’t have asked him to dance...Mia slowly started pulling away, feeling as if they were crossing a line they shouldn’t.

Mia was getting a little concerned now with him pouring himself another drink. She stood for a little longer, just watching him until she went and settled back down on the couch, a bit closer than before. “Louis is everything okay?” she whispered quietly, curling her legs closer to her body until she could wrap her arms around them, as if comforting herself.

Mia frowned, and she tentatively reached over to lightly rest her hand on his arm. “Something is bothering you. I’m your friend, you can talk to me, I’m here,” she tried again to see what was the matter, but if he didn’t say anything again, she would drop it. She felt this overbearing need to comfort him whenever he was down, and his actions at the moment were concerning for her. “I just want to help,”

Mia stared at him in confusion. He loved someone that he couldn’t have? She stupidly for a moment didn’t think that it was her at all, because it seemed nearly impossible to her that he would ever feel anything for her. Sure they just had that dance, and there were other times where she was sureness they were having a moment. Mia supposed she just needed to ask, “Louis that doesn’t make sense. You’re kind, handsome...why can’t you have them?” her eyes narrowed in curiousity.

Mia just stared at him talking so low of himself, thinking he didn’t deserve something as simple as someone loving him. She reached out to grab the hand holding the bottle/glass, trying to stop him from all of this. “Louis, you deserve absolutely everything good, you definitely deserve her, whoever she is. Don’t do this to yourself,” she edged closer. “I don’t understand why you think so low of yourself...” she sighed. “How do you know she doesn’t feel the same way? Have you told her? Have you asked?” she still was completely clueless. Mia just didn’t think he could want her.