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Harry walked across the newly fallen snow, each flake more unique than the last. "It's chilly," he thought to himself, placing his hands in his pocket but still appreciating the brisk white scenery in front of him.
Thoughts of the perfect gifts plagued his morning, accompanied by agitating beliefs about what may be delaying his father's confirmation text that he'll allow him to visit this year for the holidays. He found some respite at the idea of retail therapy, saving up his paycheck for weeks to be charitable to his loved ones.
He took the phone that clung to his hand and brought it to his ear. The untouched snow now had deep, long footprints trailing behind him. Chatter and laughter echoed as people rushed to their cars to get out of the icy weather. He felt the minor collision of a child who clung to an Instaprint of her and Santa, grinning from ear to ear. "Sorry," she muttered as he giggled. He stroked her hair, accepting her apology before she rushed back to her mother.
"Yeah, I’m here. Sorry. Um, meet me in front of Sterling Moon," he uttered through the receiver.
He waited on a bench across from the boutique; one long leg habitually crossed the other. He played a crossword puzzle as he awaited his friend's arrival. It didn't particularly bother him she was running late; he enjoyed the time to himself, just relaxing. Life had been moving too fast, too cynical.
"Mind if I sit here?" a voice raspy and winded asked, not caring for Harry's reply as they sat down anyway.
"Not at all," he said as he closed out his crossword.
The man appeared overwhelmed. It was all in the way purple veins lined under his eyes, his sunken cheekbones, or, more obviously, the way he was nodding off on the bench. Harry looked at him for several seconds before he decided it was rude to stare, to which he awkwardly opened his crossword puzzle again.
"I think the entire town’s here tonight,” The man observed with a chuckle. “I’m Louis, by the way.”
“Harry,” He smiled at him. “And yeah, there’s a lot for sure.”
“Harry!" His friend waved as she approached the bench. "Sorry, I'm late. I had to stop by the bank."
"It's fine," Harry smirked at her.
"Eh, nice to meet you 'Arry," Louis stood up, yawning once more. He disappeared into the large crowd.
"What a cutie," his friend gushed. "I wouldn't mind doing a little something, something with him, you know what I'm saying?"
"Melissa Viviane Jefferson, you naughty girl," Harry gasped.
"You know I love when you say my whole name, Boo." She winked. Her chocolate skin radiated under the light. "Tingles my toes, mmm. I know you wouldn't mind, either. He's your type if you've ever had one!" She playfully pushed him. "Oh shit, look!"
She gasped when Harry's hand used the bench to rebalance himself. They locked eyes as they stared at the phone sitting there. The case was black with a red and white '28' sticker. Melissa picked it up and pushed the home button, illuminating the light on the phone screen.. They both shared an 'aww' moment when they saw the man they had just met, Louis, hugging up to a dog.
"Hot stuff forgot his phone," she tsked. "Should we give it to mall security? Maybe they have Lost and Found or something."
"Yeah, sure. We can drop it off on our way out," Harry agreed as he stared at the wallpaper a little too long. “Stop trying to snoop, Lizzo. You’re going to lock it up.”
“Damn,” She teased. “Protective of someone you just met.”
Both stopped to admire the glistening Christmas tree decorated with red, gold, and green ornaments. Tinsel draped the branches, cascading down to a toy train circled around the tree in an infinite loop. Holiday music blasted through each store, creating an atmosphere that one couldn't help but feel somewhat merry.
The first store, of course, was the Sterling Moon. Melissa's eyes wandered around the various earrings, holding up several pairs but not trying them on. On the other hand, Harry paid close attention to the detail, how each piece he held in his hands made him feel.
He almost chose a necklace engraved with a quote: No act of kindness is ever wasted, no matter how small. It was gold with a butterfly. He decided, though, it didn't match his sister Gemma's personality. She wasn't at all flashy, not like Harry, anyway. She chose to live a more mute life, and that wasn't a bad thing. She poured her energy into humanity, not fashion. Harry loved her all the more for it.
His eyes traced the outline of a bracelet, rose gold with silver swirls. It didn't have any jewels, not a speck of glitter to be seen. Instead, it contained a simple magnetic clasp. Harry knew this was the piece, for it ignited a spark in his soul that made him smile just imagining his sister opening her gift on Christmas.
"Oh, Har. Gemma will love that!" Melissa cooed. "Look at my haul. Did you notice the Bogo sale? Look at all this bling!"
"No wonder you had to stop at the bank," Harry giggled.
As they exited the store, Harry felt a buzz in his back pocket. Jumping at the sudden vibration, he looked around confused before placing his hand on his backside. "Ah-ha," he thought as he pulled it out of his jeans.. Curiosity got the better of him as he tried to unlock the phone to no avail due to a passcode. “I’m turning into Lizzo,” he mocked himself.
To his delight, however, a notification sat still across the screen. It was a simple text message from someone saved as Oli, but it said enough: You need a place to crash tonight? It was enough for Harry to wonder, who is Oli?
"Hey, I think we need to turn this in." Harry stared at the screen.
"Alright, Boo. You go clear that conscience. I'm going to chat up that golf club store manager over there." Melissa poked at his side.
"That's Niall," Harry barked out a laugh.
"I know that," Melissa called out. "Hey, Niall, show me your clubs, sexy!" She echoed as her heels struck the hard tiles.
Harry laughed at her, grateful she understood his personality wouldn't allow him to enjoy their shopping without completing his task. Happy-go-luckily, he hummed as he followed the Christmas carols to the security office.
"It's black with a Doncaster Rovers sticker. Yeah, yeah. I’ll give you my mate’s number for contact info. Thanks, man.”
Harry could hear the conversation from the office room. He allowed his back to collide with the wall as he tried to catch his breath. He put one foot on the wall, one hand under his chin as he waited patiently for his turn to make things right.
"Looking for this?" Harry asked as he tried not to stutter with bashfulness. He held up the phone like he had just won it in a claw machine.
Louis's cheeks filled with air, then deflated instantaneously. "No fucking way. I forgot it on that blessed bench, didn't I?" Louis grabbed the phone as his fingers trailed over Harry's long ones, not attempting to avoid them. "Thank you so much, 'Arry."
"No problem," Harry retorted, not tearing his eyes away from Louis's tired, disheveled appearance.
"Thanks again. Happy Holidays!"
Louis pushed his way past him as he disappeared into the heavy traffic of the shoppers.
The mall closed 10 minutes ago. With a text from Melissa that she'd be going to Niall's, Harry was satisfied with his night. All of his Christmas shopping was complete. All that was left now would be the wrapping, which he loved to do, anyway.
The temperature dropped to an uncomfortable chill when Harry traced his footprints back to his car. The door appeared to have been frosted over, tiny shards of ice glistening under the pale orange moon.
His bones clattered at the frigid weather. He unlocked his car and started the engine, immediately turning on the heated seat feature. He felt lucky his mother spoiled him with such a car, grateful for the gift he received for going to university years ago.
As the red brake light illuminated the road behind him, he whipped his head around, putting his hand on the backseat of the passenger side, ready to pull out. Yet, as his foot went on the gas, he saw the beautiful man he met earlier walking across the parking lot, past all the parked cars, shaking from the frosty conditions.
"No way!" He gasped at no one as he slowly pulled up beside the walking man. "Louis, hey,” he said as he rolled down his window.
"Well, well. If it isn't 'Arry. Let me guess: You're a stalker, eh?"
"Could be," Harry took the bait. "Let me give you a ride to your car. It's so cold."
"The cold does make me quite moody," Louis reflected. His face had already turned a mean red color, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his worn jacket. Harry rolled up his window and unlocked his passenger door. Louis climbed in, relief written all over his rosy cheeks.
Discreetly, Harry turned on Louis's heated seat to match his. "So, what row is your car in?"
"Um," Louis looked down at his hands. "I actually don't have one."
"Oh, well," Harry fumbled with what to say next. "I wouldn't be able to afford one if my Mother hadn't bought me this."
"Ah, the classic story," Louis mumbled. "Handed everything, huh?"
"Not really," Harry disagreed as he pulled out of the mall parking lot. "It put her in big debt. She's a saint, that woman."
Louis peered down at his lap. "My mother passed away 5 years ago. Cancer is a sinister disease."
"I'm so sorry," Harry glanced over at him before placing his hands back on the road. "I lost my step-father the same way."
Louis sat drawing doodles on the car window’s frosty condensation before getting bored and wrapping his arms around his stomach. "You can drop me off at Cornell University if you don't mind," He said, his voice suddenly tired and timid.
"Oh, you attend Cornell?" Harry asked excitedly. "I obtained my music degree there."
"Not exactly," Louis dismissed as he shifted in his seat. "I just stay with my friend Oli sometimes."
"Oh," Harry said, a pang of jealousy rushing through his veins. "Well, there's nothing wrong with couch surfing. It’s definitely in the college experience guidelines.”
"I appreciate the ride. You can just drop me off here," Louis pointed at the campus. "Maybe I'll see you around, eh?"
"I hope so," Harry uttered. "Hey, Lou? Happy Holidays."
"Happy Holidays," he repeated as he closed Harry's car door. Harry watched him until he could no longer see his silhouette in the darkness.
Harry felt his heart sink in his chest as he watched Louis walk away, shivering and shuffling his feet with his tattered jacket. Sometimes, the world really is cruel.
The next evening, he found himself in a rush to go to work. He threw his guitar and sheet music sloppily in the driver's seat, only spilling his coffee slightly as he peeled out. When he pulled into his Employee of the Month (which was ironically funny since he was the only employee) parking space, he slammed on the brakes, all the belongings scattering on the floor.
"Shit!" He protested as he quickly lifted each item back on the seat.
As he reached the end of his task, he felt it. A rectangular, ice-cold phone. It was black with the same '28' sticker that had been following him around. He made a noise in his throat as he held the item.
"No fucking way," he stated, surprised.
The device was dead - a result of being in a freezing car all night. He plugged the phone into his carport charger immediately, waiting on the backdrop to brighten that adorable picture of Louis and his dog.
The phone continuously rang in his hands before he had the nerve to answer it. The name Oli flashed across the screen. “Hello?”
"Ah, should've known you would've had my phone, stalker," Louis chirped. "Better with you than the alternative."
"The alternative?" Harry giggled.
"Dropping it on campus. Do you know how much this thing is worth for a broke college kid?" Louis teased. “It would be at the pawn shop in no time.”
"That’s true. I get off at 6. I'll pick you up for dinner, okay?"
"Guess I haven't got a choice, have I? Meet me where you dropped me off last night."
Harry’s always walked through life with caution, though not rigid. He has to make sure the cost. Vs benefit analysis is worth the pay off. For example, after graduating university, he put everything last dime he had into a music store with the aspirations of teaching children instruments. To his delight, it ias paid off. However, the persona often leaves him lonely and misunderstood. Dating partners would often tell him to be a bit more adventurous, though he feels adventurous enough and still has the mantra: you only live once.
So, naturally, he wondered why he sat on his bed and thought of Louis, a man who appeared never to think anything through. A man who appeared to be down on his luck and strewn in darkness. On the other hand, his soul did not read that way, just his circumstances. He seemed so gentle, kind, and sincere. He had the kindest eyes and smooth voice. He was someone Harry wanted to get to know, even if it brought him out of his comfort zone.
Harry was thankful for the holidays. He was supposed to provide guitar lessons for 4 awaiting children, but 2 of them canceled. Usually, this would've made him frustrated for a day half wasted just waiting around. However, being in the holiday spirit, they decided to tell him in advance, giving him the chance to leave early.
"Lizz, help me!" he said as he looked in the mirror. "Should I gel my hair?"
"Huh?" She sighed through the phone. "I'm a little busy right now, Harry. Let me call you back, alright? Your girl is getting her present early, ain't that right, pretty boy?"
"Oh yeah," an Irish accent called.
Before he could beg, the line went silent. He looked around his room as he smelled the various bottles of cologne. "Okay, okay. Which one tonight?" He held up a bottle of Gucci in his left hand and Tom Ford in the right. "Louis is more simple than both of these," he reasoned. "I'll do both just in case."
"Black or white suit?" he said as he held up the posh jackets. "What, suit? Better wear a tee shirt. Okay, okay. Looks nice. I’m overthinking this. Oh no. It's 5:40. I better go."
When he arrived at the campus, Louis had his back propped up against a frozen fountain in the middle of campus. His hands were shoved in his pocket, and he shivered from the blowing wind. He waved Harry over, though Harry spotted him first.
"Hey, stalker."
"Hey." Harry turned on the heated seat.
"So, where are we going, McDonald's?"
Harry looked over at the man occupying his passenger seat. He had his wallet clutched tightly in his hands, counting his money. His lips were tight as he sighed at the few bills.
“I was thinking Yuletide Cheer. It's only open for a month every year. A lot of people don't know about it."
"Ah, sounds as expensive as your cologne," Louis said as he dug deep in his pockets and pulled out a few coins.
"Eh, not too bad." Harry looked over at him, analyzing Louis's mood.
Louis scrolled on his phone numbly, singing along to the music that caught his ear. His other hand was scratching at his neck.
“Well, it’s probably not too bad for you, but I don’t even have a place to live. I only have this phone because Oli put me on his plan,” Louis sighed.
Harry pulled out of the parking lot with just a little bit of guilt. Was he overwhelming his new friend? Is it bad he thought Louis deserved to have nice things for the holiday? He couldn’t pinpoint the emotion he was feeling, but it was both good and bad - happy and sad. It was confusing, but he felt pulled to know him.
"Here we are." He parked the car. "Don't you just love this?"
The restaurant was draped in tinsel and garland of green, gold, and silver. Large cardboard boxes painted to look like gifts sat on the porch under a giant Christmas tree. It looked like happiness, Louis agreed, though he wanted to sprint away.
They picked a booth next to a window. Louis used that fact and drew doodles on the window nervously. He figured it was better than biting his nails, a habit he was diligently trying to break. He listened to Harry talk about his day. Apparently, he taught children how to play guitar. He lived in an upscale part of the city. Weren’t musicians supposed to be starving? Then again, of course, Harry was an outlier - he was gorgeous, appeared to have everything going for him. The universe didn’t hate him. "It sure hates me," Louis thought.
"He'll have a Merry Margarita." Harry closed the menu.
Louis let his eyes grow wide in panic as he reached for his wallet and recounted his money. "Um, no, no. I'll just have water, please."
Harry looked between Louis and the waiter. "I'll have two Merry Margaritas, then." He bowed as he gave the waiter permission to leave the table.
Louis stared at him but did not speak words for a few minutes. Instead, he picked at the bread and butter on the table. With the cocktail being on his receipt, this was probably all he could afford.
"So, what do you do for work?" Harry asked.
"I, uh, I got laid off last month. Haven't had much luck finding another job. Not having a car makes me late for everything, including interviews."
Louis instantly regretted that. Why was he sharing so much? Damn. Maybe he needed that drink.
"Do you like music?"
"Who doesn't?" He giggled.
"What do you like about it?"
"Um," Louis rubbed his hands together. "I like to play piano and sing. I like the way music makes me feel; it gives me an outlet to express myself."
"You're hired."
"What?"
"You passed the interview. I'll need your number, of course." Harry winked.
"You're...serious," Louis studied his face.”What will I even be doing?
"Well, it’s a music store. I teach instruments to spoiled children, basically. You, however, will just be tidying things up and making small talk with the customers in the front of the store. I'll pick you up in the morning. What’s your address?”
Louis’s eyes grew wide at the question. How could he tell Harry that beside not having a car, he was homeless? “I’m staying with Oli tonight, so campus is fine.”
"Alright," Harry smiled at him as he thanked the waiter for bringing their food and drinks.
Harry watched tentatively as Louis tried to savor each bite, his face lighting up at the first taste of steak. He had a rosy color on his cheeks that wasn't from the cold this time. He glowed under the fluorescent lighting of the restaurant.
His freckles shimmered, and his blue eyes gleamed with a humble cascade. Harry trailed down to his tattoo around his collar bones that read, 'it is what it is.' He wondered what made Louis want a tattoo with such a hopeless phrase.
He didn't notice when Louis cleaned his plate, too busy admiring the majestic creature in front of him. It wasn't until Louis wiped his mouth with a napkin, grinning from ear to ear, that he realized the waiter cleared the plate and dropped the ticket with a 'no rush' statement.
"That was so fucking good," Louis beamed as he picked up the receipt. "No wonder. Holy shit."
"It's on me." Harry brushed their fingers together as he took the ticket out of Louis's hands gently. "You can get the next one."
"The next one?" Louis licked his lips. "I can't possibly let you pay for this. The drink alone was $12."
"Eh, like I said, you can get the next one." Harry shrugged as he laid $80 on the table.
Once they left the restaurant, Harry insisted he open the door for his date. Louis smiled at him, though shyly. As they drove back to campus, he noted that Louis shifted around in his seat as if he was uncomfortable. His face was ever so thoughtful like he was in his own little world.
"So," Harry said carefully. "Not to pry, but why do you stay with Oli so much if you're not a student?"
"Well," Louis swallowed. "I, uh, I was living in my car, but then my sister needed it. So now, I kinda live wherever I can."
"Oh my god," Harry uttered the words before his brain could filter them out. "Living in your car? Louis, are you homeless?."
"Sometimes,” He answered truthfully. He blinked at the realization that he was bearing his ugly circumstances. “The campus only lets overnight guests stay on certain days. Sometimes I have to sneak in. It makes me worry Oli is going to get in trouble. I’d kill myself if he ever did because of me.” Louis admitted as he shifted around his seat. "Anyway thanks for dinner. I enjoyed that.”
"Me too. You're good company." Harry smiled at the fragile man in his car.
Before they could continue the conversation, his car began to narrate:
Text message from Lizzo: U with that fine ass Louis still, aren't u? Boo, when you're done, call me! I gotta tell you about my night with Niall.
"I'm sorry. She's a little....forward." Harry blushed.
“Goodnight, ‘Arry,” Louis winked at him as he exited out the vehicle.
The next morning when he picked Louis up for his first shift, he noticed how Louis was shivering more than usual. His cheeks were not red, but purple, his hands had small, tiny vessels running through them. He shivered uncontrollably, his hair damp from the fallen snow.
“Hey fine ass Louis,” Harry teased. “Get in. You’re freezing. Come here!” He didn’t give Louis any time to protest as he enveloped him in a tight embrace. He turned the heat up to high, feeling Louis melt into his side. “How long have you been out here?”
“Just about an hour,” Louis thought as he looked at the clock. “They were doing dorm checks before the holiday break so, had to dart out of there.” He wrapped his ice cold hands under Harry’s coat. Though it invaded him at first, Harry quickly adjusted.
He squeezed Louis closer to him, feeling his insides unthaw slowly. He didn’t question why Louis allowed him to do it. It was probably just a human instinct to not want to die of hypothermia, therefore, trying to get warm by any means necessary. To Harrythough, it sent shivers down his spine, and not from the temperature.
“Thank you.” Louis let go.
“No problem,” Harry said as he fastened his seatbelt.
On this particular day, Harry found himself not looking at the clock once. He had two children come in to teach guitar, but his eyes stayed fixated on the man dusting the inventory ever so slowly, so carefully - the hunger to keep this job in his focus. He could see the stress written with crinkles by his eyes, the way his hair didn’t exactly look like he combed it, and the way he kept knocking things over as his hands trembled.
“Hey, Lou,” He said as he placed himself behind the man. “It’s time for lunch.”
“Oh.” Louis put down the feather duster and turned around. He bumped into Harry haphazardly. “Okay. Thanks.”
“Hey.” Harry grabbed his arm. “You’re doing a good job.”
“Thanks,” Louis smiled at him as he put his head down. Harry tracked him as he walked over to his backpack and pulled out a candy bar.
“I’m ordering a pizza.”
“Hmm?” Louis asked as he swallowed his caramel goodness.
“I’m ordering a pizza for us,” Harry said back as he opened his DoorDash app.
“I don’t need your charity. This job is enough,” Louis dismissed.
“It’s not charity.” Harry walked toward him and sat in front of his guitar. “I’m hungry and craving pizza.”
“Oh, okay.”
They spent the evening, divided between flirty, shy glances and accidental brushes of arms that ended too quickly. The smell of pizza filled the air, and the Christmas music continued to blare throughout the store. “Wow. This shift has flown by," Harry thought to himself.
“Hey. All the employees are having a Christmas movie night at my place after work. You in?”
“Who are all the employees?”
“Me and you,” Harry grinned.
“Alright, alright.”
Well, that didn’t take much convincing. Score.
Louis wiped the sleep from his eye as the movie credits rolled like a 90s powerpoint. Mariah Carey’s vibratro rang through his ears. He looked over at Harry who was dancing about in his chair.
“I guess I should head back to campus.”
“What?” Harry stopped in his tracks. “ "I thought the dorms are closed for the holidays? Besides, we're not done with the festivities. You can sleep on my couch. I promise I won't bother you!"
“I’ve already troubled you enough, ‘Arry.” Louis giggled, but Harry knew it was just a nervous habit.
“I just want to get to know you better,” Harry said as he turned down the volume on the television. “Why are you homeless?”
“I knew you were going to ask that sooner or later,” Louis sighed as his eyes shifted to his lap. “It’s a long story, really.”
“I’d love to hear it,” Harry scooted closer to him on the couch. “No judgement.”
“Alright,” Louis inhaled deeply. “Well, remember how I told you my Mother had cancer?” Louis asked with a shaky voice as Harry nodded. “Her treatments cost a lot of money, A LOT of money. She had to take out a second mortgage on the house. When she passed away, my step-father didn’t want to pay it. We didn’t have any inheritance because he took it all.”
“I’m so sorry. I couldn’t imagine,” Harry said with a soft voice. He wanted to burst into tears at the story, but he was afraid Louis would shut down.
“Long story short, my sister needed my car to get around, and I just decided I’d make it somehow. I know it’s poor planning, but how can you plan a new life without your Mom, your support system?” Louis shrugged. “I’m taking it day by day.”
“I think you’re doing a good job,” Harry said as he cautiously stroked Louis’s forearm.
“Thanks,” Louis beamed at him as he put his hand on Harry’s shoulder. “Maybe Mom sent you to me.”
“Maybe she did,” Harry agreed as his soul ignited with the thought.
“Or maybe you just feel sorry for me,” Louis replied with a meek undertone. He reached for his phone on the table and began to scroll through the apps.
Harry grabbed Louis's phone as he fell to his knees. He wiggled himself between Louis's thighs. "You've not bothered me at all. I'm so glad you lost this! I can't explain it, but I'm drawn to you. I wish life had a red string attached to someone that's your soulmate because, I swear, mine would be attached to you."
“Sounds like something in a story,” Louis laughed.
“That’s exactly it, Louis. I want to keep getting to know you. Let me help you, please. I’m not doing it for charity. You genuinely deserve it. It’s the Christmas spirit, anyway.”
After Harry gave his sales pitch, Louis looked at him; those emerald eyes and chocolate curls that reflected the Christmas lights that blinked perfectly. He smiled at him and pulled him into a warm embrace before snatching his phone back. He decided to shove it under the couch cushion as he grinned.
“I’ve seemed to have misplaced my phone. Guess I’ll have to stay here until I find it.”