Chapter Text
Harry brushed his curls out of his eyes as he looked over his paper covered table. Scribblings of his messy handwriting and useless lyrics on each sheet. “Niall have you even met this guy?”
Niall let out a quiet noise, almost like a grunt as he kept his eyes on his phone, scrolling through his email and making a mental list of all of the things he had to do tonight. “No I haven’t,” he muttered, typing in the number of the proprietor of Wembley Stadium, needing to talk about tour dates. “I hear he’s amazing though, a true rising star.”
“How do you know he’s any good though? I mean this is important, this album will-”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah make or break you, I know, I am your manager after all, I know these things,” Niall said, waving his hand at the curly haired lad before rambling into his phone and acting as if Harry wasn’t even there.
Harry let out a quiet breath as he shook his head and brushed his fingers through the front of his curls again. He began picking up his papers on the table, thinking that he’ll have to sort through them and see if he wrote down any relatively decent lyrics. But Harry highly doubted during his 3 am writing sessions that anything he put down on the sheets made sense, let alone sounded good.
As Harry scanned over his papers and looked over his writing it was clear four pages in that everything he put down was nothing but pure shit. So he crumpled the papers up and breathed out an annoyed sigh before throwing everything in the garbage. At least now his table was clean, but he still had an album to finish writing and record in a month. Whoever this guy is that Niall hired better be some type of miracle worker to help him finish this deadline.
Harry had to wait until Niall got off the phone to continue talking to him so he busied himself with cleaning his flat, not wanting this stranger to come into his house and think he was a slob. He really wasn’t that messy, it was just with this deadline coming up for the album Harry was a bit stressed and maybe slacked off on a few of his household chores.
“Alright, what were you saying?” Niall asked, pulling his phone away from his ear, only to start typing on it again.
Harry rolled his eyes at the older lad, knowing he was busy and stressed but they did need to actually talk. “Are you staying here when he comes?”
“No, I need to go back to the office and fix a few dates for your tour. I want to get you two nights in Madison Square Garden instead of one,” Niall said as he started pacing the living room again, nearly hitting the coffee table when he refused to take his eyes off his phone.
“Sure Ni, don’t ask me if I want to play two nights instead of one, you go right ahead and just do it, don’t mind me,” Harry said, irritation flooding over him as he continued picking up the kitchen, trying to get the past week's worth of dishes clean.
At that Niall looked up from his phone and it only took a single glance at his best mate to see how annoyed he was. “H I’m sorry,” he said quietly as he bit his lip and walked towards the younger lad. “This deadline is killing me too and with the tour a month after the album release everything is just kinda crazy right now,” Niall said, his voice strained with stress.
Harry let out a deep breath, not sure who made these dates so tight, but if he had to guess he would say this was the record company’s idea. And if it was them then there was no way they could not listen and do as they were told.
And just as Harry dried his wet and soapy hands, and was about to speak up to tell Niall something he saw his best mate on his phone again. But it was also the same time that the intercom began to ring.
Harry walked to the door, making his way from his kitchen and through the living room before reaching the button, and making the ringing stop. “Yes?” he asked into it.
“Hello Mr. Styles, we have a Mr. Tomlinson down here to meet with you.”
Harry furrowed his eyebrows, having no clue who a Mr. Tomlinson was. “Is he the songwriter?”
There was a beat of silence from the other end of the intercom, Harry shifting his weight on his feet as he waited for an answer.
“Yes, he said that he talked to Mr. Horan about coming over today for a meeting.”
“Great, thanks Roy, send him up,” Harry said just before he released the intercom button and looked around his living room, trying to see if there was anything else he had to pick up.
It was odd for him to be nervous, but the person coming up to his flat was his last hope, and if this didn’t work out then Harry knew he would be undoubtedly screwed.
“Listen, this is Harry Styles we’re talking about here! Not some bloke from a random bar who wants to make it big! He is big, he’s-”
Harry rolled his eyes and tried to ignore his pacing and screaming manager in the living room. “Niall c’mon, the guy is coming up, get off the phone,” he said, almost feeling like a mother telling her child to behave because company was coming over.
Niall waved his hand at the curly haired lad, not breaking his concentration on whatever the other person on the phone was saying.
Harry ran his fingers through the top of his curls and was about to go over to the Irish lad and take his phone from him before he heard a knock at the door.
He looked back at Niall as he walked towards the door, his manager not even paying attention to anything besides his phone. But Harry opened the door anyway, hoping that when this person came in Niall would at least try to act polite.
“Mr. Styles?”
Harry turned his head from where he was looking over his shoulder at Niall to the soft high pitched voice, but when his eyes were met with bright blue ones looking back at him he froze.
“Hi, I’m Louis Tomlinson, Louis is fine though, it’s great to meet you,” the man introduced himself, offering him a nervous smile as he stuck his hand out to shake.
Harry opened and closed his mouth, wanting to say something but got stuck on his words, feeling like they were caught in his throat. He looked down to the tan hand that was being offered to him, and somehow he managed to bring up his own hand and slip it into Louis’.
His hand was so much smaller than his own, almost being completely engulfed by it as they shook. Harry was almost mesmerized by it but someone clearing their throat quietly brought him out of his small trance.
He looked up and saw Louis with the same nervous smile, and small crinkles by his eyes as he looked back at him with the tiniest hint of pink making it’s way to his cheeks.
Harry realized he had been shaking this guy’s hand for an uncomfortable amount of time before awkwardly pulling away and scratching the back of his head, feeling his own face heat up.
“I’m sorry, uhm, I didn’t introduce myself,” he said sheepishly. “I’m Harry Styles, you can just uhm- you can just call me Harry though, that’s fine.”
Harry wanted to nearly hit himself for sounding so stupid and fumbling over his words, but luckily Louis didn’t even seemed phased by it as he just bit his lip and tried to keep in a laugh.
And then Harry saw Louis shifting his weight on his feet, fixing the bag on his shoulder and looking to his shoes, almost like he was waiting for something.
“Oh! I’m sorry, come in, come in,” he said, feeling even more like an idiot for making him stand in the hallway.
And again all Louis did was quietly laugh to himself and nod as he walked past Harry and into the flat.
Harry had to stand there for a minute and just let out a few deep breaths, needing to actually focus. Louis was here for a job, he was here to help finish an album that Harry wasn’t even a quarter through. This was important for his career, so that meant he couldn’t waste any time staring at this guy, this was about work.
“So uhm, you can set your stuff down in the living room if you’d like,” Harry said as he pointed to the couch, only to see Niall still on his phone.
Louis seemed almost hesitant to go anywhere near the living room though, as he too saw and heard the blonde man stomping around.
Harry ran a frustrated hand over his face before sheepishly muttering his apologies to Louis and moving past him to stop his pacing manager. He grabbed the older lad’s phone from him and as soon as it was in his grasp Niall turned to him wide eyed. And before he could grab his phone back Harry hung it up and gave it back to his best mate.
“Niall this is Louis Tomlinson the songwriter. Try to be polite,” he said as he motioned to the man his living room, only to see Louis nervously wave and smile at Niall. Harry swears he’s never seen anything more endearing than Louis’ little wave, and it was almost impossible to stop himself from biting his lip to hold a smile back.
“Hey, Niall Horan, Harry’s manager,” Niall introduced himself as he shook the young man’s hand. “I’ve heard nothing but great things, and I’m sure you’ll be a lot of help to this one,” he said, nodding to Harry who was just standing there and openly staring at Louis.
“Hey, idiot,” Niall said as he gently slapped his best mate’s cheek, trying to get his eyes off Louis. “Enough of the heart eyes, you need to focus,” he said seriously, making Harry blush furiously and Louis muffle a laugh into his hand.
Harry cleared his throat and quickly looked away from Louis as he saw him glance over to him, clearly trying to hide his own smile. And of course just as he was about to make an excuse for himself Niall put his hand up and rolled his eyes before looking back to his cell phone.
“H I’ll call you later, hope you two get something done today!” Niall called out as he pressed his phone to his ear and began making his way out of the flat.
Harry watched as his best mate left, and opened and closed his mouth before looking over to Louis and sheepishly smiling at him. “I’m uhm, I’m sorry about him,” he said as he pinched the end of his t-shirt between his fingers and looked to the ground, praying he wouldn’t say anything else that was stupid.
“It’s fine, really,” Louis said through a small smile before he started walking towards the couch to place his bag down.
Harry was about to open his mouth to protest, because Niall really could have been more polite but he was a bit busy looking at the sway of Louis’ hips as he walked. The way his black shorts hung low on him and his loose white t-shirt rode up a bit as he bent down to set his bag on the couch. How when Louis stood up he had to adjusted his beanie, only to glance up and smile at Harry as he caught him staring.
And again Harry had to quickly look away and clear his throat, very suddenly finding his shoes to be most interesting thing in the room. “Usually Niall is a bit friendlier, I promise,” he said, trying to get back to what he wanted to say before he got caught staring again. “We’re both just stressed and-”
“Really mate, it’s fine,” Louis said as he shook his head and began rummaging through his bag for paper and a pen.
“Right,” Harry mumbled to himself. “So is there uhm, is there anything I can get you? Tea or water maybe? I have some cookies too that I made yesterday if you want any of those.”
Louis looked up from his bag and flashed Harry yet another smile, this one reaching his eyes. “You really are what they say huh?” he asked through a quiet laugh.
Harry opened and closed his mouth, not quite sure what he meant by that. “I’m sorry, what?”
“The media,” Louis said simply through a shrug. “Harry Styles, the boy we all wish we had next door.”
Harry looked to Louis, only to see him wiggling his eyebrows at him and still laughing to himself. And Harry would be lying if he said that he doesn’t remember the headline about him that came out just last week. But now at least he knows that Louis keeps tabs on him. Maybe not intentionally seeing articles about him, but still, Harry felt his stomach twist at the thought of Louis doing research on him.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” Harry played off like he had never heard that before, making Louis hum and shake his head.
“I’m sure you don’t popstar.”
Harry’s lips quirked up into a small smile as he saw Louis wink at him and tease him a bit, but then he remembered that this guy was here for a reason.
“So would you like a tour of the place before we get started?” he asked as he clapped his hands together and raised his eyebrows. “I can show you the music studio and just where the bathroom is and everything.”
Louis nodded at Harry’s offer and placed his pen and papers down on the coffee table before following him out of the living room and into a long hallway.
Harry pointed out the bathroom once they got to it and the guest room across from it. He pointed to his own room that was a bit further down the hall, and thankfully the door was closed, Louis not needing to see his mess of a room.
“Your place is really well kept,” Louis said as he continued following Harry and scanned over the various pictures he had hanging on the wall. Clearly most of them were his family as they all looked alike. “Better than any other 20 year old I know.”
At that Harry turned around slightly, raising his suspicion that Louis may have looked him up. “And how old are you?”
“22.”
Harry hummed and nodded his head, but if he were to guess Louis looked about 25. Yeah he dressed like a laid back 20 year old and had that boyish smile that made him go weak at the knees, but Harry thought that maybe it was the beard that made him seem older, made him seem more mature.
“Alright, and this is my music studio,” Harry said as he opened the last door in the hallway. “It used to be two separate rooms but when I moved in I had them knock the wall down and create this.”
Harry smiled happily to himself, always loving to come into his studio. He loved having a professional sound board and equipment right at home with all of his instruments in case in the middle of the night he had an idea for a song, and it wouldn’t even be morning before he had a final product on his computer. But one of those nights hasn’t happened in a long long time, and that’s why Louis was here.
“Do you play all of these?”
Harry looked up and saw Louis just barely ghosting his fingers over his guitars that hung on the wall and then moving to get a better look at the large grand piano he had in the middle of the room.
“Yeah, but only when I’m at home,” Harry said as he watched Louis take a seat at the piano and gently run his fingers over the ivory keys. “When I go on tour I usually bring about five of them.”
Louis nodded and smiled to himself as he got more comfortable on the piano bench, resting his right foot on the pedal of the piano. “You have an actual studio here,” he said quietly. “Like this is your recording booth and I’m going to assume that on the other side of that wall and glass panel is a computer and sound board?”
Harry shrugged sheepishly but nodded anyway as he rested his forearms on the cool piano finish, able to look over and see Louis’ fingers tracing over the keys. “You play?”
At that Louis let out a small laugh and bit his lip, but Harry did notice a tint of pink rising on the older lad’s cheeks. “Did your manager not tell you anything about me?”
“Uhm no.”
“Perfect,” Louis muttered as he ducked his head and looked to his hands that were still resting on the piano.
Harry furrowed his eyebrows at that, not quite sure if there was something he should known. “You play instruments right? And you’ve written for other people before I’m sure.”
“Yeah, yeah I play instruments,” Louis said as he nodded to himself, but still refused to pick his head up. “But I uh, I’ve never uhm written for anyone before… I actually just graduated Uni two weeks ago.”
Harry felt himself freeze as he heard that. He was going to kill Niall. No matter how good looking this guy was it didn’t make up for the fact that he had to have a complete album done in one month, and this was the person he was relying on to help him write and record it.
“Please tell me you’ve written songs before…?” Harry groaned into his hands, already feeling more stressed than he was before.
“Yeah, of course, I’ve written loads,” Louis rushed out, not wanting to be fired. “I went to Oxford for music composition and-”
“Okay, but this isn’t classical music,” Harry pointed out.
“Who said I write classical?” Louis asked with raised eyebrows.
Harry wanted to bang his head against a wall. There was no way this could be happening. He needed someone who’s been in the industry, someone who knows what they’re doing.
“What do you play? Instruments I mean?”
“I was classically trained in piano and violin,” Louis said quietly. “But if you put something in my hand I can play it. Be it drums, guitar, bass, cello, just anything… I can play it.”
That gave Harry a little bit of hope, but he still didn’t know if this guy knew how to write songs, let alone the type of songs he usually performs. “Alright, play something, something you’ve written.”
Louis sat there for a moment and looked up at Harry but when the younger lad nodded to the piano Louis bit his lip and set his eyes on his hands before putting them in the proper place.
There was a beat of silence before Harry watched Louis press down on the first key, only to see his fingers going back and forth and his wrists bending in a smooth motion to hit what he needed.
The notes were coming out clear and crisp, his timing perfect just before he opened his mouth to sing. And when Louis did so he did not expect what he was hearing from the older lad.
First line in and it was good. It was the type of music that Harry would play, the type of music that he wished he was able to write. The lyrics were hypnotizing, almost making it so Harry could imagine what Louis was singing about. They were clever, and easy enough to understand the meaning behind them, but through more thinking there was an underlying message being told.
What grabbed Harry though, out of everything else, was the story. The story of a couple who were happy, a couple who were in love, and maybe one person in that couple was more in love than the other.
And just from watching Louis play, watching his fingers glide across the keys and his voice that was still hesitant about what he was singing told Harry that he was that one in the couple. That he was the one who got hurt. And as much as Harry hated to say it, but that was what a song should translate. One’s feelings, and Louis hit it spot on.
Louis finished off with a quiet breath and slowly pulled his hands away from the keys before looking down at them folded in his lap. “Listen, I get that you probably don’t want to work with me, I-”
“No, no!” Harry said, almost a bit too quickly. “Please, stay! That was… I mean, wow… I just… I didn’t expect that.”
Harry scratched the back of his neck, knowing for a fact that he could’ve done a better job at wording that, but just from hearing this one song Louis wrote there was no way he was going to let him go. And thankfully enough, Louis for the first time in what felt like forever looked at him and nodded as he tried to bite back a smile.
“I’m sorry for what I said before,” Harry muttered as he ran his fingers through the front of his curls. “I judged you before I even knew what you could do, and that was wrong of me. You have so much talent, and I’ve only heard that one song. I’m a bit scared for whatever else you’re hiding from me.”
And if possible Louis smiled even more to himself, creating crinkles by his eyes, and already Harry decided that he liked this smile the most on the older lad.
“I heard you were also quite the charmer,” Louis said quietly through a small laugh as he looked back down at his hands.
Harry bit his lip, trying hold back his own grin as he felt his face heating up. “So uhm, what uh key was that in? G major?”
“Good ear but no, it was D major. You were close though,” Louis said, and when he looked up Harry saw his cheeks tinted pink as well. “Wanna learn a bit of it?”
Harry was a bit taken back by the offer, but nodded and moved to sit next to Louis on the bench anyway. And of course as he sat there was barely enough room for both of them and their sides were pressed against each other’s, but Harry didn’t mind, not in the slightest. And it seemed that Louis had the same feeling as when Harry sat his face began to turn a darker shade of pink.
“So it’s uhm, it’s, it’s actually quite simple, you just uh, you-”
“Are you okay?” Harry asked with furrowed eyebrows as he heard Louis stuttering.
“Hm? Oh yeah, yeah, m’fine,” Louis nodded to himself and let out a deep breath before bringing his hands up to the piano. “So when I first wrote it I originally had the bass just going from F, to G, to A, to B, them all being whole notes, but now I mix it up a bit and with my left hand I follow the same pattern as my right hand and-”
“You’re doing a terrible job of explaining this,” Harry said as he let out a quiet laugh and watched as Louis was also confusing himself. “I think I get what you mean. I’ll play it, you stop me if I’m doing something wrong.”
Louis pulled his hands away from the piano and nodded as he scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.
Harry brought his own hands up to the piano, remembering the chords that Louis was playing and based on that he tried to piece it all together. But he couldn’t even press the second note before Louis stopped him.
“Here try this,” Louis said as he placed his hands over Harry’s and put them in the correct spot.
Harry swallowed thickly as he looked down at their hands, Louis showing no sign of moving his anywhere.
“This is how you should keep your hands, it’ll be easier when you get further into the song,” Louis said quietly as he gently moved his hands on top of Harry’s.
Harry let Louis move his hands to where they were supposed to go and watched as the older lad’s smaller hands molded onto his, and when he looked up it was Louis he caught staring at him this time.
“Sorry, sorry,” Louis rushed out as he snapped his head back down towards the keys. “Here, uhm, try that, it uh, it sounded good.”
Harry bit his lip as Louis removed his hands from his, already missing the softness and the warmth he felt against his own skin. But anyway he locked his eyes on the keys in front of him and began to play the song, his arm brushing Louis’ every once in a while and when he glanced up at the older lad he was grateful to see that he wasn’t the only one trying to bite back a smile.
*~*
“Alright, alright, H as much as I love hearing about your little piano lesson with Louis please tell me you got something done? Perhaps, well I dunno, working on new songs like you were supposed to?” Niall’s muffled voice came through the phone.
Harry pinched his lower lip between his fingers before muttering a quiet, “well not exactly.”
“Harry! What do you mean not exactly?! I’m paying this guy to help you write songs! What the hell were you doing all day yesterday then?!”
“Well he showed me how to play a song on the piano and then I dunno we just kinda hung out I guess?” Harry said, making it sound more like a question, and at that he could basically hear Niall rolling his eyes on the other end of the phone. “I mean he showed me what he can do on guitar too, and Niall holy shit you have to hear him. You’d think this guy was professionally trained on every instrument and-”
“Harry…” Niall stopped him, undoubtedly rubbing a frustrated hand over his face. “I know what’s going on and it needs to stop.”
Harry froze where he was walking around his living room and bit his lip, only imagining what his best mate was thinking. “What are you talking about?”
“H don’t give me that, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You have a little crush on the songwriter, okay, whatever, but don’t let it interfere with your work,” Niall said almost firmly. “That’s what this is, it’s work, and you don’t even know if he’s gay or not.”
Harry stayed silent for a moment, knowing that Niall was right. This was work, Louis was just someone they hired. “Alright… I guess today I’ll show him what I have and maybe we can try recording some stuff,” he said quietly.
“That’s what I like to hear.”
And that was all Harry got before Niall hung up.
He knew he had to get his shit together and actually start writing this album. He only had about five songs down and so far they were only very rough copies. So that meant he needed to write at least seven more and record all of them within the month.
Harry needed to get inspired, he needed something to grab his attention. But the only thing grabbing his attention right now was a knock at the door. “Come in,” he said just loud enough before shoving his face in his hands.
“Hey,” Louis said happily as he pushed open the door to the flat. “You alright?” he asked a bit worried as he saw the younger lad.
“Let’s go,” Harry said, not even waiting for a response before he started stomping out the door.
Louis opened his mouth, but didn’t say anything before he nodded and followed Harry into the hallway. And it wasn’t until they were in the lift, and on their way downstairs did Louis look over to the younger lad and nudge him with his elbow gently.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked quietly, and when Harry nodded he bit his lip, not so sure about that. “Where are we going then?”
“We’re going out and getting lunch,” Harry said as the lift doors opened and he stepped out.
And again Louis was a bit stunned, but he followed after Harry anyway. “Are we walking?”
“Yeah, if you don’t mind,” Harry said as they got outside, already thinking of where he wanted to eat.
“Well no, I don’t mind… But won’t people recognize you?”
Harry looked over to Louis, seeing the older lad’s hair fall into his eyes before he brushed it away. “You’d be surprised how many people are more focused on getting somewhere in a timely fashion rather than noticing who they’re walking past,” he said through a quiet laugh.
Louis let his own smile slip as he walked beside Harry and nodded at him. “Here, at least take these,” he said before pulling out sunglasses from his backpack pocket.
“You don’t want them?” Harry asked with furrowed eyebrows as he hesitantly took them.
Louis rolled his eyes before pointing to his snapback, and that was when Harry saw that he wasn’t wearing a beanie today but a Louisville hat.
“Don’t tell me you got the hat just because it has your name on it?”
Louis shrugged with a sheepish smile playing at his lips as Harry pulled on the sunglasses and tugged at his arm gently to cross the busy London street.
“Ugh and here I thought you were actually a decent guy,” Harry teased as they made their way to the other side of the street and he released Louis’ arm.
“Whoa, alright, I don’t deserve that. You’re just jealous there isn’t like a Harryville or whatever. Don’t take it out on me popstar.”
Harry looked over and saw Louis already smiling at him, and he couldn’t help but roll his eyes playfully at the older lad.
The restaurant wasn’t far from his building, so it was a relatively quick walk for the pair. Occasionally Louis had to reach for Harry’s arm, or hold onto the back of his t-shirt so he could keep up and not get lost in the crowd. And whenever he did that Harry sent a knowing smirk over his shoulder, making Louis scowl playfully at him and only hold onto him tighter. But if anything that had Harry throwing his head back in laughter, and it wasn’t even be a second later when he got out of Louis’ grasp, only to try to run away from him and see if the older lad’s little legs could keep up.
“Harry!!” Louis groaned as he swerved around people and tried to chase the curly haired lad down the street.
“What’s wrong? Little Louis can’t keep up?” Harry teased as he looked over his shoulder, only to see Louis nearly sprinting after him.
“I don’t know where we’re going, you can’t do this!” Louis complained as he continued to run past patrons on the street.
Harry knew people were staring at them as they ran down the sidewalk, but he was far too entertained to stop what he was doing. “Then keep up!” he called over his shoulder, but it wasn’t even a second later he felt a strong force crash onto his backside, only to see Louis lunging at him.
Harry let out a shriek and a few people scowled and yelled at them to watch where they were going, but that didn’t stop Louis from clinging to his back. “Alright, alright, off, you animal,” he said through a loud laugh. “We’re here anyway.”
Louis didn’t say anything but instead flicked Harry’s ear and sent him a frown that turned into a small grin before he made his way inside the restaurant.
Harry stood there for a moment and smiled to himself as he let out a few deep breaths, but then remembered something. He wanted to go out to get inspiration, not fool around and goof off with Louis. So he gathered himself and made his way inside, only to see Louis already sitting at a table and scanning over a menu.
“Why are we so far back and hidden?” Harry asked as he took a seat across from him.
“I just didn’t think you’d want people to come in and recognize you and stuff… You seemed stressed earlier and I wasn’t sure if you didn’t want to take pictures or something.”
Harry looked up from his menu and saw Louis biting his lip, as if waiting to be told that it was okay that he had done that. “That was sweet of you Louis, thank you,” he said before sending the older lad a soft smile.
And Louis returned it before nodding to himself and looking back down at his menu.
“You and your giraffe legs need to get out of here.”
Harry furrowed his eyebrows, he hadn’t even realized he stretched his legs out under the table until he felt Louis gently nudging his foot with his own. “Sorry,” he muttered sheepishly and just as he was about to pull his legs away Louis caught his ankle with his foot and kept him in place.
And again when Harry looked up to meet Louis’ eyes the older lad just sent him a small smile, and looked down to his hands before Harry could see the light blush creeping onto his cheeks.
“So uhm, uh, when we get back to the flat we have some work to do,” Harry said, scratching the back of his neck and trying to remember what Niall told him. This was work, nothing more.
“Okay sure,” Louis said as he nodded to himself. “Do you have anything written yet or are we starting from scratch?”
“I have five incomplete songs. Like the lyrics are written, and I know how I want the melodies to kind of go, it’s just the instrumental parts that need to be figured out.”
“My specialty, perfect,” Louis said through a quiet laugh.
Harry hummed his agreement and before he could say anything a waitress came up to their table and she couldn’t even ask if they knew what they would like to eat or drink before she recognized the man in front of her.
“Harry Styles…”
“What? Where?” Harry asked looking around the small cafe, making Louis muffle a laugh into his hand. “M’just kidding love, how are you?”
“Good, good, yeah I’m good,” the waitress said, still trying to gather herself. “I’m sorry, is there uhm, is there anything I can get either of you?”
“Could I have an iced tea and the barbeque pork sandwich with a side of mac and cheese?”
Harry waited until the waitress got Louis’ order down before telling his own. “I’ll just have water and a garden salad,” he said, offering her a small smile.
“What are you, a bird?” Louis asked through a snort.
“I happen to like salads,” Harry said, his own smile tugging at his lips.
“Yeah and so do little woodland creatures. Oh, but wait!” Louis said, snapping his fingers together like he had just figured something out. “Giraffes… Giraffes only eat leaves or whatever, okay mystery solved. You go right ahead and order your salad then,” he said teasingly, nudging Harry’s leg by his ankle, pulling him even closer.
The waitress looked between the two confused, clearly missing something, but she couldn’t miss how they were smiling like mad at each other.
“I’ll have what he’s having,” Harry said, handing his menu to the waitress, and as he kept his eyes on Louis he swears he’s never seen a more shit eating grin on the older lad.
“Good man,” Louis muttered as the waitress walked away with their orders.
Harry rolled his eyes, not even sure why he changed his order, but the reaction he got out of Louis was worth it enough.
The two sat there for a moment not saying anything. And that was when Harry really took Louis in. He took in the tattoos that were littered over the older lad’s tanned skin, one of them being a large treble clef nearly covering his entire bicep. Another was a bass and upside down treble clef that made the shape of a heart on his wrist. But then there were some random ones along his forearm. A cartoon looking spider man, the only one that seemed to be colored and not black and white was dangling from a web down his arm, and at the sight of it Harry couldn’t help but smile. There were other smaller tattoos as well, one of them being a stick figure guy on a skateboard and to Harry they were all just random little things that Louis liked. But he would be lying if he said that it didn’t make the older lad that much more attractive. Harry had a fair share of his own tattoos, but on Louis ink never looked better on a person.
He hadn’t even noticed the older lad’s tattoos yesterday, but today he was wearing a tank top and they were in full view, and Harry couldn’t help but be captivated by them.
“So I was thinking.”
He snapped his head up from Louis’ arm and saw him combing his fingers through his hair before putting his snapback on again.
“I don’t know if you wanted to, but if you’d like you can have the song I showed you yesterday,” Louis said, not looking up from where he was playing with the hem of his tank top.
“What? No, no, it’s yours,” Harry said shaking his head.
“And what use do I have with it?” Louis asked through a small laugh. “Seriously if you want it take it.”
Harry bit his lip, not so sure about it until Louis nudged his foot with his own. He really did love the song, and it was one less they had to write. “Yeah, alright. When we get back to the flat we can record it.”
Louis smiled happily to himself, and just as he did so their food and drinks were placed in front of them.
It was almost immediate Louis dug into his, making Harry roll his eyes before he picked up his own sandwich, but then he thought of something. The song that Louis wrote was clearly about someone, there was an obvious story behind it. And maybe, just maybe if Harry asked the right way the older lad would tell him about it.
“So I was uhm wondering, and you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but what is your song about? The one you showed me?” he asked quietly.
He watched as Louis slowly looked up from his sandwich and swallowed before wiping his mouth and training his eyes on his food like it was the most interesting thing in the room.
“It’s uh, well I… I was dating this guy for a long time,” Louis began quietly, but already Harry was more than interested, at least now he knew that Louis wasn’t straight. “And I was just far more invested in it than he was, and I didn’t see that, and it was stupid of me,” he said, shaking his head and biting his lip as he looked to his lap. “I wrote the song after one of our fights, and like usual after our fight we pretended that it didn’t happen. I don’t really want to go into detail but in the end I broke up with him and left. I was just sick of being stuck in the same place with him and doing the same old shit over and over again.”
Harry swallowed thickly, not meaning to make the older lad upset. But it seemed that within a second Louis brushed it off like it was nothing and continued eating. So Harry followed his actions and began to eat his own food, not missing how the silence washed over them and how Louis very subtly, and just barely pulled their legs closer together under the table.
It wasn’t until they were both done eating did the silence break, but only because the waitress came over to take their plates and give them their check.
Harry insisted on paying for both since Louis didn’t even know they were going to lunch and it’s not like it made a dent in his bank account. So when the waitress had the check and walked away to cash them out Harry looked to Louis in what felt like forever, only to let out a small laugh.
“What?”
“You have a little…” Harry pointed to Louis’ chin where there was a bit of barbeque sauce.
But when Louis wiped his mouth he still missed it so before even thinking Harry picked up his own napkin and reached across the table. He steadied Louis’ head with one hand, gently placing it on his stubbled cheek before wiping his chin with the other.
And just as Harry realized what he was doing it seemed as though Louis did too before a deep blush came onto both boys’ faces. But still, Harry hadn’t removed his hand, he just looked at Louis, saw the older lad’s breath hitch and swallow nervously before someone clearing their throat made Harry pull his hand away faster than lightning.
“Here you are Mr. Styles.”
Harry looked up and saw the waitress passing his card back to him and he took it back before shoving it in his wallet. “You ready to go Lou?”
And Harry couldn’t stop himself as he felt the nickname slip, but Louis didn’t even seemed phased by it as he nodded and pushed himself out of his seat.
But before the pair left the waitress politely asked for a picture and Harry just as nicely said “of course” before Louis took the girl's phone and snapped a few pictures.
She thanked him and Harry sent her one more smile before tentatively placing his hand on Louis’ back and steering him out of the small cafe. And as they walked outside they were hit with warm June air, but also with a few camera flashes.
Louis froze where he was as Harry cursed under his breath and pulled on the sunglasses Louis gave him before subtly waving to the three paps.
He doesn’t know how they knew he was here; maybe the waitress tweeted about it, but all he knew was that he wanted to get home and that he didn't want Louis to get caught in this.
“Alright, you have your pictures, thank you,” Harry said as he nodded at them and kept his hand firm on Louis’ back, trying to get him to move. “Come on, let’s go,” he muttered into the older lad’s ear, earning a small nod from him.
And thankfully enough the paps didn’t follow them as they started walking back to the flat. But Louis did grab Harry’s arm as he did before, and this time Harry didn’t tease him about maybe getting lost in the crowd. Instead he leaned into the older lad’s touch and occasionally placed his hand on the small of Louis’ back so he would keep up.
When they got back to the flat Louis kicked off his converse as Harry did with his own pair before Louis spoke up.
“So do you want to show me what you have so far?”
“Oh uhm yeah sure,” Harry said as he began to lead Louis to the studio.
And as they walked there Harry remembered that the reason he wanted to go out was to get inspired, to maybe see something and want to write about it. But he was too focused on something, rather someone than thinking about what to write.
“When did you get this?”
Harry looked up and saw Louis pointing to the drum set next to his piano and smiled sheepishly to himself as he walked over to his music stand in front of his microphone to get his lyrics.
“I uhm, I got it yesterday after you left,” he said quietly. “You said you play and I thought that if you play half as well as you do piano and guitar then it could be helpful when we record.”
“Mate you are some kind of mental…”
Harry bit his lip as he saw Louis nearly gaping at the brand new drum set before he took a seat at it. And just from his reaction Harry knew it was more than a smart purchase.
“Shit just… Thank you Harry, really. This is incredible,” Louis said quietly, shaking his head, still not believing it.
Harry nodded and offered him a small smile before setting himself up at his microphone with one of his electric guitars. “Alright, so this one I pretty much have done. Lyrics and the guitar part are all set, but I just need drums, bass and maybe piano.”
“And that’s where I come in,” Louis said through a quiet laugh as he twirled one of the drumsticks between his fingers. “So you just run it through, I’ll listen to it, come up with some stuff and then we’ll play it back but I’ll play with you and tell me if you like it or not.”
Harry raised his eyebrows at that, Louis almost sounding like he’s done this before. He nodded at the older lad though before situating himself and his guitar, and began singing what he had written down on his sheet.
This had been one of his favorite songs that he’s written so far. It just had more meaning to him than any of the others, but it was the first time he was playing it for someone so that was a bit nerve wracking.
Louis listened intently though, as if making mental notes of what he wanted to play and how he wanted to play it.
So when Harry finished Louis was already sitting up and ready to play whatever he had come up with.
“That was really good by the way. Did you uh, write that for someone?”
Harry looked up from his guitar and nodded as he met the older lad’s eyes. “I wrote it for my sister,” he said quietly through a small smile.
Louis picked his head up and grinned even more as he heard that and continued to smile to himself as he looked back down to the drum set. So Harry took that as his cue to start playing.
His fingers moved along the fretboard for the opening notes and kept the same rhythm and notes going as he opened his mouth to sing, but a few words in and he heard Louis play. The smooth ‘tap’ ‘tap’ of the drumstick hitting the rim of the snare drum and high hat, it adding a bit more life to song. And as Harry continued to play and sing he couldn’t help but fall in love with it immediately.
It fit the song so well and Louis played it so effortlessly, like he had done this a million times before. He watched as the older lad closed his eyes, not even needing to see where he had to hit, but just did it. And as he got further into the song Louis added more. More bass drum, more snare, more tambourine and all together it sounded better than Harry ever thought it could. And when the chorus came Harry had to perk his head up from where he was looking at his guitar and just watch Louis.
Watch as the older lad got louder and was nearly flinging his arms to hit what he needed to. His biceps flexing with each movement, his feet tapping with the high hat and bass drum, and his wrists moving quickly to get the rhythm he wanted. And just at looking at Louis, watching him play, Harry felt himself pick up, felt himself more engaged in the song, getting more into it and wanting to play more.
Harry poured more of himself into the song, gave all he had into the microphone and when he looked up to watch Louis again, he caught the older lad’s blue eyes already staring back at him. But Louis didn’t look away, instead he leaned into the microphone that was set up by the drums and added in to what Harry was singing after the chorus, and if possible made it sound even better with the harmony.
The two watched each other, Louis nodding his head as the song picked up and making his infectious smile reach Harry.
Harry locked his eyes on Louis, watched his arms flex and his entire upper body move as he played, getting more and more into the song, but they never broke eye contact. He figured he must’ve looked like an idiot singing into the microphone and smiling like mad to himself, but it’s not like Louis wasn’t doing the same thing as he played and backed up Harry’s vocals.
And at the end of the song it was just Harry’s guitar, the gentle lull of it that opened the song also closed it.
The only thing heard in the room after Harry finished playing was Louis’ heavy breathing, but Harry was too struck to even know what to say.
“So if you didn’t like that I was also thinking-”
“What?!” Harry asked wide eyed. “That was perfect, are you kidding me?! How did you- I mean where did that come from?!”
Louis blushed and laughed sheepishly to himself as he shrugged. “I just really like the drums,” he said quietly. “My favorite instrument if I’m being honest.”
Harry felt his jaw go slack as he looked to the older lad. There was no way he came up with that right on the spot. They rhythms, the vocals, there was no way.
“I have a bass part that I think will work really well with it if you’d like to hear that too,” Louis said, already standing up to grab the bass.
Harry didn’t stop him. Instead he watched as Louis picked up his bass and throw the strap over his shoulder before plugging it into an amp and plucking away.
*~*
“Tell me you got something done today?”
Harry popped his head out of the kitchen as he heard Niall come into his flat, and Louis was right behind him to investigate who was at the door.
“We finished and recorded three of the five songs I wrote,” Harry said proudly through a wide smile, Louis behind him nodding along.
At that Niall raised his eyebrows, not believing it. “You… You recorded three songs today?”
“Wanna take a listen?”
Niall opened and closed his mouth before nodding and seeing himself to the studio, needing to make sure that Harry wasn’t lying to him. “What’re the names of them?” he called out from down the hall.
“Uh we did Nothing More, Hold Back the River, and Best Fake Smile,” Harry yelled back.
“What’s this other one on here then?”
“Oh, Louis wrote that one, he said I could put it on the album so we recorded that too.”
Harry stood there for a second, waiting for a response from the Irish lad, but after a moment of silence he figured Niall was listening to the songs.
“I hope he likes them,” Louis said as he bit his lip and walked back into the kitchen. “I mean what if he doesn’t? Do we start over?”
Harry furrowed his eyebrows as he watched Louis take his place back on top the counter and gently swing his legs back and forth. “No way. I love them, you love them, no matter what he says we’re not changing anything,” he said, moving in front of the stove and stirring the sauce that was simmering.
Louis tried to bite back a smile at hearing that and ducked his head as he nodded to himself. “What you wrote by the way, all those songs… They’re all so lovely,” he said, and when Harry looked at him with raised eyebrows he stuttered to himself. “I mean like- like you just want the world to be a better place, you want everyone to just love each other and treat each other the same, and that’s… It’s just really sweet.”
Harry couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face before he started to laugh to himself and shake his head.
“Shut up, I’m trying to compliment you,” Louis muttered through a small pout. “Just say thank you.”
“Thank you Louis,” Harry said, still laughing to himself as he checked what was cooking on the stove. But he couldn’t miss the not so subtle eye roll and flick on the ear from the older lad. “Get away from me,” he said, swatting Louis’ hand away playfully, “and try this, tell me if it needs anything.”
Louis hummed happily to himself, more than willing to try whatever it was Harry made. But when the curly haired lad moved himself so he was resting in between Louis’ thighs and offered him a wooden spoon with sauce on it the older lad froze for a moment.
Harry raised his eyebrows as he settled himself between Louis’ legs and rested his free hand next to the blue eyed boy’s hip before motioning for him to try what was on the spoon.
And Louis looked at him for a moment, just sat there completely still before slowly opening his mouth and tasting whatever it was Harry was offering him.
“So? Need anything?” he asked quietly, leaning into the older lad and feeling his shorts just barely ride up where it came in contact with Louis’ leg.
Louis shook his head, still keeping his eyes locked on Harry, and Harry kept thinking how easy it would be to just lean in right now. How easy it would be to move his hand to Louis’ hip and tip his head up so he could feel what he assumed were soft and thin lips against his own. But this was a job, and he’s known Louis for two days. No matter how badly he wanted to, he couldn’t.
“Guys that was so- Oh! Oh, uh sorry…”
Harry jumped back from where he was standing between Louis’ legs, both of them looking like a deer caught in headlights. He immediately felt his cheeks heating up and when he tried to steal a glance at Louis he saw the older lad in the same state.
“I was just going to say that so far they sound amazing,” Niall said quietly, feeling like he was interrupting something. “Really, really good job guys. The piano, the drums, Louis your back up vocals, all of it. It has a really good vibe so far.”
Louis nodded and swallowed thickly before looking to Niall, “Uhm, yeah, thank you,” he said softly.
“Did you play everything?” Niall asked as he walked over to the stove and stole a couple noodles that were in the pot. “When I was looking for someone to help Harry you came recommended by so many people, mostly music teachers. They all said you’re amazing, and even H said you’re like a God when it comes to music.”
“Yeah, I played everything, Harry did guitar and singing of course,” Louis said through a small blush as he stole a glance at the curly haired lad.
“Great, great,” Niall said happily. “Well I’m very proud of you boys for not flirting all day and instead actually got a lot done, so kudos to you,” he teased, making both of the boys turn to each other, only to quickly look away and if possible become even a darker shade of red. “But Harry I know you have two more songs you wrote and saw one that was like half done on your computer, when are we finishing those?”
“We’re finishing those after dinner,” Harry said, already getting three bowls down from the cabinet. “Louis did the piano part but towards the end of one of the songs we really wanted a big bang so he’s gonna do a huge drum part and then both of us singing, we have to record that.”
“And my mates are coming over for the other song,” Louis added in, accepting the bowl of pasta Harry was passing him. “They’re bringing my cello, and my mate Liam plays violin, and my other mate Zayn does drums too. For the last song Harry and I thought of something a bit more orchestral.”
Niall looked at the boy in front of him and couldn’t help but cup his face between his hands and give him a sloppy kiss right on his cheek. “You my boy… Oh we’ll be keeping you around for a while,” he said, kissing a startled Louis’ cheek one more time.
“Hey! Hey, off,” Harry said as he pulled his best mate away from Louis. “We get it, back up,” he muttered before nearly shoving a bowl at Niall’s chest.
“Jealous much?” Niall muttered, just loud enough for Harry to hear. And when he did Niall had to quickly scurry away from the younger lad to avoid getting hit.
And when Niall was out of his kitchen Harry looked up to see Louis trying to hide his smile by eating his food, but even with his mouth full his grin reached his eyes.
“Hurry up and eat! I want to hear that drum part you have to record!”
Harry rolled his eyes as he heard Niall screaming from the living room and walked over to the counter to take a seat next to Louis. Who needed tables and chairs anyway? The counter was a perfectly good place to eat.
“Who knew you could cook?” Louis said, it coming out muffled as he shoved more pasta in his mouth.
“I’m a man of many secret talents,” Harry said, making Louis snort and shake his head. “But this is nothing. You should see me when I go all out for dinner.”
“I should.”
At that Harry smiled to himself and gently nudged Louis in his side. “You inviting yourself over for a nice dinner?”
“Sounded like that’s what you wanted from the beginning,” Louis teased, sending Harry a small smirk.
And just before Harry was about to retort back Niall interrupted them.
“I can hear you flirting from here! Just shut up and eat, and then afterwards you can plan your date!!”
And that did it. It was that that made Harry blush like he never had before and quickly try to hide his face from a laughing Louis.
“C’mon popstar, we better get recording,” Louis said, hopping off the counter and placing his empty bowl in the sink.
Harry followed Louis’ action and took the last couple bites of his food before placing it in the sink and calling Niall to follow them into the studio.
“So we already have everything except the drums and Louis is gonna help me with the harmonies,” Harry said as they walked into the studio and he got a microphone ready for Louis by the drums and then one for himself.
“Alright, I’m gonna be sitting at the computer and record, put your headphones on and I’ll play it back,” Niall said with his mouth full before heading into the sound booth.
“He really is quite the character,” Louis laughed to himself as he shook his head and picked up his head phones.
Harry hummed his agreement, placing his own headphones on. “You have no idea,” he muttered.
“Okay boys, this is Turn to Stone,” Niall said into his microphone from the booth, making it come through in their headphones.
And it wasn’t even a second later they heard the piano part Louis recorded earlier, and the harmonizing voices they had also done. But now Harry was actually singing along with the song, recording the lyrics.
He could feel Louis watching him as he sang into the microphone, just like he had earlier when they recorded the other songs. And just like the other times Harry felt himself become nervous, but with just a quick glance to the older lad, and seeing him already smiling at him, it melted Harry’s nerves away.
But when they got to the loud part of the song Harry kept his eyes on Louis. He wanted to see what he had come up with for this, and when Louis said he was going to make it big he wasn’t kidding.
It felt like within a millisecond his headphones were quiet to then ringing with drums, completely taking over and making the song burst with newfound energy.
Louis' arms were going everywhere, his brow furrowed in concentration, not only as he played but also sang into his microphone, each note better than the last. And Harry was almost too consumed in watching him to remember to come back in and finish the song out. But when it was over he saw Louis smiling wildly to himself, and a moment later Niall burst through the door.
“Holy mother of God, what are you?!” he nearly screamed. “Where the hell did that come from?! You just- you just- and it was like bam! Boom! In your face!!”
Louis let out a loud laugh, twirling the drumstick between his fingers as he shrugged. “Harry wanted it big, I made it big,” he said simply.
“I’m keeping him,” Niall stated. “H you can’t have him, he’s mine.”
“Niall for God’s sake,” Harry muttered, rubbing a hand over his face.
“When are your mates coming?” Niall asked, ignoring the curly haired lad. “If they’re half as good as you and you’re all playing together… Just shit, this is gonna be one hell of an album.”
“They should be here any minute,” Louis said, still laughing to himself. “And trust me, Zayn is the one who taught me to play drums and Liam is currently in the London Philharmonic, so they’re plenty good.”
Niall’s jaw dropped as he heard that, and he wondered where this guy has been his entire life. “I might just kiss you again.”
“Don’t,” Harry said firmly, eyeing the Irish lad.
“Calm down curly, I get it, you want him-”
“Niall!” Harry hissed.
Niall rolled his eyes and told the two he was going to wait for Louis’ mates in the living room before leaving them. And when Harry very carefully stole a glance at Louis to see if he was uncomfortable or just completely mortified he was pleasantly surprised to see the older lad blushing a bit before sending him a small wink and turning back to the drum set.
“I really am sorry about him,” Harry said quietly. “Half the stuff he says is complete shit and-”
“Oh so you don’t want me?” Louis asked with raised eyebrows.
Harry felt himself freeze before opening his mouth to say something, just anything, but before he could even utter a word Louis let out a loud laugh and shook his head.
“I’m kidding mate, geez,” he said, having to hide his face in his hands from laughing so hard at Harry’s face.
Harry cleared his throat and let out a few half hearted laughs himself, trying to play it off as a joke. “Right, right, kidding, yeah.”
And thankfully it was only a moment later someone came into the room to take away the attention of Harry’s embarrassment.
“Loueh!!”
Harry watched as Louis snapped his head up and smiled widely to himself before lunging off his seat and into this tan, dark haired man’s arms.
“Whoa! Careful mate, don’t crush the cargo!”
“Sorry, sorry,” Louis said through a quiet laugh before taking his cello from his mate’s hand. “Zayn this is Harry, Harry this is Zayn,” he introduced.
“Wow the famous Harry,” Zayn said as he offered the younger lad his hand. “And not just world famous, but Louis famous. You should hear him mate. I don’t think I’ve ever heard so much about one popstar in two days- ow!!”
Harry felt his cheeks flush as he shook Zayn’s hand before he let out a quiet laugh at Louis knocking his mate over his head with his cello bow.
“Louis c’mon, whenever you do that we have to get new strings for the bow, knock it off.”
Harry watched as another man came into the studio, this one being a bit broader and more puppy looking than Zayn. He figured this was Liam since he was carrying a violin case.
“Hey, it’s a real honor to meet you, I’m Liam,” he said sticking his hand out.
“It’s great to meet you too,” Harry said as he shook his hand and offered Liam a small smile. “I’ve never met someone in the London Philharmonic, I can’t wait to hear you play.”
“Oh, but you’ve heard Louis play, haven’t you?” Liam asked with furrowed eyebrows.
Harry only grew slightly confused at that. “You’re in the Philharmonic?”
He saw Louis freeze and look between him and Liam before opening and closing his mouth, not sure what to say.
“He got accepted into it,” Liam filled in for him. “But he decided not to take it, said it wasn’t his thing,” he said, rolling his eyes before placing his case down and getting his violin out.
And again Harry only wondered how many things Louis wasn’t telling him. At first it was that he’s never written for anyone before, but now it was that he was accepted into the Philharmonic and didn’t take it.
Harry wasn’t mad, if anything he was more than impressed with the older lad, and if possible more intrigued with him than before.
“Louis’ too good for all those Mozart playing dweebs,” Zayn said as he shook his head and took a seat at the drums, making himself comfortable.
“Thanks Zayn,” Liam muttered over Louis’ laughter.
“Alright, alright, c’mon this is a job, behave,” Louis said, smacking the back of Zayn’s head gently before getting a chair for himself and setting his cello up.
Harry watched the three of them interact and it was like watching a bunch of school children on the playground. He only wondered what would happen if he added Niall to the mix, but thankfully the Irish lad was in the booth to record.
“Uhm so do you guys need music or anything? I didn’t even think about getting that set up for you,” Harry said sheepishly as he scratched the back of his neck.
“We’re good, Louis already told us what we’re doing,” Liam said, sending a small smile over to Harry as he played a few strings of his violin, making sure it was tuned.
Harry raised his eyebrows at that and looked over to Louis, only to see him smiling to himself as he quietly tuned his cello. So he didn’t say anything about it. Instead he grabbed his electric guitar, plugged it in and made sure the other boys were set with microphones before they all put their headphones on.
Louis had already recorded the piano part of course and so when Niall began to play it back the first thing they all heard was the start of the piano and the gentle roll of Zayn hitting the symbol.
And almost as if it was routine by now Harry caught Louis’ eye, and as he sang and began to strum his guitar he saw Louis grinning back at him right before he came in.
Harry watched, always so amazed how everything came so easily to Louis. The smooth flick of his wrist as he moved his bow, his fingers along the neck of the instrument spread out but right where they needed to be to create the beautiful sound.
And before Harry knew it they were already at the chorus, his strumming faster, Zayn's drumming more intense and Louis and Liam’s playing quick and methodic.
These boys knew what they were doing. Much like Louis it was as if this wasn’t even a problem for them, like they had already played this song a thousand times.
They swayed with the music and when it came to the bridge, everyone was more than focused on what they were doing.
Harry concentrating on his fret board, where his fingers should go and what strings to strum while Louis was nearly jumping in his seat with enthusiasm, Zayn and Liam the same way as they all smiled to each other, seeming like they were having the best time of their lives.
And when it was over and Niall said from the booth that he stopped recording they all let out deep breaths.
“Holy shit that felt awesome,” Zayn said, unable to wipe the smile off his face. “Of course it’s your song though, like was it okay? Did you like it?”
Harry looked to Zayn and then saw not only him but also Liam and Louis looking for his approval as well. “Mate I fucking loved it.”
If possible Zayn’s smile only grew as he turned to Liam and high fived him, making Harry laugh to himself.
He saw Louis grinning to himself as well as he placed his cello down and got up from his seat to walk over to him.
“You’ve outdone yourself yet again,” Harry said once Louis was close enough.
Louis shrugged to himself and was about to say something before a pair of arms wrapped around the two of them, making their chests press together.
“I love you! I love you both so fucking much!!” Niall yelled as he hugged the pair. “And you!” he said, letting go of Louis and Harry before turning to Liam and Zayn. “You’re both beautiful, beautiful creatures that I never want to let go,” Niall said, wrapping them both in a hug and kissing their cheeks.
Louis and Harry laughed to themselves as they watched Liam and Zayn hug Niall back happily. But that was when Harry realized how close they were from Niall nearly shoving them together.
“So he’s a pile of love and mush when he’s not stressed,” Louis noted as he watched his best mates and Niall, showing no sign of creating more distance between him and Harry.
“Basically,” Harry said through an airy laugh, not taking his eyes off Louis.
“We did good today, yeah?” Louis asked as he grinned softly up at the younger lad. “Kept the flirting to a minimum and got some work done?”
Harry felt himself freeze as he heard Louis joking but he was sure with the hot blush rising on his cheeks he would melt into a puddle in a second.
“Oi lovebirds break it up,” and of course Niall just had to ruin it. “I swear, they’ve been like this since I came over. God only knows how they actually got work done. I mean I don’t even want to know what goes on when I’m not here.”
Harry was going to kill him. It was official. Niall James Horan would be found dead in the morning.
“Easy there popstar,” Louis said as he chuckled to himself, seeing the way Harry was glaring at Niall. “It’s fine,” he quietly said, gently bringing up his hand to rub the green eyed lad’s arm. “The boys and I best be off anyway. I’m sure Niall wants to talk to you about business stuff.”
Harry looked down at Louis, really not wanting him to leave, but it was getting late.
He offered the older lad a tight lined smile before nodding at him and helping Louis pack his cello and whatever else he brought with him. But Louis instead chose to leave his cello in case they wanted to use it for another song and Harry wasn’t going to object.
Harry walked the boys to the door except for Niall who said he was staying so they could talk, and Harry already had an idea about what.
He thanked Zayn and Liam for coming over, and said that he would love to hang out again, maybe not do something work related and the two were quick to agree before waving at him one more time and heading down the hall to the lift.
“So I’ll uhm, I’ll see you tomorrow?” Louis asked quietly as he stopped at the door and turned to look at Harry.
“Tomorrow,” Harry agreed with a single nod before smiling down at the older lad.
Louis nodded back at him and adjusted the backpack strap over his tank top before biting his lip and shifting his weight on his feet, almost like he was thinking about something, waiting for something.
Harry wasn’t sure that made him do it, but before he could stop himself he wrapped his arms around Louis’ neck and pulled him into his chest. And thankfully it was only a second later the older lad brought his own arms up and wrapped them around Harry’s middle, making a relieved breath escape the younger lad.
Harry had never been so content, so happy to just be in someone’s arms before and if possible those feelings only escalated when he felt Louis smiling against his shoulder.
“Bye popstar,” he barely said as he pulled away with a small wink.
Harry found himself trying to bite back his own grin as he watched Louis back away from him and down the hall, still wearing that shit eating grin. “Bye Louis.”
He watched the older lad until he was fully down the hall, and it was only when he was in the lift did he turn back inside his own flat, only to see a little Irish man smirking at him.
“What?” he asked nonchalantly.
“You like him. You actually have a crush on the songwriter.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Harry please, I’ve known you since we were 15, I know when you like someone,” Niall said, following the younger lad into the kitchen. There was no way he was going to escape this conversation.
“Niall I don’t like him.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, love then. My mistake,” he teased, making Harry roll his eyes as he began loading up the dishwasher.
“I don’t like or love him. Drop it.”
“Mate you had heart eyes all night. You were watching him with your creeper stare, and blushing every second he came within a foot of you.”
“I was only blushing because you were spewing ridiculous shit like usual.”
“H c’mon, it’s not a bad thing if you like him. He’s cute. I mean hell if I were gay I’d go for him too.”
Harry rolled his eyes as he rinsed the dishes in the sink before putting them in the dishwasher, just wanting to finish this and go to bed. “Weren’t you the one to say this was a job?”
“Yeah, but that was only because you weren’t getting shit done. But if you like him that's good, great even.”
Harry stopped what he was doing and leaned against the counter, knowing there was no way he could get this past Niall.
He already told Gemma anyway. He called his sister the first day Louis was over and as soon as the older lad left his flat he ran for his phone. Harry told her about the songwriter with baby blue eyes that had more talent than he's ever seen. Told her about his way with words, and how he was kind of quiet but had a joking and teasing side to him. And most importantly Harry talked about Louis' looks. He was sure an hour into it Gemma was ready to kill him, but she lives two hours up north, there's nothing she could actually do to him, so Harry kept talking until Gemma hung up. And even then Harry couldn't wipe the smile off his face.
“Alright, so maybe I like him,” he barely whispered.
“What? You don’t say?” Niall teased. “I mean, wow H, you really had me fooled.”
“You’re an arse,” Harry said through a quiet laugh.
“You love me though,” Niall muttered as he poked the younger lad’s dimple. “So why him? What makes him special other than those baby blue eyes you can oh so easily get lost in?”
Harry had to muffle a laugh into his hand as he shook his head at his best mate. This was why he loved Niall. Yeah, sometimes work became too much, but it was these moments Harry loved.
“I dunno he’s just… He’s sweet, and funny, and he kind of like- well he teases me and I tease back and I dunno, it’s fun,” he said, already feeling a small blush creep onto his cheeks, just thinking about the older lad. “At times he’s kinda quiet, but I feel like what he does with music, it’s through that he talks,” Harry said softly. “Also he’s really fucking hot, can’t forget about that one.”
Niall let out a loud laugh at that one, nodding his agreement.
Harry laughed quietly to himself, biting his lip, as he knew what he really liked about Louis. “But I think the main reason I like him is because he treats me normal… I’m not the famous Harry Styles... Just Harry.”
Niall smiled softly at his best mate before rubbing his back, knowing it was hard for the younger lad to find people who treat him like an actual person and not just some popstar.
“But I just… Niall what do I do?” Harry groaned into his hands.
“Mate, I only have one piece of advice for you,” he said, grabbing the younger lad’s attention. “Get it in.”