Chapter Text
Harry Styles leaned against his new-to-him, adult-appearing, practical, gas-saving sedan and gazed up at the familiar building. It looked exactly the same, from the faded brick facade to the black metal roof. Adjusting the strap of the shoulder bag his boyfriend had presented to him last night, he steeled himself to walk across the parking lot toward the first day.
It felt weirdly familiar.
Lou’d given him a kiss on the cheek and said “you’re going to need a bag, babe, that’s not covered in patches.” Harry loved him so much. That’s why he was here actually. Standing in the faculty parking lot of Graniteville High School. He sighed. He needed to go in. But he was almost more nervous than he’d been in any of the four years he actually attended this school.
He pulled his phone out of his pocket and typed into the group chat of the only high school friends he’d stayed in touch with. Lou, of course. But his best friend Niall and Louis’ best friend, who’d become one of his own, Liam.
I’m literally insane, aren’t I? Why am I back here?
Louis: You’re going to smash it, darling. You’ve so got this.
Niall: Suck it up and go into the building, H. I know you look good. Just do it.
Liam: What are you wearing?
Liam: Wait, I didn’t mean it like that.
Louis: Are you trying to seduce my fiancé?
Harry rolled his eyes as he pocketed his phone, immediately feeling better and knowing his friends were only a phone call away if he needed support. He straightened his jacket—a little more demure than he’d like, but he thought the first day he’d go a little conservative. He wasn’t sure anyone would be ready for him at his most flamboyant, but he didn’t feel quite like himself in a button up and a blazer, even if it was yellow.
“You look amazing, babe,” Lou had said as he’d pushed him up the stairs into his mother’s kitchen. It’d definitely been a morning of deja vu eating breakfast at the old formica table. It might have even been the same coffee cup.
He grabbed his lunch bag off the back seat, slammed the car door, and pushed his shoulders back. He took a deep breath. “I am a teacher. I can do this,” he said out loud.
“Yeah, you can,” a voice wafted over from a few yards away. A stocky guy with a hoodie and a bag similar to his own approached. “You must be Mr. Styles.” He stretched out his hand. “I’m the music teacher. Lewis Capaldi, nice to meet you.”
Harry smiled and grasped his hand. “Nice to meet you. M’ Harry. Um. Harry Styles. But you already knew that.”
Lewis tapped his own temple. “Can’t get much past me.” He chuckled. “How’s your self-pep talk going?” He gestured toward the building, as they began walking toward the door. “It’s really not that bad.”
Harry smiled, hoping that making a friend in the parking lot would bode well for the rest of the day. “Yeah. Actually I was a student here. Class of ‘17. Ended okay. But overall, I was happy to get the hell out.”
Lewis dodged a crack in the pavement. “Ah. Well I can appreciate the apprehension then. What brings you back? Aside from the stellar architecture?” He pointed up at the faded brick before pulling the door handle and holding it open for Harry.
“Honestly? My fiance and I moved back to try to save money. We’re living in my mother’s basement right now.” He side-eyed Lewis, not sure if he was ready to out himself quite yet by admitting his fiance was a man. Oh, what the hell. “He went here too – we graduated together.”
Lewis nodded, not breaking stride. “High school sweethearts. Nice. I like a happy ending.”
Harry hummed under his breath. He quite liked a happy ending as well. Then he almost stopped in the middle of the hallway, realizing where he was. Objectively, he knew it’d only been six years, but he still wasn’t quite ready for it to look exactly the same. They passed his old locker and he caught his breath. Just over there on the other side of the hallway was where Louis had stood up to Joe Corbett for him the first time – when he’d first felt that real flutter of feelings toward the love of his life.
Lewis chatted about the new principal, who was actually the old Vice Principal, the perks of the faculty lunchroom, and their chances of winning the state championship this year in football, unaware of the crash of emotions in Harry’s head.
“Voila,” he said, making a spin as he opened the door to the faculty lounge. “You can leave your coat here in the winter.” He pointed at a large metal rack. “There’s a fridge if you bring lunch, just be sure to label it, cause food that’s not labeled will end up disappearing, mark my words,” he said with the tone of someone who’d had their lunch stolen more than once. “And, sometimes we just come in here to hide.”
Harry shuffled his feet, the nerves starting to pick up again. He hadn’t really considered how hard being back here would hit him. Hiding didn’t sound too bad right now. “Thanks, man, for being nice to the new kid.” He smiled. “I’m supposed to do a new faculty orientation this morning. I should probably head over there.” He gestured somewhere over his shoulder. “Thinking it’d be in the front office?”
Nodding, Lewis clapped him on the back. “Always nice to have a new face around here that might have some semblance of having grown up in this century. Just saying. There are a few old bats that need to retire.” He lowered his voice conspiratorially. “But you didn’t hear that from me.”
Harry turned to walk back the way they came, but then spun around as a thought hit him. “Hey, music teacher, right? Do we work together on the musical? I’m itching to get the kids something really cool this year.”
Lewis practically vibrated where he stood. “Shit, yeah. Let’s do something cool, new kid. Brainstorm at lunch?”
“It’s a deal.” Harry stuck out his hand to shake. As he made his way to the front office, he pulled out his phone to update the chat. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad after all.
***
Two hours later, and thoroughly orientated to his new status as faculty, Harry stood in front of his first class. They were sprawled around the room in the comfortable furniture that made up the backstage area of the theater. So far, the “green room” was his favorite thing about his new job. Bean bag chairs, old discarded couches, a futon. He wasn’t at all sure it was up to fire code, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to be the one to call it in. Most of the kids were talking animatedly after their long summer vacation, a few were on phones. One tall gangly kid stood in the back and stared out the window at the parking lot.
He cleared his throat to get their attention. “Good morning, everyone. My name is Har…well, Mr. Styles, I guess. I’ll be your new drama teacher.” He stared out at them wondering who they were and how they were going to react to him. “I know Mrs. Harvey was beloved, and I’ve got big shoes to fill.”
There were a few different versions of hey, hi, hey man, that cascaded his way.
“I graduated from here back in ‘17. And I’m very happy to be back here with you.” He cursed himself a little. It wasn’t really his intention to lie to them, but he figured he could get away with that. He wouldn’t have been back here at all if they’d had any other choice.
“I know who you are.” A pretty blond girl leaned forward from the lazyboy she lounged in, and pointed a bitten down nail at him. “You’re the Homecoming Queen dude. You’re the reason we only have a Royal Court now, not King and Queen.”
It wasn’t exactly accusatory. But it wasn’t exactly kind either.
Lou had made him promise not to talk about it unless it came up. He hadn’t expected it to come up in the first few minutes of his first class.
Shit.
He inhaled and very briefly closed his eyes to regain his focus. This was going to set the tone for the whole year. What he said next would be repeated ad nauseum to the rest of the school. He very desperately needed to get this right.
He opened his eyes, and clapped his hands once. “I am that guy.” Aiming for casual, he leaned back on the desk and steepled his fingers. “I am so very honored that you know that part of the history of Graniteville High School. I am very proud of that achievement.”
He had all of their attention now. Even the kid staring out the back window had turned his body, as though he wanted to hear but didn’t want to necessarily be part of the class.
“When I was at school here, I was pretty much a loner. I had one best friend, and a lot of people who knew me as the gay kid who liked to wear feminine fashion. I did love me a silk blouse,” he said, grinning at the captivated classroom. “Still do, if I’m honest.”
A few kids nodded.
“Yeah you did,” said one kid from the back.
Harry smiled. Louis was going to kill him from delving into this in the first moments of the day.
“Anyway.” He pushed himself off the desk to walk toward the back, drawing all their attention with him. “On the first day of senior year, an ass - I mean, a jerk who’d bullied me in the past, suggested - and I use that term loosely - that I run for Homecoming Queen.”
Harry left out the details of Joe Corbett’s vile attitude. “Instead of cowering and hiding myself, or changing the way I dressed, I decided to lean into it. I decided to make it my own idea and propose a change to the way Homecoming happened.”
He turned around at the back of the classroom to face them all, folding his hands in front of himself. They all hung on his words, as he lowered his voice. “It allowed a lot more kids to participate.” Pause. “I don’t know how it’s changed since then. But the goal was always for greater inclusion – not less.”
He took a deep breath and caught the eye of the kid by the window. “That is still my only goal. Greater inclusion. Not less. You’ll find that true in my methods for the drama program. It’s not always possible for every person to have an acting role, but there will always be room in this classroom for anyone who wants to be a part of theater.”
It was so quiet, you could hear the vent blowing in the hallway. The girl from the front row began to applaud and before long the whole room was clapping and hooting. “This year is going to kick ass,” someone said.
Harry smiled. “Okay then, if there’s nothing else, let’s get started with some warmup activities.”
By the end of the class, they were laughing about which muppet characteristics they had, how many marshmallows they could fit in their mouths, and who was the oldest in the classroom. In a word, they were his.
“Okay, group. Listen up.” He stood at the front again in his shirt with the sleeves rolled up, long having since lost his blazer and tried to get their attention. “I’m glad you had fun. Next class, bring some ideas for the musical. Mr. Capaldi and I are going to team up this year to hopefully do something really cool. We have the first weekend in December reserved in the auditorium, so we have about three months to pull this together. We won’t be playing games in every class.”
Excited voices and cheers met his ears as he waved them out the door.
“Mr. S?” The kid who’d been by the window had stopped at the door jamb. “M’names Leo. I liked Mrs. Harvey just fine. But I’m really glad you’re here.” He pulled nervously at the collar of his shirt and for the first time Harry noticed it was a satiny fabric. “I think I understand what you went through when you were a student.” He blinked and then smiled. “And I want you to know that some things haven’t changed, but there are kids here who try to make the weird gay kid feel welcome.”
Harry blinked to hold back his emotion as he took in Leo’s words. “I think change takes a long time, Leo. I’m sorry you’ve had some trouble, but I’m so glad you’ve got support. My classroom is always open to you, if you need anything.” Harry smiled then, not wanting to make a huge deal out of connecting to a kid right off the bat, but wanting him to know he was serious.
As Leo left the room, he leaned back in his desk chair and put his feet up on the desk. This might not be so bad, he thought. If he could be himself here, and help some kids come into their own, it would be worth it.
He was still relaxing with his feet up when the sound of a throat clearing startled him into almost losing his balance.
“Excuse me, uh, Mr. Styles?” A small woman in perhaps her thirties, wearing a short skirt, stood at the door, tapping her foot nervously.
He stood up and strode to the door, extending his hand. “Yes, that’s me. Harry Styles. Drama teacher. And you are?”
She ignored his outstretched hand and he pulled it back to awkwardly rest on his hip. “I’m Patty Warfield. English Lit. I wanted to say hello. Welcome to Graniteville High.”
“Thank you, Patty. Call me Harry, please. It’s nice to meet you.” They stood looking at each other for a beat and Harry wondered what was up with this woman. He wiped his hand on his jeans discreetly thinking maybe it was sweaty. Or that she had some sort of germ phobia.
“Well. hello then. I’ll see you at the faculty meeting after school?” He cocked his head and shrugged.
“Yes. Yes you will.” She took a step back and waved, before turning and practically sprinting down the hall.
Weird . He sniffed his armpit to make sure he wasn’t emanating something disgusting that could have chased her off – perhaps two friends in one day was too much to ask for. The high from the class worn off, he turned back to the room. He had an empty period before the next group of kids, so he turned to his computer to open a shared document with Lewis about the musical.
***
At 4:30, he pushed open the door to his mother’s house and dragged himself inside. “Honey I’m home!” he called, smiling that at least he and Louis lived together after so many years of a long distance relationship. Even if it was under his mother’s roof.
A ball of human energy bounded up the basement stairs and leaped into his arms, knocking his bag off his shoulder to the floor. “So? What was it like? How did you do? Did they love you? Of course they loved you. Well?”
He hoisted his fiance under his bum so his legs wrapped around Harry’s waist and leaned back against the front door, burying his face in the warmth of Louis’ neck, trying not to sniffle. All of a sudden, he didn’t trust himself not to start crying.
Louis pulled back to look at him. “Wait, are you crying? Love, what happened?”
He took a breath, trying to steady himself. “I’m fine, hon. I really am. I just don’t think I realized how much I’d feel today. There was so much constantly happening, and the undercurrent of memories from high school just sort of filled me up.” He sighed. “I’m really okay. Just need a good night's sleep tonight.”
Louis hopped down, but leaned in for a hug. “Go change, take a shower if you need to. I’ll make you a cup of tea…want a shot of whiskey in it?” He gave Harry a quick kiss before backing up toward the kitchen. “Your mom said she’d be late tonight, so dinner’s on us. Want me to call in for pizza or do you want to make something?”
Harry smiled. “Whiskey, no. Pizza, yes. I think I’ll shower and then I’ll tell you all about it.” He picked up his bag from the floor. “Hey, I made a friend today, so that was a high point.” He followed Louis into the kitchen. “Also I think I might love my kids.”
Louis turned from where he was filling up the teapot. “That sounds like a high point, too. That’s amazing, H. That’s what you were hoping for.”
“It really was. I guess nothing else really matters. I want to make a difference for someone.” He leaned against the kitchen door. “I don’t want any other kid to feel the way I did back then. Back before…you know…before…” He found himself getting overwhelmed again.
Louis rushed over and pulled him into another hug. “I know, babe. It’s okay. Things sort of sucked back then.”
Harry leaned into his fiance and breathed in his comforting smell. Before they’d met, Harry had been one of the only out gay kids in school and while he’d known a lot of kids supported him, he didn’t have many friends. No one really came to his defense when the bullies picked on him. “I sort of feel like calling Niall. Telling him how much I appreciate him being my friend in High School,” he whispered into Louis’ hair.
Louis stiffened. Still always a bit guilty that he’d not come to Harry’s defense sooner than he did senior year. “I think Niall would love that.” He pulled back again, and turned Harry toward the hall. Go up and shower. Then call Niall. I’ll make your tea. No whiskey.” He winked. “And then I’ll call Slice for your favorite.”
Harry leaned in for a kiss. “You're my favorite. Don’t forget.”
“Better be. You’re marrying me, not Niall.” He patted Harry’s bum and pushed him toward the hall. “Shower. You’re starting to stink.”
“Heeyy.” Harry pinched Louis’ bum in retaliation and then bounded away before he could start a tickle fight he’d never be able to win. He wasn’t at all sure they’d made the right decision to move home yet, but living here with Louis taking care of him felt right.
Standing in the shower, head back, letting the warm water sluice over his hair and back, Harry thought back to the spring.
“I’ve got an idea. Hear me out.” Harry whispered.
Louis turned over in his arms, in the tiny single bed. He’d come up from New York City for Harry’s college graduation. “Hmmm…always like your ideas,” he rasped, leaning in for a kiss.
“Not like that. I’ve got a real idea.” Harry swatted him.
Louis chuckled, and snaked his hand down Harry’s stomach to nudge his cock. “Like this isn’t a real idea.”
Harry nipped his shoulder. “Seriously, Lou,” he whined, but leaned into his hand anyway. “We need to figure this out. I can’t spend another year without you. College is over now. We need to figure this out.”
Louis pulled his hand out of the sheets to stroke Harry’s cheek. “Okay, love. I’m sorry. You’re right. We can’t keep doing this in separate states. What’s your idea?”
“Bear with me.” He took a breath. “Niall sent me a job posting from Graniteville. Mrs. Harvey is retiring at the end of this school year. They are looking for a part-time drama teacher.”
“Okay…”
“My mother still has the apartment downstairs at her house. We’d have to pay some rent, but it would be cheap. You can work anywhere, right? They gave you that computer so you can work from home.”
Louis raised his eyebrows. “Are you suggesting that we move into your mother’s basement?”
“Well, I don’t have the job yet. But, yes? Do you know how much money we could save? We’d be able to afford rings and the wedding of our dreams and probably the downpayment on an apartment in the city…”
Harry gazed at Louis’ furrowing brow. “What are you thinking?” He reached out and ran his finger down Lou’s arm.
Louis pursed his lips and grabbed Harry’s hand. “I’m thinking about the boy I fell in love with who was so brave and so strong in the face of a lot of crap. The one who said he’d never go back to that place, that’s what I’m thinking. I never had the negative experience that you did back then, babe. Are you sure you’d want to go back?” He poked Harry’s cheek where his dimple lived. “Wouldn’t it be better to move into my flat in New York?”
Harry frowned. “You mean, your 500 square foot flat that costs $3K a month? You spend a huge chunk of your salary just on rent. We could put that money in savings.”He sighed. “And I’m not the same boy. I’m so much stronger. And I have you. And Niall is there in the mayor’s office. And my mom, and your family. We wouldn’t be alone. It’d only be a year, and all that money we save could go toward something useful.”
“Like a ring,” Louis teased, pulling Harry’s hand to his face and kissing his knuckles. “Like a ring for this beautiful finger?”
Harry had the good sense to look shameful. “I don’t need a ring,” he said softly.
“Yeah you do. You need a ring. You need me to put a ring on this finger, that’s not the cheap copper thing that’s been turning your knuckle green. You need a platinum band that matches the one I’ll be wearing. And I want to give that to you.” He kissed the knuckle again and then linked their hands.
“Don’t cry, Lou.” Harry reached up and wiped the tear collecting in Louis’ eye. “I really don’t.”
Louis nuzzled into Harry’s palm. “Okay. Let’s do this. Apply for the job. See what happens. If you get an interview, we’ll talk about next steps. One thing at a time.”
Harry grinned and kissed his boyfriend, before pushing himself up on his elbow. “Okay. That's a good idea. One step at a time.”
“Wait. Where are you going.” Louis reached to pull him back into the bed. “It’s late.”
“I’m going to apply for the job. That’s what you just said to do.” He pulled the sheet back up over Louis’ shoulder. “I’ll be back in a few. Just going to send it.”
“Did you have it all ready to go? Tell me you didn’t have your application ready to send.” Louis fell back onto the pillow in a swoon. “You are ridiculous.”
“Of course I did. I was just waiting to talk to you about it.” Harry leaned over the bed and gave him one more kiss. “Be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”
It took two days to hear back from the school to request a remote interview and then another week for them to ask him to come for an in person interview. Harry’s mother was ecstatic to hear they’d be moving home, not to mention the glee they heard from Louis’ parents and sisters.
“Harry’s going to be teaching at our school?” Daisy had screamed. “We are going to be so cool. The kids are going to think we are sooooo cool!”
When Harry stepped out of the shower, he yelled down to Louis. “Hey babe. Call your sisters for me and ask them why they didn’t come see me today.”
“Those little shits,” Louis said, much closer than Harry expected. He emerged from Harry’s childhood bedroom which had been turned into an office. “They told me they wanted to give you a day to get settled. Expect them to be relentless tomorrow.” His eyes skimmed down to where Harry only had a towel wrapped around his middle. He quirked an eyebrow.
Harry sighed, stepping into his fiance’s space. “They didn’t really have to do that. I would have loved to have seen them.”
“Well,” Louis said, sliding his finger between the towel and Harry’s waist. “I guess it’s a good thing you have to go back tomorrrw then. Pizza’ll be here in ten…we’ve got a few minutes to kill…”