Chapter Text
"Louis?"
You know those moments in movies where everything except for the main character is going in slow motion, and they can't really register anything that's happening around them because they're so focused on something else? Yeah, just picture that for a moment.
Louis stands abruptly from his seat on the couch and rushes over to the balcony, he faintly hears his name being called behind him but he shuts the glass door.
Louis takes a deep breath, "Why are you calling me? Why do you think this is OK?"
I haven't heard from you in months, he doesn't say.
"I just wanted- I wanted to talk," Zayn's voice stutters a bit, "I want to see you."
Louis scoffs, "You want to see me?"
Zayn left him for someone else, what could he possibly want from him? Why is he still on the phone with him? He doesn't matter anymore. He hasn't mattered in a long time.
Even if Louis doesn't give a single fuck about him anymore. It's been so long since he's heard his voice.
Not after all those months ago when they were yelling and screaming. Angry and crying.
When Louis had tried reach out and fix what was far from fixing.
Still so far from fixing.
When Zayn had ignored him for so long like years of a relationship meant absolutely nothing to him.
"I want to see you. I've realized how bad I've fucked up. I want to start over, I know it won't be easy but I'm so- I'm just so lost without you-"
He can feel his heart pounding, he can actually hear his heart pounding in his ears.
Louis shakes his head, "Stop. Just stop. You don't get to do this. You don't get to do this to me."
Everything is so loud. It's all loud, he feels like he's shouting. It feels like his heart is in his stomach.
He hears Zayn inhale shakily, "Lou, I'm sorry, I'm more sorry than I'll ever be in my entire life."
He hangs up the phone quickly and it drops from his hands. It's probably cracked but it doesn't really matter. He sits on the chaise Niall has on his balcony and lights a cigarette.
He's smoked three cigarettes when he hears the glass door open and shut.
Louis glances behind him to find Liam picking up his phone.
"Hey Li, Whats up? Miss me?"
Liam smiles small, sad, "Always Lou. Heard you shouting a bit. Y'alright?"
So he was yelling a bit. Louis shrugs.
He looks back down at the cigarette in his hand, "Don't worry 'bout me Payno-"
"I always worry Louis. You especially are no exception."
"Well don't," Louis responds swiftly and sternly.
"So that was-"
Louis smashes the cigarette into the ground and rubs his eyes with his hands, "Yeah. Yeah, it was him."
He laughs humorlessly and turns to look at Liam, "Why can't he just leave me alone Li?"
Liam's fuming. He's fucking boiling because his best friend- no they're closer than that, his brother is hurting because some arsehole hurt him.
Liam wraps an arm around the boy and they're silent for a while.
"I'm not- I don't want him back, don't think that I do. It just hurts to think about sometimes, you know?"
Liam nods and stays silent. He knows how Louis feels about Zayn, was there for it all. He watched his friend break down and become someone he didn't know that that well, but Liam has also watched him grow into an even better person and become the Louis everyone now knows and loves. Liam has always been there for his best friend and that won't ever change.
"I was fine. I am fine. I've long since moved on. Why is he suddenly trying to fuck that up for me?"
"Fuck him. He has some fucking nerve calling you," Liam says gruffly, not being able to hold in his anger.
"We're here for you Lou, we always have been, and we always will be. Hey, we've even gotten Harry into our little circle, and I'm sure he isn't going anywhere soon he's absolutely charmed by you," Liam laughs, "I swear his eyes sparkle."
Louis drops his head onto Liam's shoulder, "Fucking knew it."
❁
Louis walks back into Niall's living room announcing, "Alright where were we? Minor hiccup. no biggie."
Louis catches Niall's gaze and the blond raises a curious brow at him. Louis responds with a wink. Liam then taps him and whispers in his ear.
Louis plops himself back down onto the couch beside Harry, who is staring at him with worried eyes, obviously having had heard him raise his voice outside.
Louis grins at him, "What's the matter now curly?"
Harry bites his lip, "You're alright?" He rushes to add, "You don't have to tell me what's wrong, since... you don't really know me that well, but- you're okay?"
"Oh, but Harry in the short time we've spoken, I feel we've known one another a lifetime!"
Harry laughs and dimples and is caring and so so great.
"But... um seriously, Harry, don't worry about it. Now, what were you saying about lovely 1D?"
Harry's laugh subsides and he looks into Louis' very blue, kohl-lined eyes, and smirks.
"The short, loud one is so hot."
"Oh really!" Louis exclaims, grinning, "I've always had a thing for the tall lanky one to be honest."
❁
The boys are playing Mario Kart now, and Harry is currently in the lead. Louis laughs loudly when he passes Harry and the younger boy reaches out a hand to smack at Louis' controller.
"It's the final round. The stakes are high. Who will be the winner of the million dollar prize!"
Niall is so far behind he's given up on winning and is doing commentary in his announcer's voice. Liam is a close fourth but there's no hope for him lets be honest.
Harry crosses the finish line winning the game. He jumps up from his seat shrieking.
"Yes! Yes! I won."
Niall shoots up from his seat next, "And Styles is our winner!"
"What are you gonna do with the money Harry?" Liam asks excitedly.
Niall holds the tv remote next to Harry's mouth as a mock microphone. Harry puts his two hands over Niall's.
"Well I'd first like to thank my mum, she always been my number one fan, I love her so much," Harry says into the tv remote breathing heavily like he's actually just raced a car.
Louis actually can't breathe from laughing so hard because Liam and Niall are shouting a bunch of ridiculous questions like reporters and for a moment Harry's eyes glisten like he's about to cry (what a proper actor).
"I'd also like to say that I'm donating all the money to a foundation to save the whales and dolphins from Seaworld! Thank you so much for this opportunity. Thank you!"
Soon enough they're all laughing loudly, hugging and jumping in a circle.
Liam suddenly stops jumping checking the time.
"Oh geez. It's almost midnight?" Liam worries.
Louis rolls his eyes and they break up the group hug, "Ugh, what a square."
Harry runs a hand through his curls, "Wait, really? I've got work tomorrow."
"Ugh, two squares," Louis mocks again, "looks like we're the only cool ones, right Niall?" Louis holds his fist out to the blond.
"Lou, we've both got to work tomorrow too, ya git."
Louis sighs heavily and dramatically and flops back down on the couch like a starfish limbs spread in different directions.
"Well, I guess I should get going then?" Harry says, and he's changed now, less loud and carefree. Quieter and kind of shy.
Liam says the same and they all start towards the door Liam chatting with Niall and Louis with Harry.
"How are you getting home then Curly?" Louis quips of curiosity.
Harry pulls out some earbuds, "Oh, I'm walking! A good time for me to think."
Louis' eyebrows raise, "A pretty boy like you shouldn't be walking about this late. Let me walk you?"
Louis nods his head, set on his decision, and Harry blushes fish-mouthing for words.
"O-oh okay. Y-yeah, alright." the boy manages to stutter out.
Harry seems to shake out of his stupor, "But how will you be getting home!"
Louis shakes Harry off with a wave of his hand, "Don't you worry your cute curly head about me. I've got tattoos... and muscles! I'm tough."
Niall snorts, "You wear makeup."
"Eyeliner!"
"Whatever." The blond huffs.
Liam turns to Harry, "Just let him walk you home? His mind will be much more at peace if he doesn't have to wonder whether you got home safe alright. You can also always tell him to fuck off."
Liam smiles with crinkly eyes, and Harry can't resist such a puppy.
Harry nods his head small still blushing furiously, "I was gonna let him anyway, to be honest with you, Liam."
❁
The night is calm and the air is crisp, but it's the kind of cold Louis' gotten used to, living here all his life. He's had so many memories in this town, both good and bad. Despite down times, he loves it here all the same.
"Hope you don't mind that I kinda forced you into letting me walk with you?" Louis says bashfully.
Harry shakes his head quickly, eyes wide, "No! Er... um, I mean, no. I definitely don't mind at all."
Louis grins, "Alright, that's good then, because if I'm being honest with you I really wanted to spend a bit more time with you."
Harry bushes again and looks down at the ground, "Me too."
"Aw now don't do that Curly. Let's see your pretty face." Louis says confidently, now that he's getting a positive reaction.
There's shouting coming from some loud drunks in front of a pub down the street they're walking on.
As they near the pub, Louis can hear what they're arguing about. The front of the pub is slightly crowded with people trying to watch two drunks fight.
A tall brute-looking man pushes another short brute-looking man. They're both obviously intoxicated, red in the face. There's a girl standing off to the side, hair a mess, heels in hand, shouting for a Jimmy to "let it go and leave".
The tall man who Louis presumes is Jimmy shoves the short man again and he stumbles into the street as he and Harry near closer. He can see Harry fidgeting nervously with his hands from the corner of his eye and Louis instinctively places an arm around him to bring the boy closer into his side. Louis ducks his head and slightly picks up speed.
He normally wouldn't have a problem walking by a pub with some aggressive drunks, but the younger boy is clearly bothered and in turn Louis is too.
They make it past the pub and it isn't until they cross the next street that Louis realizes he still has his arm around the other boy.
Now being able to fully register this beautiful boy against him he realizes how well they fit together, even despite Harry being a few inches taller than him he managed to fit himself perfectly into his side. He also smells nice, like citrus and it just feels nice, having him there.
He's not afraid to admit he got butterflies.
The boy quietly directs Louis on where to go and soon enough they're both in front of Harry's apartment building.
"Alright then Harry, I guess this is where I leave you. Thanks for letting me walk you." Louis says chuckling to himself.
Harry smiles at Louis, and even in the dark night with only the moon and a street lamp as their light, the boy's green eyes still sparkle at him.
"Thank you for walking me, and thanks for um-" He pauses and takes a deep breath.
Louis cuts in noticing his nerves, "Don't worry about it, as long as you're alright?"
Harry looks at the tattooed boy in relief, "Yeah I'm fine, thanks to you."
"Then that's all that matters," Louis says grinning, "Tonight was fun though Curly. We should all hang out again soon. We could be the greatest squad there ever was, I reckon."
Harry laughs and it's definitely a sound Louis wants to elicit from him again and again.
"Well I should go in now and you should get home it's late, thank you again, Louis. Goodnight."
Harry suddenly leans in close and pecks his cheek with soft lips. The boy lingers for just a moment and before he can blink the green eyed boy is hurrying inside.
Louis watches the door close behind him, he brings a hand to his cheek and it's so fucking cliche but he can still feel his lips.
Louis sighs and he feels like a teenaged girl in an angsty movie, "Goodnight."
Louis walks away, away from Harry's apartment building (where Harry is freaking out over his small burst of courage) with the biggest grin on his face.
And yeah, he's fully aware he may look like a complete and total lunatic smiling at no one but Louis Tomlinson just got a kiss from a cute boy and he'll be damned if he pretends he isn't ecstatic.