the night had been one hell of a ride. paparazzi, quick escapes, mcdonald's at the end of it all—honestly, it felt a bit like a fever dream. i wasn't sure how we got here, but here we were, in louis' car, parked outside the mcdonald's drive-thru. the world had just been spinning around us for hours, but now everything felt... simple.

"what do you want?" louis asked, glancing over at me while he fiddled with the radio.

"just nuggets," i said with a smile, resting my head against the seat, feeling my nerves slowly melt away. "they're my favorite comfort food."

"nuggets, huh?" louis raised an eyebrow. "not exactly the fancy dinner i was expecting after a paparazzi blitz, but sure. go for it."

"hey, nuggets are perfect," i replied, my voice soft, genuinely happy with the choice. "sometimes you just need something familiar."

"i don't know about familiar, but it definitely works. i'm picking up what you're putting down." he shot me a quick smirk, his eyes twinkling. "but you're gonna have to get chips with that. it's basically law."

"of course," i agreed, laughing a little. i loved how natural everything felt with him. even the smallest things, like deciding on what to eat, felt easy. like we had our own rhythm, our own unspoken understanding.

"good, good," he said, nodding to himself, still smirking. "we can't be having any half-assed orders."

as we pulled up to the window, louis leaned over, ordering our food with a casual ease. i watched him for a second, surprised at how effortlessly he moved through this whole interaction. the car felt like our own little bubble, completely cut off from the outside world. and in a weird way, it was exactly what i needed.

"what are you thinking about?" louis asked, his voice pulling me from my thoughts.

"just how crazy today's been," i said, turning to face him. i gave him a small, shy smile. "i mean, the paparazzi and everything—it's a lot. but this, this feels simple. nice."

"you're cute, you know that?" he teased, his voice a mix of affection and sarcasm. "you're making this whole disaster seem like a fucking fairytale."

i chuckled. "i'm not trying to make it sound perfect. it's just... i don't know, better with you."

his eyes softened for a moment. "better with me, huh? damn, bluey, you're making me feel all special now."

"i mean it," i said, my voice gentle. "it's easy to be around you."

louis gave me a side-eye. "you're gonna say stuff like that and not expect me to get all weird about it?"

"what do you mean 'weird'?" i laughed, genuinely curious.

he shrugged. "i'm just saying, you're making me get all soft. i don't do soft."

i smiled, my heart beating a little faster. "well, you're doing it right now. and it's kind of nice."

before louis could respond, the drive thru window opened, and we grabbed our food. the bag of chicken nuggets and chips felt like gold in my hands, and i was grinning as we pulled into a parking spot.

"so," louis began, as we got comfortable in the car, "here's the real question: how many sauces are we getting?"

"definitely barbecue and sweet curry," i said, feeling confident. "maybe even garlic mayo if i'm feeling wild."

he chuckled, shaking his head. "damn, you really know how to live on the edge, huh?"

i laughed softly, dipping a nugget into the barbecue sauce. "you can't beat the classics."

"i respect that," he said, taking a bite of his fries, clearly enjoying them. "classics never fail."

we ate in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, the only sound being the crunch of chips and the soft rattle of the bag. it wasn't awkward at all. it felt like this was the most natural thing in the world, just the two of us in a car with fast food and no expectations. no rush. just... us.

i looked over at louis, and my heart skipped a beat when i saw him staring at me. his eyes softened for a second before he glanced away.

"what?" i asked, a little caught off guard.

he smirked. "nothing. just... thinking about how i can't believe we're eating mcdonald's after a night like that."

i smiled. "it's the best part of the night. i'm serious."

"yeah, i'm starting to think you're right," he said, dipping another nugget into his sauce. "you've got a thing for the simple stuff, huh?"

"what can i say?" i shrugged, feeling a bit shy. "sometimes the simplest things are the best."

he looked at me with an expression i couldn't quite read. "yeah. i get that." his voice dropped a little. "and you've got a way of making everything feel... i don't know, better. easier."

my cheeks flushed, and i turned my attention back to my food to avoid looking at him for too long. his words were unexpectedly sweet, and they made my heart race a little. it was always those little moments, when he said something genuine, that got me.

after a few more minutes of eating, i looked at him again, my nerves bubbling up. there was something in the air—something more than just the casual joking we'd been doing.

"louis," i said softly, "kiss me."

he blinked, clearly not expecting it. "what?"

"kiss me," i repeated, my voice even quieter this time.

he stared at me for a moment, a smirk tugging at his lips. "you serious?"

i nodded. "yeah. i am."

without a word, he leaned in, closing the gap between us. his lips brushed against mine, soft and slow at first, and then it deepened just a little, making my heart thud in my chest. it was everything. simple, easy, perfect.

when we pulled away, louis grinned. "told you, i'm a catch."

i smiled, feeling my heart flutter. "i was right. you are."

he looked at me with that familiar, mischievous glint in his eyes. "of course i am. don't forget it."

i nodded, pushing the empty wrappers aside. the night had taken an unexpected turn, but somehow, it was exactly what i needed. just being here with louis, without the cameras, without the expectations—it felt like a breath of fresh air.

louis, on the other hand, seemed quieter now, a little more reflective. he leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, his usual cocky grin replaced with a thoughtful expression.

"so, relationships, huh?" he said suddenly, breaking the silence.

i raised an eyebrow, slightly caught off guard. "what about them?" i asked, my voice light, trying to keep the mood relaxed.

he shrugged, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. "i dunno, just... you ever think about them? you know, like the whole 'how it's supposed to be' kind of thing?"

i bit my lip, thinking for a moment. "i guess," i said softly. "i mean, i've always believed in love. just not for me, in a way. i think relationships are supposed to be about connection, about growing together. being with someone who just... gets you." i smiled, a little shy. "but i think there's no perfect formula. sometimes it's messy. sometimes it's not what you expect, but... it's worth it."

he didn't respond immediately. he just stared ahead, his brow furrowed. i could see his mind working, like he was processing something.

"you really think it's worth it?" he asked quietly, almost like he was trying to convince himself more than me.

i nodded, not breaking eye contact. "yeah. it's not always easy, but i think it's worth it in the end. i guess you have to find someone who makes all that messiness feel okay. someone who makes you want to keep going, even when it's hard."

he let out a deep breath, almost a sigh, and his lips twitched into something that wasn't quite a smile. "that's... kind of deep," he muttered, almost to himself.

i chuckled softly. "i know right? i don't usually get that deep, but... you asked."

be raised an eyebrow. "i did, didn't i?" then he leaned back in his seat, running a hand through his hair. "guess that's why i'm not really a relationship guy."

i looked over at him, curious. "why not?"

he hesitated, eyes flicking to the side. "i don't know... i guess im just not into all the commitment stuff." he let out a short laugh, like he was trying to brush it off. "too much hassle. too much baggage."

i could tell there was more to it, but i didn't push. i just nodded. "i get it. relationships aren't always easy. but i don't think they have to be full of baggage. not if you find the right person."

he smirked, his usual sarcasm slipping back into his voice. "yeah, well, i'm not sure i'm cut out for all that lovey-dovey stuff."

i tilted my head, giving him a playful smile. "i'm not saying you have to be all lovey-dovey, but... maybe just someone who gets you, someone who makes it feel worth it."

he shifted in his seat, leaning forward slightly. "i'll find the right person. what about you, then?" he asked, his tone shifting to something a little more serious. "you ever think about finding someone who gets you?"

i blinked, surprised by the question. "well, yeah," i said slowly, unsure where this was going. "but i'm not exactly in a rush. i'd rather wait for someone who makes me feel like it's worth the wait."

there was a brief pause, and i could see the wheels turning in his mind. he scratched the back of his neck, his eyes avoiding mine for a moment. "yeah," he muttered, more to himself than to me. "guess it's better to wait for the right person than settle for anything else."

i smiled, feeling a warmth spread through me. it was strange, this sudden depth in our conversation, and it left me wondering what was going on behind his usual tough exterior. maybe he didn't believe in relationships, but there was something in his words, in the way he said them, that made me think otherwise. i made him think otherwise.

we sat there for a while, the conversation shifting to lighter topics as the night wore on. but the weight of what we'd talked about lingered in the air, hanging between us. it felt nice. nice to talk like this, to share a little piece of ourselves, even if it was just for a moment.

eventually, louis stretched, breaking the silence with a casual yawn. "well i think it's about time we get going. don't want to be stuck in this car all night."

i chuckled. "agreeded."

as we drove back to his place, there was no need for more words. there conversation had said enough. and maybe there was something more between us than either of us had been willing to admit before.