the moment i saw the message from louis, my heart did a little somersault in my chest. he was inviting me to a bar with him, phoebe, daisy, and their friends. my initial reaction was a mix of disbelief and excitement. like, was this actually happening? did louis tomlinson just ask me to hang out?

i had to get my thoughts together before responding. i paced around my living room, my checkered pajama bottoms swishing as i moved. "okay, imogen, stay calm," i muttered to myself, pretending like my reflection in the window was a supportive friend. "you've got this!"

finally, after what felt like an eternity, i typed out a response.

Louis Tomlinson
louist91
17.6m followers • 514 posts

fancy coming out to a bar with me,
pheebs, and dais?
should be fun

helllooooo
sounds like fun!
what time are you all heading out?

i hit send and waited, practically bouncing on the balls of my feet. when my phone dinged just a few moments later, i nearly dropped it.

we're thinking about heading
to the bar around 8
it's another new place in town
you in?

absolutely! can't wait!

i felt like a giddy schoolgirl, my cheeks flushed with excitement. but then reality hit. what was i going to wear? i had a million thoughts racing through my mind. i wanted to look cute but comfortable. nothing too over-the-top. i wanted to be me—sweet and genuine.

after a quick shower, i rummaged through my closet, finally settling on a pair of dark high-waisted jeans and a cozy, fitted black top that showed off my figure. i paired it with a denim jacket, thinking it was casual yet stylish. after tossing on some cute shoes and a light layer of makeup, i stared at myself in the mirror. my hair fell in soft waves, framing my face perfectly.

"you've got this, girl," i told my reflection. "just be yourself!"

blue💙☀️
guess who's going out with louis and his friends tonight?

a second later, my phone buzzed.

addy🌑
ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS
you HAVE to tell me everything later

blue💙☀️
will do!

with a skip in my step, i headed to the door, excitement bubbling inside me. i couldn't believe this was happening.

the bar was just a short drive away, and the atmosphere buzzed with energy. as i approached, i could see phoebe and dais standing outside, their laughter ringing out. they were dressed to impress, with phoebe in a cute floral dress and daisie in a fitted top and skirt combo.

"imogen!" they both exclaimed in unison when they spotted me.

"you made it!" phoebe grinned, her excitement contagious.

"of course! i wouldn't miss this for the world," i replied, beaming.

"you look amazing!" daisy said, her eyes sparkling.

"thanks! you two do, too!"

just then, louis stepped out from the bar, looking effortlessly cool in a perfectly fitted t-shirt and jeans. his presence was magnetic, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

"there's our girl!" he called out, striding toward us with a relaxed smile.

"hey!" i replied, trying to sound casual, but my heart was racing.

"i wasn't sure you'd actually come," he teased, raising an eyebrow. "thought you might have second thoughts."

"not a chance!" i shot back, my confidence surprising even myself. "besides, it's not every day you get invited to hang out with a rock star."

he chuckled, shaking his head. "we're just regular people, you know. but i appreciate the compliment."

i could feel the warmth in my cheeks as he spoke. he had this way of making me feel at ease, even though i was still processing the fact that this was happening.

"so, where's the rest of your crew?" he asked, glancing over at phoebe and daisy.

"they're inside, getting us a table," phoebe said. "we wanted to make sure we snagged the best spot."

"smart move," louis replied, nodding. "let's head in then."

as we walked together, i felt a sense of ease settling over me. the conversation flowed effortlessly.

"so, imogen, what's your deal?" louis asked, genuinely interested. "besides the art thing, of course."

i giggled, a little taken aback by how comfortable it felt to talk to him. "well, i'm a bit of a dreamer, i guess. always thinking about what could be. and i love spreading kindness, you know? life's too short to be anything but sweet."

he smirked, the corner of his mouth lifting in a teasing grin. "you're one of those 'kindness is key' types, huh? it's almost nauseating how sweet you are."

"i'm sorry!" i laughed, playfully nudging him. "can't help it. it's just who i am."

"it's refreshing," he admitted, his tone turning serious for a moment. "most people just want to be part of the drama."

"thanks! i think everyone has something special inside them. it's just about finding it," i said, my optimism shining through.

"i wish more people thought like you," he said, a hint of admiration in his voice. "but then again, maybe it'd be too much sunshine."

"never too much sunshine!" i declared, grinning at him. "the world needs all the light it can get."

as we entered the bar, the atmosphere was lively. the music pulsed through the air, and laughter echoed from every corner.

"let's get drinks!" phoebe shouted, leading the way to the bar.

as we ordered, i could feel louis standing close beside me, our shoulders brushing occasionally. with each touch, my heart raced a little more, but it felt good. thrilling, even.

after getting our drinks, we found a cozy table in the corner where we could talk without shouting over the music. the atmosphere was electric, and i was surrounded by laughter and friendly chatter.

"so, imogen," louis said, leaning in slightly, our knees nearly touching. "what's the story behind your art? i saw some of it online."

"oh, um," i stammered, suddenly shy. "it's just something i love. it's my way of expressing how i see the world. colors, emotions, everything. it's all connected for me."

"that's deep," he remarked, genuine interest in his eyes. "i like it. you're passionate."

"thanks! like i said, i think everyone has something special inside them. it's just about finding it," i said, my optimism shining through.

as we continued to talk, there were little moments of unintentional flirting. our eyes would lock a second too long, or our hands would brush against each other as we reached for our drinks. each accidental touch sent a small jolt of electricity through me, but i could tell louis felt it too. i noticed the way his smile would linger just a moment longer when he looked at me.

"i have to say," he said, a smirk playing at his lips, "you're surprisingly fun for someone who claims to just be nice."

"just nice?" i feigned shock. "i'm basically the life of the party!"

he rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress the grin that spread across his face. "right. you're like a walking, talking candy shop. all sweetness and no substance."

i gasped, feigning offense. "how dare you insult my sweetness! it's an art form!"

just then, phoebe and daisy squealed, breaking the moment. "oh my god, louis just smiled! he's human!" they shouted, eliciting laughter from the surrounding tables.

"shut up!" louis shot back, but he was laughing, and so was i. it was so easy to tease him, and it made me feel more connected to him in that moment.

"no, seriously! i think i just saw his fangs!" daisy chimed in, pretending to look shocked.

"watch out, imogen! he might bite!" phoebe added, dramatically clutching her chest.

"i'd be honored," i quipped, shooting louis a playful look.

he leaned back, crossing his arms with mock indignation. "as if i'd waste my time on someone who's all sunshine and rainbows."

"the way you're smiling right now says otherwise," phoebe teased, elbowing him in the ribs.

"fine, fine! maybe i like the sweetness a bit," he admitted, a grin breaking through his sarcasm.

as the night wore on, the playful banter continued, and i found myself inching closer to louis, our legs brushing against each other more frequently. it was exhilarating, and i could feel a warmth spreading through me every time we touched, even if it was just our knees bumping together.

"so, what's your dream?" he asked suddenly, his gaze sincere.

"my dream?" i echoed, surprised by the question. "um, i want to have my own gallery one day. to show the world what i see and hopefully inspire others to be kind and embrace their creativity."

"sounds like a lofty goal," he said, leaning closer. "but if anyone can do it, it's you. you've got this infectious energy."

"thanks! that means a lot coming from you," i replied, feeling a rush of warmth at his compliment.

the night continued to unfold with laughter, stories, and little accidental touches that sent my heart racing. as i glanced over at louis, he was watching me, his eyes sparkling with interest. it felt as though we were in our own little world, away from the noise and chaos around us.

after a while, louis suddenly leaned in closer, and i felt my breath hitch in my throat. "you know, imogen, you're not just sweet. you've got this strength about you. i like that."

i met his gaze, feeling a flutter in my chest. "thank you, louis. that means a lot."

just then, in a spontaneous burst of confidence, i reached out and touched his arm lightly. "i really enjoy being here with you."

he looked down at my hand on his arm, and for a moment, the world around us faded away. it was just the two of us, and the atmosphere crackled with an undeniable tension.

"me too," he said softly, his voice low, and i could see a flicker of something in his eyes—something deeper than just friendship.

and then, without thinking, phoebe and daisy broke in, practically shouting, "kiss! kiss! kiss!"

we both burst into laughter, breaking the moment, but the warmth lingered between us. we spent the rest of the night in a blissful haze, enjoying the company, the laughter, and the sweet, accidental flirtation that felt so natural yet electrifying.

ava speaks!!!
ops on this book so far? :)