Music Of My Soul
"Okay! Everyone please remember we are now in central Paris so don't leave the designated area." Said Mrs Huck to the class of excited year 9 pupils as she led them off the bus and over to the short hedge that was placed in front of the Eiffel tower to add aesthetics.
All of the year 9's ran this way and that, still staying in the designated area. Two of the children went over to one particular spot. A girl called Ennette and a boy called James. The girl had long curly brown hair and fair skin. She was wearing ripped jeans and a red hoodie. The boy had short brown hair and was wearing black straight cut jeans and an oversized grey hoodie.
"Is this the place?" Ennette asked. James pulled out a picture and held it in front of them so they both could see it.
"Yes. I'm sure of it." Replied James.
On the picture there were two men, probably in their late twenties, early thirties. One held a violin and looked as if he were mid-way in playing a song. The other man looked content in listening to the other play. Both had large smiles on their faces. James turned the picture over and read the words written on the back in pencil. It read 'The day I met Harry, the love of my life, 2003'.
James sighed.
"He's not here is he?" He asked,
"It doesn't look like it." Replied Ennette sadly.
It was then they were called onto the bus. As the bus started to drive Ennette looked at James.
"Can I see the map?" She asked. James handed her the map. She followed a red line that mapped out their travels. Then she squeaked with joy.
"What is it?" Asked James,
"Look at this," She pointed to a town square that was circled on the map because that was where the class was heading,
"Yes?" Asked James,
"That's Dad's old carpenter shop," She said pointing to a shop in the square, "The one he and Harry turned into a music shop."
"So.." Replied James confused,
"Look at what it's still called?" Suggested Ennette knowingly.
James then read the name of the shop out loud, "Stylinson Music Emporium". It was then he caught on to what Ennette was saying.
The fact the shop was still named the same meant that Harry still owned it. The second the bus came to a halt and Mrs Huck told the children could roam the square, James and Ennette headed to the music shop.
They got outside to find the door was open. They entered. As they did they saw instruments, books of sheet music and amps for guitars. They then spotted the counter in the corner.
"Hello?" Asked James, approaching it cautiously,
"Hey," Replied a girl smiling, "What can I help you with?",
"We're looking for Mr Harry?" Ennette asked, joining James at the counter.
"I'm sorry but he's out at the moment but I can give him a message for you if you like?" Suggested the woman.
James looked to Ennette and then to the picture in his hand. Ennette then nodded knowing what he was considering doing. He then handed the picture to the woman. He then pulled another photo out of his bag and handed that to the woman also.
"Please can you just give these to him," Said James before he and Ennette left the shop.
"Hey sorry I was so long!" Said Harry as he rushed into the shop, "Did you sell anything while I was gone?"
"No." Replied the woman sadly,
"Oh no..." Breathed Harry, "Jess what are we going to do?"
"Harry, I'm sorry but someone put a bid up on this place. If we don't get hold of at least £300,000 in the next month, this place will be sold" Replied the woman, Jess.
"I know.." Responded Harry shakily, "Why don't you head home? I'll stay."
Jess nodded and went to leave before turning and handing the photos to Harry, "Two children brought these in about half an hour ago." Harry thanked Jess before she left.
Harry sat down behind the counter and looked at the pictures. At first he noticed writing on the back of both of them. One of them read 'Ennette and James Tomlinson, Christmas Panto 2017'. When he turned it over there were two children, standing on stage. One had long brown curly hair, the other had short brown hair. They looked like they'd just bowed and they shared a striking resemblance. When he thought of the names he could swear he recognised the surname but he couldn't place it. He found it weird someone had left him a picture of two children he didn't know. It wasn't until he read the back of the other picture he realised why. They weren't just any old children. They were his children.
The Summer Of 2001, Central Paris
Harry had arrived at the usual spot for his busking. He unpacked his violin and set his case down for people to toss money into. The weather and so he knew many tourists would come to see the Eiffel tower and so hopefully he could make quite a sum of money today.
He was playing violin renditions of famous pop songs today rather than classical stuff he played in Le Rouge in the evenings. Le Rouge was a restaurant he was paid to play in.
He was mid-way through It Wasn't Me by Shaggy when much to his dismay one of his violin strings snapped and flew back in his face. He apologised to his small gathering of listeners before he checked the violin over to see the string had nicked the body of it, leaving a deep scratch that would damage the sound the violin made. He decided to pack up the violin and head home.
He was half way home when he saw a street map. He noticed there was a carpenter's about five minutes away. He decided it was worth seeing if there was anything someone in the shop could do and so he headed in the direction of the shop.
When he arrived, he entered to see a man sanding what looked like a statue of the Eiffel tower made of oak.
Harry decided to see what else the man had made since the shop was filled with small wooden statues. He was just looking at a birdhouse when a man walked over to him.
"Excuse me?" He asked,
"Yes," Replied Harry turning,
"Your face is bleeding," The man stated. Harry held a hand up and touched where the violin string had hit him. He then pulled his fingers away to see blood. He started to feel a little light headed and he collapsed into the arms of the man.
When he came around he was lying on a sofa.
"Wh...where am I?" He slurred slightly, "What happened?"
The same man from before walked over.
"It's okay you're just in the back room of the shop. You fainted because of the blood," The man stated with a smile,
"Oh... God. How embarrassing," Said Harry blushing.
"It's fine", replied the man, "I dressed the wound but I would feel a lot better if you'd stay here for an hour or so to make sure there is no lasting damage."
Harry just nodded.
"My name's Louis, Louis Tomlinson." Said the man taking a seat by where Harry was still lying,
"I'm Harry."
"So what made your face bleed Harry?" Asked Louis curious,
"My violin string snapped and lashed back at me. I knew it scratched the body of my violin pretty badly, hence why I came here but I didn't know it had cut my face,” said Harry sleepily.
"Oh. Is it this violin?" Asked Louis, holding up Harry's violin case. Harry just nodded.
Louis opened the case and looked at the violin before muttering a few things and turning to Harry,
"It should take about two hours to fix," Stated Louis.
"Oh that's great. How much will it cost?" Asked Harry,
"It's on me." Said Louis,
"What?" Asked Harry confused,
"It's not everyday a cute male faints into my arms so I'm considering this a good day." Harry just blushed as Louis said this.
Present day
Harry looked at the picture remembering it like it was yesterday. How the day after the violin was fixed Louis wanted to see where he played. Some street guy had taken the picture and it became the logo for their shop until they moved to London. They decided to have children but shortly after they had found a surrogate and had started the process and Harry fell ill. They never sold the shop but they didn't work in it but truthfully Harry really missed Paris so after he fully recovered he decided he wanted to go back. Louis wouldn't go back because the woman was due to give birth in London but Harry couldn't take himself away from Paris again and so that caused so many arguments. In the end Harry just left without him and they broke up.
Harry had never forgotten Louis or the possibility that his children were out there somewhere. He never contacted Louis again after he went back to Paris, as much as he wanted to meet the children he knew he'd broken that bond a long time ago.
London Present Day
Louis woke up to find he had an email. He assumed it was from the school, and that they were sending pictures of the children in Paris but when he opened it he felt tears come into his eyes.
Hello,
I'm hoping you still use this email. Ennette and James came into Stylinson’s today and I wasn't there but they left two pictures with a woman who works there. They told her you miss me.
Louis I made the wrong choice. The shop is being sold, not by choice but if you taught me anything, it's that it's destiny. I'm on my way back to London. Maybe we could meet for coffee sometime.
From Harry Styles.
Louis considered not responding but then he realised he had to.
Hey Harry,
I live in Manchester now. James and Ennette really want to meet you and the truth is, I never stopped loving you. Maybe if you're up for it we can backtrack and pick up where we left off. We could do things right.
Love Louis.
Louis had attached two photos and when Harry saw them he smiled.
The first was of him and Louis. He was wearing black skinny jeans and an old grey hoodie. The other was Ennette and James. What caught his eye is that James was wearing the same hoodie that he had once worn.
He couldn't wait to play his violin for Louis again and Louis couldn't wait to hear its sweet gentle sound.