Chapter Text
“God they’re such idiots! When are they gonna figure their shit out?” Harry groans, exaggeratedly at the characters on screen.
The irony of that statement is not lost on Louis, and if Harry realizes, he doesn’t show it. It's been a little over a month since Harry forgave Louis, but things are still... kind of off between them.
Louis wasn't expecting for everything to go back to the way it was before. For the most part it is the same, they text nearly everyday, and talk on the phone when Louis doesn't have coursework to finish. But this is the first weekend that Louis has been able to come back and visit
Things are fine... they're fine, really, but for some reason that makes Louis feel even more on edge, like at any moment Harry might decide that he's still furious at Louis. They haven't talked about the kiss again, if Harry wants to bring it up then Louis will talk about it. But since he was the one who was in the wrong Louis feels like he doesn't have the right to bring it up. The thing he probably hates the most is not knowing where they really stand after everything. He doesn’t know how much longer he can go on pretending like nothing happened.
Louis snatches the remote from the empty middle cushion and pauses the movie.
“Hey! It was just getting to the best part!” Harry whines.
“We need to talk,” Louis says plainly
“About what?”
“About us, things have been weird. And I know that’s my fault, and I’ve been giving you space to like not talk about it, but we need to clear the air.” Louis grabs one of the decorative pillows and wraps his arms around it.
"Okay," Harry says, drawing out the word.
"That's all you have to say?"
"I thought things were okay between us." Harry shrugs
"I didn't bring it up because I thought you'd want to be the one to bring it up."
"Of course," Louis laughs humorlessly, throwing his head back.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Harry furrows his brows.
"I was doing the exact same thing!"
"Ohh."
"I was such an arsehole to you, and I didn't want to force you to talk about it. Honestly I'm still amazed you actually forgave me," Louis confesses, squeezing the pillow.
"I mean we're sou-- such good friends." Harry says hastily.
"But that means what I did was even worse. I should have just talked to you."
"Well yeah, but we can talk about it now if you feel like we need to. I was a bit shocked when you turned up at the bakery, but I know you meant what you said and if I hadn't, do you really think we would be talking again?"
"I guess not," Louis mumbles into the pillow.
“Exactly. You forget that I know you better than anyone. And definitely know when you’re lying.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
“When I saw you were just as miserable as I was, it made me feel a bit better, to be honest.”
“Wow you sure know how to say just the right thing,” Louis rolls his eyes.
“I just mean, I saw how much it affected you. And if I was a vengeful sort of person I wouldn’t have accepted your apology right away. I could’ve let you beg for my forgiveness, but I was just as miserable as you and I just really wanted you back in my life.
“I don’t deserve a best mate like you.”
Louis notices a flash of emotion on Harry’s face that’s gone before he can place what it was..
But if you want to make it up to me I do have something in mind.” Harry smiles mischievously
“What?”
“You can get us some popcorn.”
“As you wish,” Louis replies, getting up with a flourish.
“And maybe some soda?”
“Don’t push your luck!” Louis calls over his shoulder.
“Rude!”
Louis returns a few minutes later with a large bowl of popcorn, two cans of soda and a bottle of water that Harry will inevitably ask for, when he drinks only half his soda and declares he can feel his teeth rotting.
--
Four episodes later, right as the the main couple is about to kiss for the very first time, Harry snores. Louis snorts quietly before pausing it. He stares Harry for a few beats, and unnamed feeling washing over him.
“Hazza," Louis whispers gently, poking his shoulder softly a few times.
Harry groans.
“Let's get you to bed.”
“Wha'"
"You hate sleeping on the couch, Hazza" Louis finally pushes himself off the couch.
"Nuh-"
"C'mon now," Louis puts his hand on Harry's shoulder and shakes it gently.
"Up, up"
"Soo comfy-" Harry whines, his eyes opening halfway.
"You'll be so mad at me tomorrow if I let you stay here all night."
Harry seems to consider this for a second. "Carry me," Harry pouts reaching his arms out making grabby hands.
Louis considers it for a split second, but decides against it, "You're getting too big.”
“Fine.” Harry pushes himself off the couch, and practically stumbles into Louis. Louis wraps one of his arms around Harry's shoulders, to guide him upstairs. Harry has his head on Louis’ shoulder, which does not seem like the most comfortable position, but Harry doesn’t seem to mind considering his eyes are closed.
"Hazza, you gotta open your eyes," Louis says gently when they reach the bottom of the stairs, Harry does so reluctantly. They get to the top of the stairs, with Harry only tripping twice because he didn't lift his foot high enough.
Once they finally get to Harry’s room, Harry immediately flops onto his bed and wriggles his way under the covers. Louis turns to go back downstairs, because even though they have shared a bed numerous times over the years, it's never been immediately after... whatever it is they just got over.
"Where ya goin'?"
"I was gonna sleep on the couch,” Louis replies, pointing over his shoulder.
"Stay," Harry pouts exaggeratedly. One look into Harry's sleep-filled eyes, crumbles any resolve Louis has to try to keep things somewhat normal. Louis gets under the covers and lays on his side, facing Harry, who almost immediately falls back asleep. Louis considers getting out of the bed for what seems like forever, but his body doesn't listen to him.
There is not a single, rational reason as to why they are sharing said twin sized bed, Louis knows that. He really should have just slept on the couch, but it just feels right to be here with Harry
----
Louis wakes up before Harry does, which is a rare occurrence. He made sure to set his alarm before falling asleep. As much as he would like to waste the day with Harry, he can't because he's got an essay due on Tuesday that he's barely started on. He probably shouldn't have chosen this weekend to come home for the first time since school had started. But, of course, that's not Harry's fault, they made these plans almost two weeks ago and Louis knew he should have started on this essay ages ago.
Louis gets out of bed carefully, so as to not wake Harry. He spots a small stack of Post-Its on Harry's desk and decides to leave a note.
Louis considers what to say, and decides not to overthink it, so he simply writes. "had to go back early, im glad things are okay between us”
He rips the note off the pad and tiptoes back over to Harry. Louis giggles softly as he puts the note on Harry's forehead.
---
Two days later, Louis is sprinting across campus. He was working on his essay over night and closed his eyes for what was supposed to be just a few minutes, but turned into a few hours. Which meant he had to rush through his paper even more than he already had. Miraculously, he was able to finish it, even if the last couple pages were complete bullshit. And then, his printer had taken for fucking ever to actually print. For some reason, this professor demanded a paper copy as well as the electronic copy that gets submitted for official grading. Probably so students have to show up to class the day an essay is due.
Louis pushes past students, who give him nasty looks or shout at him, but he literally couldn't care less about them right now. Professor Knobhead, as the students not so affectionately called him, wouldn't let students into his classroom if they were more than fifteen minutes late.
Louis stops to catch his breath in front of the lifts, his lungs are on fire and his legs feel like jelly. He wants to collapse on the ground ,but he only has three minutes to get to class. He considers taking the lift up two floors, but decides he can't risk it. He takes a few more deep breaths before heading for the stairs. He stands at the bottom and looks up at them as if they’re Mount Everest. He takes one more deep breath before jogging up them.
He stops for another breather at the top of the stairs. The door to the corridor flies open, which obviously means someone else is coming through it, but Louis' brain doesn't register that, so when he moves to go through the door, he collides right into said person.
"Oops," the stranger says.
Louis feels something cold seeping into his shirt and looks down to see a growing brown stain on his shirt, which is just... great, but then he notices his essay is absolutely soaking as well.
"No, no, no," Louis groans. This can't seriously be happening.
"You good, mate?" the stranger asks. Louis wants to just rip into the guy in front of him, but that wouldn't be fair. Louis checks his phone frantically and sees that he just missed the cut off for getting into his class. Of fucking course.
"Well, I was supposed to be in class, right now, to turn in this-" Louis shakes the wet paper, that just falls apart. "But that obviously wasn't meant to happen."
"That's rough."
"That's one way to-"
It's only then that Louis realizes what exactly the first thing this fit guy said to him. Louis tries to stop his mind from going into overdrive, but he can't help it. He can't get his hopes up, knows that. He 1000 percent can't start simping over this guy for practically no reason, like he did with Declan. More importantly, he can't get his heart broken again.
Louis didn't feel anything, like, special when they spoke. And rationally he knows that that means they most likely aren't soulmates, but the hopeful part of his mind tells him "Maybe, just maybe." Louis makes a split second decision to befriend him, just to quiet the irrational part of his mind.
"Uh, mate?" The dark haired boy waves his hand in front of Louis' face.
"Sorry," Louis pulls himself out of his chaotic thoughts. "I'm Louis." He holds out a hand."
“'M Zayn,” the other boy replies, shaking Louis’ hand.
"Nice to meet you." Louis says with a grin.
"Is it?" Zayn raises a dubious eyebrow. "I spilled my coffee all over you, and your essay."
"Nah, Honestly I wasn't paying attention, and literally did not see you at all."
"Well, I was gonna offer to buy you a drink to make up for making you miss class, but I think you owe me." Zayn laughs.
"We could go to the campus bar," Louis offers.
“Deal,” Zayn says after a beat of silence. “Maybe you should change first though.”