Waves of Green & Checkmates || Larry Stylinson

Chapter 2: The encounter

On Wednesdays Segunda Vida is closed, that's why Louis tries to get most of his uni work done on this day. It starts off with the lecture Empirical Methods which is followed by its tutorial seminar. His day is filled with a lot of listening to his professor, who looks way too young to be a lecturer, much more data analysing but mostly trying not to fall asleep. Then he has a lunch break, which he spends —like usually— with his ginger mate Oli, who he met last year when they both started their Master at Finances. He is half-Dutch, half-English and has helped Louis not only when he couldn't understand something in Dutch but also saved him with several uni works including presentations and group assignments.

"How's your empirical paper going?" Oli asks him halfway though his salmon wrap. Louis went for the vegan hot dog.

"Not so good... Haven't even started yet... but I wanted to spend me afternoon doing nothing but working on it. You're in?"

"Sounds good. We also have to start working on the presentation. I thought we can do something about empirical methods of sport events in corporate finance?" Oli offers.

"Sure, yeah. Whatever you say, boss. I'm in." Louis grins.

Five hours later, Louis managed to write the introduction for his paper, started reading his textbook about financial performance in European football and got a few words down for his chapter 'data and methodology'. They also began researching for their presentation. All in all it was a very successful day, but after a total of ten hours of uni work he is nothing but exhausted.

* * *

In the evening, he's back at his flat. Despite feeling like doing nothing for the rest of the day, he wants to serve Roza the chilli, for which he bought the groceries a day ago, so he tries once again on Rozas door.

But still—nothing.

His message is still unread as well. Louis wonders if she really is on another trip and just forgot to tell him about it. Suddenly his eyes widen in shock.

Fuck, the cats! They must be starving by now.

He rushes back to his flat to get the spare key that she once gave him for whenever she's on vacation to let himself into her apartment. At the door he hesitates. He is already expecting the worst.

Maybe she was at home this whole time? What if she tripped and passed out? Maybe he should've checked on her yesterday, if everything's alright? Either way Percy and Apollo weren't fed this whole time... Louis is never gonna forgive himself if anything happened to them or Roza.

Suddenly he feels himself getting nauseous and swings the door open in a rush.

"Roza?", he cries out. "Are you alright?"

He steps inside and lets the door open behind him.

"Roz—"

He startles at the sight of a stranger standing in her apartment. It takes him a few seconds to get over the shock.

What if they came to get her corpse? Oh god...

He tries to gulp away the lump in his throat and takes a deep breath before speaking. His voice is nothing more than a husky whisper.

"Oh my god, she... she didn't... like did something bad happen to Roza? Who are you?" His voice shakes at the last part and he is not sure he wants to hear the answer to that question. But there might be several reasons why a stranger would be standing in her apartment... Maybe it's the plumber? Or a friend?

The stranger turns around and he looks younger than Louis expected from his back. He is wearing a caramel button up underneath a cream knit sweater. By shaking his head he's trying to flick back some loose hair strands, which are put up with a hair band. In both hands he is holding a can of cat food. He looks at him almost as surprised as Louis.