Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

You Were My Unexpected.

Louis lay curled up around Eleanor, spooning her long body, both of them crammed on her small bed in her dorm room but it suited them well. Eleanor was his best friend. She'd been his best friend ever since they started college in London. Eleanor was studying fashion and Louis was studying politics.

'Hmm this is nice,' Eleanor murmured as she scooted back into Louis' chest. Louis snuggled closer, his face buried in her neck, his arms wrapped around her small waist.

'Yes it definitely is.' Eleanor stiffened.

'Louis,' she said quietly.

Hmm?' he replied.

'What's this poking in my lower back? You're not? Oh my fucking God Louis don't tell me you've got a boner?' Louis raised his head and looked down at Eleanor's face.

'What? No God El of course I don't have a boner! What makes you think I could ever get a hard on for you? Jesus it's just my phone. Look,' he said as he fished it out of his pocket and waved it in her face to prove the point. Eleanor smiled and snuggled closer to Louis. 'Nah quh I want to be little spoon now.' Louis turned around offering his back to Eleanor who engulfed him in a hug. Louis snuggled in. 'So what are we doing this weekend?'

'For Valentine's day?' Eleanor asked. 'Ugh nothing.'

'Nothing? I thought you were going out with your boyfriend.'

'He is not my boyfriend Louiskins.' Louis smiled, loving the nickname El always had for him. 'I don't do boyfriend girlfriend duty.'

'Well you've been with him for what feels like three years now so I think it's safe to say to call him your boyfriend. Everybody does that El.'

'I prefer to call him Max,' Eleanor deadpanned. Louis slapped her hand that was resting on his stomach.

'Seriously? When are you going to settle down?'

'How about when you settle down hmm?' Louis went quiet and Eleanor wanted to bite her tongue off when she remembered that Louis had broken up with his boyfriend Luke a few months back and it was still a sore subject with Louis 'How are you?' she asked quietly. Louis sighed heavily.

'You mean because its my first Valentine's day without Luke?' Eleanor could still hear the pain in his voice when he spoke about Luke and she hated it. She hated it that Louis had been through so much pain because of that shithead Luke and was still feeling that pain because of him.

'It's been a couple on months now Lou. Shouldn't you be out there getting back up on the horse?' Louis chuckled.

'There will be no horse of any kind for me in the immidiate future. Which is why I am so happy to be getting out of here and away from all the horrible singles parties decorated with pink hearts and playing romantic songs while people look at you as if they are pitying you and wanting to set you up with any eligible guy in the room. I'm just not ready to date again yet El,' he said, his voice quieting down. They both were silent for a bit then Eleanor raised her head and looked down at Louis.

'Hang on there. What do you mean with your getting out of here? Where are you going?' Louis shifted in her arms and turned round on his back, gazing up at the ceiling a small fond smile on his lips.

'My friends Stan and Michelle's engagement party. We talked about this remember? You nearly had a seizure when I told you they were having their engagement party on Valentine's day!' Eleanor made a disgusted face.

'Eww yeah I must have blocked it out.' She settled comfortably with her head on Louis' chest. 'Louiskins you're going back home for an engagement party on Valentine's day. My God you are truly a good friend.' Louis smiled and patted her hand.

'Yes I am. Truly devoted and loyal to my friends. That's me.' His phone began to vibrate on the bed between them. Louis picked it up and looked at his screen to see who was calling. 'Speak of the devils,' he said as he sat up and swiped the phone to take the call. 'Heyyyy how are you? How are you feeling now that you're engaged to the love of your life?' Louis asked all excited because he loved his friends. Michelle giggled on the phone.

'I feel good Lou. It's amazing.We're so excited that you're coming home for our party. So listen Lou Bear we, Stan and I, have a little favor to ask,' Michelle said. Louis smiled big and shifted on the bed, his legs dangling over the edge.

'Anything. You can ask me anything. Anything for the bride and groom.' Eleanor rolled her eyes and mouthed “ohmygod” at him, making Louis push her away playfully.

'Could you....would you mind giving Harry a lift?' Louis furrowed his eyebrows at the strange request.

'Harry? Harry who?' he asked. There was a moment of silence on the line.

'Harry,' Michelle said, 'Styles.' Louis froze.

'Harry Styles,' he said quietly. 'You don't mean Harry Styles who hates me? Harry Styles who made fun of me pretty much everyday in school? Harry Styles who humiliated me and bullied me relentlessly?' Louis' voice was getting higher and more agitated.

'Yeah,' Michelle said.

'Mich, you're not seriously asking me to spend nine hours alone in a car with Harry freaking Styles are you?' Eleanor sat up.

'No fucking way Lou. No!' Louis waved his hand at her shushing her up. 'Say no Louis. Say no now.'

'Kinda. I mean Lou Bear you go to the same school and he was supposed to drive out with his girlfriend and I think they broke up or something.'

'Shocking!' Louis said sarcastically.

'And he doesn't have a car,' Michelle continued, 'so he won't be able to come unless....' she let it hang.

'I don't know Michelle,' Louis said not liking this idea at all because Harry Styles was his nightmare. 'It's not a good idea.'

'Say no,' Eleanor said. Louis put his hand on his phone so Michelle wouldn't hear. Eleanor made grabby hands at his phone. 'Gimme the phone I'll tell her.' Eleanor tried to pry the phone out of Louis' hand.

'Stop El. No...just no stop,' he said slapping her hands away. Louis managed to keep control of his phone.

'Please Lou Bear. Stan really wants him here. Please please....pretty please? Lou is there someone there with you? Where are you?'

'In hell apparently,' Louis replied. He rubbed his face with his free hand. 'Um yeah okay I will bring Harry.' Eleanor rolled her eyes and shook her head and Louis knew that she was disappointed in him.

'Oh my God!' Michelle screamed over the phone. 'Thank you Lou Bear thank you.'

'Tell him to meet me outside the student union at seven am sharp. If he is late, I swear to God I am leaving without him.'

'Thank you Louis. Thank you, thank you,' Michelle squealed happily. 'See you Saturday.' And she hung up. Louis sat there looking at his phone not believing what he had just accepted to do for his friends. He was going to spend nine hours in a drive from London to Manchester in a car with Harry fucking Styles, his biggest enemy and tormentor.

'Wow,' Eleanor said sarcastically, 'you my friend are a medical marvel. No wonder you can stand at
all without a spine like that.' Louis flopped back down on the bed. He couldn't bear the disappointment in Eleanor's voice.

'What have I gotten myself into?' he murmured.

X

Two days later Louis was parked outside the student union building, his entire nervous system in shambles. He was nervous and sick to his stomach about having Harry Styles in his car, a notorious bully and heart breaker. He didn't know why in God's name he had accepted to give Harry a lift when Harry had done nothing but bully him and call him names. Yeah some might think that by now he should be over all that but in truth, Louis wasn't! Harry's taunts and words still hurt him because they had made him feel small and disgusting. Louis had always been openly gay and Harry's words had hurt him. He looked at the clock on the dash. 7:10 am. He huffed and dialed Eleanor. Eleanor picked up after the second ring.

'Everything okay?' she said into the phone. Louis knew she was worried about him because he had told her everything that Harry had done to him and put him through and Eleanor had been against this from the get go.

'He's not here,' Louis said in a small voice.

'What an asshole,' Eleanor replied. Louis sighed.

'See? That's the thing about Harry. He had no concern or regard for anybody else but himself. He just shows up whenever the hell he wants to after I have been so kind as to give him a lift. Ugh, I never should've agreed to this,' Louis complained.

'No you really shouldn't have,' Eleanor agreed. 'But hey, you could always leave. I mean it would be perfectly justified since he didn't show up at the agreed time like the asshole that he is.'

'Fine. I'll give him till seven fifteen then I'm off. What are you doing?'

'It's seven ten in the morning Louis what do you think I'm doing?' Louis gasped.

'Oh my God did I wake you?' he asked.

'Yeah but it's fine,' Eleanor said. Louis heard a voice mumble in the back ground. 'Shut up Max no one cares about what you think. Max said hi Lou.'

'Hiiii Max,' Louis chirped into the phone making Eleanor cringe and pull her phone away from her ear at Louis' shrill voice. 'Sorry to have woken you guys up. Go back to sleep El.'

'No it's fine really. I'll stay on with you because I know you're nervous and scared and you're my best friend and I'm here for you, supporting you through this foolishly crazy idea you brought on yourself. Now remember, if he starts anything like maybe calling you names or insulting you, I want you to pull over and tell him to get the hell out.' Louis smiled fondly. Eleanor was truly his best friend.

'Ok El. Got it.'

'Say it,' Eleanor said.

'Say what?' Louis asked a little perplexed. Eleanor huffed.

'Practice it come on. I want to hear you say it.' Louis rolled his eyes.

'El come on. I'm not gonna...God...why does this shit always happen to me?' he whined into the phone.

'Beacause you are too good and you like to please people so come on I want to know that you are well prepared to tell him to fuck off should he start anything. Now let me hear you Louis.'

'Ugh fine alright. Get the hell out,' he said a little too softly. Eleanor snorted into the phone.

'You're kidding right? Tell me you're kidding. I tell Max to pick up my ice-cream more force fully than that. Again Louis. Put some spine into it!' Louis inhaled deeply.

'Get the hell out!' he said a little more forcefully.

'Again,' Eleanor encouraged him, 'bring it up right from under those unused blue balls of yours!'

'Get the hell out,' Louis snarled with more feeling.

'Again Louiskins, let me hear you roar like the lion that you are!'

'Get the hell out!!!!' Louis screamed and growled into the car, startling a man that was crossing in front of his parked car.

'Okay good,' Eleanor praised him. 'That's very good. You're gonna be just fine babe. Call me if you need anything.'

'I will,' Louis said. 'Bye.' He hung up and sat in his silent car. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, humming a useless tune to help calm his nerves. Harry Styles! He was a handsome one. A straight handsome one, with his curls and dimples and bandana in his hair, his ripped jeans and hoodies, his charm, those green eyes and....and all his hateful comments and homophobic insults coming out of those pretty pink lips aimed at him like daggers slicing through his tender skin. Louis shook himself out of his thoughts and looked at the dashboard clock. 7:20 am.

'That's it Mr. I'm done waiting for you. You can take the bus. Or train or whatever because I'm leaving and I don't care.' Louis turned the key in the ignition and started the car. 'Good riddance Styles.' Louis pulled away from the curb and no sooner had he driven away from the curb, he heard yells.

'Hey hey nonono wait wait. I'm here! I'm here.' Louis looked in his rear view mirror and he saw Harry running to catch up with his car. Just for the fun of it he drove on, slowly but still. He wanted to stop when HE wanted to stop not when Harry demanded he stop.

'Harry Styles,' Louis muttered to himself.

'Wait c'mon hey wait.' Louis slowed down when Harry reached the car then stopped. Harry skidded on the sleet but quickly stood up, rounded the car and opened the passenger side, giving Louis his full dimpled smile which made his breath rattle in his chest. Fucking Harry Styles! Louis stopped the car, pressing on the break gently. Harry got in the passenger seat and dumped his bag and suit bag in the back seat.

'Thanks man for doing this. I know I'm a few minutes late....'

'Try twenty minutes,' Louis said but Harry seemed to not have heard him because he carried on talking.

'My room mate Liam threw a huge ass party last night which was like a really bad idea but he did it anyway and we all ended up hammered and my alarm didn't go off though I did set it for the ungodly hour of 6:30. I mean who the fuck wakes up at that early hour....'

'I woke up at five,' Louis said calmly and again Harry barreled on talking not paying attention to Louis.

'But anyway somehow my alarm didn't go off and if Xander hadn't woken up puking his guts out, I wouldn't have woken up. That put me a little behind sched but I made it. We're here ready to go on a road trip back home. No harm no foul balls,' he said giving Louis another smile. Then his face went serious and his brows furrowed as if in thought. 'Although my balls may be a little foul because I didn't have time to shower. You get me?' Harry asked as he fastened his seat belt. Louis inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. Nine hours with Harry in his car! This was going to be a challenge.

'I.....get you,' Louis said as he pulled away from the curb for the second time.

'Oh and do you mind making a quick stop at Costa? I'm going to need some serious caffeine if I'm going to be good company for you.' Louis sighed. This human was simply impossible; a selfish, conceited, arrogant, self centered human being but God was he gorgeous! He had a dark green bandana wrapped around those unruly curls and he was wearing skin tight black jeans, a green hoodie, a black bomber jacket and boots.....And straight, Louis chided himself. Harry is straight! Louis wove through early morning traffic and stopped Harry at the first Costa so he could get his caffeine fix then they were truly on the road. Harry was quiet, sipping his coffee happily and Louis tried not to divert his eyes off the road to give him the occasional subtle glance. He couldn't help it! Harry was pretty okay! Put aside his shitty character and he was really pretty.

'Can you believe my girlfriend left me because I forgot our three month anniversary? Who does that? Is that even a thing? Who even remembers shit like that?' Louis cast him a sideways glance and Harry was smirking.

'I don't know,' Louis said, 'thoughtful people maybe?' Harry looked and him and chuckled.

'Of course you'd say that. You never forget anything. You remember that time you reminded Mrs. Brown we had to have that literature test? And everyone got so pissed off at you?' Louis gripped the steering wheel tighter hating that Harry was taking him back down memory lane, a lane he preferred to never had to visit again especially with Harry in close encounters.

'Yeah I remember,' Louis said dryly. 'I remember because I had studied for that test like we were supposed to and I didn't want to get behind. You know we had those big projects in English and Social Studies. Plus, it was the first time you called me Lick Ass Louis and that's not something I'm likely to forget.' Harry chuckled and it made Louis itch.

'Who called you Lick Ass Louis?'

'You did,' Louis replied curtly.

'Me?' Harry asked skepitcally.

'Yeah,' Louis answered hating that Harry had forgotten how he had made his life miserable. How could he have forgotten?

'No,' Harry said, shaking his head, refusing to believe what Louis was saying.

'Yeah,' Louis affirmed again. Harry turned in his seat to look at Louis' profile.

'No way man! You're saying I made that up? I gave you that nickname?'

'Mhm,' Louis said because honestly, it hurt that Harry did not even remember. He conveniently remembered when Louis had ratted them out about the test but not inventing this nickname to go with it. Harry turned back and looked out the windscreen.

'Nah. I don't think so.' Louis groaned internally. What an asshole!

'Trust me Harry. I remember because after you called me Lick Ass Louis, Xander Harris thought it would be funnier to call me Lick Ass Louisa and that's what people called me for the rest of secondary school so I think I would remember who started it since I had to endure it every day don't I?' Louis said feeling anger seep under his skin. Harry shrugged and drank the last of his coffee.

'Alright. I guess if you say so but hey, it's a good one,' Harry said and Louis wanted to pull over and push him out of the car or maybe if he didn't fear crashing the car and hurting himself, he would push him out of the car while it was still moving. The nerve on him!

'You know what? I'm feeling pretty wiped. I haven't slept in like three days because of studying because some of us do study for mid terms unlike some who prefer to party so maybe we can have a little quiet time.' Harry chewed on his bottom lip then gave Louis a small smile.

'Yeah sure thing. Gotcha.' Silence descended on the car and Louis took that time to mentally gather himself because Harry was still such an asshole. How could he not remember that nickname he had given him and ruined his life with it? Louis' mind was racing, his heart thumping hard in his chest because Harry had some nerve to not even take the responsibility of having given him that nickname and he dared to make fun of him in his own car while Louis had been kind enough to give him a lift! He had to regain control over his emotions and not let Harry get to him. He mentally breathed in and breathed out and as he began to calm down and get his emotions under check and his thoughts back to their rational logical state, Harry's voice broke the blessed silence.

'I mean come on three months? Who's like ready to go serious at three months? It doesn't make sense. A while ago, a group of us went to the beach and I mean, I couldn't help but look at all the lovely girls there. I mean, who wouldn't want to look at all those girls in bikini....'

'I wouldn't look,' Louis stated but Harry seemed to not have heard him.

'And she got mad at me, told me that I'm looking too much. Is there even a thing as too much? Beauty is all around and I happen to appreciate it so can I really be blamed for staring?'

'Not polite to stare,' Louis interrupted but it didn't have any effect on Harry, because he was an egoistical asshole and he just continued on.

'As if that wasn't enough, I caught her going through my phone and I was like right, that's it. I've had it and I'm out. Can you believe that mate? I mean going through my phone?'

'Which girlfriend was this?' Louis asked. 'I lost count at the third one.' Harry chuckled.

'Does it matter? She went through my phone! Why? Can you even believe it?' Louis gripped the wheel tighter and sighed. Here was his chance to speak his mind to Harry. He was practically asking it of him and he was not going to pass up the chance of even making Harry feel bad for a bit.

'Can I believe that you drove multiple women insane to the point of a psychotic break? Yes. Yes Harry I can. Taking my personal experience with you, yes I believe you can. Whole heartedly.' Harry's smile dulled.

'Wow okay. Ouch,' he said, his voice softer. Good Louis thought. He had hit him where it hurt. Harry 1 – Louis 1. Louis grinned at himself. Damn that felt good!

'So, you just drop them like that and then move on when it gets hard or weird. Like you bolt before you start to catch feelings.' Harry felt confused by Louis' words. He scratched above his ear where his bandana was.

'I um, I don't know if I'd ugh put it like that,' he stammered and wow Louis was shocked to see a dent in Harry's confidence. And a boost in his own!

'Harry, you spent the last three hours of the drive recounting every detail of your past five relationships and the most amazing thing I noticed through your recounting, is the most amazing thing ever! In every single one of these relationships, you did absolutely nothing wrong. You found fault with all your girlfriends, blaming them for the things they did yet here you are, complaining about what they did. Did it ever at any point occur to you that maybe umm I don't know, maybe you had something to do with what happened?' Harry was silent, chewing on his bottom lip as if thinking and Louis was glorifying in the fact that he was making Harry think! Harry raised his head and looked at Louis.

'You know what? You're probably right. I must like the drama because it's not just the girls either. It happened with this guy I was with too....'

'See?' Louis shrieked happily at having been right and he had gotten Harry to admit that he was an asshole. Then an alarm bell went off inside Louis' head. Guy? Did Harry say guy? 'Wait? What? What did you say? What do you mean guy?' Louis' mind was buzzing. Guy? Harry looked at him amused by Louis' reaction.

'Um as in not a girl?' Louis' turned shocked eyes at Harry, then he looked at the road then back at Harry, lost for words because did Harry just say he dated a guy? Harry chuckled at Louis' stunned expression and decided to put the guy out of his misery. 'I'm pan,' he admitted. Louis' mouth felt dry. He swallowed and cast a furtive glance at Harry.

'Pan?' he asked softly. 'You're pan? What does that even mean?' Louis' mind was whirling. Harry gave him a small smile.

'Pansexual,' he said. 'It means that I don't have a gender preference when....'

'No. No no,' Louis stopped him. 'I know what pansexual means Harry. What I don't get is what do you mean you're pan?' Harry sighed and relaxed into his seat.

'Well, I used to call myself Bi but someone schooled me that Pan is way more inclusive. And honestly, its just more me.' Harry paused and looked at Louis who was still looked shocked. 'You know, I'm surprised you didn't know this about me already. My mum practically put it in every Christmas card the year I came out.' Louis swallowed again, his throat so dry it ached. He really needed a cup of tea.

'I didn't exactly keep tabs on you when we left school. I wanted to forget you existed so no I didn't know this about you.' Harry smiled a little sadly.

'Fair enough. But hey, now that you know maybe we could hit a few gay clubs together sometime. Most of my friends are straight or females so I could use a gay wing man.' Louis' shock intensified. Harry wanted to hang out with him gay clubs? This was unreal. Louis was sure that he was in some kind of alternate universe where Harry Styles had just come out to him and wanted to go gay clubbing with him.

'Louis are you okay?' Harry asked him because he had seen how spaced out Louis looked. Louis turned his head and stared at Harry sitting there in his seat, curls held back by that pretty bandada, green eyes looking at him with concern? Louis' blue eyes stayed on Harry, seeing him through a different lens now. He was still trying to process all the information Harry had given him.

'Lou?' Harry said softly as Louis just kept staring at him. Lou. Harry had called him Lou. Only his friends called him Lou. Or in Eleanor's care Louiskins. Harry had never called him by his name let alone his nickname and it sounded so good coming from those pink lips.....A loud blaring horn brought Louis out of his reverie and his eyes back on the road to see a lorry barreling towards them, head lights blinking. Louis quickly turned the steering wheel to the right to avoid collision, driving the car off the road on to the snowy bank as it slid and turned, brakes screeching as they tried to find traction with the frosty tarmac. Harry held on to the dashboard for dear life, a scream tearing out of his throat. The tyers slipped on ice but thankfully Louis managed to control the car and bring them to an abrupt stop on the shoulder of the motorway. Both of them tipped forward at the sudden break then it went silent. They looked at each other with wide eyes, thumping heart and breathing heavily.

'Are you alright?' Louis asked him, looking Harry up and down for any sign of injury.

'Yeah yeah I'm good,' Harry said. 'Just terrified. I nearly wet myself. The fuck Lou? I saw my whole life flash before my eyes there for a minute.' Louis huffed.

'I bet you saw all your failed relationships! Don't he so dramatic Harry. For your information I had complete control of the car.' Harry smirked at him.

'I didn't look like it for a bit there. You nearly shit your pants.' Louis ground his teeth together trying to resist not yelling get the hell out of my car like Eleanor had suggested. He rolled his eyes and cranked up the engine.

'You really are a drama queen,' he said as he turned the car around to get them back on the motorway in their proper lane. 'It's getting late and I hate to drive on the motorway in the dark. We should find a guest house for the night.'

'Good idea,' Harry agreed. 'I could do with a hot shower and comfy bed for the night. I need my beauty sleep.' Louis huffed. He hated this guy. He was so pompous and full of himself. It was all about Harry! Everything was about Harry. He had a mind to keep on driving not giving in to Harry's need for comfort but he hated to drive on the motorway in the dark and if he had to admit it, he too was tired and in need of a shower. So he grit his teeth together and drove on until he saw a sign that indicated that if you take the next turn off and drive two hundred kilometers you were to find yourself at the Goat's Head Guesthouse and Pub. Louis indicated that he was going to take the next ramp off the motorway and he found himself in a narrow road which led him to the guesthouse. He parked and killed the engine.

'Get the bags,' Louis told him. 'I'll get rooms.' Harry smiled and nodded. They got out of the car and Louis headed inside while Harry got the bags. When he got to the reception, he was informed that they had only one room available but was happy to hear that it had two beds. No way in hell was he going to share a bed with Harry! Louis took the key and found Harry waiting in the lobby with their bags. He dangled the key in front of Harry's face.

'I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that I am going to have to share a room with you. The good news is that there are two beds thank the heavens. I hope you don't snore or fart in your sleep.' Harry grinned at him.

'I don't do either.' Louis scrutinized him.

'How do you know if you're asleep?' Harry wiggled his perfect eyebrows at him.

'Nobody complained if you get what I mean.' Ugh, Louis wanted to punch him in his smug face.

'You're carrying the bags up to flights of stairs.' Harry grinned again.

'No problem Lou. I have stamina. I can go a long way.' Louis rolled his eyes.

'Bet you never had complains about that either huh?' Harry picked up both bags.

'Never. Not once.' Louis began climbing the stairs praying to god that this night would hurry by and Harry would just fall asleep. They came to the top of the narrow stairs and Louis didn't feel sorry for a panting Harry behind him struggling with the bags. Louis opened the door and was greeted by a clean, homey room with flowery wallpaper, plain curtains, two beds with bedspreads matching the curtains and a small bathroom with a shower. Harry dumped the bags by the door and sat down heavily on the bed beside the door, leaving Louis with the bed by the door. Louis sighed because of course Harry wouldn't even ask which bed Louis preferred but whatever. Louis couldn't really expect courtesy from Harry.

Harry plopped down on the bed, bouncing a few times checking the mattress.

'This will do,' he told Louis with a smile, his dimples flashing and making Louis a tad bit weak in the knees because who wouldn't and Louis was a gay man so could anyone blame him for finding this arrogant, selfish man handsome? No, no one would because he would die before admitting he found Harry attractive.

'Hey,' Harry said pulling Louis out of his thoughts. 'Are you alright? You seem to be zoning out on me quite a few times.' Louis gave him a small smile.

'I'm fine. Just tired and hungry.' Harry jumped to his feet.

'Want me to go down and find us something to eat?' Louis' eyes widened a little bit because had just Harry offered to go get them food?

'If you could be a darling,' Louis said. Harry grinned widely.

'I'll be a darling for you,' he said, giving Louis a wink and pushing past him to get to the door. When the door closed behind Harry, Louis fanned himself and sat down on the bed. Why had he agreed to this again? Oh yes, to please his friends and get Harry to their engagement party. Louis growled in frustration, took out his phone and dialed his mother because he had promised to call her and keep her updated on the trip. She knew how much grief Harry had caused Louis and she hadn't made a secret of it that she wasn't pleased that Louis had agreed to give Harry lift.

'Lou,' his mother answered and he could hear the trepidation in her voice.

'It's all good mum,' he said right away to reassure her.

'Is it really or are you just telling me that not to worry me?' Louis smiled fondly. He loved his mother dearly.

'No, mum I'm not. Really, its all going good.' He heard his mother sigh.

'I don't trust Harry,' she said. Louis smiled.

'I don't either mum,' he admitted.

'I sure hope you won't. I've seen what he's done to you.' Louis' smile fell of his face.

'I remember mum. I'm not likely to forget.'

'He's not running his mouth is he? He's not being mean to you right? Please tell me he's not Lou,' Johanna pleaded with him.

'Mum no. He's being decent. He's different somehow. We kinda talk, well he talks mostly and did you know he's pansexual? I had no idea.....'

'Louis don't go getting any ideas,' Jay interrupted him. 'He's still the same Harry.'

'What? Mum no I.....' he paused because when Harry had told him he was pansexual, for a split second there had been a spark of interest lit up in Louis. Harry was beautiful and charming and pansexual which meant he had dated guys and …. 'No mum definitely no interest in him whatsoever. I know he's the same Harry. He just...I don't know seems different.' The door to their hotel room banged open and Harry walked in, smiling at Louis.

'I got food,' he announced loudly showing Louis the Tesco bags. Louis covered his phone.

'Do you mind? I'm on the phone.'

'Opps sorry,' Harry mouthed.

'Mum I gotta go. Harry just brought food and I'm starving. Yes I'll call when I get there. Yes mum okay. I love you too. Bye.' Louis hung and and looked at Harry who was looking at him with a strange fond look and a smile on his face.

'What?' Louis asked him. Harry shrugged.

'Nothing. It's just, the bond you have with your mum.'

'So what you're going to make fun of me now? Call me a mamma's boy?' The smile slid off Harry's face and he looked at Louis with a dimmed light in his eyes.

'No I wasn't. I just wish I had the same connection with my mum like you have.' Louis furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

'I thought your mum posted your coming out in every Christmas card.' Harry fiddled with the plastic bags in his hand.

'She did. She's alright. I know she loves me its just that we're not close. We don't see each other often and when we do, its like weird. I mean, she does all things a mother does for their child but we don't have a connection. Not like the one you have with your mum. I envy that. Anyway,' Harry said ending the discussion, 'I didn't know what you liked so I got different things from Tesco next door. I got two types of sandwiches : chicken and mayo and tuna, plain crisps and cheese and onion and two pot noodles : chicken and mushroom and curry. And for drinks I got Coke and Sprite. What's your fancy?' Louis couldn't help the fond smile that spread on his face.

'I'll have chicken and mayo sandwich, cheese and onion crisps and Sprite. Thank you.' Harry handed him the food.

'Glad I got something right,' Harry mumbled. Harry sat on the bed opposite Louis and tore into his tuna sandwich. They ate in silence for a while then Harry stopped eating and looked at Louis who was munching small bites of his sandwich.

'So you really didn't know? About me I mean,' Harry asked Louis. Louis swallowed and gave him a small smile.

'I really did not.' Harry put his sandwich down and rubbed his hands on his jeans. Louis didn't understand why Harry was avoiding looking at him.

'I thought you had me figured out a long time ago,' Harry said quietly. Louis furrowed his eyebrows in confusion at Harry's weird question.

'Why would I?' Louis asked him. Harry shrugged and played with the rings on his fingers.

'Because I caught you staring at me sometimes,' Harry admitted. Louis was taken aback by Harry's confession. Had he really been caught staring at him and Harry was here calling him out on it?

'Yeah only because I thought you hated me and made my life a living hell. You were my bully Harry,' Louis said as he tried to hide his embarrassment. Harry looked at Louis.

'Oh,' he said. He clearly wasn't expecting that answer. What else had he expecting? 'I didn't hate you,' Harry admitted and Louis' heart stuttered in his chest. Why were they sitting in a hotel room across from each other admitting things to one another? Louis felt like he was in an episode of The Twilight Zone. 'Truth is,' Harry continued, 'I admired you.' Louis' eyes went wide.

'I'm sorry....what? I..I don't even....what?' Harry gave him a small sad smile.

'You were out Louis. I envied that. I was too scared to come out. That's why I made fun of you and bullied you, you know that right? Because I thought that if somebody saw me being nice to you then I'd be guilty by association and...yeah I know that's not right and cowardly of me but I wasn't ready for that. I know that's no excuse for what I did to you. I never should've treated you like that. I was a right dick and I really am sorry Louis. I mean it.' Louis looked at Harry who sat across from him apologizing for all the pain he had caused Louis. He sat there stunned into silence. Harry was doing this to him a lot, stunning him into silence which was a little hard to do since Louis' mouth hardly stopped talking. His mind wanted his mouth to move and speak but instead Louis took a sip of his Sprite choosing not to say anything because what could he even say to Harry's admission? Harry shifted uncomfortably on the bed, the silence between them becoming awkward. He didn't know what he expected of Louis after his apology. Guess Louis didn't have anything to say to that and with reason too. Harry had hurt and humiliated him far too many times and he had seen that Louis was still not over what he had done to him. He cleared his throat.

'So what's next for you? After you graduate?' Harry asked him wanting to break the silence and change the topic. Louis sighed in relief.

'Well, I was thinking about going to grad school but I don't know. I think I need to go out there and get some real world experience so I'll probably go help out with the local campaign.' Harry gave him a smile, glad that Louis still wanted to talk to him and had gone along with the new topic. Harry slid off the bed and sat down on the carpeted floor between their two bed. He looked up at Louis.

'Like political campaign?' he asked interested because he was truly interested in all Louis had to say or wanted to say to him.

'Mhm,' Louis said as he popped a crisp into his mouth.

'Is that what you've been studying then? Politics? Huh,' he muttered as if to himself.

'What?' Louis asked. Harry offered him a smile.

'Nothing. I'm kinda surprised to be honest. I mean you seem so nice and...'

'Nice guys can't go into politics?' Louis interrupted him.

'Kinda yeah,' Harry admitted because politics wasn't nice and clean. Politicians were usually men who said they wanted to do better for citizens and country while they only did what benefitted them. Louis slid off the bed and sat on the carpet opposite Harry.

'Well we need more nice guys in politics or else we're never going to fix this messed up world.' Harry looked at him with soft eyes full of wonder.

'Hmmm so you're going to fx this messed up world then?' Louis looked back at him and found himself basking in the tender look Harry was giving him.

'Yeah I am,' he said with determination because he really wanted to. He wanted to fix this messed up world and make it better. Harry grinned at him, making Louis' heart beat a little faster.

'Good for you,' he praised. 'I like that.' Their gazes stayed locked on each other, each looking back at the person they thought they knew and discovering new things they knew nothing about. Harry's green eyes were intense on Louis', reaching deep into him and making his heart leap. Louis broke the staring contest. Harry smirked.

'So ugh what about you?' Louis asked him. 'What does the future have in store for Harry Styles?' Louis stretched his legs out in front of him, his socked toes beside Harry's thigh, not touching but close. Harry looked down at his lap.

'I don't know. I try not to think about it too much.' He raised his head and met Louis' blue eyes. 'That's why I need someone like you around.' Louis' heart skipped a beat.

'Like me?' he asked softly. Harry needed someone like him? Harry gave him a small smile.

'You know someone driven, someone a little...' Harry stopped and smirked at Louis popping his dimple. 'Extra!' Louis gasped, placing a hand on his chest as if offended and playfully nudged Harry's thigh with his toes.

'I am not extra!' he said, feigning having taken offence in what Harry said. Harry laughed and Louis' heart soared.

'You are the definition of extra!' he said still laughing. Louis felt his cheeks turn warm and Harry realized he wanted to kiss him. He wanted to kiss him really bad.

'No. I. Am. Not!' he said, punctuation each word.

'Sure whatever you say Mr. 7 am sharp,' Harry mocked him.

'Okay okay stop deflecting. I can see what you're doing. We're talking about you now.' Harry's face went serious and his eyes became thoughtful. Louis like this look on him.

'I guess the only thing I ever really knew I wanted is...' he paused because here he was revealing his vulnerability to Louis. Could he trust him? He took a deep breath and exhaled as he looked at Louis' expectant eyes on him. 'A family,' Harry said softly. 'To be a dad. To be a husband. What about you? Do you want kids?' Louis stared at him. This was unbelievable! Was this the real Harry Styles? Was this truly the boy that tormented him and made fun of him and bullied him wanting to be a husband and a father? Was this really Harry behind the scenes? Because if he was, Louis liked it! Louis bit his bottom lip trying to reign in his fond. He shrugged one shoulder.

'To be honest, I think I would be too afraid to bring a child into the world right now what with like climate change and just the general state of things,' Louis said. Harry held Louis' gaze because he wanted him to know him and that there were things he was serious about. Somehow it mattered to Harry that Louis didn't see him as his bully anymore.

'I get it,' Harry said, 'the world is a frightening place. I think about that stuff too but sometimes you just got to listen to your heart and trust that everything is going to work out.' Louis pondered Harry's words.

'Listening to your heart,' he repeated softly. 'Trust isn't my strength,' he admitted. Harry smiled.

'Hey you're the one who wants to fix the world, make it a better place. I trust in that. I trust you and you can trust me you know.' Louis bit his lip again and smiled at Harry.

'I can trust the man who can't remember a three month anniversary?' he asked and Harry smiled shyly.

'Maybe the reason I didn't remember was because it wasn't that important. Maybe I didn't remember because they weren't the one,' he defended. Louis chuckled.

'Don't tell me you're into all that soulmate, the one bla bla crap?' Harry's face went serious.

'Why? Aren't you? Don't you believe in destined soul mates?' Louis sighed heavily.

'What I do know to be true is that Manchester City should not by leading Man U by six points in the Premiere League Championship!' He had to break the tension and seriousness that had settled between them and football was something easy to talk about without it getting awkward unless....unless Harry was a City fan! Harry laughed loudly.

'I second that mate!' he said. Louis felt relieved.

'You support Man U?' he asked just to be sure. Harry rolled his eyes.

'Pfff of course. Who else would I support? You didn't think I was a City fan did you?' Louis nudged him with his toes again making Harry smile wider.

'Well back in school you were an avid Liam Gallagher and Oasis fan and since they are City supporters, I kinda just assumed you were too.' Harry scoffed.

'You assumed wrong. You just pinned me as a City fan just because I liked Oasis. That's not fair you know.'

'Guilty by association. Made sense to me,' Louis retorted.

'You sense of sense sucks,' Harry said playfully.

'Does not!' Louis laughed nudging Harry in his ribs with his toes. Harry squirmed away. Apparently he was ticklish Louis was glad to find out.

'Does too,' Harry teased. 'You just had a very low opinion of me.'

'Could you blame me?' Louis asked. 'And who says I still don't have a low opinion of you?' Harry stopped laughing and looked at him with wide green eyes.

'Do you?' he asked. Louis looked down away from those beautiful eyes.

'Maybe,' he said quietly. Silence settled between them again and it wasn't the comfortable kind. Louis searched his mind for another way out. 'Okay let's see if I can change my low opinion of you then, which by the way is very justifiable. What is your favorite movie? Impress me.' Harry snapped back to himself and smiled at Louis.

'Alright but you have to promise not to laugh.'

'Okay I promise,' Louis said quickly. Harry chuckled.

'That promise was very quick.' Louis nudged him.

'You said your trusted me. Not helping you change my opinion of you here if you go back on your word Styles. I promise,' Louis said.

'Not enough,' Harry sing songed. Louis rolled his eyes.

'God you're impossible. Okay cross my heart and hope to die. I won't laugh. There! Happy now?' Harry placed his palms together as if praying and bowed towards Louis.

'Yes. Very. My favorite movie is The Notebook.' Louis pressed his lips together because did Harry honestly love The Notebook based on the book by Nicholas Sparks?

'The Notebook?' Louis asked trying hard to suppress his laughter because he had promise hadn't he?

'Mhm,' Harry said. Louis giggled. He couldn't help it.

'Hey,' Harry whined, 'you promised you weren't going to laugh.' Louis laughed harder.

'I'm sorry. I just...I just....' he said in between his laughter.

'Yeah laugh,' Harry said but he was looking fondly at Louis. Louis took in a few breaths to calm his laughter.

'I just didn't peg you for the romantic type.' Harry's smile grew small and a little sad. Louis couldn't understand why Harry seemed intent on his opinion of him. What did he care? He never cared for anyone's opinion.

'You didn't peg me for a lot of things,' Harry said quietly. 'That movie...it was like the first time I knew what love was. The way they fell in love and it was forbidden because of social class and society. I mean, where love is concerned that shouldn't matter right? They loved each other and he kept reminding her that he loved her even when she forgot she did.' Harry shrugged and looked down like he was embarrassed. 'I mean, that's the kind of love I want. I want someone who loves me enough to fight for me and remind me they love me every day.' He raised his eyes and found Louis looking at him with a soft look and a smile on his lips.

'Wow,' Louis breathed because Harry had knocked the breath out of him. 'You are romantic huh. I kinda like that movie too.' They looked at each other intensely and Harry really wanted to kiss him, to touch him. Louis broke their gaze as he reached for his half eaten bag of crisps and took a few. Harry was confusing the hell out of him.

'So um did you...did you like ever hook up with anyone from Secondary?' Louis asked him, changing the subject for the hundereth time.

'Guys you mean?'

'Mhm,' Louis said as he munched on his crisps.

'Hell no,' Harry replied quickly. 'Did you?' Louis smiled sheepishly, mouth full of crisps. He swallowed.

'I did make out with Ashton once. You remember Ash right? But that was just about it. He was definitely straight.'

'Hmm,' Harry agreed. 'You know who I always thought was a little not straight?'

'Who?' Louis asked intrigued by the gossip and Harry's thoughts.

'Jeffrey,' Harry said lowly. Louis' eyes went wide and a smile stretched across his face. He got on his knees and put both his hands on Harry's legs.

'Glenne's Jeffrey? No way me too! And now he and Glenne are like engaged.' Louis leaned in closer and lowered his voice as if there were other people in the room and he was afraid they'd hear. 'You know what's even weirder than the kinda gay thing? He and Glenne have been friends since like primary school.' He pulled back and Harry cursed himself for not kissing him.

'Yeah well you know what they say right? You're supposed to marry your best friend so.' Louis sat back down but this time next to Harry, so close that his bent knees rested against Harry's muscular thighs. He tried to not think about how Harry's body heat was seeping into him.

'I guess,' Louis said, 'but I don't think that's what they meant. I don't know, I mean I guess it's fine for straight people but a couple of guys could never do that.' Harry looked down at him.

'Really? You think that two guys that are best friends could never get married?' Louis looked up at him and he really had to admit that Harry was beautiful and interesting and he was developing a crush against his better judgement.

'No way,' Louis said. 'Once guys are in the friend zone there is not way they're getting out. The best you can hope for is one night of awful sex but more than likely you're gonna have a lousy lay and ruin the friendship. Seriously, there is no way you won't end up worse off than when you started.'

'How can you be so sure?' Harry asked him.

'Let's just say Luke and I started out as friends, then you know, we started dating and I fell in love with him but um we weren't um having a lot of sex and then, I find out that he was cheating on me with half of his football team. I lost two people in one night. I lost my boyfriend and my best friend.' Louis swallowed thickly because why in God's name was he talking about Luke with Harry? Why was he sharing how Luke had betrayed him and humiliated him with Harry friggen Styles? Louis was jarred out of his thoughts when he felt Harry's big hand rest on his thigh.

'I'm so sorry that happened to you. I'm so sorry he was an asshole to you. You deserve much better than that.' Louis looked at Harry then down to where his hand lay on his thigh, his thumb running back and forth on his thigh in a comforting jesture, making Louis' insides melt. Suddenly, Harry pulled his hand away and got up.

'I should probably go take a shower,' he said because why had he touched Louis like that? He was such an idiot. He grabbed his toiletry bag and headed into the bathroom. Louis let out a breath he didn't even know he had been holding. He got up on his knees and reached for his phone that was on the bed and watched as Harry entered the bathroom, leaving the door ajar. He couldn't take his eyes off Harry as he took off his skin tight jeans, lowering them down his long legs then kicking them off and stand there in a very tight pair of white briefs.

'Oh God,' Louis murmured, suddenly his mouth dry. He needed to talk to El. She would set him straight. Well sort of. He dialed her number and she answered after the second ring.

'How are you?' she said right away. 'Is it okay? Did you punch him yet?' Louis chuckled.

'No I haven't El. Actually, its going really great,' he said a little dreamily, his eyes still on Harry in his white briefs.

'Really?' El asked clearly surprised.

'Yeah,' Louis sighed into the phone. 'He's...he's....'

'Louis don't you fucking dare,' Eleanor snarled at him through the phone.

'El he's changed,' Louis defended. 'There's so much about him I penned down wrong.'

'Like all the times he hurt you and made you cry?' Louis smiled.

'He actually apologized for all that because...' he lowered his voice not wanting Harry to hear. 'He came out to me El.' There was a moment of silence on Eleanor's end.

'Came out?' she asked. 'Came out of where?' Louis giggled.

'He's pansexual El and the reason he did all that to me was because he wasn't ready to come out yet and he kinda admired me.' Eleanor groaned.

'Louiskins you're letting him feed you all that with a spoon?'

'El stop,' Louis said. 'He's not who I thought he was. He's very romantic and kinda lonely. He's looking for his one true love to settle down and get married and have babies with.' Louis sighed into the phone.

'Oh God Louis. Please don't go falling for Harry fucking Styles. He'll only hurt you and break your heart.' Louis groaned.

'El I'm not that stupid,' Louis protested.

'Sweetie, I know you're not stupid. But you are a hopeless romantic whose had his heart broken and is looking for love and Harry has what you want and I'm scared for you. I'm scared you might reach out and try to take what he's offering....'

'I have to go. He's finishing his shower,' Louis said cutting off El abruptly.

'Louis take care of your heart baby,' Eleanor told him.

'I will. Bye El,' he said and hung up.

Harry got out of the shower and went to the sink to brush his teeth. The mirror was all fogged up from his shower so he took a towel and wiped it off. The moment the mirror was clear, he saw Louis taking off his pants and folding them neatly in just his boxers and tee shirt. He looked petite and tiny though his thighs were muscular. Harry smiled to himself. Louis was so sweet and intelligent with a lovely heart and Harry found himself drawn to him. He had secretly liked him back in secondary school and Harry regretted all the times he had made fun of him and tormented him. Now that he was getting to know him better, he liked Louis even more and he wanted to go out there and kiss him, maybe cuddle up with him. He wanted to protect him and make up for all the wrongs he had done to him. Harry quickly rinsed his mouth, fluffed out his curls, winked at himself in the mirror and with his heart beating a little too fast at the prospect that maybe he would get to kiss or hold Louis, he stepped out of the bathroom....to find that Louis had fallen asleep. He was so cute sleeping on his tummy, one hand tucked beneath his pillow and his face mushed into the pillow. Harry climbed on to his bed, reached for his phone and stared at Louis as he slept. The thoughts that went through his mind were adorable and cute and Harry wanted him. But Louis was out of reach for him.

'Lick ass Louis,' he murmured fondly to himself, his eyes never leaving Louis' sleeping form. He smiled. He slid open his phone deciding to spend some time on social media until he felt sleepy enough to sleep. He found a message from his friend. He read it quickly but did not reply. He went through his Facebook and Twitter then decided to look up Louis' social media accounts and had a quick look through his posts and photos. Louis was really something else! He put his phone face down on the bedside table between their two beds, turned off the lampshade and slid beneath the cool sheets. It was only 9 pm, too early for sleep though clearly not too early for Louis. Harry smiled again. Of course Louis was tired! He had driven for over four hours with only two small stops for bathroom and coffee breaks. He lay on his back in the darkness and realized that there were so many things he didn't know about Louis and he hungered to know them. He wanted to know everything about him, hear him talk about himself and his work, hear him giggle and see him cover his mouth when he laughed. He wanted to make it up to Louis for being such a dick to him and he wanted to open up to Louis so Louis could know him and see that he had changed. He wanted to change Louis' mind about him. He really didn't want Louis to keep thinking of him as his tormentor and bully. That didn't sit well with Harry. He wanted to show him that he wasn't an asshole anymore. He felt his eyes getting heavier. He settled comfortably on his side, his face to Louis. He went to sleep with a clear and steadfast determination that he would show Louis that he was different than what he thought of him.

Louis stirred and stretched in his bed. He opened his eyes and the room was in semi darkness. He turned on his side to check what time it was on the digital clock on the bedside table. 9:15 am. They had to leave soon. They! His mind remembered that Harry was in the other bed. His sleepy eyes landed on the sleeping form of Harry. He was sleeping on his stomach, his face turned to Louis relaxed in sleep, his frown lines smooth, his curls going in every direction. Louis' eyes traveled down to Harry's bare broad back, one of his arms was tucked beneath the pillow making his bicep bulge, down to his narrow waist, the dip in his lower back then the rise of his perky ass in those white tight briefs, down his strong muscled thick thighs and calves. Louis sighed. Harry was beautiful. And perfect. His eyes traveled back up the expanse of Harry's body while crazy thoughts ping ponged inside his brain : what if I gave him a chance? What if Harry was interested in him? What if they dated? What if....? No! He stopped himself from going down that road of wishful crazy thinking. This could never happen! He and Harry could never happen! Harry was.....well Harry was Harry! Period.

Louis' eyes rested on Harry's peacefully sleeping face and even though he knew it was creepy, he watched Harry sleep. After a while, Harry's eyes slowly fluttered open and sleepily they met Louis' and Louis' heart stuttered a little. Louis smiled at him.

'Did you sleep okay?' he asked him in a groggy voice. Harry smiled sleepily.

'It was kinda lonely but....' he said, his voice deeper than usual. They both smiled at each other at the implication those words meant and Louis basked in them. Harry had wanted Louis to sleep with him in the same bed! Louis' heart fluttered again. Harry's phone vibrated on the bedside table. He reached out his hand and picked it up and squinted at the screen. Louis saw his face change, from sleepy to serious, his frown lines making a come back, making his face look tense.

'Is everything okay?' Louis asked him. Harry sat up in bed and swung his legs down.

'Holy shit! It's past ten. We should probably get going if we're to make it home in time for the party.' Harry got up and started to get dressed. And okay! Louis felt his heart sink like the Titanic. Where was the sweet Harry from yesterday? He felt the connection between them snap loose and break the moment Harry decided not to answer Louis and change the subject then act like he couldn't wait to get the hell out of there and back on the road. There had been a connection between them last night hadn't there? Louis was sure he wasn't imagining things. They had connected and opened up to each other and talked about stuff that made them vulnerable and now Harry was back to his usual self. Louis felt disappointed but he got up and got dressed. Once they had packed up their stuff, they headed out to the car.

'Fancy breakfast?' Louis asked hoping desperately to get their connection back even if it was over tea and toast.

'Nah. We should get on the road,' Harry said. 'If we get caught in traffic we might be late.' He opened the passenger door and got in, closing it behind him. Louis' heart sank again. Served him right for letting himself get carried away and thinking that Harry was different. Same asshole on a different day! Louis got in the car and cranked up the engine. He couldn't help the nagging feeling inside of him that Harry wanted to get away from him. The rest of the drive to Manchester was quiet and awkward. They were back to square one. Harry was silent and broody and just looked out his window not daring to look at Louis and every time Louis tried to start up a conversation with him, Harry shut him down. So Louis gave up and just drove the rest of the way to Manchester in silence that was eating him up inside.

Finally they were on the outskirts of Manchester and honestly Louis couldn't wait for this trip to be over. Yes it had been a huge mistake to bring Harry along and it had been an even bigger mistake to let himself believe that there was more to Harry. There wasn't! He was just the same as always! Louis maneuvered the traffic all the way to the city center. It felt good to be home.

'Not much has changed huh?' Louis said not really expecting a reply from Harry.

'That's not true,' Harry said surprising Louis that he was actually making conversation. 'There's Starbucks now where Burger King used to be.' Louis smiled and told himself not to let himself get carried away just because Harry spoke to him. He pulled into the parking lot beside Starbucks.

'Well, here we are. Home safe and sound,' Louis said as he killed the engine. The silence now was deafening since there wasn't the rumble of the engine. They both sat there looking at Starbucks. Harry broke the silence.

'Hey listen,' he said. Louis turned to look at him, hope filling his chest.

'Yeah?' he asked and he hated himself that his voice sounded hopeful. Harry turned to look at Louis.

'I really am sorry about being such a dick to you during secondary school. You're pretty awesome.' Louis felt the great divide settle between them but he wasn't a quitter and if there was any chance that he and Harry could at least be friends, he was going to try.

'So I'm staying for the weekend and I was going to head back to London on Monday. I was thinking about leaving early as I don't want to hit rush hour. If you want to....'

The door to Starbucks opened and Harry's head turned towards it. A familiar figure walked out. Louis felt as if his heart was going to explode in his chest.

'Is that....?' he began to ask but his words died on his tongue because of course it was.

'That's Camille yeah,' Harry said quietly. He noticed the tension in Louis but he could not understand why. What was going on?

'Your ex?' Louis asked, trying hard not to scream at Harry. What had Harry been playing at? 'She came.' Harry chuckled.

'Well I guess now she's more like my ex ex.' Louis wanted to punch him in the throat. How was he finding this funny and making jokes about it?

'You're ugh back together then?' he asked, the words scorching his throat. Harry licked his lips and tried to understand Louis' behavior.

'Yeah she ugh texted me this morning, said she was sorry and she wanted to work it out and she was already driving over to meet me so....' he said. Just then Camille saw Harry sitting in the car and squealed. She came over to the car and waved at Harry.

'Hi baby,' she gushed. Harry smiled at her, dimples popping and Louis wanted to vomit. Harry turned to look at Louis.

'See you back at school?' he asked but before Louis could reply an affirmative or hurl a string of curse words towards him, Harry had unbuckled his seat belt, reached back to grab his bag and was out of the car. Louis watched through the windshield as Harry kissed Camille then took her hand and they both entered Starbucks. Louis sat there and watched it all play out in front of his face, not believing what had just happened. He really wanted to throw up. He was so gullible and naïve! El had been right. He played right into Harry's hands just because he was a hopeless romantic fool who just wanted to be loved. How could he be so stupid and let himself develop a crush for Harry? How had he even allowed himself to think that maybe Harry had changed and was a decent human being? El had been nothing but right when she had told him that Harry would break his heart.

Part 2 coming soon.....

Chapter Text

A year had passed since last year's uneventful Valentine's Day when Louis had to give Harry a ride back home. It had been a year since Louis had to face his bully and tormentor again and since he had made the horrible mistake of developing a crush on Harry Styles. Big, horrible, catastrophic, tatamult mistake. He had paid dearly for that mistake after he had returned to London and back to school and saw Harry with his blonde, perfect girlfriend strutting about both of them looking like two models who had just stepped out of Vogue magazine. He had moped about and whined to El and his room mates Selena and Zayn about Harry. El and Selena were on his side, cursing Harry along with him and repeating to him that what Harry had done ditching him like yesterday's trash when they had arrived at Manchester for Camel was wrong and Louis had every right to feel used and let down. Zayn on the other had had just given him weed and beer and told him to get over it. Zayn had been the rational voice telling Louis that he was the one responsible for his pain because he knew better than to develop a crush on Harry Styles. However, Louis did not get over his pain and disappointment over Harry quickly but once he graduated and started working for Amanda Haskell's campaign for Mayor of London, things had changed for him. He started working in her office, well not exactly working, more like volunteering but he was gathering experience and experience was by far more valuable than money in his case. He had also met the most amazing group of women he could ever imagine meeting and they soon became his friends.

He quickly settled in with Marion, who was Amanda's chief of PR (and he had so much to learn from her) Liz, Angela and Mirtha who were the force behind Amanda's whole campaign. He admired the team of women Amanda had on her side and he had no doubt that they were going to help her win Mayor of London. Being with this team, had somehow made him forget all about Harry. The ladies were fun and accepted him right away. He loved to stop at Starbucks in the morning and bring them all tea or lattes and every Friday after work they all went out for beer and wine down the pub. And the thing Louis loved most about them was that they were all older than him and mature women and he found it easy to vent to them about Harry and they were not shy in telling him exactly what they thought about Harry or give him their advice and dating tips! Thankfully, they helped him get over his crush by being supportive and including him in outings (mostly trips to the pub or Starbucks or lunch since they all had families to go back to) and involving him in the political work, making sure that Louis was immersed in work to keep his mind off Harry. Sometimes, (especially Mirtha and Liz) had set up Louis on blind dates with guys they thought Louis deserved. Not one of those blind dates saw a second date and Angela was the one who supported Louis when he said that he wasn't ready to date yet while the others cheered for him to get back up in the saddle and ride that pony! Angela secretly knew that Louis was still pining for Harry but she never said anything to him or called him out on it. She knew Harry was a sensitive subject for Louis.

Now, as he walked arm in arm with El down the street in the cold February air towards a single's Valentine's Day party, he wondered how in the hell he had let her convince him to come to a Valentine's party. Selena was partly to blame having worked with Eleanor to get him out of the flat and stop moping around! As if he had been moping! Well maybe he had a little bit but what was with these two wanting him to get out there and date again?

'So I just told him that it's over,' Eleanor said breaking through his thoughts. Louis cuddled closer to her because the wind was biting and it was freezing and he was cold.

'You broke up with him?' he asked a little bit shocked that El had broken things off with Max.

'Louis, the way you say breaking up implies that we had some kind of commitment to break which we did not have but yeah he was starting to get needy and possessive.' Louis snorted.

'Max was getting possessive? Max?'

'Yes Louiskins Max. The Max. He insisted on taking me out tonight for one thing. That's needy AND possessive.' Louis looked at her with awed surprise on his face because was she for real? He only wished he had someone as attentive and caring and thoughtful as Max!

'El, I don't think that Max wanting to take you out, his girlfriend of three years on Valentine's day qualifies as being possessive,' Louis reasoned with her. Eleanor huffed.

'He knew I had plans with you,' she argued.

'To go to a singles party! That doesn't make sense breaking up with your boyfriend because you had plans with your best friend to go to a singles party on Valentine's day!'

'Yeah exactly. Plans with you,' Eleanor said and Louis furrowed his brow trying to understand her reasoning but before he could object to her non sensical way of seeing things, Eleanor pulled him inside a building that was thrumming with loud music and people. Before they joined the party, Louis looked at her.

'Are you really okay El?' he asked her a little bit worried.

'Totally,' she quipped. 'I'm relieved to be honest. You know me. Relationships are not my thing.'

'Except you've always been in a relationship almost for the full time I've known you,' Louis countered. Eleanor shrugged and pulled him further inside and halted just inside the door to look at the vast room decorated in lots of pink and red hearts and balloons, gold streamers with love quotes written on them and rose petals on the floor. They gaped at the scene before them, lots of single people, dancing and drinking and trying to find their soul mate in the midst of this pink and red sea of romance. They both made disgusted faces, not actually believing they had come to a Valentine's Day singles party. Louis wanted nothing more than to be home! Suddenly Louis spotted Zayn and Selena by the drinks counter. He tugged on El's hand.

'Zayn!' he called over the loud music. 'Sel! Zayn!' Zayn and Selena looked at Louis.

'Hey mate you made it,' Zayn greeted him happily. 'Hey El. Looking ace!' Eleanor smiled at Zayn. She was comfortable with Louis' roomies since she was over their flat quite a bit.

'Louis!' Selena said as she hugged Louis. 'You came. I honestly thought you were taking ths piss when you told me you'd come. Oh my God I'm so happy you're here.' Louis hugged her and patted her on her lower back.

'You know me. I don't make promises that I can't keep.' Eleanor rolled her eyes.

'Aren't you going to tell her that I had to threaten you to get you out of your flat?' Louis pulled away from Selena and narrowed his eyes at his best friend.

'Traitor,' he hissed at her. 'I'm here aren't I? What more do you want from me?'

'Get you laid!' Eleanor and Selena said at the same time. They high fived each other.

'Great minds think alike,' Selena said smirking at Eleanor.

'Zayn,' Louis whined, 'they're ganging up on me here. A little help?' Zayn shrugged as he poured drinks into two red cups which he handed to Eleanor and Louis.

'Two solo cups for two solos,' he said smirking at them. 'Get it?' Zayn laughed and raised his own cup. 'Here's to getting laid tonight. Cheers queers.' They bumped cups together and chorused cheers back at Zayn. They all gulped down their drinks and screwed up their faces at how strong Zayn had made them.

'Oh my God Zayn,' Eleanor griped. 'You're going to get us all hammered before the night even begins!' Zayn winked at her.

'That's the plan my darling,' he said nudging Louis with his shoulder. 'And getting this little one here laid.' Louis scowled at him.

'Who are you calling little?' he said. Zayn put an arm around his shoulder and pulled him closer.

'You are little Lou.' Louis pushed him off of him and glared at him.

'I'll have you know....'

'Yeah yeah five foot nine,' they all chorused together and burst out laughing at Louis' expense. Zayn turned Louis to face him.

'Okay so most of the hot guys are congregated at the queer pong table. It's kinda like beer pong but...you get it right? Anyway may the odds be forever in your favor Louiskins!' Louis slapped Zayn's arms away. Zayn laughed and turned towards Eleanor and Selena. 'And for you two there are plenty of straight guys unless of course you are into women.' Zayn wiggled his eyebrows at them. Eleanor rolled her eyes.

'Ugh just your basic straight girl here,' she said.

'Well then good luck finding a man, hopefully not one I have my eye on. Off with you then. Be safe.' Zayn hugged his three friends.

'Great. Let's go then. Let the hunger games begin!' Louis giggled.

'Thank you Zayn,' he murmured because he might not be lucky in love but he was lucky in the friends he had. 'I'm really lucky to have all of you.' Selena patted Louis on the back.

'Go get you a man Lou,' she encouraged him. Louis rolled his eyes fondly.

'Yeah Sel, not THAT lucky!' Selena hugged him tightly and whispered in his ear.

'I'm sure your Mr. Right is out there waiting for you to meet him baby.' She pulled back and smiled at her friend. 'See you back at home unless either of us hooks up in which case I will see you in the morning. Bye guys,' she said as she walked off giving them all a wave. Louis sighed and allowed Eleanor to drag him into the melee of dancing bodies, Louis cradling his drink carefully to avoid someone spilling his drink on his new white woolly polo neck.

'Apparently there's a million single person in London and I still can't get a date,' Louis complained to Eleanor as he scanned everyone looking for a potential man he could maybe perhaps date.

'Oh you can get a date. You're just too scared to try,' Eleanor pointed out.

'I'm not scared,' Louis quipped. 'I'm just picky.' Eleanor gave him an annoyed look.

'Picky is just an excuse to not put yourself out there,' she pointed out.

'Not true,' Louis defended. 'I'm not scared.' Eleanor narrowed her eyes at him and grinned. She put her hand on her hips.

'Really? Not scared huh? Okay then you know what? I'm gonna pick out some guys and you're going to go talk to them.' Louis took a gulp of his drink which tasted like surgical spirit and burnt his throat.

'Fine,' he mumbled. Eleanor laughed.

'Oh challenge accepted Louiskins.' She looked around the room, her eyes darting from one man to the other. 'How about.....him?' she asked Louis pointing to a tall gangly guy with a hooked nose.

'Oh you mean hook nose over there?' Louis asked. El wiggled her eyebrows at him.

'You know what they say about big noses right?'

'Big boogers?' Louis offered. Eleanor slapped him forearm.

'Eww Lou you're gross. Okay fine. Let's see.' Once again she scanned the room. 'What about.....him?' She pointed to a good looking guy with a nice trimmed beard, freshly cut styled hair and a fancy shirt, sitting alone playing with a heart shaped balloon. Louis smiled.

'Oh you mean the lost Kardashain brother over there? I can guarantee you that ninety five percent of his camera roll are pictures of himself.' Eleanor rolled her eyes.

'Christ you are picky aren't you?' Louis nodded and she looked around again. 'How about.....daddy jeans over there?' She pointed to a guy wearing a pair of baggy daddy jeans, a black tee shirt, Vans and a beanie. 'He is totally your type Lou come on.' Just then Selena joined them and looked to where Eleanor was pointing.

'El's right Lou. He is totally your type. Go for him stag!' Eleanor nodded.

'Honestly, with a body like that, if he's not good enough for you he's definitely good enough for me,' she said sizing the guy up and down.

'Same,' Selena added. Louis huffed.

'Will both of you just stop drooling and wipe the spit off your chins? Jesus Christ are you both in heat?'

'Aren't you?' Eleanor asked raising her eyebrows at him. 'I can't understand how your blue balls haven't fallen off yet.' Before Louis could reply, the guy in the daddy jeans turned around slowly, laughing at something his friends had just said and he met Louis' eyes across the room. At first the green eyes didn't realize who they were seeing but then realization and recognition settled in and he smiled broadly at Louis popping two dimples in his cheeks.

'Shit!' Louis hissed as he turned away from Harry. 'El can we get out of here like now please please?' he begged.

'Why?' Selena and Eleanor asked simultaneously.

'Just please,' Louis pleaded. He threw a look over his shoulder and saw Harry approaching.

'Louis!' he called.

'Who's that Lou?' Eleanor asked urgently. 'Do you want me to beat him up?'

'I'll help you,' Selena offered.

'No! No just stop it both of you.' Before Louis could compose himself, Harry was beside him.

'If it isn't Lick Ass Louis!' Harry drawled. Louis took in a deep breath, plastered a smile on his face and turned to face Harry.

'Oh hey. Hi,' he said cheerfully trying to hide the shame that nickname always made him feel. He wished Harry would bite his tongue every time he was going to call him that!

'How are you mate?' Harry said happily. 'How you've been?' Eleanor and Selena looked at Harry with narrowed eyes. So this cute, gorgeous, stylish thing was Louis' nightmare! This was the infamous Harry Styles! They flanked Louis ready to pounce if Harry so much as hurt Louis.

'I'm good mate,' Louis said punching Harry's bicep playfully. 'I've been really good. Great even.' El and Selena looked at this exchange going on in front of them. Harry grinned.

'I'm chill. You know fresh as a watermelon.' Harry noticed Eleanor and Selena staring at him.

'Hi ladies. I'm Harry by the way. Excuse my state of being and rambling. I'm kinda wasted but it's a pleasure to meet you,' he drawled as he held out his hand towards them which neither of them shook. Harry put his hand down confused at their hostile reaction.

'Oh we know perfectly well who you are Mister,' Eleanor said. Harry smiled at them broadly.

'Yeah? You know me? Well um I don't know you. Who are you?' he asked. Louis literally saw steam blowing form Eleanor's nostrils like a bull ready to charge so he acted immediately. He wrapped both his arms around his friends.

'This is Eleanor my best friend and this is Selena my room mate slash sister,' he introduced. Harry looked from one to the other, smiling happily, his dimples on full display.

'Nice to meet you ladies. So lovely,' he slurred.

'Can't say likewise,' El muttered. Louis gave her a stern look.

'So um what are you doing at a single's only party?' Louis asked curiously but more to find out if Harry was still with Camille or not. 'I thought you had a girlfriend.'

'Huh?' Harry asked furrowing his eyebrows to cause two frown lines in the middle of his forehead trying to make sense through his alcohol induced brain what Louis was asking him. Louis swooned a little on the inside because those frown lines were so cute.

'Your girlfriend Camille?' Louis reminded him. 'That's her name right? The one you had the big fight with so you had to ride with me back home last Valentine's day and then you guys made up and you ditched me?' Eleanor and Selena braced themselves. Louis was going back there!

'I didn't ditch you,' Harry said grinning at him. 'My girlfriend just showed up. I mean what did you expect me to do?' Louis growled on the inside. Seriously?

'Whatever,' Louis said. 'I'm guessing you guys aren't still together seeing as you can't even remember her name.' Eleanor desperately wanted to tell Louis to stop it but she was fascinated by what was actually developing in front of her eyes. The dynamic between them....didn't they see it? Or feel it?

'Nah we broke up that same evening before we even had the chance to get back to London. If you'd ever text me back after our road trip, you might have known that. Did you even read my texts? I guess not since clearly you didn't know.' Louis felt his cheeks burn. Yeah Harry had text him and he had just deleted the texts before reading them. He was angry and pissed alright so sue him!

'Yeah um...ugh I'm sorry...I um just....I got back to school and got wrapped up in classes and I kinda ugh...you know me.' He shut up because he was flustered. Harry smiled fondly at him, eyes crinkling and dimples popping and Eleanor wanted to scream because they were flirting!

'Yeah I do know you. So right um after Kendall....'

'Camille,' Louis corrected him.

'Right yeah Camille of course. Kendall came after Camille but before Nick. Yeah um anyway let's just say I felt like playing into the whole stereotype of pan so I....'

'Which is?' Louis interrupted him. Harry looked at him with glazed eyes.

'Which is what?' he asked.

'Stereotype pan?' Louis asked. 'What's that?' Harry shrugged.

'You know.... that we get around.' Louis smiled cheesily at him.

'Hmm getting around huh? Is that a nice way of saying slutty?' Harry's smile faltered.

'Come on Lou you know me,' he said and Eleanor and Selena winced at the use of Louis' pet name falling from Harry's lips. They could see now Louis' attraction to this asshole. 'I'm a romantic. You know that! I'm here just looking for Miss.....um Mister.....ugh Person Right! But you know what they say; the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expecting different results so I um decided to pull the plug on the whole dating thing. Go full monk. No more dating. Totally celibate.' Louis tried to hold in his laughter that was threatening to bubble out of him because Harry was being ridiculous.

'You? Celibate?' he asked incredulously.

'Mhm,' Harry replied proudly and as innocent as a child.

'For how long?' Louis asked. Harry shifted from one foot to the other.

'Okay it's only um been a couple of days,' he admitted and Louis couldn't hold in his laughter anymore. He let it out and laughed loudly. 'Hey I'm serious about this,' Harry protested smiling at Louis. And that only made Louis laugh harder till the tears were in his eyes blurring his vision. Selena and Eleanor watched this enfold before them in utter fascination.

'What Lou?' Harry pleaded when Louis would not stop laughing. 'Come on tell me. What?' Louis tried to breathe through his laughter and wiped his eyes.

'Um...' he began but Eleanor interrupted him.

'You know what?' she said, getting everyone's attention.

'What is it El?' Louis asked her finally able to speak.

'Sel and I are going to get a refill or some embalming liquid because honestly, that would be less strong than these drinks that Zayn has been mixing. Come on Sel,' Eleanor said as she took Selena's hand and half dragged her away.

'But's that Harry El,' she protested, not letting herself be dragged away so easily because she needed to protect her roomie from Harry. Eleanor ground her teeth together.

'That';s the fucking point! Selena, we need a drink now! Come on.' And this time she let Eleanor take her away, offering an apologetic look over her shoulder towards Louis. Louis turned back to look at Harry feeling his confidence slip away now that his friends had left him alone with Harry. He cleared his throat.

'Okay so if you're so serious about not dating, why are you at this party?' Harry looked behind him and pointed to a group of people.

'My friends dragged me out,' he said waving at them.

'Oh,' Louis said.

'Plus, 'Harry continued, 'I have been stuck painting room at the flat I share with my mate Liam and I needed alcohol to clean my paint brushes so yeah.' They both laughed and looked at each other. Harry took a drink from his cup. 'So ugh what have you been up to since graduation?'

'I'm now working for Amanda Jean Haskell,' Louis said proudly. He saw the vacant look on Harry's face and could actually hear the cogs in his brain working to try and figure out who this Amanda was. Harry leaned forward closer to Louis, so close that Louis could smell and feel his alcohol induced breath on him. He shivered.

'Um should I know who that is?' Harry asked and Louis wanted to punch him and kiss him at the same time. Louis leaned forward, dangerously close to Harry's face. Their lips inches apart.

'I don't know. Did you date her?' The both burst out laughing at that question. Louis punched Harry playfully on the arm and decided to put him out of his misery and educate him. 'She's running for Mayor of London. She's um really progressive and good at what she does. I work with a lovely team of ladies and my job is to promote Amanda so people like you who seem to be living under a rock, know who she is.' Harry took a moment to take in what Louis had just said.

'So you're like in charge of PR or something?' Harry asked.

'No. That's Marion's job. Marion Kett is her chief of PR. I um just started. I'm one of the community organizers. Basically just one step up form a volunteer but I'm learning a lot from my team especially from Liz, Angela and Mirtha. They are patient with me and show me all the ropes.' Harry smiled at him.

'Wow must be lovely working with a team of women huh?'

'Good thing I'm gay innit? Don't want to date them all.' Harry smirked at him.

'I should stop by your office sometime.'

'Why?' Louis asked him. 'Just so you can charm my colleagues or maybe date them? You're good at that right? Charming people then dating them then dumping them.' Harry giggled and Louis found it oh so adorable.

'I don't want to date every woman I meet Lou,' he said then he took a step closer to Louis. 'No. I just want to see you in action. In your element. I want to see you while you fix this messed up world.' Louis felt himself blush and a tremor pass throughout his whole body.

'I'm still a work in progress,' he admitted.

'Aren't we all?' Harry asked, his eyes never leaving Louis and his body way too close for Louis' comfort. Louis felt as if his body was going to combust because Harry was sexy and hot and unattainable yet he wanted him. He really wanted Harry to push him up against a wall and kiss him and manhandle him with those biceps. He cleared his throat and took a step back.

'Anyway. You um never told me about your real major? Are you in retail or fashion?' Louis asked because Harry really looked like a model even in ugly daddy jeans and a simple black tee shirt.

'Is that so hard to believe?' Harry questioned him. Louis giggled.

'Kinda.' Harry gave him a smile.

'No I didn't major in fashion or retail. I majored on something more important than that.'

'Which is?' Louis pressed. Harry took a sip of his drink.

'Marketing,' he said. Louis covered his mouth and giggled. Harry raised an eyebrow at him. 'Are you judging me Mr. Politician?'

'Not at all,' Louis said in between giggles.

'Yeah Lou yeah you are. I can tell,' Harry accused him playfully. 'What do you think politics is anyway? It's just marketing the same candidate but in a different way.'

'They are not the same!' Louis countered. 'Amanda Haskell wants health care for everybody, she wants more money for the schools in London. She's even looking at a plan right now to help the enviornment and pollution in London.'

'Okay okay settle down Mr. Politician. I believe you.' Awkward silence settled between them as they both looked at each other intensely, Harry biting his bottom lip as if silently deciding whether to devour Louis or not and Louis wanted him to, God he did but it was wrong. This was Harry. Harry Styles and nothing was ever going to happen between them because the thing about Harry was that he never changed! Louis licked his lips.

'So you're seriously not dating right now?' he asked, his throat dry. Harry shook his head no, his eyes never leaving Louis. Louis fidgeted on his feet. 'I um I should ugh probably go check on El and Selena. Make sure they're not terrorizing anyone.' Louis giggled and Harry seemed to snap out of his staring daze.

'Ugh yeah okay,' he stammered out.

'And I'm going to get some more of this paint brush cleaner,' he said showing Harry his empty cup.

'Yeah sure and could you perhaps bring me another one since you're going there?' Harry asked him. Louis took his empty cup.

'Yeah sure I guess.' Harry smiled and bit his bottom lip. He knew exactly what he was doing to Louis and Louis hated him. Sort of!

'Hurry back,' he told him and Louis wanted to set himself on fire. Louis nodded unable to say anything back to Harry's request. He hurried back to where El and Selena where having a heated discussion. Eleanor stopped when she saw Louis coming and beamed at him.

'Oh my God Louiskins, he's adorable. How come during all of those millions of times that you whined and complained and cursed Harry during that road trip you both had, you failed to mention how fucking sexy he is?' Selena scowled at Eleanor.

'He's not all THAT! Calm down.' Eleanor turned on Selena.

'Are you being serious right now?'

'Yes I am!' Selena shot back. 'What's wrong with you?'

'Ugh excuse me? What's wrong with ME? Like have you seen him?' Selena put her hands on her hips.

'I have seen him and he made me remember how hurt Louis was when he came back from that damned trip and how weeks after, he was distraught over that piece of shit that you seem to be fascinated with.'

'For your information no I have no forgotten what Louis has been through because of him. I'm his best friend after all and he confines in me.'

'Well you don't seem to have his best interests at heart since you're shoving him in the arms of the person who continously hurts him!' Eleanor opened her mouth to say her piece.

'Okay guys stop it! I'm here okay. I can hear all that you're saying.'

'Which is why you should know that El is wrong and its a bad idea Louis. It's Harry come on!' Selena snapped. Eleanor rolled her eyes.

'Honestly Louis, you should be all over him.' Selena was ready to reply to Eleanor.

'Sel,' Louis said softly. 'I know what I'm doing. Besides he's not even dating so....'

'Oh please,' Eleanor said, 'he's practically begging you to give him a reason to break his vow of chastity.' Louis turned to Eleanor.

'I appreciate you wanting to get me laid but if there's one thing I've learned from politics is that you can't make someone vote for your candidate if they're not going to the polls.' Eleanor huffed.

'Lou, you're not running for Mayor! Amanda is! You are just trying to get laid!'

'Bad idea!' Selena offered. 'Very very bad idea Louis.' Louis looked from one to the other.

'You know me guys. I don't do the casual one night thing very well.' Eleanor put her arm around his shoulder.

'Honey I know that but you're never going to get to second night if you don't do the first one.' Louis groaned. He knew that both Eleanor and Selena were right but he had to listen to his heart. He couldn't deny that he liked Harry even as fucked up as Harry was. He couldn't deny that his heart sped a little faster whenever they met and that Harry made him laugh and he liked how Harry looked at him and furthermore, he couldn't deny that his body reacted to Harry. Eleanor saw him hesitate, struggling to decide.

'Louiskins, get back out there and throw yourself at that hot piece of man ass before I call your mum and tell her you quit therapy!' Louis gasped at her in shock.

'You wouldn't!'

'You wanna try that theory?' she asked him, raising an eyebrow at him and smirking wickidly at him, challenging him to try her.

'You put Maleficent to shame,' Selena hissed at her. 'Evil fairy Godmother.' Eleanor rolled her eyes.

'Know your Disney Sel. There's no such thing as an Evil Fairy Godmother.'

'Okay guys stop!' Louis said. 'Just stop okay. I'm just going to take a drink back to Harry. He's waiting for me.'

'Atta boy,' Eleanor praised him.

'Don't come crying to me,' Selena said as she walked off.

'Be nice to her El,' Louis warned her. 'She's just looking out for me.'

'I know and I am being nice come on Louiskins. I've seen that there's chemistry between you two and you blushed fifty shades of pink when he flirted with you and you giggled! I mean come on. YOU. GIGGLED! That's very rare and Harry managed to pull it out of you a few times. Try but take care of your heart. I mean, just have a good time with him, don't expect anything and if it's meant to happen, the Universe will make it happen. If it's not meant to happen at least you'll get a good fuck out of him.' Eleanor wiggled her eyebrows at him. 'Go on let him wet your willy!'

'Okay alright God you are vulgar!' Eleanor laughed and clapped her hands happily. Louis picked up his two drinks and turned to go.

'Wait wait,' Eleanor said stopping him in his tracks.

'What now?' he huffed.

'The polo, it has to come off,' she said as she started tugging his polo neck off.

'No no what the hell,' Louis protested but Eleanor was not going to take no for an answer.

'It's coming off. It's got to come off. You need to show some skin,' she said as Louis put the cups down and let her pull off his white polo neck. When it was off, Eleanor surveyed him in his maroon tee shirt and dishevelled hair. She handed him back his and Harry's drinks and smiled at him.

'There much better. You look less politician and more your age who's ready to mingle and get that tingle....'

'Stop,' Louis groaned. 'Please stop and don't drink anymore.' She turned him around and gently nudged him forward in Harry's direction.

'Go grasshopper. Make mama proud!' Louis shook his head and rolled his eyes and began walking towards where he had left Harry. On the way there, he put the cups down on a table and smoothed down his hair. As Louis approached Harry, he saw him dancing there all by himself and Louis couldn't help the fond laughter that spilled from his lips.

'Nice moves,' Louis commented as he handed Harry his drink. Not really nice moves actually. Harry looked like a baby deer trying to walk on ice but Louis just had to. Harry beamed at him.

'Yeah? You like that?' he asked as he tried to control his long legs. There wasn't much co-ordination between his brain and legs that Louis could see! His long legs seemed to have a mind of their own.

'Oh yeah sure definitely.' Harry laughed, stopped dancing and moved closer to Louis all up in his space.

'Thank you Mr. Politician,' he said as he took a gulp of his drink. Just then a cute guy in flowing red hair that fell down his back smiled and winked at Harry and Harry smiled back, popping his dimples at the guy who blushed and blew Harry a kiss. Louis looked from one to the other.

'Did you.....' he began asking, the words getting lodged in his throat. 'Are you flirting with that guy?' Harry looked at him a little shocked.

'What? No! No I'm not,' he said letting out a nervous laugh.

'Yes you were,' Louis accused. 'You just smiled at him...that...that smile of yours.!' Harry opened his mouth to reply but Louis carried on. 'I mean I get it. He's super hot and beautiful with that flowing hair and sexy body. I mean you should totally ask him out.' Harry blinked. What the fuck was happening? They were just having a laugh! But Louis felt irritated at the exchange between Harry and red hair over there.

'Louis chill. I wasn't flirting with him,' Harry said.

'Look Harry, I don't care okay. At least just own up to it Mr. Celibate!' Harry's smile slid off his face.

'Louis stop it,' he said seriously. 'I wasn't flirting okay. I wasn't!' Louis shrugged.

'I'm not gonna fight you on this but you were totally flirting.'

'What the hell is your problem huh? You're acting like a freak. Is there something you want to say to me? If there is just spit it out already. You're killing my buzz,' Harry shot angrily at him. Louis had a lot to say to him in fact but he didn't want to look like a child and bring up the fact that he was still pissed off at Harry for dumping him for Camille after they had had a connection a year ago in that guest house room.

'I'm not a freak,' Louis spit at him. 'Don't call me that. You're a freak who can't keep his horse in the barn!' And if Harry wasn't pissed off at Louis' attitude, he would've burst out laughing in his face.

'Is that right grandpa?' Harry challenged. 'Well at least I'm not afraid of riding a horse!' That hit Louis where it hurt.

'Wow,' he said giving Harry his most disappointed look.

'Mhm,' Harry murmured. Louis straightened his spine and looked Harry in the eyes.

'Well that's better than being the rodeo clown!' he spit harshly. Harry's face turned into that of a kicked puppy and Louis wanted to hug him and say sorry but no, he wouldn't! He had enough of his shit!

'What's that supposed to mean?' Harry said softly and Louis hated him. He hated that Harry made him feel this way.

'I think you know very well what it means Harry.' Eleanor rushed over and grabbed Louis' hand.

'Hey Lou, I'm gonna get out of here. I just had sex with this guy in the bathroom and he's like waiting for round two ugh and I just don't have it in me,' she said and Louis wanted to strangle her and kiss her at the same time. Strangle her because she had managed to get some and kiss her because she was saving him from Harry.

'Oh great yeah I'll come with,' he said in his most fake cheerful voice. He turned and looked at Harry who was still looking like a kicked puppy. 'Nothing keeping me here. Good seeing you Harry.' El looked from him to Harry.

'But you and...and....'

'El now. Let's go!' Louis told her firmly and for once he was thankful that Eleanor did as he asked. He grabbed Eleanor's hand and together they left Harry standing there looking at them leave. He had a disappointed pained look on his face that made Louis' insides hurt. When they got outside it was raining softly.

'What the hell happened between you two? I thought you were going to ride that stallion.' Louis turned to look at her.

'I told you I wasn't ready to get back up in the saddle. Sel was right. Now can we please drop it? I just want to go home and watch Notting Hill and stuff my face with ice-cream and tell myself over and over how stupid and naïve I am.' Thankfully Eleanor didn't argue with him. They got a taxi and when Louis arrived home, he was even more thankful that Selena wasn't home yet because he didn't want to hear “I told you so.” He went to the freezer, pulled out a tub of ice-cream and a spoon from the drawer then made his way to his room. He pulled off his clothes, put on his pjs and got in bed. He booted his laptop and found Notting Hill on Netflix and stuffed his face with ice-cream while drowning in self pity. He did not see the text message from Harry that read : What did I do? Whatever it is, I'm sorry.

The next morning Louis woke up determined to once again put Harry behind him. He saw the notification informing him he had a message from Harry but he scoffed and just deleted the message without reading it like he had done after their road trip. No way was he going to let Harry disrupt his life again. He got dressed and left his room to go get breakfast. Again, he thanked the gods that nobody was home. Both Zayn and Selena had probably found someone to go home with and he felt even worse for that because how did they do it? Why couldn't he find someone? He decided that he didn't feel like breakfast anymore. He grabbed his phone, wallet and car keys and left the flat. He drove to Starbucks to get his lady friends their coffee. He will immerse himself in work and forget stupid Harry Styles and all his shit and mind games. However, Harry's pained expression could not leave his mind. He had been harsh with Harry but he deserved it. Didn't he?

He entered the office and immediately was greeted with squeals of delight.

'Louis!!!' Mirtha greeted him. 'You brought coffee. You're an angel!' Louis smiled and gave Mirtha her coffee then handed Liz and Angela their's. He looked around.

'Where's Marion?' he asked.

'She's in Amanda's office,' Liz offered as she took a sip of her coffee and moaned. Louis looked from one to the other.

'Is something wrong?' he asked.

'No,' Angela said. 'Well at least I hope not.' She shrugged. 'We'll know when their meeting ends won't we?'

'I guess,' Louis said as he sat down and took a sip of his tea. Mirtha narrowed her eyes at him.

'Alright what is it?' she asked as she sat opposite Louis. Angela and Liz sat down too.

'What?' he asked looking from one to the other.

'Don't fuck around Lou,' Liz said. 'We have special radars that detect bullshit. Now spill. What's wrong?'

'I...um...ugh....'

'Take a breath honey,' Angela advised. 'Don't want you having a panic attack. Take your time. Looks like its going to be a slow day here anyway.' Louis fumbled with his cup.

'I um went to a singles party yesterday.....'

'Oh my God you met someone!' Liz said happily.

'Who is he?' Mirtha asked.

'Details Lou come on,' Angela said. Louis looked from one to the other.

'I met Harry,' he said quietly. Their happy excited faces fell.

'Oh,' they all said disappointed.

'Well wow,' Louis huffed.

'What did the asshole want?' Mirtha asked.

'Did he do anything to upset you?' Liz pressed.

'I swear to god Louis if he....'

'He didn't!' Louis stopped them. 'I think I might have hurt him,' he admitted.

'Well good for you!' Mirtha congratulated him. 'About time you gave him some of his own medicine.' Louis looked down. They exchanged glances over his bowed head.

'What did you do Lou?' Angela asked him because she could see that Louis was upset. He shook his head.

'I might have called him a whore.' Mirtha, Liz and Angela gasped. 'Not indirectly come on!' Just then Marion came out of Angela's office.

'Is that Starbucks I smell?' she asked and Louis handed her her coffee. 'Bless you darling.' She looked at the others and saw their somber faces. 'What's going on?'

'Louis called Harry a whore,' Mirtha said. Marion gasped.

'You didn't!' she said as she pulled up a chair. 'What did he do to deserve it?' So Louis told them all that had happened the night before. When he was done, he sat back stewing in guilt and shame and looked at his friends waiting for them to deliver the verdict.

'He deserved it,' Mirtha said.

'He did not!' Angela quipped.

'He flirted in Louis' face the fuck?' Liz argued.

'Technically he's free to flirt. They are not together,' Marion reasoned.

'He was flirting with Louis and Louis was kind enough to even get him a drink then flirt with Mr. Red Wavy hair in front of Louis' face? Cheater!' Mirtha said.

'They're not together!' Angela protested. 'How can Harry cheat on Louis if they are not together?' Liz leaned forward and squeezed Louis' knee.

'He's a whore!'

'Liz!' Angela gasped. 'That's not nice to say.' Mirtha let out a laugh.

'Liz you're a savage!' she commented. Liz shrugged.

'Well, like Louis said, Harry can't keep the horse in the barn now can he? Whore!' Marion giggled.

'Really Louis? I can't believe you actually told him that!' Liz leaned forward again.

'Be honest, you want to ride that horse don't you?' Louis slapped her hand.

'Shut up!'

'You're blushing,' they teased him. The door to Amanda's office opened and she stepped out.

'Louis, can I see you in my office,' she said. Louis quickly got up and went into her office. Before she closed the door she looked at the others. 'Don't you have work to do? I have a campaign to win! Get to it!' She closed the door and motioned for Louis to sit down. He did. Amanda sat in her chair and looked at Louis.

'Marion tells me you've been doing great promotional work for my campaign.' Louis nodded.

'I have. Is um is everything alright? Did I do something wrong?' Amanda smiled at him and shook her head.

'No you haven't. I just wanted to tell you that I decided to make you Marion's assistant. We are stepping you up. I want you to learn from Marion about what promoting a political candidate consists of. You work hard and your work is good. If I win this campaign, I want you working for me Louis. I have big plans for London.' Louis covered his mouth with his hands, his eyes wide.

'Oh my God Mrs. Haskell thank you so so much for the opportunity. I promise I will work hard and I won't let you down.' She smiled at him.

'You better. Like I said, I want to win this campaign. So go on, get back to work.' Louis stood up.

'Thank you again for the opportunity.' Amanda waved him away. Louis turned to leave but before he opened the door, Amanda stopped him.

'Louis,' she said. He turned to look at her. 'Did you really tell Harry he couldn't keep his horse in the barn?' Louis felt heat flood him from his feet up to his cheeks. He wanted the earth to open up and swallow him whole.

'You heard,' he said shamefully and embarrassed.

'I heard,' Amanda said trying to hold in her laughter. 'A word of advise Louis. Horses can be tamed if they have the right trainer who they trust. Maybe all Harry needs is a little trust and direction.' She gave him a wink. 'No go. There's work to be done. We gotta win me an election.'

Part 3 coming soon.......

Chapter Text

For the past six months Harry had changed. He knew he had changed, and he also knew why he had changed. Not that he’d ever tell anyone his reason for the changes that he had been making to his life lately. Oh no. That was his secret and his alone. His roommate Liam however had noticed these changes. He noticed how Harry dated less, how he went out less, read more books, took more online courses, slept with less people, followed the politics on the news especially the Amanda Haskell campaign all the while secretly obsessing about Louis. Or so he thought it was all secret! Liam knew but he wasn’t going to tell Harry that he knew about his little crush. Liam also knew that where Louis was concerned, as far as Harry knew, he had no chance with him. At all. Liam didn’t know all the details. He didn’t have the habit of prying into Harry’s affairs especially sentimental ones. He always told Harry that he was there for him should he feel the need to talk but Harry had never taken him up on his offer and Liam never pushed.

The last time Harry had met Louis was six months ago at that cursed Valentine's Day singles party. The night when Louis had called him a whore, not in that exact word. Oh no! Louis always gift wrapped his insults in pretty shiny paper and a silk bow on top. Still, Harry had understood his pretty gift-wrapped words that translated into whore and then Louis had turned and left him standing there feeling all kinds of wretched. For a while Harry's self-esteem had exhibited dents and cracks because he never considered himself to be a whore, but the way Louis said it had put things into perspective for Harry and for the first time he had berated himself in the bathroom mirror.

Louis was intelligent and smart, and he had a wonderful career set in front of him. Louis knew what he wanted from life whereas Harry always took and settled for what life threw in his path because he lived by the philosophy of live for the moment and don't think too much about the future. But deep down inside Harry knew what he wanted in his future and Louis knew. Louis was the only person that knew what Harry wanted from life. He wanted a relationship, a partner. He wanted marriage and romance and love. He wanted a home, children, a dog and a cat. And he wanted it all with Louis. But he knew that that was impossible. Louis did not want trash like him. Louis wanted a nice gentleman with a good job who could romance him and offer him a secure future. Louis didn't want Harry because he had nothing to offer him. It had taken Harry a while to come to terms with it and when he had, that realization had changed him. Going out to parties had lost its excitement. Looking for hook ups had lost its luster. Nobody could compete with Louis.

So, he had just settled himself down and took a step back from the crazy life he had been living and began transforming himself into a person who knew what he wanted out of life. Right now, all he wanted was to blast these damn creatures that were fighting him on this game. He pressed down buttons on his console with abandon.

'Die you piece of shit. Come on come on come on dude don't let these assholes get you. You're better than them. You can do better my man. That's it that’s it. Die!' Liam came out of the bathroom with just a towel wrapped around his waist and looked at Harry in disbelief, a scowl on his face.

'Hey, Harry you need to stop playing that game and go get ready. We have to meet Lili in like half an hour at the pub.' Harry continued his assault on the console not sparing Liam a glance.

'What is this? Black tie or something? It's just trivia night Li. I'm ready.' Liam huffed and rolled his eyes in annoyance.

'You're in boxers and a tee shirt H. I thought maybe I don't know you might want to put on a pair of pants?' Harry diverted his eyes momentarily away from the big telly in front of him and looked at Liam.

'Says the guy wearing just a towel. You go get ready!' Liam huffed again tried hard to be patient. For the past months he was cool with all the changes Harry had been making and he had really no opinion about these changes, but he really wanted to get Harry out of the house and away from this damn game he was hooked on. Change is good but when that change involves his best mate becoming a recluse, well that didn’t sit too well with Liam and he felt he should motivate Harry to get out of the flat.

'Harry, we both know you're going to wait till the last second to put on some pants then spend an eternity on your hair, then spend another twenty minutes making it look like you didn't check your hair for the last eternity, and we'll end up leaving late and I really don't want to leave Lili waiting or mess up her trivia night. You know it's important to her and what's important to my girl is important to me. So, get off that damn game....'

'Quit riding me Li!' Harry snapped at him. 'I just want to finish this level okay.' Liam put his hands on his hips and stared Harry down.

'First of all, you wish I was riding you.' He grabbed the console out of Harry's hand, holding it out of his reach. 'And second of all, you really need to get laid. Snap out of whatever it is that's crawled up your ass and go out and get laid Harry. You’re moody as fuck.' Harry looked at him and batted his eyelashes in a sexy way at Liam.

'God, I love it when you go all Dom on me!' Liam pointed his index finger at Harry.

'Get up off that couch and go and get ready. Now Harry!' He threw the console at him then turned and walked back into the bathroom slamming the door behind him. Harry picked up the console off the couch where Liam had thrown it and hit play again.

'Sorry boys where were we?'

'Harry!!!!' Liam yelled from the bathroom. 'Switch that bloody game off and go get ready!!!!'

x

Nicholas and Louis walked down the street hand in hand, hurrying along the pavement crowded with people. It was a Friday night after all, and people were out enjoying a night of entertainment after a week’s work. Louis was trying to keep up with his boyfriend's strides which was a little bit difficult since Nicholas was much taller than him. They had been dating for the past three months thanks to the ladies at the office. Nicholas was a well-known DJ on BBC Radio 1 who hosted the breakfast show. He had come into the office one Monday afternoon and had talked to Marion about inviting Amanda on his show to talk about her campaign. Since Amanda had put Louis to work with Marion as her assistant PR, he had met Nicholas and worked with him regarding Amanda’s interview, but he hadn't thought much of him since his mind was still on Harry and the fiasco, he had caused last Valentine's Day. However, unbeknown to Louis, Marion, Mirtha, Liz and Angela had conspired behind his back with Amanda to take Louis along as her PR instead of Marion for the breakfast interview with Nicholas. Meanwhile, Mirtha, Liz and Angela had called in to invite Nicholas at the office to discuss the interview with Amanda, which was not necessary, but they had set Louis up with task of guiding Nicholas through the questions he would be asking Amanda and questions he should not ask her. Nicholas had taken a liking to Louis and had asked him out. Louis had politely declined but his lady friends had set him up with Nicholas one Friday evening when it was their pub night out. They had stood Louis up, but Nicholas was at the pub feigning an accidental encounter and they had been dating ever since.

'So, who organized this again?' Louis asked Nicholas. Nicholas rolled his eyes at Louis.

'Where's your mind when I talk to you Lou? I told you half a dozen times that my cousin Lili organized trivia night. We always have it the last Friday of the month.' Louis smiled at him. Nicholas was a bit of a snob. Well, a whole lot of a posh snob, a little too full of himself and considered himself above and beyond everyone else.

'Ah yes. Your cousin Lili whom I never met and whom I'm not going to impress on our first meeting because we are going to be late.' Nicholas huffed.

'Well maybe if you try to walk a little faster, we can make it there on time.'

'Nick I'm struggling to keep up with you. You might have over seen the fact that my legs are shorter than yours. Maybe you will make it on time with those long legs of yours but I'm definitely going to be late on mine. And arrive there sweaty and puffy.' Nicholas stopped and had the decency to look apologetic.

'I'm sorry Lou. I'm such an ass. I didn't consider it.' Louis gave him a smile.

'You're forgiven. You recognizing yourself as an ass is more than enough considering how highly you think of yourself.' Nicholas smiled and leaned down to peck a kiss on Louis' lips.

'Self-love baby. Self-love. And darling, don’t call me Nick. It sounds so common.'

X

Harry tried to keep up with Liam's power walking towards his destination: Lili. Harry hated to admit that he was out of shape compared to Liam who wasn't even breaking a sweat or a pant as he walked whilst he was panting like an over eager Labrador.

'Li slow down. We're not late!' Liam didn’t look at him but kept on powering himself forward towards the pub.

'We're already late Harry! I'm trying not to be later!' Harry huffed and hurried up after Liam.

'Sorry I made us late,' he tried to apologize while trying to breathe through his constricted lungs! Damn Liam walked fast.

'It's because you don't listen H. It’s always about you. You don't consider anyone else.' The words sliced through Harry. He was indeed a fuck up and a selfish twat.

'I'm sorry really. Are you going to be mad at me the whole evening? Please don't. I don't like you being mad at me Li,' Harry said giving Liam his best puppy eyes even though Liam wasn't looking at him. He kept his gaze forward trying to get to his Lili. Then he stopped suddenly, Harry bumping into his back. Liam turned to look at him.

'I'm not mad at you Harry. I just wish you could be a little more considerate of others.' Liam reached out and squeezed his shoulder. 'You have some growing up to do mate.' Harry nodded because yeah Liam was right, and he knew that he kept fucking shit up and he wanted to do the right things but somehow, he always seemed to fuck up. He promised himself he would do better and try harder. They entered the pub and found Lili at the bar waiting for them.

'Sorry we're late,' Liam told her as he placed a soft kiss on her lips.

'My fault,' Harry said quickly. He looked at Liam then back at Lili apologetically. ‘Sorry I made us late. I kept um playing my game.' Lili gave him a smile then pulled him in for a hug.

'It's alright Harry,' she told him. She knew that he was going through something too. Liam had mentioned to her that he was having some issues that were making him change so drastically. Lili pulled back then squealed happily while looking at the door of the pub.

'Oh my God they're here. They're here!'

'Who?' Liam asked because as far as he knew it was just going to be the three of them.

'My cousin Nicholas and his boyfriend Louis.' At the name, the smile slid off Harry's face and a cold sweat broke out all over his body. He slowly turned towards the door, hoping that it wasn't his Louis Lili was referring to. But the moment he turned, he saw Louis walking in, looking up at his boyfriend all smiley and happy. Harry swallowed around the lump in his throat. What was this? Some kind of fucking cosmic joke? He wanted to raise his middle finger at the Universe because he was trying to be better, yet the Universe was out to fuck him. And not in the good pleasurable way. Just then Louis turned his head forward and their eyes met across the room. He stopped suddenly bringing Nicholas to a stop with him.

'Shit!' he hissed as he backtracked towards the exit. 'Nicholas, can we go please?' he begged. Nicholas took hold of his wrist and pulled him to a stop.

'What? Wait Lou we just got here. Can you stop acting weird?' Louis fumbled for something to say that would get him out of this fucking pub and away from Harry.

'I um...I'm ugh not feeling very trivial right now.' Nicholas rolled his eyes.

'Oh my God Louis do you always have to be such a drama queen? Come on just relax. It's just a fucking game.' Nicholas shook his head at Louis and Louis hated that he was disappointing him. Nicholas took his hand and Louis allowed him to pull him forward towards Harry and his friends.

'Lili darling so good to see you. How are you?' Nicholas asked his cousin while kissing her cheeks. Louis could not bring himself to look at Harry. Butterflies erupted in his stomach to the point that he felt like he wanted to vomit. But the last thing he needed was to vomit in Harry's presence after the last time they had met, and Louis had called him a whore!

'I'm good Nicholas,' Lili said. 'I'm so happy you both made it. Nick, this is my boyfriend Liam. Liam, this is my cousin Nicholas Grimshaw.' They shook hands and exchange pleasantries. 'And Liam this is Nick's boyfriend Louis.' Nicholas gave his cousin a stiff smile hoping she would get it and stop calling him Nick.

'Hi Louis,' Liam said politely as he shook his hand.

‘Hello,’ Louis said softly, his voice low.

'And this is Harry, Liam's roommate,' Lili introduced. 'Harry, my cousin Nicholas and his boyfriend Louis.' And this was it. Harry smiled at Nick and shook his hand.

‘I hear your show every morning mate,’ Harry said slapping him on the shoulder. Nicholas stiffened because how dare this person, whom he didn’t know slap him on his Burberry jacket? He gave Harry a small stiff smile.

‘Thank you,’ he said dryly. Then Harry turned to Louis.

'Hello,' he said. Louis plastered a fake smile on his face and cuddled into Nicholas’ side who was quick to wrap his arm around his shoulder and pull him closer into his side.

'Hi,' Louis said, his voice soft and low, a shy smile on his lips. Harry felt something akin to jealousy twirl in his tummy. Never in his life had he felt jealous of anyone or anything, but Nick's arm wrapped around Louis' shoulder was ripping him a new one and he didn't know how to deal with it.

'Shall we get a table?' Lili said. Nicholas, Louis and Lili walked ahead to get a table at the front, chatting animatedly. Liam looked at Harry.

'Are you alright there? You look a little pale.' Harry licked his lips.

'That's....that's Louis,' he whispered. Liam's eyes went wide.

'Your Louis?' Harry scoffed at Liam's words.

'I wish.' Liam put his hand on his shoulder.

'Harry, if you want him....'

'No point,' Harry stopped him. 'He will never see me other than the person who tormented him and bullied him. I’m nothing. I’m not rich or classy or smart. We're not even friends for fuck's sake! I’m not the type he goes for. To him...I'm just...I'm a whore.' Liam squeezed his shoulder.

'I'm sure that's not true H. Besides, if it’s meant to be between you two, it will happen. Come on.' Louis looked back over his shoulder to where Liam and Harry were talking and noticed the tense way Harry was holding himself and the scowl on his face. Probably Harry wanted to get away from him which was reasonable. Nicholas tugged on his hand.

'What's with you tonight? Can you act normal?' Louis looked up at Nicholas, the smile slipping off his face.

'Sorry. But...but that's Harry.'

'From the road trip?' Nicholas asked him in shocked surprise. Louis nodded. Nicholas pulled him into a tight hug. 'Oh, baby I'm so sorry. Are you alright? I'm so sorry.' Louis wrapped his arms around his waist and let his body comfort him.

'I'm alright. I'm over him.' Harry turned to walk to their table and saw Nicholas and Louis hugging. He swallowed it all down and told himself that Louis wasn't his. They all sat down at the table and Louis and Harry ended up sitting next to each other. Jealousy was eating Harry up inside when he saw Nicholas rest his hand on Louis' thigh. He leaned forward close to Louis' ear.

'So, you're dating Nicholas Grimshaw huh?' He couldn’t help himself. He tried; he really did but the asshole in him always won out over his struggling better half. Louis turned to look at him fully, a smile on his lips.

'Yes I am. He's actually really great. Treats me well. I can't help it that he's super stylish, super famous, super sexy and super smart.' Louis paused and looked at Harry's profile, the way his jaw clenched under his skin. 'And so, what if I am dating Nicholas? Why do you care?' Harry grinned at him; all tenseness gone from his face because he was going to let the asshole in him do the driving. He shrugged one shoulder and ran a hand through his curls.

'I don't but if I'd known you were into old guys, I would've introduced you to my grandfather.' Louis scowled at him.

'That's super ageist. At least he's not a man whore!' Louis threw at him. And there it was again. This time it made Harry sit up straight, his skin bristling with anger. He was not going to take this shit from Louis. He was not going to sit there and allow him to call him a whore.

'Excuse me but I have been celibate for a while now and even if I was a whore, you don’t get to use it on me as an insult. Sex workers do a job too so have some respect,' he hissed at Louis, his eyes blazing so green that they made Louis lean back a little. Why did he have to use that word again? Why did he always have to throw it in Harry's face every chance he got? Louis tried to shake it off and play it cool.

'So where are you working these days?' Louis asked changing the topic and diverting it away from himself and embarrassment. Harry relaxed his stance a little.

'Actually, I am into telecommunications,' he said as he took a sip of his wine.

'Oh yeah?' Louis asked and Harry could hear the note of scepticism in his voice. Yeah, Louis always looked down on him because Louis was the intellectual here and Harry was...was what? An uneducated whore in Louis' eyes.

'Mhm,' Harry hummed not wanting to answer anymore of Louis' questions because eventually he will be right as always. Louis cocked an eyebrow at him.

'Who are you working for?' Louis pressed and Harry's shoulders sagged.

'I'm ugh selling phones in a kiosk at the mall.' Louis scoffed.

'I thought so,' he said, and Harry felt bad that in Louis’ eyes he was lower than him. Harry went to fire back a reply, but Louis put his palm up. 'Can you be quiet please? Trivia night is starting.' Harry ground his teeth together but shut up, took a large gulp of his drink and tried to pry his attention off Louis and to the questions being asked. The questions picked up and they all answered as many questions as they could, but Louis noticed that there was a competition going on between Nicholas and Harry, each of them trying to answer before the other. Louis found it highly amusing but also interesting because Harry was getting a lot of good answers. Louis had no idea that Harry was smart.

'Okay next category is music,' the woman hosting the trivia quiz said. Louis turned to Nicholas and pecked his lips.

'You area of expertise baby,' Louis told him proudly. Harry gagged at the use of the term of endearment Louis was bestowing on his perfect boyfriend. Nicholas hugged Louis tightly.

'Wish me luck,' he told him. Louis kissed him again.

‘You don’t need it. You’re an expert.’ Harry rolled his eyes.

'Right, first question. Which country did AC/DC originate in?' Nicholas pressed the buzzed before Harry.

'Australia,' he said.

'Right!' the woman said. 'Next question. 'What was the name of the rock band formed by Jimmy Page?' Nicholas got the buzzer first much to Harry’s annoyance because he knew this. Everyone knew this!

'Led Zeppelin,' he said always very sure of himself. Louis cheered and placed a kiss on his cheek.

'Which name is rapper Sean Combes better known by?' Nicholas got the buzzer again.

'P Diddy,' he said.

'Right again.' More cheers from Louis, Liam and Lili. Harry wanted to empty a whole pint of beer on the dickhead's perfect quiff and expensive clothes!

'Next category is fashion,' the woman announced. Liam turned to Harry.

'Your expertise,' he told him. Louis chuckled.

'Harry has fashion sense?' he asked trying to hold in a giggle. He looked down at what Harry was wearing and scoffed. 'Judging by what you’re wearing, I don’t think so.' Harry met his eyes, a defiant smirk tugging at his lips. Louis found that smirk highly sexy and irresistible.

'Underestimate me. It will be fun.'

'First question. Who is seen at the most female American fashion icon of the 60's?' Harry got to the buzzer first.

'Jaqueline Kennedy.'

'Right. Another point for your team. Who invented LBD?' Harry hit the buzzer.

'Coco Chanel.'

'Correct.' Louis looked at him impressed.

'Well look at Mr. Fashionista go,' he commented.

'Next question. Which fashion brand made the “Genius Jeans” that became part of the Guinness World Record?' Harry hit the buzzer smirking.

'Gucci.'

'Correct. Next category Art History.' The questions started firing again. Louis tuned the woman out and focused on Harry sitting next to him, chilled and relax. Louis wanted to straddle his lap and kiss him hard, feel that body against his and rut against him till…. till Nicholas shaking him brought him out of his daydreaming.

'We made it to the finals. We're going to win this,' he said excitedly. Louis wanted to push him off the stool for disturbing his thoughts. Liam and Lili high fived each other. Harry sat there. Alone. Louis leaned over.

‘Well done,’ he said softly. He felt he owed Harry a decent, honest compliment. Harry grinned, popping his dimple because Louis was praising him.

‘Thanks,’ he murmured.

'Okay this is the final question,’ the lady leading the quiz said into the mic. ‘Whoever gets this right wins trivia night. Here we go. This artist's scandalous painting of a woman nearly derailed his career when it was exhibited in Paris 1884?' The clock started ticking. The other team pressed the buzzer, but they got the answer wrong, so it was down to them.

'I majored in Art History,' Nicholas boasted thinking hard. Harry scoffed.

'Go on then spit it out Mr. Art History Major,' he said sarcastically. The asshole in him preened. This dickhead deserved it. He couldn’t understand what Louis was doing with the likes of him. Nicholas glared at him.

'Well maybe if you only used your mouth to breathe instead of speak, I could concentrate,' he snapped at Harry. Louis put his hand on Nicholas’ arm.

'Come on Nick that was harsh.' Harry smiled to himself pleased that Louis was defending him. Nicholas glared at Louis.

'Do not call me Nick Louis. How many times must I tell you? It has to be Matisse,' Nicholas said to. Then looked at Lili. 'It’s Matisse,' he replied more forcefully.

'Ugh no it's not,' Harry contradicted him. 'It's Sargent.' Nicholas sneered at him.

'Honey I collect art. What would you know about art?' Harry shrugged.

'Collecting art doesn't make you an art expert,' he said, and Louis bit his bottom lip to stop himself laughing. Nicholas gave Harry a cheesy smile.

'Oh, you are such a darling. It's Matisse. It's painting he did of his wife.'

'I'm telling you it’s John Singer Sargent. Madame X,' Harry insisted. Louis turned to him shocked surprise evident on his face.

'How do you even know that?' he asked. Harry grinned at him sheepishly making Louis' insides all warm and tingly.

'He also did a bunch of drawings of naked dudes. I stole a book about him from the library so I could jack off to it. And sometimes, after I was finished I would, you know, read it!' He smirked at Louis whose face had gone a deeper pink. Liam tried hard to hold on to his laughter. Lili made a gagging sound. Nicholas looked like he was about to have a stroke.

'Okay eww Harry, I didn't need to know that. I say we go with Nick,' Lili said. Liam shook his head still laughing.

'No way. Harry is right. He jerks off a lot!' Louis covered his mouth to stop from laughing but his eyes were full of tears ready to spill from holding back. He tried not to imagine Harry jerking off to an open art book. Typical Harry. 'Trust me Lili, go with Harry if you want to win this.' Lili looked uncertain.

'Louis you get to decide which one we go with,' she said dumping the crucial decision in Louis’ lap. Louis opened his mouth in shock.

'But why?' he asked pitifully. 'I didn't do anything.' Both Nicholas and Harry turned to face him, one on his left and one on his right. Lili nodded at him to decide.

'Come on Lou, twenty seconds on the clock,' she told him urgently.

'Um God the pressure,' he said. Nicholas scowled at him.

'Are you serious right now? You've seen my art collection. Do you really think that mass of unruly curls and fake Gucci loafers over there knows more about art than I do?' Louis looked at Lili nervously.

'Help me,' he begged her.

'Ten seconds Lou. Decide!' Lili urged him.

'Lou come on,' Nicholas hissed at him. Louis looked at Harry who raised an eyebrow at him and gave him a smile popping both his dimples on purpose knowing that his dimples always got him what he wanted. Harry knew that he didn't need words with Louis.

'Harry!' Louis said loudly. 'I say we go with Harry.' Lili jumped off the stool with just two seconds on the clock and hit the buzzer.

'John Singer Sargent,' she said and waited with bated breath.

'Correct!' the woman said, and they all jumped cheering except Nicholas who sat there looking irritated. Liam hugged Harry and clapped him on the back.

‘You were right man,’ Liam told him happily.

‘I knew I was,’ Harry boasted throwing Nick a look that said, “that’s for thinking you were better than me dick.”

‘Well done, Harry,’ Louis told him, a big smile on his face. ‘I never would’ve thought you had it in you.’

‘There’s more to me than meets the eye Louis,’ Harry told him giving him a wink. Nicholas stood up suddenly, his irritation on full display. He wound his mohair scarf around his neck.

'Oh, come on Nicholas,' Louis begged him trying to pull him to him but Nicholas put his hand up stopping Louis and took a step back.

'Congrats everyone,' he said stiffly. 'Lou come on let’s go.' Louis remained on his stool his back to Harry looking at Nicholas who was pouting stubbornly.

'Actually, Nick I think I'm going to stay on for a little longer.' Nicholas frowned at him.

'Fine! You know what Louis? You are a fucking child and I’m done with you and your fucking drama and whining,' he spat at him angrily. He turned on his heels and walked out. Louis' face fell because Nick had just embarrassed him by yelling at him in front of Harry. He turned back to the others, arranging his features into a smile to hide his pain and embarrassment. Lili reached out across the table and placed her hand over his, squeezing lightly.

'Don't worry about him hun. He'll get over it. He's always been a sore loser. His super inflated ego won't allow him to digest a loss,' she told him giggling. Louis shrugged, trying to hide his shame at being dumped in front of Harry of all people but when he turned to look at Harry ready to be insulted and mocked, he found Harry looking at him tenderly, a small sympathetic smile on his lips and arms open wide. Louis went easily and when Harry hugged him tightly yet delicately, surely and safely, Louis hugged him back tighter, his face buried in his neck and inhaled deeply, wanting to remember this first hug for ever, the feel of Harry's body, his smell. He wanted to remember it all. Then Harry pulled back out of the hug, his hands falling to Louis' waist, Louis' hands still on his broad shoulders and they smiled at each other, happily cheering their victory, Nicholas forgotten. They finished their celebratory drinks and decided that it was still too early to go home since they were still riding a high, so Louis suggested they go to the bar where Selena and Eleanor worked. They stumbled out of the pub laughing.

'You are a child,' Harry said trying to mimic Nick’s posh voice. ‘And how many times have I told you not to call me Nick?’ Louis giggled.

'Shut up. You don't sound anything like him.'

'Thank God for that,' Harry said then stopped and looked at Louis. 'I'm sorry. I shouldn't be making fun of him. I know you liked him.' Louis shrugged.

'Not really,' he admitted. He gave Harry a sideways glance. 'It's just um you get what you settle for you know what I mean? Plus. His art was utter shit. Probably none of them were even an original.' They burst out laughing again and Harry had the sudden urge to wrap Louis in his arms and never let him go but Louis only saw him as a friend if even that.

The walked to the bar where Selena and Eleanor worked because its wasn't far and soon Louis was pushing the door open, ushering Harry, Liam and Lili inside out of the cold while talking animatedly to Harry.

'You guys go get a table. I'm going to say hi Eleanor and Selena.' Louis walked to bar where both Eleanor and Selena were serving drinks to some customers. Eleanor saw him first.

'Well, well, well look who the hell it is! Sel, look who's here!' Selena's eyes went wide, a broad smile on her face.

'Louis, what are you doing here?' she asked. Louis put one knee on the empty stool next to him and hoisted himself up leaning across the bar to kiss both of his friends.

'This is a surprise,’ Eleanor said. 'You've been in here once since you've been dating Dick.' Selena rolled her eyes.

'Not chic enough for Mr. BBC Radio 1 huh!' she said sarcastically. Eleanor turned to Selena.

'The only time he came in here, he said that he had an allergic reaction to the soap in the bathroom. Where is his royal dickness anyway?' she asked Louis. Louis looked from one to the other.

'I um we ugh broke up,' he said.

'For real?' Eleanor asked him, her eyes going wide. Selena looked at him hopefully.

'For real,' Louis replied.

'Oh, thank fuck,' both said together. Louis looked at his friends.

'Well wow! Thank you so much,' he said trying to come across as annoyed with them, but he actually wasn't. Eleanor pouted at him.

'I'm sorry Louiskins but I hated him with every ounce of me.'

'Same,' Selena agreed. 'I didn't like him. Very jugdemental and looked down his nose at everyone. No one was good enough for him.'

'I know,' Louis said softly.

'He was literally the worst,' Eleanor continued.

'Well yeah okay,' Louis said, 'but he was good in bed.' Eleanor and Selena both looked at him surprised.

'Was he?' they both asked. Louis pressed his lips together trying to stifle his laughter then leaned closer to them.

'Nah not really,' he admitted sheepishly. ‘He only lasted like five seconds and rushed through foreplay like….’

‘Okay alright ewww stop,’ Eleanor said putting her hands over her ears. They all burst into fits of laughter then suddenly Selena stopped laughing.

'What the hell is Harry doing here?' she asked her face going serious.

'What? Where?' Eleanor asked her.

'There!' Selena pointed to the table where Liam, Lili and Harry where sitting. 'Louis, are you with him?'

'Sel, I'm not with him. I came with them,' he said rationally.

'That's a bloody coincidence innit that you just broke up but Nicbutt and hey presto! Harry is here. With you!'

'Shh El don't shout. He’ll hear you,' Louis told her. Eleanor put her hands on her hips.

'I want him to hear me,’ Eleanor said, her voice still raised. ‘Explain Louiskins.' Louis took in a deep breath and exhaled.

'We um ran into each other tonight. That's Nick's cousin Lili whose boyfriend Liam is Harry's flatmate. When Nick told me that we were going out to the pub for trivia night with his cousin, I didn't know that her boyfriend was Harry's flatmate and Liam brought him along and before both of you jump my ass, I realized my mistake all along thinking that we could ever be more than friends. As long as we keep it in the friends’ zone, we're good. Friends can never be more than friends. Besides, he's funny and he's actually really smart, which for some reason I never knew but he's definitely not boyfriend material. I need someone grown up; you know what I mean. Someone who's not Harry.' Eleanor and Selena eyed him.

‘You shouldn’t even be friends with him Lou,’ Selena said. Louis reached over the bar and took Selena’s hand in his.

‘I am working with a person who’s trying to make a better world. I want to become a politician to change the world and make it better,’ Louis said. Selena furrowed her brows.

‘How is this you making the world a better place by hanging out with the likes of that asshole?’ she asked. Louis sighed.

‘If you want to make a change in the world, be the change you want to see,’ he said giving her a smile.

‘I still don’t get it,’ she said flatly. Louis rolled his eyes.

‘For fuck’s sake, I’m trying to be kind and giving him the benefit of the doubt and trying to make it up to him for calling him a whore last Valentine’s day and re-calling him a whore today,’ he said in one breath. Eleanor gasped.

‘You didn’t! Where are your manners Louiskins?’ Selena crossed her arms over her chest.

‘Well, he is, and you don’t owe him anything Lou.’ Louis rubbed his face.

‘Look, I know what I’m doing alright. We’re just friends. I’m just being friendly and kind. Harry is not it. He’s not the one I’m looking for to spend the rest of my life with. He just ain’t it.’

'Okay got it,' Eleanor said, 'Harry ain't it!' Louis looked at Selena.

'Sel? You believe me?' She narrowed her eyes at him, scrutinizing him then gave him a small smile.

'Harry ain't it,' she said. Louis clapped his hands.

'Now that we settled that Harry ain’t it, why don't you both do your fucking jobs and give up some drinks! Oh, and El?’ Louis said. ‘What is Rupert doing here?’ he asked nodding his head towards the guy sitting at the corner of the bar looking at them. Eleanor waggled her fingers at Rupert giving him one of her fake smiles.

‘He’s stalking me,’ she said. ‘He’s been in here every time I’m working.’

‘Maybe because he’s your boyfriend?’ Louis asked Eleanor but her hand up.

‘Stop right there and do not like ever use that word to me.’ Louis chuckled.

‘You’ve been with him for three months El.’

‘I have not been with him for three months! We just happen to meet at the same places on the same occasion,’ she said. Louis laughed.

‘That’s called dating.’ Eleanor looked at him with her resting bitch face.

‘I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that. For your safety of course. Now, let me do my job and tell me what I can get you.’ Louis threw his head back and laughed loudly. Harry was watching him from their table where he sat with Liam and Lili. He had a small fond smile on his face as he watched Louis’ perch on the stool, one leg barely touching the floor and the other one on the stool to help him reach his friends. He was small, Harry found himself thinking. He smiled to himself. Louis hated being told that he was small, but he was, and Harry found that so endearing. He loved that he was bigger than Louis and he could envelope him. He loved that he could manhandle him and…he felt an elbow in his ribs which brough him out of his Louis fantasies. He looked at Liam with a scowl on his face.

‘What?’ he asked. Liam chuckled.

‘You are so into him.’ Harry glared at Liam.

‘I am NOT!’ Liam burst out laughing.

‘Hate to break it to you Harry but you are,’ Liam said still laughing. Harry scoffed.

‘What are you even talking about?’

‘Mate, you’re not just looking at him. You’re staring at him with heart eyes.’ Harry shook his head as if in disbelief of what Liam was saying.

‘I was not staring at him. I was looking in his direction because I haven’t seen Eleanor in a while, and I wanted to wave to her and say hello. That is a courteous thing to do.’ Liam smiled knowingly.

‘You told me that Eleanor doesn’t even like you but yeah you’ve always been very courteous. Whatever floats your boat mate.’ Harry sat up straighter in his chair.

‘Excuse you. Eleanor does like me, and I am courteous. Courtesy is my middle name.’ Liam snorted a laugh.

‘You’re so full of shit H. I know you.’ Harry smirked at him.

‘Li you better shut up and leave me alone before I tell Lili here what I saw on your computer this morning.’ Lili who had been ignoring them and was engrossed in her phone, suddenly looked up at the mention of her name and looked from Liam to Harry, her eyes resting on Harry’s smiling face.

‘What did you see on his computer Harry?’ she asked sending Liam a warning glance. Liam turned in his chair to face Lili.

‘Honey he saw nothing. There’s nothing to see on my computer.’ Lili eyed him not sure who to believe.

‘He must’ve seen something since he’s threatening to tell me,’ she said. Harry chuckled and sat back in his chair.

‘Oh, believe me I have,’ he said pushing it further. Liam looked panicked.

‘Sweetheart he’s just being an asshole. There’s nothing on my computer I swear. Trust me?’ Lili gave Harry another look and saw the self-satisfied smirk on his face then looked back at Liam.

‘The reason I’m believing you is that I don’t believe him,’ she said flatly. Harry sent her a pained look.

‘Ouch,’ he said.

‘Serves you right,’ Liam growled at him. He leaned closer to him. ‘Don’t ever try to set my girlfriend against me with your lies,’ he said. Harry grinned at him.

‘She nearly believed me.’

‘You wish,’ Liam said.

‘Do you want me to try harder?’ Harry challenged.

‘I want you to cut it out,’ Liam told him.

‘Fine,’ Harry said, ‘I will only when you cut this shit about Louis and me. We’re only friends alright.’ Liam raised his palms in surrender.

‘If you say so. Oh, look Louis is coming over,’ Liam said. Harry startled and sat up in his chair again nearly toppling over. Liam giggled. ‘Friends my ass. You’re so whipped,’ he murmured. Harry glared at him.

‘Just friends,’ he said through gritted teeth. Liam laughed.

‘Sure.’ Harry leaned across the table and placed his hand over Lili’s.

‘There’s nothing on his computer. I’m just full of shit like he said.’ Lili gave him a cheesy smile.

‘You honestly thought I’d believe you and not my Liam? Seriously Harry, what do you take me for?’ Before Harry could defend himself, Louis arrived at the table carrying four pints of beer precariously on a tray.

‘The first round is from El and Selena over there. Drinks to celebrate my breakup. No offence Lili,’ Louis said as he distributed the drinks.

‘None taken hun,’ Lili replied. Harry stood up with his pint of beer in hand.

‘El. Selena,’ he called across the bar. ‘Thank you for the drinks,’ he said. Both El and Selena scowled at him, but he did not see because he turned to look at Liam. ‘See? Courteous.’ Then he sat down and looked at Louis. ‘A toast. To Louis’ breakup and his singlehood. Cheers.’ Liam and Lili raise their pints.

‘To Louis’ breakup and singlehood,’ they said together. Louis smiled.

‘Wow thank you Harry and Liam and Lili. I feel the love,’ he said as he took a healthy gulp of his beer. He hated that he was single again. He loved being in a relationship, but he had to admit that Nick was wrong for him. His heart lay elsewhere and where it lay it was prone to be stamped on and broken. He looked at Harry who was laughing at something Liam said and he wished that things were different, that Harry was different and could maybe perhaps love him, but he was wishing in vain, and he would not wish his life away hoping that Harry would love him.

The next morning, Louis arrived at the office early as usual carrying caffeinated drinks for his ladies. He entered the office and there they were, classily dressed, beautifully made up and Louis felt proud that he worked with such a lovely group of women who were supporting another woman in her bid for Mayor of London. When women pushed other women, beautiful things happened. After all, the future was female.

‘Good morning ladies,’ Louis said cheerily as he walked through the glass doors.

‘Someone is chirpy this morning,’ Liz said. ‘Did you get some last night?’

‘Oh my God,’ Marion murmured covering her face. Angela tsked at Liz.

‘What?’ Liz asked innocently. ‘Look at him, he’s glowing, and you glow like that when you get laid.’

‘Hmm,’ Mirtha said eyeing Louis. ‘You do look like you’re glowing. Liz is right. Well, did you?’ Angela huffed annoyed at how straight forward her friends were. She was not as straight forward as her friends. Louis placed the coffees in front of each lady.

‘As a matter of fact, I was dumped,’ he said rather cheerfully.

‘What?’ Angela, Mirtha, Marion and Liz echoed together.

‘Nick dumped you?’ Mirtha asked.

‘That motherfucker!’ Liz hissed.

‘Oh, Louis I’m so sorry,’ Angela said.

‘Are you alright?’ Marion asked him.

‘Wait,’ Liz said. ‘Why are you all glowing and smiley and shit if you got dumped? Shouldn’t you be like, I don’t know miserable and crying? What did you do Louis?’

‘Ladies take a breath and chill,’ Louis said his cheerful demeanor never leaving him. They looked at him waiting for him to elaborate and dish out explanations. He licked his lips, took in a deep breath and exhaled. ‘I met Harry,’ he said softly.

‘Oh, for fucks sake!’ Liz cried. ‘Not him again!’

‘Louis, I thought you were over him,’ Mirtha said sounding a little disappointed. Marion stood up and walked over to Louis.

‘What happened Lou?’ she asked him kindly. She knew how sensitive Louis was. Louis sighed and took a sip of his iced coffee.

‘Well, you know we were off to meet Nick’s cousin for trivia night, right?’ They all nodded. ‘It turned out that Nick’s cousin Lili is dating Harry’s flat mate Liam and he tagged along.’

‘Typical of him to tag along with two couples like the third wheeler that he is and break you two up,’ Liz snorted.

‘He didn’t break us up Liz,’ Louis said. ‘Nick dumped me because he is selfish.’ Angela rubbed Louis’ back comfortingly even though he didn’t look like he needed comfort.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she said. Louis shrugged.

‘It’s alright,’ he said.

‘So, what happened?’ Mirtha asked. ‘I thought you two were it.’

‘Nick wasn’t it,’ Louis said. ‘I failed to see that. I’ve just been desperate to find someone, and I was settling.’

‘Sorry I’m not getting this,’ Liz said. ‘If you realized that Nick ain’t it and HE dumped YOU, where and how does Harry come in?’ Louis watched his four friends look at him waiting for an explanation.

‘I chose Harry’s answer during a trivia quiz,’ he said.

‘Ah,’ Mirtha said.

‘Hmm,’ Angela said.

‘Oh,’ Liz added.

‘Aww,’ Marion chipped in.

‘What?’ Louis exclaimed. ‘Why are you looking at me as if you are pitying me?’

‘And Nick dumped you because you chose Harry,’ Angela told him softly. Louis nodded and shrugged.

‘Why did you choose Harry?’ Liz asked him and Louis felt that there was more meaning behind her question.

‘Correction Liz. I did NOT choose Harry. I chose Harry’s answer,’ Louis said. Liz rolled her eyes.

‘You know what I mean Lou,’ she said sounding annoyed. Louis’ shoulders slumped forward.

‘He had the correct answer about this piece of art that I can’t even remember the name of.’ Mirtha raised an eyebrow at him.

‘So, you chose Harry’s answer regarding an art piece when we all know that Nick is an art major and an art collector? Wow you must have some blind faith in Harry.’ she said flatly. Louis raised his hands in the air in exasperation.

‘It was the winning question. Lili made me choose and I was put under a lot of pressure alright. There were seconds on the clock and I just, I don’t know went along with Harry’s answer and Nick got pissed off at me and he dumped me.’ There was silence in the office then Liz cleared her throat.

‘And did Harry have the correct answer?’ she asked. Louis grinned, his blue eyes sparkling.

‘He did,’ he said proudly.

‘At least,’ Marion said. ‘From what you told us about him, he doesn’t sound like he’s a person who’s into art.’ Louis giggled.

‘Oh, he’s not. He knows jack shit about art.’

‘So how the hell did he get it right?’ Mirtha asked. Louis covered his mouth as he giggled again.

‘Turns out that this particular artist has a book of male nude art to which apparently Harry likes to wank to.’

‘Oh my God Louis too much info!’ Mirtha exclaimed. Liz and Marion burst out laughing while Angela smiled and blushed.

‘Well, you asked,’ he said defensively. ‘Don’t ask questions to which you can’t handle the answer.’

‘Typical Harry,’ Liz said. Louis sat on the edge of one of the desks and sipped his coffee.

‘So, Nick didn’t like that he got bested by the likes of Harry,’ Louis explained. ‘He didn’t take to him when they were introduced and even more when I told him that he was THE Harry.’

‘You wounded his ego,’ Mirtha pointed out. Liz chuckled.

‘He didn’t wound it. He demolished it,’ Liz said. ‘Nick is as proud of himself as a peacock is of his feathers. So, what now? Are you like with Harry?’

‘No,’ Louis said. ‘We’re just friends.’ All four looked at him with sceptical resting bitch faces. ‘What?’ Louis exclaimed. ‘We are!’

‘You and Harry can never be friends bud,’ Liz told him.

‘Why does everyone keep saying that to me?’ Louis whined. ‘Hate to disappoint you Lizzie but we are friends. Harry ain’t it.’

‘Says the man who gambled winning trivia night choosing the guy who said he knew the answer because he wanked to the artist’s art!’ Liz threw at him. Mirtha high fived her. Louis slapped Liz’s arm playfully.

‘Rude! Don’t judge! He…he knows things,’ Louis said, his voice going soft and his cheeks heating up.

‘I’M SURE HE DOES,’ Mirtha said making sure her double meaning came across perfectly. Louis looked at them with a tender expression on his face.

‘Surprisingly, he does. He knows a lot about fashion,’ he said, and he didn’t know why he was defending Harry or feeling proud of him. He bit down on his bottom lip as he remembered Harry answering all the fashion questions with gusto and certainty and how proud Harry looked at getting the answers right. It only dawned on Louis then that Harry had been trying to impress him.

‘I know that look,’ Angela said. ‘Don’t go there Louis. He always hurts you.’ Louis looked up at her and even though he was smiling, his eyes were sad.

‘I am not going there Angie,’ he said. ‘I’ve learned my lesson. Besides, I hurt him too.’

‘He deserves it,’ Liz piped up. Louis looked at her, his face serious.

‘Does he though?’ he asked. Marion sighed.

‘Louis you can’t…’

‘I’m not,’ Louis interrupted her. ‘We’re just friends. Like I said, Harry ain’t it.’ Just then his phone vibrated in his pants pocket. He pulled out his phone and unlocked it. Immediately, his face broke into a soft smile when he saw a text from Harry. He tapped on the message.

It was good seeing you again last night. Had fun. Maybe we should do it again sometime?

As Louis was reading it, another message came in.

By the way, its Harry xx

Louis shook his head and smiled fondly.

‘Dork,’ he muttered as he began typing out a message. All four ladies craned their necks to see who was texting Louis that got him blushing so beautifully. Louis pressed his phone to his chest hiding it from their prying eyes.

‘Oi noses out of my business please,’ he said smile still on his face and cheeks still pink. Liz narrowed her eyes at him.

‘Is Harry texting you?’ she asked him. Louis raised an eyebrow at her.

‘What if he is?’ he asked.

‘Louis no,’ Marion and Mirtha said together. Louis laughed.

‘We’re just friends. Friends text each other, don’t they?’

‘You and Harry are not friends,’ Liz told him. He sighed heavily and let his shoulders droop.

‘Maybe we can be. Maybe I judged him too harshly. Maybe I’m too mean to him. If we don’t try, we’ll never know,’ he said in a pleading voice. Angela sat down next to him.

‘You’re not too harsh on him Louis. He’s hurt you many times. We are just worried about you,’ she said softly. Louis shrugged one shoulder, his face turning a little sad. He looked down at the dark screen of his phone because he couldn’t look at his friends. They would see the blatant lies on his face. They would see his feelings for Harry in his eyes.

‘I swear,’ he said softly, ‘Harry ain’t it.’ The lie burned his throat because Harry was it and there was no way anything could ever happen between them, so the next best thing was being friends with him. Angela patted him on his shoulder.

‘As long as you know that he ain’t it and you know that you deserve better, then I guess you can try and befriend him.’ Liz scoffed and rolled her eyes. Mirtha nudged her in the ribs making a zip sign across her lips. Liz scowled at her. Marion saw the exchange and shook her head. She patted Louis’ knee.

‘Just be careful with your heart darling. You are precious and we are only looking out for you. Now, lets all get back to work before Amanda walks through those doors and have our asses for breakfast.’ They all got up and sat at their desks. Louis huffed out a breath and unlocked his phone.

I had fun too. Maybe coffee at lunchtime if you are free?

Louis looked at his message. His mind and his heart were at odds, tearing at each other’s throats. He hit send. His heart clapped and his mind groaned in defeat.

‘Well here goes nothing,’ he muttered to himself as he got up to start working. His phone vibrated. His heart da da dummed rapidly.

I’ll be at Starbucks the one right under Tower Bridge at 1:20 sharp. I won’t be late. Promise.

Louis smiled, his cheeks heating up and sat at his desk ignoring the looks he was getting from his friends. He was meeting Harry.

Chapter Text

Part 4

Amanda Haskell rarely got angry. In fact, for the duration of the last couple of months that Louis had been working for Amanda, he had never seen her quite so livid as she was now. Her usually calm, cool and collected demeanor was nowhere to be seen! Instead, Amanda glared at them, her face flushed red and eyes shining with anger.

‘Again, I ask you, how did I go down in the polls survey? What went wrong? I was in the damn lead and for a while it looked like I was going to win this. But now? I’m fucking down by a vast margin. The people of London have spoken and I am bloody losing. What the fuck happened?’ Liz, Angela, Marion, Mirtha and Louis shifted in their seats all looking at each other and all of them avoiding looking at Amanda. ‘What is fucking up my chances of becoming Major of London?’ she asked angrily. Marion cleared her throat, giving the others stern looks for not speaking up.

‘As far as I can tell…’

‘Apparently it’s not far enough Marion because I’m losing,’ Amanda snapped. ‘I want to know what happened so we can fix this and get me back on track and in the lead. I have big plans for London so I need to win this election. I know there’s still a few months left until election day and things can change but I do not accept this.’ She slammed her hand down on the desk, looking at the five of them, waiting and expecting them to solve this bump in her career. That’s what she paid them for.

‘Amanda,’ Mirtha began doing her best to reason with her, ‘let’s not focus on the polls right now. A survey doesn’t mean much. Gary Roberts is full of shit and lies and false promises. He will say whatever it takes to get votes and win this election. He will basically do anything so he doesn’t lose to a woman. He’d sell his own mother for votes. Let’s focus instead on how to get you back up on top.’ Amanda folded her hands-on top of her blotter and looked Mirtha dead in the eyes.

‘And pray tell how are we going to do that? We’ve done everything from charity drives to volunteer work. I have found a solution to help with the homeless problem. I have a good plan for health care. I have plans for less pollution in my city. I have given the people of London hope and a promise of a bright future if only they elect me and clearly, they have changed their minds about me. So, tell me Mirtha, what caused this? And how are we going to get me back in the fucking lead?’ Nobody said anything because none of them knew what else they could do. They had executed all avenues and ways of life, promising the citizens of London the best Amanda had to offer.

‘Actually, there might be something you have kind of overlooked,’ Louis said softly and carefully, afraid of bringing Amanda’s wrath down on him. All eyes went on him. Amanda stared him down and Louis felt her pin him to the chair with her eyes. He shifted a little clearly feeling uncomfortable about the uncertainty of his proposal.

‘Well go ahead then Louis,’ Amanda challenged him. ‘What have I overlooked? Entertain me.’ Louis swallowed thickly. This woman scared the shit out of him.

‘The LGBTQI+ community,’ he said. Silence followed his words. All eyes remained on him and as if that wasn’t enough he could feel the weight of all those eyes in the room pinning him down to his blood chair. The power of women! They could nail you down to a cross with just their eyes. He needed to breathe. Amanda blinked, her eyes still on him, waiting, loudly tapping her manicured nails on the blotter. The tapping sounded like a death march in Louis’ ears. He gulped and braced himself, waiting for her to have a go at him like the dragon that she was. Instead, she let out a breath and her shoulders sagged a little.

‘But I have included them along with the general population. I mean, isn’t that equality? Isn’t that what they want?’ The others seemed to relax a little now that Amanda had toned down her wrath a little and was focused on Louis instead of them. Louis now straightened his back because this was his area of expertise and he was going to shine and educate.

‘Yes, and there is nothing wrong with including them along with the general population but you need to reach out to these people. You need to target them specifically and make them feel like you are focusing solely on them. There is still a lot of issues regarding the LGBTQI+ community that need to be addressed.’

‘What can I do for them?’ Amanda asked Louis. Louis smiled at her. That was the exact answer he had been hoping for.

‘How about we start by throwing them a Pride party where you will be the guest of honor and meet these people yourself and let THEM tell YOU what you can do for them and what they need. Get down with them and hear them. Listen to their struggles and hardships as they try to live in a world that gives them a real hard time. Let the future Mayor of London listen to them, acknowledge them and their needs.’ Louis felt a thousand feet tall. He just hoped that Amanda would go along with his idea. She seemed to be thinking, tapping her long fingernails on the blotter in front of her. She looked back at Louis.

‘What will this party entail and how much will it cost me? We have a budget.’ Louis clapped his hands together happily and shifted closer to the edge of his chair.

‘Okay we will need a venue that offers a bar. And we will need entertainment and flyers to promote you and this event.’ Amanda rolled her eyes.

‘How much are we looking at Louis? And what entertainment do you have in mind? I don’t want any strippers.’ Louis giggled.

‘I have a friend who knows a few drag queens who might be able to come and entertain at the party. I do not have a figure like that at the top of my head. I need to check things out first, get estimates and get back to you with an estimate of the total cost.’ He waited for the go ahead. Amanda huffed out a breath.

‘Get me those estimates within the end of the week Louis. Not a day later. You,’ she turned her eyes on Mirtha, Liz, Angela and Marion. ‘All of you help him out in whatever he needs. If we are going to do this, we have to do it right. Now off you go. And I want everything on my desk by the end of this week. Yes, that means in two days’ time. Not a fucking hour later.’ They all scrambled to their feet and pushed each other out of the door in a hurry out of Hurricane Amanda’s way. When they were safely out of her office, Mirtha, Angela, Liz and Marion all turned to look at Louis like vultures eyeing a carcass.

‘What?’ he asked them and he took a few steps back away from them for self-protection because they were looking at him like they were either going to beat him up or smother him with hugs.

‘That was a damn good idea Louis,’ Mirtha told him. The others nodded along with her. Louis looked from one to the other with wide eyes and gulped. They reminded him of the witches in Hocus Pocus!

‘Thanks?’ he said and it came out like a question. Marion narrowed her eyes at him.

‘Louis,’ she said, her voice a warning, ‘you do have ideas on how to do this right?’ Louis gulped again and took another step back.

‘Um not exactly,’ he said softly.

‘What the fuck Lou?’ Liz exclaimed. ‘You suggested this to Amanda now you don’t know how to go about setting it up? You shouldn’t have spoken up if you didn’t intend to go through with it, dumping us all into a pile of horse shit.’ Louis glared at her.

‘Well excuse me if I panicked in there,’ he said angrily. ‘I didn’t see YOU coming up with the idea!’ he told her. Liz scoffed.

‘How could I have come up with that idea?’ she threw back. Louis squared his shoulders.

‘Are you implying I came up with that idea because I am gay?’ Liz rolled her eyes.

‘Well duh!’ Louis was about to throw an expletive towards Liz when Marion took a step between them.

‘Enough,’ she told them and both shut up. Marion was still head of PR. ‘Liz that was unnecessary. It’s not gay people support the LGBTQI+ community. Louis had the right idea. We have done nothing for the LGBTQI+ community during this campaign but we will change that.’ Liz scoffed.

‘He has no idea how to go about setting it up,’ she said and folded her arms on her chest like a petulant child and glared at Louis.

‘Why are you so pressed?’ Louis taunted her. ‘Are you on your period?’ He folded his hands on his chest too imitating her and cocked his hip out, raising an eyebrow at her.

‘Louis enough!’ Marion snapped. She rubbed her temples. ‘We don’t have time for this bickering. We have a lot of work to do.’ She turned to look at Louis. ‘It’s true that you came up with this idea but you need to guide us on how to go about organizing it Lou. We don’t know any people…’

‘Gay people you mean,’ Louis said.

‘Who’s pressed now?’ Liz muttered.

‘Oh, for the love of God can you two stop fucking bickering?’ Marion cursed which was unusual for her because Marion was one of the calmest people Louis had ever met. ‘I know tension is running high in here but if we turn on each other, there’s a big chance that Amanda will lose this election so cut the shit and let’s work. Louis,’ she said regaining her calm once again. ‘You said you know somebody who could help with entertainment. Is that true?’ Louis, being the petty asshole he was, looked at Liz and smiled.

‘Yes Marion, I do know people who can help,’ he said then when Marion closed her eyes and exhaled in relief, he pulled his tongue out at Liz. Liz on the other hand flipped him the bird. Angela elbowed Liz in the ribs giving her a scolding look and mouthing “grow up” at her. Marion let out a heavy breath and opened her eyes.

‘Okay here’s what’s going to happen. Louis, contact the people you know for entertainment and get an estimate on how much we will be charged. I might not know much about this but one thing I do know; Drag queens don’t come cheap. Liz, I want you to look at clubs that hold a large amount of people. Start with the Palladium. Mirtha, once Liz has a venue and Louis has entertainment, I want you to draft a flyer. Angela, go through our appointments calendar and see when we can slot in this party in. Preferably on a weekend.’ Marion clapped her hands. ‘Alright, everyone set to work. We only have two days to have all the information Amanda needs to get this activity rolling. Do not disappoint me.’ They all went to their desks and to their assigned tasks. Louis pulled out his phone and went to his WhatsApp and created a group chat which he titled “Under Pressure” and added his contacts: Harry, Liam, Zayn, Eleanor, Lili and Selena. He quickly typed a message:

[To Under Pressure]
I need help. Need to organize an LGBTQI+ Grade A party for the Amanda Haskell campaign within a few short days. Meeting tonight at my place. 7 pm sharp. Do NOT be late especially you Harry. And for fucks sake bring alcohol. I bloody need it.
He hit sent and got to work.

X

Later that evening everyone was crammed in Louis’ small living room of the flat he shared with Zayn and Selena, except of course for Harry. Harry just had to defy him and not be there on time. Harry had to give his ulcer a bloody ulcer and fucking Harry had to make sure that his blood pressure was so high that he could feel it thumping in his temples. Why couldn’t he do just one thing that Louis asked him? Because Harry was a dickhead and it was all about him. The others looked at him, Selena waiting with a notebook and fluffy unicorn pen poised on a new blank page ready to take down notes.

‘Can we start?’ Zayn asked. ‘The world still revolves even though Harry is not here.’ Louis shot him a look.

‘We are waiting for Harry!’ he snapped.

‘Mhm,’ Eleanor said as she took a sip of her wine.

‘What’s that “mhm” supposed to mean?’ Louis asked her suddenly feeling irritated. How did Harry manage to bring out the worst side of him?

‘It means,’ Eleanor began but was interrupted by the doorbell. ‘Saved by the bell,’ she muttered. Louis stalked out of the room and opened the door to find Harry looking as fresh and chilled out as ever with his stupid cute grin on his face and his stupid beautiful green eyes sparkling that made Louis’ heart skip a stupid beat.

‘Took you long enough,’ Louis snapped at him as he turned away from him and walked back into the living room making Harry follow him. He liked Harry following him! Harry caught up with him easily.

‘I knew you wouldn’t start without me,’ he said. Louis turned on him.

‘That’s very presumptuous of you,’ he snapped at him. Harry smirked at him popping one deep, cute, beautiful dimple that made Louis’ heart flutter. Stupid!

‘Not presumptuous at all,’ Harry told him, his voice slow and deep like syrup that made Louis wanted to drown in it. ‘I know you Lou and I know you’d wait for me. You always do.’ And yes, Louis wanted to punch him in his stupid face. Instead, he rolled his eyes, shook his head and walked back into the living room because he couldn’t argue with that now, could he? It was 7:30 and yes, he had waited for Harry. He always waited for Harry. The dickhead was right and Louis was in too deep. This fuckery had to stop. Over the past few weeks ever since trivia night, they had texted each other back and forth and occasionally met up for coffees or a pint. Louis had gotten to know Harry a little bit more and he knew that he was developing feelings for him but he also knew that said feelings could never ever see the light of day. It was still Harry and even though there was another side of Harry that Louis was slowly being introduced to and which side resonated with him on a deeper level, the fact of the matter remained that it was STILL Harry and there was a big fat chance that Harry would and could break him at any given moment. So, Louis stayed safely in the friend zone.

Before Harry could sit down on the couch squeezed in between Eleanor and Selena, Louis clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention.

‘Right. I asked you here today because I need help organizing a grade A party for Amanda and it simply has to be a success. My ass is on the line. If this fails and I don’t intend it to fail, I could get fired so all of you need to get your shit together and help me to make this party a success.’

‘What do you need?’ Zayn asked him and Louis could hug him because even though Zayn was almost always stoned most of his waking hours, he was always there for Louis and he always came through for him.

‘Yeah Louiskins we’re here to serve you,’ Eleanor agreed.

‘Lay it on us,’ Selena said. Lili nodded enthusiastically. Harry cleared his throat.

‘Anything you want,’ he said and Louis gulped because this mother fucker had a way of making everything sound sexual. Or maybe it was him who had his brain wired round his dick and every word that came out of Harry’s mouth sounded like a sexual innuendo. He cleared his throat loudly and hoped that none of them could see how red the tips of his ears were.

‘Right yes. Okay. I need drag queens and I know they don’t come cheap but the budget I have to work with is tight.’ Harry’s hand shot up in the air as if he was in class. Louis internally sighed. Here goes nothing. ‘Yes Harry?’

‘I know somebody,’ he said all innocently.

‘Somebody who’s a?’ Louis asked.

‘He’s a male stripper,’ he said with a big smile on his face. And of fucking course Harry knows a bloody stripper. Louis wanted to tear his hair out. He gave Harry one of his tight fake smiles.

‘Amanda does not want strippers. Next,’ he said wanting to move on from the Harry-knows-a-stripper part because crude images were building behind his eyes which he did not wish to see or entertain. Harry shuffled forward on the edge of his seat and Louis could see the excitement in his eyes. Oh God, here we go.

‘Jake is not just a stripper Lou,’ he said enthusiastically. Louis internally groaned because Harry was on a first name basis with a fucking stripper and even if he came free, Louis knew he didn’t want him. Simply because he would be in the same room as Harry. Petty? Very much. ‘He dances. He entertains. You can look up his IG.’ Great so they were social media friends too.

‘Harry I…’ But Harry was up and out of his seat and shoving his phone into Louis’ face. Louis’ eyes went wide when he saw the beautiful Jake Dupree` with his gorgeous blue eyes, brilliant white smile, sculptured body and an ass to die for decked out in lingerie. His ass was even better than his! And HIS ass was magnificent. That was an insult right there. Not to mention the skimpy outfit he was wearing and the fact that he could do a split in a thong and 7-inch heels! And Harry was on a first name basis with this beautiful man! Louis turned to look at Harry.

‘And how do you know this Jake Dupree`? Louis asked. He wanted to bite his tongue out for asking but he had no mouth to brain filter and so, of course he asked.

‘Oh boy,’ Eleanor murmured. ‘Here we go.’ Harry smirked at him.

‘We’re friends,’ he said smugly.

‘Friends,’ Louis repeated. Harry’s smile grew.

‘Yeah we met at a gay club which by the way you promised you would be my gay wingman but you never kept your promise. Remember when you gave me a ride…’ Harry stopped when he realized where he was going and he didn’t want to actually go there. Bad memories. ‘Anyway, I was getting myself accustomed to the London gay bar scene. I was out by myself and on my first night out, I met Jake.’

‘How lucky for you,’ Louis said, his voice dripping with sarcasm which Harry did not seem to notice so he ploughed on because Harry was like that. He was a heartbreaker but also a little naïve and extremely innocent at times.

‘He’s really nice and we became fast friends.’

‘Super,’ Louis said dryly because Harry being friends or in Harry’s case, more than friends with that hot guy did not sit down well with Louis. He knew that green did not suit him but yes, he was jealous! He turned to the others wanting to end this discussion and highly ignore the Jake slash Harry combination.

‘So,’ he began but was interrupted when he felt Harry’s soft fingers close around his forearm. Louis internally shivered.

‘Lou, he will come to your party. For free. As a favor to me.’ And that was it for Louis. He turned on Harry like a dragon.

‘Cover and duck,’ Selena murmured to the others.

‘No favor comes for free Harry. You’re probably going to sleep with him to get him to come do this party for free. That’s how you roll isn’t it?’ Harry’s smile slid off his face.

‘What? No. I…’

‘Don’t tell me you didn’t sleep with your lovely Jake Dupree?’ Harry’s mouth worked like a fish but nothing came out. ‘It’s what you do isn’t Harry? You sleep with them then dump them. Your list of conquests keeps on growing doesn’t it? Are you like trying to get into the World’s Guinness Book of Records for how many people you can sleep with and dump?’ Eleanor tugged on his track pant leg.

‘Louis cut,’ she hissed at him but Louis was not having it. Harry always brought the fucking worst out of him.

‘And that is why you want to bring Jake Dupree so you can owe him one and pay him back in sexual favors so no thank you Harry the gigolo. We’ll find someone else.’

‘He’s got a boyfriend,’ Harry murmured quietly. ‘They’ve been together for five years. I’m friends with him too.’ Louis’ mouth snapped shut because as always had jumped to conclusions and had just called Harry a whore, again! In front of his friends. He didn’t miss the hurt expression on Harry’s face and what was that Britney song? Opps I did it again!

‘Oh,’ Louis said feeling like an idiot. Harry nodded.

‘I only wanted to help you out. But I understand,’ he said. He gave Louis a small smile and he sat back down like a kicked puppy between Eleanor, who patted his knee in sympathy and Selena who remained unbothered. Lili’s hand shot up, saving them from a very awkward moment.

‘My cousin is a drag queen and he has friends,’ she said and Louis wanted to tear his eyeballs out because why in the name of God didn’t she speak up at the start when he first mentioned drag queens and avoided this whole uncalled for situation? Still, it was done and Louis knew he had some apologies to make to Harry. Again. Third time unlucky!

‘And do you think you could get your cousin and friends to perform for a reasonable price? Unless they want to perform for free out of the goodness of their hearts?’ Lili looked doubtful.

‘They are not cheap drag queens. I don’t think they would perform for free but I will try and get you a reasonable price if you tell me what your budget is.’ Louis nodded and continued with this meeting discussing the events with his friends while Selena took notes and Harry sat quietly, his hands tucked between his thighs and his eyes on his knees. He didn’t say another word for the duration of the meeting.

X

A few days later, Louis and his friends were out on the streets of London, handing out hot pink flyers announcing the Amanda Haskell LGBTQI Somewhere Over The Rainbow Party at the Palladium.

‘You need to apologize to Harry,’ Eleanor told him.

‘I tried to El but he left before the meeting was over. I had sausage rolls and he didn’t even stay for one. I mean Harry loves sausage rolls and I got his favorites, you know the expensive ones from M&S.’

‘Well since you accused him of being a whore in front of all of us, I don’t think sausage rolls were on his mind Lou. And M&S sausage rolls are not that expensive you cheap bastard,’ Eleanor said. Louis glared at her.

‘Excuse you, I am not cheap. The sausage rolls from Tesco are 6 for £1.65, and the ones from M&S are 6 for &2.75! So, I did get the best for Harry because I know he loves them.’ He paused and sighed heavily. He looked at Eleanor as if he was a martyr. ‘I fucked up, didn’t I?’ he asked her.

‘Royally,’ Eleanor agreed.

‘Why do I always do that?’ he asked.

‘No brain to mouth filter remember? I suggest you invest in one and have it installed as soon as possible.’ Louis was about to reply but he saw Harry approaching them over Eleanor’s shoulder.

‘Lou,’ he said cheerfully, ‘I’ve finished all my flyers.’ Eleanor turned to him, a huge smile on her face and shoved her stack of flyers into his chest.

‘Good thing I still have this lovely pile then isn’t it? And I am in desperate need of a drink. I am so dehydrated. See you later guys.’ She turned to Louis and mouthed at him “Apologize”, gave him a wink and she was off towards the pub on the corner. Louis stood there rooted to the spot looking at Harry as Harry looked back at him, holding the rumpled pile of flyers that Eleanor had dumped into his arms.

‘Harry,’ Louis said softly. Harry looked at him, his eyes wide with expectation. ‘I um wanted to apologize for the other day. For ugh accusing you of sleeping with Jake and calling you a whore.’ There, he said it. Harry remained silent as he passed out the flyers with remarkable efficiency, Louis noted. People seemed to be drawn to Harry, taking his flyers more readily than they took them from him or Eleanor or any of the others. Maybe because Harry greeted them with that dimpled smile of his that won over hearts and made knees weak. Or maybe it was because Harry always said please and thank you and have a good day to them. Whatever it was, Harry had charm and Louis had to give it to him. Harry shrugged.

‘I’m used to being called that from you now,’ he said, his voice low. Louis did not miss the hurt in his voice even though Harry was acting like it didn’t matter. And that made Louis feel horrid. Harry didn’t deserve this. Harry shouldn’t be used to being called a whore. Louis had done that to him.

‘You shouldn’t be used to it. It’s not right. I shouldn’t be calling you a whore,’ Louis blurted out. Eleanor was right. He made a mental note to have a mouth to brain filter installed ASAP.

‘But still you do it at every chance you get,’ Harry told him, looking at him with those green eyes of his full of something Louis could not understand. He looked like a wounded puppy that had just been kicked and Louis knew himself well enough to know that he would NEVER kick a puppy.

‘And I am very sorry for that. Can you please forgive me?’ The moment those words left Louis’ lips, he saw the twinkle in Harry’s eyes and the smirk curling up the side of his mouth and he instantly regretted asking that question because Harry being Harry, was going to milk him for that forgiveness and take all that he could get. Damn it!

‘On one condition,’ Harry said, his eyes never leaving Louis’ face.

‘Wow, I’m shocked by that. I mean who would put a condition on someone who’s just asked their forgiveness? Only Harry Styles!’ Louis said sarcastically. ‘Well go on then. What’s your condition?’ And Harry smirked again and Louis fucking knew he was not going to like it.

‘Tonight, come over to our flat and watch The Notebook with me,’ he said. Louis looked at him for half a second then burst out laughing.

‘For my atonement, you want me to come to your flat to watch The Notebook with you?’ he asked. He had heard right but if Harry was going to use this forgiveness to exploit him into spending an evening with him, then who was Louis to pass up an opportunity to make fun of Harry? Harry nodded. Inside, Louis was clapping like a baby seal. ‘Come to think of it,’ he told Harry, ‘I don’t think I want to be forgiven that much.’ He saw Harry’s face fall and Louis laughed again. ‘What time?’ he asked. He was not that stupid as to miss out on an evening in with Harry watching The bloody Notebook. The smile returned on Harry’s face.

‘Liam and Lili should be going out by 7 so how about 8?’ he asked excitedly. Louis hummed to himself. So, it was just going to be the two of them. Alone. Watching a sappy movie. Louis liked. He liked it a lot.

‘Sounds perfect,’ he said, giving Harry a big smile of his own.

X

Selena glared at him where she sat perched cross legged on Louis’ bed.

‘You’re making a big fat ass mistake Lou,’ she told him. Louis huffed.

‘We’re just friends Sel. Friends meet up at each other’s flats and watch movies together. It’s perfectly normal,’ he told her as he fixed his hair in the mirror.

‘Need I remind you that you and Harry are NOT friends. He is baiting you Louis. He is going to seduce you with his charismatic ways and you being you….’

‘What do you mean by me being me?’ he snapped at her as he turned from the mirror to face her, his hand on cocked hip. Selena sighed.

‘Lou, you have a soft spot for him.’

‘Excuse you? I do not have any soft anything for Harry,’ he defended himself. Selena got off his bed and stood in front of him.

‘You are in denial. You’ve had a soft spot for him for a long time and he’s going to hurt you. He always does.’

‘For fucks sake Sel, it’s just a movie,’ he protested. Selena smiled at him patiently.

‘You are a hopeless romantic Louis. You are looking for somebody and Harry knows your weakness. Why didn’t he invite you to a pub for drinks? Or to the cinema? No. He invited you to his flat when Liam is out to watch The Notebook. How convenient is that? He is going to seduce you and you are going to fall for it line, hook and sinker and once you let him fuck you….’

‘Stop!’ Louis said. ‘Just stop. Sel, I am not going to let Harry seduce me and there will definitely be no fucking of any sort involved.’ Selena took a step back and looked Louis up and down.

‘Then why are you dressed up? You are just going to a friend’s house to watch a movie, right? You could’ve just put on sweats and a hoodie but you’re smartly dressed. You have been standing in front of the mirror for half an hour playing with your hair. And you’ve put on your expensive perfume that you use only for special occasions.’ Louis opened his mouth to contradict her foolishness but only a strangled cough came out. Because Selena was right even though he would never give her the satisfaction of telling her so. She patted his shoulders gently.

‘Just be careful alright. Once you cross that boundary between you two, there’s no going back. He’s a predator. You are naïve Lou. No listen to me. I know you. I know you might look tough on the outside but you are very soft on the inside. If you let Harry have his way with you, you won’t see him again. It’s what he’s after. Don’t give it to him. You will end up badly broken.’ Louis rolled his eyes theatrically.

‘We are only friends Sel. There’s no us two and there’s no boundary to cross. We’re just going to hang out and watch a movie that’s it. I will not cross the friendship boundary because once friends fuck, then that’s it. Friendship is broken.’ Selena narrowed her eyes at him.

‘Just take care of that beautiful heart of yours. He has a habit of hurting it.’ Louis gave her a smile and placed a kiss on her cheek.

‘He’s not breaking anything within me. He’s just a friend Sel. I know him and I know what he’s capable of and there’s no way I am letting him hurt me. We’re just two friends watching a movie, hanging out. Many male friends do that. That’s all.’ Selena’s eyes softened on him.

‘Yeah but not many male friends are you and Harry.’

X

When Louis arrived at Harry’s apartment, Selena’s words still echoed in his head. Where did she get all these ideas from? He scoffed. As if he didn’t know Harry well enough! As if he would allow himself to let Harry touch him! As if…he would…let Harry…kiss him…and…and! Louis cleared his throat and shook himself out of these slow building thoughts putting unwanted ideas into his head! He was not going to go into Harry’s apartment while they were alone watching a romantic movie with these thoughts in his head. No Sir! He pressed the button next to Flat 1. He straightened out his clothes and stood straight. The sound of a buzzer came through and the door opened. Louis pushed it and entered the small foyer. It was a nice clean, decluttered building and he appreciated that.

He climbed the few stairs leading up to flat 1 and the door stood ajar, soft yellow light spilling into the hallway and soft music poured out too, a deep, sultry male voice crooning seductively. Was that Marvin Gaye? Was Harry listening to Marvin Gaye? Louis gulped thickly. This was a bad idea. He should turn around and go back home before something irrevocable happened here. But no! He was a man. He could watch a movie with Harry and not get seduced or manipulated by Harry. He pushed open the door.

‘Harry,’ he called.

‘In here,’ came Harry’s voice. Louis closed the door behind him and surveyed the living room in which he stood. It was well organized and clean, which surprised him because Harry was a mess. Wasn’t he? It was probably Liam who kept everything clean and organized. Yeah it was definitely Liam. The huge telly was sporting the Netflix logo, the lights were low, Yankee candles burned around the room, a scent of jasmine hung low in the air, cushions and blankets were on the rather comfy looking sofa. Louis gulped again. Was this a date? Was he imagining things? Just then, Selena’s words came rushing back to him.

"You are a hopeless romantic Louis. You are looking for somebody and Harry knows your weakness. Why didn’t he invite you to a pub for drinks? Or to the cinema? No. He invited you to his flat when Liam is out to watch The Notebook. How convenient is that? He is going to seduce you and you are going to fall for it line, hook and sinker and once you let him fuck you…."

He knew he was a hopeless romantic which was why he was looking at all this as if it were a date. Which obviously wasn’t. And maybe Selena was right, even though she didn’t need to know that, but he was indeed looking for someone and Harry did know his weakness and it was tempting being alone with him watching a romantic movie. Maybe deep, deep, very, very deep down, he wanted Harry to seduce him. He wanted Harry to ravage him. He wanted Harry to…

‘Lou?’ Harry’s voice broke through his thoughts bringing him crashing back down to earth. ‘Are you alright?’ When Louis focused again, there was Harry, dressed in sweats and a large woolly jumper, feet covered in a pair of fluffy socks and curls all over the place, his cheeks pink, his smile big and just for Louis. He looked cute and soft and warm. And Louis suddenly felt over-dressed. Harry was going to think that he was thinking this was a date and bloody hell Louis began to internally panic. ‘You look nice,’ Harry told him, his voice soft and deep, that smile still on his face, his eyes boring into Louis. Then Harry looked down at himself. ‘I should go change. I look…’

‘You look fine,’ Louis told him quickly. Fine was a good adjective to use right? It wasn’t implicating anything. Mates told each other they looked fine all the time, right? It wasn’t like he just told Harry that he looked beautiful, because he was. Fuck, he was beautiful! Louis didn’t want his mind to derail. He opened his arms to his sides. ‘You know me H, the politician in me never takes a break.’ Harry laughed.

‘True. It’s not something you can switch off. Come, sit. I cleaned the whole flat today. What can I get you? Wine? Beer? I made pizza.’ Louis’ eyes went wide.

‘You cleaned? Made pizza? Who even are you?’ Harry smirked at him.

‘You underestimate me Louis Tomlinson,’ he said and was that a devilish glint in his eyes? Judging by the smell in the flat, the pizza smelled good. Was Harry wining and dining him? Was the movie a simple excuse to get Louis alone in his flat? Louis allowed Harry to lead him to the couch.

‘Get comfy Lou. Be right back.’ Harry disappeared and Louis tired to take several breaths to calm himself down, hoping his mind would stop going to places where it was prohibited to go. Harry was back before Louis had time to slow down his internal turmoil. He placed beer and wine on the coffee table and a bottle of water. He left again and came back with glasses, napkins and cutlery. Louis’ eyes followed him as he went back and forth from the living room to the kitchen, Harry’s smile never leaving his face. Domestic Harry looked good. He definitely liked domestic Harry. Finally, Harry came back with two home made pizzas which smelled divine. He handed one to Louis and sat down on the couch, dangerously close to Louis.

‘Ready?’ he asked Louis. Louis nodded so Harry pressed a few buttons on the remote until The Notebook was up on the screen and he pressed play.

Out of all the ways Louis had imagined the evening alone with Harry turning out, he never imagined he would be comforting Harry as he cried over The Notebook. Louis was baffled to say the least when Harry started tearing up and then actually crying and hiccupping over this movie, which Louis hardly found worth crying over. Louis found himself passing Harry tissues and patting his knee, murmuring “there there” comfortingly and trying to show his sympathy for whatever on the screen was breaking Harry’s heart. When the movie was finally over and Harry looked at him with watery red-rimmed eyes and wet cheeks, Louis was the one who wanted to cry and go and fight the entire cast of The fucking Notebook. He had never imagined this side of Harry. Harry was the flirt, the heart breaker, the slut, the happy go lucky type who came into your life like a hurricane, turned your upside down, over and under and when he was done with you all that he left behind was a mess. But this Harry here was soft, tender and vulnerable and Louis wanted to…No. Nope! He didn’t want to do anything.

‘Well,’ Louis breathed out, ‘that was interesting.’ Harry gave him a small smile and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. Louis wanted to do that. Harry just looked so…so small. So defenseless, so cute. Louis needed his mind to shut the fuck up. His mind had been wrong when he had conjured up the whole Harry wanted to seduce him and fuck him then leave him scenario or was that Selena that had conjured up the whole manifesto? Fuck, he was confused.

‘Did you enjoy it?’ Harry asked him, his voice deeper, lower and a little hoarser than Louis was accustomed to. He sat there looking at Louis, waiting for his verdict with his damn green puppy dog eyes. Louis shrugged one shoulder.

‘I guess it was alright,’ he said but in truth, he wanted to sue Nicholas Sparks and whoever made the movie for making Harry cry. Harry gave him a small smile.

‘The books are better,’ he admitted. Louis raised an eyebrow at him.

‘You read? And here I was all the while thinking that you only jacked off to books! Silly me. But wait, you said books. Is there a sequel to this?’ Harry giggled. Louis’ heart fluttered.

‘Yes, I read. I only jacked of to one book Lou. And no there isn’t a sequel to the movie.’ Louis rolled his eyes dramatically.

‘Thank God for that!’ Harry laughed. And Louis’ heart relaxed.

‘The book has a sequel though. Noah and Ellie don’t die in the books.’ Okay scratch suing Nicholas Sparks! He did right by Harry.

‘Does it give them a happy ending?’ Louis asked him.

‘Yes, they do get their happy ending,’ he said softly. Alright Nicholas, you came through for Harry and gave him a happy ending!

‘Ah that’s better. I don’t like sad endings,’ Louis admitted. Harry relaxed into the back of the couch. His body turned towards Louis. He rested his head back on the couch and looked up at Louis through wet eyelashes.

‘What’s your favorite movie?’ Harry asked him.

‘I like rom-coms,’ Louis told him. ‘My favorite is Notting Hill. Or anything with Hugh Grant really. He’s my crush!’ Harry smiled at him.

‘So he’s your ideal man huh?’ Louis smiled back at him.

‘I guess he is. Tall. Dark. Handsome. A real gentleman.’ Harry’s smile faltered a little.

‘Sounds like a real prince charming,’ he said softly. What he really wanted to say was, Hugh Grant is everything I’m not but he swallowed down the words. There was no point in saying them. He wasn’t what Louis wanted and this whole night had been a big mistake. He had found the opportunity of being alone with Louis hoping he would show him his true self and impress him, show him that he was a good guy but there was no changing Louis’ mind about him. All that Louis saw in him was a good for nothing whore and Harry knew he should be thankful that Louis was his friend. Louis watched him, the way Harry’s emotions played behind his eyes. What are you thinking? What’s going through that mind of yours? Let me see you. He shrugged internally. He sounded like that stalker Joe Goldberg from YOU!

‘I bet in real life he’s no prince charming Harry. He’s probably just a normal boring human being like the rest of us who’s feet stink and farts in his sleep. He’s only special in movies.’ He saw Harry nod and smile.

‘Can I get you anything else?’ Harry asked him. Louis shook his head.

‘No thank you. I’m quite full. That pizza was surprisingly good,’ Louis admitted. Harry’s face glowed.

‘I told you not to underestimate me,’ he said softly. Harry scooted a little closer to Louis. ‘There’s a lot about me that you don’t know.’ Louis noticed that Harry’s eyes had gone a little darker as Harry moved from his eyes to Louis’ lips and back to his eyes again. Oh God! Louis knew what was on Harry’s mind and no. Nope! Mates, bros, friends do not kiss. They certainly do not. Louis jumped off the sofa to his feet startling Harry and nearly toppling over the bottles on the coffee table.

‘Right, it’s getting late. I should go. I am working early tomorrow,’ he said as he moved towards the door. Harry looked at him with wide, perplexed eyes. Had Louis read his intention? Oh God, did he realize that Harry was about to kiss him? Of course, he had and he was making a run for it. Harry felt like shit.

‘It’s only ten thirty,’ Harry told him. He didn’t want him to leave just yet. Louis tapped his watch.

‘That’s late for me. Thank you for a lovely evening Harry. And for the pizza. Good job on that. Goodnight,’ he said as he opened the door, ducked out and closed it behind him leaving Harry sitting there feeling like an idiot. Louis made his way down the stairs feeling all sorts of odd because Harry had been about to kiss him. Selena had been right all along. Harry had one thing on his mind and one thing only and Louis felt proud of himself that he had seen it coming and acted to protect himself. So why deep down did it feel wrong? He got into his car but did not start the engine. Why did he feel bereft? He knew why. Because deep down, he had wanted Harry to kiss him. He had wanted Harry to seduce him. And he knew that he would’ve let him. But he had to take care of himself and his heart. He turned on the ignition and drove home.

X

The next day Louis entered the office in a state of confusion and self-pity.

‘Good morning Louis,’ Angela greeted him. Immediately she saw the look on his face. ‘Oh, dear what happened? Are you alright?’ Liz, Marion and Mirtha came out of Amanda’s office, followed by the woman herself. Amanda smiled at him.

‘Louis good morning. I wanted to congratulate you on a job well done in getting the party all organized on such short notice. In just two days’ time, this party is going to be the talk of London and I will be back leading the polls. We already saw a positive shift when we began advertising the event. Well done.’ Louis gave her a small smile. He didn’t feel like smiling. He didn’t feel like feeling ten feet tall from the praise coming from the woman herself.

‘Thank you,’ he told her softly and began handing out coffees and lattes. The ladies all looked at each other because Louis was not his cheerful usual self. If he had been, he would be bouncing all over the place right now having had Amanda acknowledge his hard work and praising him for it.

‘Are you alright Louis?’ Amanda asked him. Louis gave her a brighter smile.

‘Oh yes I am fine. Just didn’t get enough sleep,’ he said which wasn’t a total lie. He hadn’t slept much trying to figure out his inner conflicted feelings. Amanda nodded.

‘Alright, well if you need to take a few hours off to catch up on your sleep then feel free to do so. You’ve done a lot of work in the past few days.’

‘I’ll be fine, thank you. Coffee will help.’ With that Amanda turned and went back into her office, closing the door softly behind her.

‘Lou what happened?’ Mirtha asked him. Louis shook his head but didn’t say anything. Mirtha, Marion, Liz and Angela looked at each other.

‘Louis what happened?’ Marion asked him again. He sighed heavily.

‘Harry happened,’ he told them then commenced to recount what happened the previous night. He kept from telling them about his thoughts and developing feelings for Harry. He didn’t want to make a fool of himself in front of his lady friends because he had told them time and time again what an asshole Harry was. He could not and would not, ever admit to having feelings for Harry that were not simply platonic.

‘I do not think he was trying to seduce you,’ Angela told him kindly. Liz made a snorting sound.

‘He’s the devil in disguise. You’ll never know his true intentions until it’s too late and you’re in too deep to get out,’ Liz said. Internally Louis agreed.

‘He was just being friendly Liz,’ Marion argued. ‘He didn’t do anything that suggested he was making a move on Louis.’

‘He did make a move,’ Mirtha jumped in. Marion turned to look at her.

‘How did he make a move? He ended up crying over a movie!’ Mirtha began listing things off her fingers.

‘He invited Louis when Liam was out. He had candles lit. He made dinner. He had wine and beer and let’s not forget the romantic movie! And he fucking cried! That my dear is making a move! He was aiming to impress Louis.’ Louis internally agreed. Liz high fived Mirtha. Before the argument could become heated as it always did between these four and the mention of Harry, the front door opened and Harry stepped into the office. Louis froze but the ladies remained unfazed because they did not know Harry. Immediately, they put on their professional persona, not knowing who this person was.

‘Hello,’ Marion greeted him. ‘How can we help you?’ Harry gave her that cursed dimpled smile that Louis was sure knocked Marion off her 6-inch Louis Vuitton’s.

‘Hello. I’m Harry,’ he said, his charm coming off him like a tsunami. Four pairs of lady eyes went a little wide, then said four pairs of eyes went to Louis who sat there looking dejected, then back to Harry. They had no hope!

‘You’re HIS Harry?’ Liz asked brutally honest and without any filter as usual. ‘Fucking hell!’

‘Not mine,’ Louis murmured beneath his breath. Harry’s smile grew even bigger as his eyes went to Louis.

‘Hi Lou,’ he said, giving him a small wave.

‘Hey,’ Louis replied feeling as if tsunami Harry crashed into him.

‘Harry!’ Mirtha exclaimed as she walked over to him, heels clicking and shook his hand. ‘Its so lovely to finally meet you. We’ve heard so much about you.’ Louis internally groaned. Why couldn’t they stop it? Why feed Harry’s ego anymore?

‘You have?’ he asked happily.

‘Come sit down,’ Liz invited him. And that was it! Louis stood up.

‘What are you doing here Harry. I’m working,’ he snapped.

‘No, we’re not,’ Liz contradicted him. ‘Can we get you anything? Tea? Coffee? Something stronger?’ Angela nudged Liz, hard and mouthed “stop it” at her.

‘Actually,’ Harry said, ‘I came to ask Louis if he’d like to catch some breakfast. If he’s not busy that is.’

‘I’m busy,’ Louis said at the same time that Mirtha and Liz said, ‘He’s not!’ Harry looked a little baffled, his eyes resting on Louis. They were so green in the morning light filtering in through the big front windows of the office.

‘So, which one’s is it?’ he asked Louis. ‘Are you free or not?’ Was that hope in his eyes that Louis could see? Surely friends met up for breakfast, didn’t they? Louis looked at his ladies but he didn’t know if he wanted them to rescues him from Harry or push him to go and have breakfast with him. Marion gave him a small smile.

‘It’s up to you Louis,’ she told him kindly. ‘We do have work to do but if you want to go, we can spare you for an hour but not longer. We still have a lot to do regarding the Somewhere Over The Rainbow Party.’ Louis wanted to hug her for giving him options and a time frame. Mirtha and Liz were giving him instructions to go with their eyes. Louis sighed.

‘I am a bit peckish,’ he said. Harry’s smile returned in full bloom, blasting him out of his shoes.

‘Great,’ he said. Then he turned to the four ladies. ‘Ladies, it was lovely to meet you. Louis talks very highly of you. You are truly a wonderful team of strong women working for our future Major of London.’ Louis could practically hear Liz, Mirtha, Marion and Angela melt at Harry’s sweet mouth. Angela hadn’t even uttered one word! That’s how Harry works. He leaves you stunned unable to get your mouth and brain to work. Louis grabbed his arm over the elbow and turned him towards the door.

‘Come on let’s go,’ he said pushing him out the door. Harry turned to wave at the ladies.

‘Come again,’ Liz called.

‘Please do,’ Mirtha said. When the door closed there was a collective breathless “wow!” hissed around the office and Louis could relate. Harry was wow indeed.

X

The Palladium was packed. The lights outside the venue shone in rainbow colors illuminating the street in yellow and green, blue and purple, red and orange. Banners announced the Amanda Haskell Somewhere Over The Rainbow event. Music was thumping and pulsing inside the building. Outside, people queued to get in all dressed in glitter and sparkles, rainbow feather boas in all the colors of the rainbow. It was beautiful and Louis felt proud that he had come up with this event. Many volunteers had volunteered to help on the day of the event so that Louis could take it easy and enjoy the party he had organized.

Harry was just getting in through the front doors and stopped to chat to the guy who was checking tickets. He had been with them when they had been distributing flyers and was one of Amanda’s campaigners.

‘Hey Harry,’ the guy greeted him with a smile. ‘Thanks for helping out to make this event happen. You were great. We already got a lot of voters subscribed so I’d say this event Louis came up with is already a success for Amanda.’

‘Can’t say no to Louis, right?’ Harry told him happily. He couldn’t wait to see Louis.

‘No. He’s amazing. Speaking of Louis,’ the guy told him. ‘Are you two like together? Like a couple?’ Harry was taken aback by the question.

‘Me and Louis?’ he asked dumbly. The question made him a little dizzy and gave him a fuzzy feeling inside because God yes, he wished he and Louis were together like a couple. The guy chuckled.

‘Yeah,’ he said. Harry shook his head.

‘No. No we’re just friends but…’

‘Great,’ he cut him off. ‘Do you know if he’s seeing someone?’ Harry felt a heavy load settle in the pit of his stomach. He knew where this conversation was going.
‘Louis seeing someone? Ugh no I um no. He’s not.’ The guy smiled broadly.

‘Cool. I just wanted to make sure before I ask him out. He’s incredible.’ The pit in Harry’s stomach became heavier. He scratched his head absently, jealousy curling inside him making him see green.

‘Ugh yeah. I mean yeah you should do that. But you should also know that Louis is quite straight.’ Harry did not realize the lie he had just said until it had left his mouth. Just then they both turned and saw Louis dancing with El. The guy pointed at Louis who was shaking his hips along to Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out.”

‘He’s straight? Are you sure he is?’ he asked his voice not belying his disbelief. Harry shrugged and nodded feigning sympathy for the guy that had been so cruelly mislead by Harry. The guy blew out a breath. ‘Wow. Did not see that one coming.’ Harry claps him on the shoulder.

‘So sorry man. Many are misled by his antics,’ he said as he left the guy standing there attending to a protesting queue of people who wanted to get inside. He hurried in and stopped for a moment to take in his surroundings. Drag Queens were on stage dancing to the music. People of all races, colors and sexuality were dancing and enjoying the party. The bar was crowded with people ordering drinks and cocktails. His friend Jake was dancing seductively on a pole on a box in nothing but a tiny black thong, a pair of 7-inch heels and a black boa round his neck. As he gawked at the scene before him he didn’t notice Louis come up to him and drape a rainbow boa round his neck and drag him to the dance floor as the music changed to “Starships” by Nicki Minaj.

‘Dance with me,’ Louis yelled over the music. And Harry danced with him. He was beautiful. He had rainbow flags painted on his cheeks, his fringe plastered to his forehead, his hair full of golden glitters that went everywhere every time he shook his head. Harry could tell that he had been drinking. He begged God to forgive him for taking the opportunity to touch Louis but he was going to touch. He placed his hands-on Louis’ hips and pulled him closer. Louis smiled up at him brightly, his arms going up to Harry’s shoulders and they danced. They were close, so close. Harry could feel every inch of Louis’ body pressed against him and it was all he could do to keep his legs moving in some poor execution of dancing. When Louis turned in his arms and Harry felt his ass gyrating against him, well there was so much a man could take. He definitely could not take Louis ass in close proximity to his dick! He pulled away from him.

‘Hey Lou, let’s go for another drink,’ Harry yelled over the music. He needed to give his poor dick a breath. Louis turned to look at him. He was flushed and bright, his smile as big as Harry had ever seen it. Happiness suited Louis and Harry wanted to give that to him. He really did but Louis was never going to let him anywhere near his heart. Just then the music changed and “It’s Raining Men” by The Weather Girls came on and Louis threw his hands up in the air and shook his ass.

‘Oh, why won’t it rain men maybe I could find me a nice man who would finally love me and treat me right?’ he yelled as he sang loudly to the song. Harry wanted to tell him that he could be that man for him but he knew that Louis saw him as just a friend. Harry reached out and ever so gently closed his fingers around Louis’ wrist immediately stopping him from bouncing around. Louis looked at him.

‘Let’s get a drink,’ Harry told him. Louis shook his head, glitter flying everywhere some of it landing on Harry.

‘I don’t think I can. I’m destroyed. I’m pissed. Elllll,’ he yelled and waved at Eleanor but she didn’t see him. Harry waved her over. She came staggering over.

‘How fun is this motherfucking party that my best friend has organized? Cheers Louiskins,’ she said as she placed a sloppy kiss on his cheek leaving a red imprint of her lips on his cheek next to the painted rainbow flag.

‘We’re going for another drink,’ Harry told her. She raised her glass at them.

‘Go bitches!’ she yelled. Harry held his hand as he led Louis to the bar through pressing dancing bodies but which Louis seemed to enjoy. When they reached the bar, Harry motioned the barman over.

‘Two shots of tequila and two beers,’ he yelled over the music. Beside him, Louis gasps and Harry had to smile at his comical facial expression.

‘Shots! Harry no!!’ Louis exclaimed but Harry just smiled and handed him a shot.

‘Bottoms up,’ he said. Louis narrowed his eyes at him.

‘Are you talking about drinking or sex?’ Harry felt those words go straight his dick. His eyes darkened as he stared Louis down who failed to see what his words had caused. He downed his shot then watched Louis down his, his Adam’s apple bopping, some tequila dropping out of the corner of his mouth and the way he poked his tongue out and to lick it up Harry shuddered and tried hard not to imagine himself licking that drop of tequila from Louis’ mouth or Louis with his bottom up ready for him. The feedback of a microphone diverted his attention away from Louis to a drag queen who was standing on the stage.

‘Happy Pride London!’ she said into the mic. ‘How are you all feeling tonight?’ Cheers rose in the air and Louis is again bouncing on his feet. ‘My name is Jujube and along with my friends Miss Vanjie and Shangela we are going to entertain you tonight.’ More screams and cheers from the gathered crowd. Miss Vanjie took the mic.

‘Miss Vanjie in the house bitches and I’m here by popular demand. How are we London?’ More screams. ‘Good to hear you’re all doing so fine unlike me who’s strapped so tightly in this corset I can’t even breathe but I wanted y’all to see my sexy silhouette.’ She sashayed around the stage earning herself a lot of wolf whistles and she basked in it. Next the mic goes to Shangela.

‘Good evening London. So happy to be here with you all tonight. Can you feel the love in this room?’ Screams and cheers. ‘Of course, we can all feel the love because that’s what it’s all about. Love. Everybody wants it. Everybody needs it. So why aren’t we giving it away? What are you waiting for? Find some love tonight and if you can’t, at least find yourself some ass.’ Jujube took back the mic.

‘Great advice. Nothing like some good ass. Tonight, we are here to celebrate life in its diversity and all its colours. We also came together tonight to celebrate the woman who is going to make London a better place for everyone if she is elected so make sure you vote for, ladies and gents and non-binary friends, please give a gay pride welcome to Amanda Haskell!’ Screams and clapping greeted Amanda as she took the stage. But Harry doesn’t hear or see anything of that. He is quietly looking at Louis who is moving and clapping and bouncing and cheering Amanda on as he drinks his beer, dainty hands wrapped around the bottle. Harry refuses to imagine those dainty hands wrapped around him. As if sensing his eyes on him, Louis turned to look at him, fringe stuck to his forehead, smiling happily and saw Harry looking at him.

‘What?’ he asked him. Harry searched for the words he desperately wanted to tell Louis, trying to phrase them in a way that won’t give anything away. He moved closer to Louis.
‘Where you like serious when you said that when two guys become friends that they can never be anything more than that?’ Louis nodded a couple of times.
‘One million percent,’ he affirmed. ‘They’ll either end up having really bad sex or ruining their friendship. Or both.’ Harry watched him pucker his lips and wrap them around the top of the bottle to drink. He recalled what Louis had told him about Luke, his ex. But Harry wasn’t Luke.

‘And there’s no exceptions?’ he pressed. ‘Like ever?’ He could feel the hope in his chest deflating second by second.

‘None!’ Louis confirmed. ‘Zero.’ Before Harry could hold his tongue, he blurted out:

‘Not even you and me?’ he asked and he hated how he sounded hopeful and pleading. Louis turned his body fully to look at him, placed his empty bottle on the bar and cupped Harry’s face in both his hands. Harry held his breath. They were cold from the beer but they felt like a soothing relief on Harry’s burning skin. Was Louis going to kiss him? If he does should Harry let him or stop him because Louis was drunk? Louis gave him a small smile and hope flared in Harry’s chest again.

‘Not even you and me,’ Louis said. ‘Like I’m ever going to date the guy who bails out on a relationship the moment he feels it’s getting serious. Or who would go around behind my back sleeping with other people.’ He chuckles and let’s go of Harry’s face. Harry’s hope was crushed. All hope was lost. He didn’t stand a chance with Louis. He suddenly felt like he was suffocating. He felt lonely in a room full of people because the person he wanted the most didn’t want him. Louis tugged on his arm.

‘Oh my God I love this song,’ he told him and he was off dancing into the crowd without inviting Harry to dance with him. Harry lets him go and watched him dance with his friends with what he probably thought was heartache because he had never felt this feeling in his chest before. He ordered another shot and downed it. Somewhere along the fifth shot, he lost sight of Louis but Eleanor was standing next to him.

‘If you’re here to make me feel bad, don’t worry I’m already feeling like shit so save it,’ Harry told her. She scrutinized him for a second.

‘Why can I see two of you?’ she asked him. ‘It’s bad enough the world has to deal with one Harry but two? I don’t think the world is ready for that much fuckery.’ Harry grinned at her.

‘Am I that bad?’ he asked her slurring his words.

‘The baddest,’ she slurred back. She took a step towards him. ‘I happen to like the baddest,’ she murmured. Harry smirked at her.

‘Cool.’ He probably shouldn’t but Louis didn’t want him, his heart was broken and he didn’t give a fuck!

Louis stopped to take a breath from dancing with Angela, Liz, Mirtha and Marion.

‘I need some water,’ he said and they all nod.

‘Same,’ Liz says. ‘I’m totally hammered. Never knew gay parties were this much fun.’ Marion who is the soberest of them all, herds them to the bar and orders ice cold bottles of water then hands them out to each.

‘There you go. Get it down. You need to stay hydrated,’ she tells them. They all down the water. Amanda joins them and she’s relaxed and they can see that she’s had a few herself.

‘Louis,’ she says. ‘I have to congratulate you on a job very well done. This has been amazing. I got to know so many people and what they need from to me to make their lives easier and better. Thank you for opening me up to the LGBTQI world. My world in regards to this was very narrow but now I can see clearly the needs and struggles of these people. Now I understand so thank you Louis.’ Amanda hugged him, then she was off again, meeting and greeting her people. Mirtha shoved Louis with her shoulder nearly toppling him over.

‘You’re her favourite now. How does it feel to be the candidate’s pet?’ Louis shoved her back but Mirtha remained standing.

‘I am nobody’s favourite and certainly nobody’s pet,’ he said trying not to sway on his feet. Selena came bounding up to him and hugged him.

‘Louis what an amazing party. It’s so much fun. Zayn is looking for you somewhere. I lost him back there when that Jake dude, Harry’s friend started dancing with him. He’s so hot and I think Zayn is smitten. Speaking of Harry. Where is he? And El?’ Louis shrugged.

‘Haven’t seen them for a bit. Let’s look for them. You take that side, I’ll take this side and we’ll meet back here near my lovely ladies.’ They nodded to each other and set off in search of El and Harry. Louis talked to people as he passed, his face flushed and happy. He finally spotted Eleanor in a dark secluded corner straddling someone and making out with them. Louis giggled behind his hand.
‘Go Eleanor,’ he told himself cheering on his best friend for having picked up someone and trying not to feel jealous or sorry for himself that in a club with a lot of gay men, he hadn’t managed to land anyone but Eleanor had. ‘Damn you El you managed to find a het guy at a pride party.’ But then Eleanor moved and Louis felt the shock paralyze his body when he saw that the guy she was making out with was none other than Harry. His Harry! He stared at them, tears building up in his eyes and he continued to stare until they became blurry and the tears pooled over and ran down his cheeks. His best friend and Harry! He felt cheated and betrayed but Harry was not his. And Harry was bi. And Eleanor was gorgeous. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, turned around and hurried back to the bar. Liz saw him coming first.

‘Louis what happened?’ she asked him when she saw the distressed look on his face. He couldn’t speak. There was a lump lodged in his throat. His eyes welled up again. Liz shook him a little. ‘Louis!’ He shook his head at her because still the words would not come. How could they? Selena arrived just then with Zayn in tow to see Liz, Mirtha, Marion and Angela surrounding Louis.

‘What’s going on?’ she asked.

‘He’s crying,’ Angela told her. Selena pushed her way through the ladies and when she saw the state Louis was in, she felt her heart break for him. She pulled him into a hug.
‘I don’t know what happened but I’m pretty sure it has something to do with Harry. You only get like this when Harry upsets you,’ she told him. At the name, Louis hiccupped. It was so painful to hear his name after what he had just seen.

‘I want to go home,’ he told her as he clung to her. He had lost Eleanor too. How could she do that to him? Selena nodded.

‘Okay. Let me get a taxi and I’ll come with you.’ He was vaguely aware that Zayn was hugging him too and there were hands on him, comforting him. He wasn’t sure whose hands they were or whose voice was it that growled “fucking Harry” and “that motherfucker.”

‘No, I want to be alone,’ he said.

‘You’re not going home alone,’ Zayn told him. Maybe Zayn was right. It wasn’t wise to be alone. He was drunk and he knew that he was going to have a bad trip after seeing what he saw. Next thing he knew was that he was being ushered outside and into a waiting taxi.

X

When Louis woke up the next morning, he was in his bed, alone. The blinds had been closed so the room was dim. His head pounded like a bitch and he needed water. His throat was dry and parched. He sat up and that’s when he remembered the previous night when he had seen Harry and Eleanor making out. The thought made him sick or maybe it was the excess alcohol that he had drunk last night but he found himself in the bathroom kneeling before the toilet throwing up. When he was done, he put on a pair of joggers and a large woolly jumper and padded downstairs. He found Selena and Zayn in the kitchen.

‘Good morning,’ Zayn said softly.

‘Shhh not so loud,’ Louis said pointing at his head. He scrambled up onto a stool. Zayn put a mug of hot coffee in front of him, a glass of water and two paracetamol tablets. Louis gave him a small smile. ‘You are an angel,’ he told him as he swallowed the tablets and drained the whole glass of water. Selena and Zayn exchanged a look.

‘Louis,’ she began softly, carefully.’ What happened last night?’ Louis took in a deep breath, exhaled and smiled at her.

‘The most amazing pride party this side of London has ever seen and I organized it,’ he said as he took a sip of coffee and sighed at the taste.

‘Lou cut the shit,’ Selena told him. ‘You were a mess.’ He looked at her startled.

‘What did I do?’ he asked horrified that maybe he had given something away regarding his closeted feelings for Harry or that maybe he had acted irrational and crazy. Selena shrugged.

‘Nothing much. You just cried. And cried.’ Louis felt his face heat up. He had cried in front of his friends. Had made an utter fool out of himself. No, scratch that. Eleanor and Harry had made a fool out of him. Zayn reached over and squeezed his hand.

‘What happened Louis that got you in such a state? We only want to know so we can help you?’ Louis pulled his hand out of Zayn’s gentle grip. The last thing he needed was for his friends to feel sorry for him.

‘Nothing happened. The alcohol must’ve…’

‘Bullshit!’ Selena cut him off. ‘Unless you were calling the alcohol you consumed motherfucker and bitch and cunt and asshole!’ Louis’ eyes went a little wide.

‘Did I say all that?’ he asked.

‘Yes, you did Lou,’ Selena told him. ‘Who were you talking about? No hold on. The motherfucker and asshole are definitely Harry. What did he do now that reduced you to that state?’ Louis turned in his stool and glared at her.

‘What state was I in Sel? What else did I do besides humiliate myself by crying all over you two? Tell me because I don’t remember.’ Selena and Zayn exchanged another look. It was Zayn who answered him.

‘You were needy and clingy. You didn’t want us to leave you alone so we slept with you in your bed. We sandwiched you between us and you cried until you fell asleep. Then we went to our own beds. We are only concerned about you.’

‘God,’ Louis said, covering his face that was flaming hot. ‘I’m so embarrassed right now.’

‘Don’t be,’ Selena told him. ‘It’s just us and we’re here for you Lou.’ He removed his hands from his face and looked each one of them in the eyes.

‘Not a word of this leaves this kitchen do you understand? What’s been said in this kitchen and what’s been done in my bedroom, remain right here are we understood?’ Selena and Zayn looked at each other then nodded. Louis got up off the stool, picked up his coffee and left the kitchen. He didn’t need this. He didn’t need a fucking pity party. He curled up on the couch, pulled a throw off the back of it and cuddled beneath it. What hurt him the most was that he had lost two friends. He had told Harry that friends could not be lovers but turned out that Harry and El could be lovers. But then again Harry and El were not friends so maybe that’s why they worked. Fact remains, he had lost them both.
He didn’t know how long he had been in the living room watching the telly when Zayn came in asking him if he needed anything. Louis replied no, he was fine and didn’t need anything. He knew he wasn’t being fair on Zayn and Selena but at the moment, he was too hurt and sad to give a fuck. The doorbell rang. A moment later Zayn popped his head round the door.

‘Harry is here,’ he told him. Louis was watching the news and eating donuts that Selena had gone out and bought him from Dunkin Donuts. ‘Shall I tell him to fuck off?’ Louis swallowed.

‘Nah. He can come in,’ he said. He would be damned if he let Harry see how hurt he was. He would not give him that satisfaction. Louis kept his eyes on the telly as Harry walked in and sat down next to him. Louis did not look at him. If he did, he would fall apart.

‘Hey Louiskins,’ Harry said. Louis’ heart stuttered in his chest but he kept his face impassive, a hard feat when he heard Harry use El’s nickname for him. Where they sharing his nickname now?

‘Louiskins is it?’ he said dryly before shoving the rest of his chocolate donut in his mouth to stop a string of curse words flying out.

‘What?’ Harry asked innocently.

‘You’ve never called me that before. Only El calls me that. That’s her name for me,’ he said. And it hurt. It really did. Because why were they sharing his nickname?

‘Oh? Is it?’ Harry asked feigning innocence.

‘Mhm,’ Louis replied as he picked up a pink frosted donut from the box and bit into it angrily. This asshole was going to play dumb, was he? Harry cleared his throat.

‘So, listen, can I tell you something?’ he asked. Louis could feel his eyes on him but he was not going to look at him.

‘Sure,’ he replied taking extra interest in an air fryer advert which you could now purchase at Argos for £99.99.

‘It’s nothing bad,’ Harry said.

‘I didn’t think it was,’ Louis lied because of course it was going to be bad!

‘Good,’ Harry sighed in relief. ‘Its just when someone says we need to talk, it’s normally something bad so.’

‘But you did not do it,’ Louis told him.

‘Did not do what?’ Harry asked. Louis sighed feigning impatience when all the while he was trembling on the inside.

‘You didn’t say we need to talk. You said I have to tell you something.’

‘Oh yeah right. Right. Yes, I did,’ Harry stammered. Louis could tell he was nervous. He knew all his ticks by now.

‘So?’ Louis asked holding his breath as he waited for the bomb to drop.

‘So, um El and I,’ Harry began. Here goes it! ‘We kind of made out last night.’ Louis’ internal trembling intensified. He swallowed more donut so he wouldn’t tear up.

‘Oh wow,’ he said fake happily. ‘That’s um great!’ Harry smiled.

‘Yeah yeah at the pride party yesterday.’ Louis wanted to smack his face really badly and scream at him that he had seen them making out.

‘Nice,’ he said instead. Harry narrowed his eyes and scrutinized him. Louis could feel those green eyes on his skin.

‘I hope that’s okay,’ Harry told him. Louis shrugged.

‘Why wouldn’t it be?’ he asked. Harry swallowed thickly. Louis truly didn’t care about him. Why would be bother that he had made out with his bestie? What had he expected? For Louis to throw a jealous tantrum, admit that he had feelings for Harry and lay claim to him? But clearly, he was more interested in the donuts he was ingesting and the adverts on the telly than what Harry was telling him.

‘Right. I told El the same thing last night that, you know, you wouldn’t mind because why would you? El told me you wouldn’t. I kind a snuck out this morning to come and make sure that you knew about it from me.’ Louis wanted to puke.

‘So considerate of you. You snuck out from where though?’ Louis felt that this was going to get worse.

‘My…um my bedroom,’ Harry said quietly. Louis knew he was going to drop another bomb on him and he wasn’t sure he was ready for it. He was going to cry. He could hardly breathe from the realization that Harry had slept with El. Did he sleep with her? He refused to believe it. El wouldn’t!

‘El spent the night?’ Louis asked.

‘Yep,’ Harry replied popping the P. Louis’ heart was shattering in his chest.

‘And you guys…’ Please say no. Please say you slept on the couch and that you gave her your bed because you are a gentleman.

‘Yeah we did,’ Harry said. Louis forced a smile on to his face. There was a buzzing in his ears and he could feel sweat break out all over his body.

‘Cool,’ he said as he swallowed down his tears. ‘You couldn’t find a stranger to hook up with so you had to start poaching from the home team. Cool Harry. Cool.’ Harry turned his body to look at Louis even though Louis would not look at him. Did Louis really have no feelings for him what so ever?

‘What? No. No it wasn’t like that with her. It wasn’t like another one-night stand or anything like that. No, we didn’t just smash and bash.’ Louis wanted to tear off his skin.

‘That’s great Harry. I’m really happy for you.’

‘Yeah, she’s really um funny and…and fun,’ he said sounding a little unsure because Harry didn’t know El like Louis did. They have never been friends. There was a time when El hated his guts now she had slept with him when she had always told him what a player Harry was. Well she was one too. Guess they were good for each other. Neither one of them wanted to settle down and they were both scared of commitment and feelings and they ran when things started to get serious. Match made in heaven.

‘That she is,’ Louis said dryly.

‘She’s so you know, sure of herself. She’s her own person. Very much like you,’ Harry said. He felt wretched telling Louis all this but maybe this would make Louis jealous and maybe he would realize that he had feelings for Harry and fight for him. Harry wanted him to fight for him. But he was being stupid. Louis didn’t care. Louis didn’t want him. Louis remained silent because why was Harry comparing him to El? Yes, they were friends but they were nothing alike. Harry couldn’t stand Louis’ silence so he continued:

‘How crazy would it be if your two best friends became a couple,’ Harry told him. Couple! The word echoed with a resonating gong in Louis’ head making his brain shrivel. A couple! Harry and El? The two people that never wanted to commit, that ran away from relationships now wanted to be a couple? What alternate universe was this?

‘That would indeed be crazy,’ Louis said as he died a little more on the inside. Harry gave up. Louis was not interested in him. He wasn’t opposed to him dating El.

‘Okay great. Well I um should probably get back to El. She’s going to wake up and wonder where I am.’ Louis nodded. He couldn’t speak. El was sleeping in Harry’s bed after a night of hot sex together. She was on his sheets, under his duvet and Louis didn’t even know how Harry’s bedroom looked like!

‘You do that Harry.’ Louis handed him the box of donuts with a few in it left. ‘Here, you could tell her you popped out for donuts for breakfast. El likes donuts and she’ll think you’re nice getting her breakfast the morning after.’ He did not look at Harry. Harry felt the worst. He took the box.

‘Thank you. That’s thoughtful of you.’

‘I’m nothing but thoughtful,’ Louis replied round a mouthful of donut.

‘That you are,’ Harry murmured. He got up and left the room feeling worse than when he had gotten here. When Louis heard the front door close, he let himself collapse and break. The tears came and they didn’t stop. Once again, he cried in Zayn’s arms.

X

3 months later.

It took three whole months of hard negotiations from Liam, Zayn and Selena to get Louis, El and Harry to meet. After the night of the Amanda Haskell Pride party, things turned to shit. Selena and Zayn were mad at El and Harry for what they had done to Louis. Louis had been broken pretty badly by the news that his two best friends were now a couple. It took him a few days of hiding beneath his blankets but then he was up to his normal self: sassy, happy and avoiding dealing with the truth. Which truth was that he missed El, he had feelings for Harry which he denied but Zayn and Selena saw through the bullshit. Louis choose to ignore the reality that Harry and El were indeed together by not even thinking about them and pretending they didn’t exist. He threw himself into work and worked long hours on the campaign, hardly having any free time to do anything besides coming home and falling into bed, sometimes in his work clothes too exhausted to shower or change his clothes.

Selena and Zayn had tried and tried to convince him that the best thing to do was to confront them but Louis kept on pretending that he didn’t know who they were talking about. Selena had gone hoarse in the throat telling him that he was in denial and he needed to face them to come to terms with what they had done to him but Louis had stood firm in his belief that he did not know who she was talking about. Zayn and Selena had sought out help from his work mates Mirtha, Liz, Angela and Marion. Emotions ran high and opinions varied. Mirtha and Liz agreed with Selena and Zayn but only because they wanted to beat the shit out of El and Harry for doing what they did to their Lou. Angela was against the whole confronting them situation as that would only cause Louis more pain at seeing them together. Marion had told everyone to leave Louis alone and to let him work through it however he saw fit and to confront them only when he was certain he could and if he never wanted to confront them, then that was his decision. Louis had hugged her tightly.

It took three months for Louis to finally decide that it was time to confront El and Harry because he wanted to put it behind him so he could move on. He convinced everyone that he was mentally and emotionally stronger and in a much better place to face them. So, it was agreed that he, Zayn and Selena meet Liam, Harry and El at Garfunkel’s in Trafalgar Square for lunch.

It was awkward. Sitting round a table together felt awkward. Everyone was on edge as if waiting for a bomb to drop and blow them all away causing irreversible damage. Louis felt as if his skin was on fire and being doused with bleach as he looked at Eleanor and Harry sitting side by side holding hands. Time to put on his happy Louis persona.

‘So, who wants cocktails?’ he asked. He saw everyone let out a breath.

‘Me!’ they all chorused together. Louis signaled for their waiter and they all ordered cocktails. Louis looked at Eleanor, a smile plastered on his face.

‘Heard you got a new job,’ he told her. Not that he was interested. He didn’t know exactly what he felt for her anymore but he had to make them believe he was okay with this. He missed her and loved her yet he loathed her at the same time.

‘Yes, God finally. No more bar tending,’ she said. She laughed but it was strained. His eyes settled on her.

‘So, what is your new job?’ Louis asked her as he sipped at his cocktail. Eleanor smiled at him.

‘I’m working for an online fashion blog. Like an influencer kind a thing. I get sent clothes and make up and perfume, shoes and jewellery and I model them and write reviews about them.’ Louis gave her another smile which earned him a kick from Selena because he knew she saw through his fake smile and if she did, so did Eleanor and Harry.

‘That’s great,’ he said. Eleanor nodded.

‘It is. I get sponsors and I get to travel to around Europe too. Show off the best tourist destinations while promoting various designer wear and make up.’

‘Sounds perfect for you,’ Louis told her. Harry looked at her fondly and squeezed her hand.

‘It is. I’m really proud of her,’ he gushed. Louis’ stomach churned violently. He turned his eyes on Harry and everyone around the table held their breath.

‘And what about you? Still working at that kiosk at the mall?’ Harry smiled a small little smile.

‘No. God no.’ He turned to look at Eleanor and laced their fingers together. ‘El has encouraged me to go back to Uni to get my degree in fashion. The people she works with will get me a job as soon as I graduate.’ Louis’ eyes zero in on their joined hands and it hurt more that he thought it should.

‘Nice,’ he said.

‘Yeah Harry is finally getting his shit together,’ Liam interjected wanting to deflate some of the tension round the table.’

‘And about time too,’ Louis said. ‘I mean you can’t be an irresponsible child all your life. One day we have to grow up, don’t we? And do adult things.’ The smile slid off Harry’s face.

‘That’s what I’m doing. Adulting.’ Louis kept his eyes locked on Harry.

‘And did it take sleeping with my best friend for you to find that out?’ he asked not beating about the bush.

‘Waitress!’ Selena called. ‘We’re going to need a hell of a lot of alcohol.’ She ordered another round of drinks and some finger foods because alcohol on empty stomachs was not a good idea. Eleanor looked at Selena.

‘Seriously Sel?’ she asked.

‘What?’ Selena asked back.

‘More alcohol? He’s already on the way to being pissed,’ she said pointing at Louis. ‘Goes to show how little you know him.’ Selena stared at her.

‘At least I didn’t fuck Harry behind his back!’

‘Okay!’ Zayn said. ‘How about we take a breather huh.’ Everyone went silent. The waitress brought more drinks and plates of finger food which everyone nibbled on silently. Louis continued to drown out his sorrows in alcohol because he couldn’t handle Eleanor and Harry being cute together. Louis ended up the only one talking. He was going on about Luke, his ex, on how he cheated on him and how he had lost his best friend and boyfriend in one night and how you cannot trust anybody these days.

‘Lou,’ Eleanor said softly. ‘Why are you talking about Luke? It happened a long time ago.’ Louis ignored her completely and continued talking to Liam about Luke. He shrugged.

‘But it’s okay. You learn to live with that pain and you eventually move on.’ He stopped and turned to Harry, pointing a finger at him. ‘Like Harry. Harry moves on all the time. It’s what he does. As soon as things get serious and hard, Harry just cuts you lose you know. That’s just the thing about Harry. Cut and run. Just for fun. See, I even rhymed.’ Nobody said a word. Harry blushed deep. Louis barreled on.

‘I mean all he does is seduce people, takes what he needs, make them fall for him then he’s out and leaves you there all broken while he moves on to the next poor unsuspecting victim.’

‘Louis,’ Eleanor said softly. Louis ignored her again. He kept on directing his words at Harry.

‘You could really get a career out of becoming an escort. Why tie yourself down and break poor innocent heart when there’s a trade out there just for you? You get paid to use people. You get paid to fuck and run. And guess what? You don’t need to go to Uni to get a degree for it. You’re already an expert on the topic.’ Harry felt his eyes well up but said nothing because he knew he deserved it.

‘Louis please,’ Eleanor said again. Louis looked at her.

‘But don’t worry El. When he gets tired of you because you become too clingy and needy and he dumps you, because he will dump you eventually, I’ll be here for you. Because I never betray my best friends you see.’ Eleanor pushed her chair back and stood up.

‘You’re an asshole,’ she told him and stormed out. Harry looked at him, his eyes full of tears.

‘Thanks mate,’ he told him. He stood up and followed Eleanor outside. Louis looked at Zayn. Selena and Liam, a smile of his face.

‘That went well I think. Can we have more drinks?’ he asked.

‘I think you’ve had enough Lou,’ Zayn told him.

Later that evening, when Louis has sobered up enough, he found himself absently scrolling through Harry’s IG. He had a lot of pictures with Eleanor, both of them smiling and happy. Louis knew he had acted out of character towards Eleanor and Harry and he was fully aware that he had called Harry a whore again. He wanted to feel sorry for what he had said to both of them but he couldn’t find it within him to feel bad. He was bitter and angry and jealous that Eleanor had snatched up Harry and was in a relationship with him and they looked happy doing couple things. Maybe Eleanor was it for Harry and maybe Harry was it for Eleanor. He should be happy for his two friends, shouldn’t he? But he wasn’t and couldn’t be happy for them. He had lost Harry because Eleanor had taken him away from him. And he had lost Eleanor because she had taken Harry away from him.

The front door opened but Louis did not move off the couch too immersed in Harry and El’s social media to care. Zayn entered the living room and sat down on the couch next to Louis’ feet.

‘Might I assume that given you’re curled up in here in the dark that you’re still feeling like shit?’ Zayn asked him as he gave his toes a squeeze.

‘I feel awful,’ Louis muttered.

‘Yeah can’t blame you to be honest,’ Zayn admitted. ‘But you were brave to face them.’

‘Yay brave little me,’ Louis said sarcastically. He was really fighting his hardest to hold back his tears and not let Zayn see him cry again. He was really turning into a cry baby.
‘Stop scrolling through their social media Lou. It’s only going to hurt you more. Just unfollow and block. What the eyes don’t see the heart won’t grieve.’ Louis kept scrolling.

‘I lost my two best friends,’ he muttered. Zayn squeezed his toes again.

‘You lost your best friend and the guy you fell for,’ Zayn told him calmly. Louis looked at him over his phone.

‘I did not…’

‘You did Lou. You have to admit it at some point. To start healing you have to come clean. Admit your true feelings.’

‘Are we in an AA meeting?’ Louis asked. ‘I don’t need to come face to face with my feelings. If I do…’

‘They will break your heart?’ Zayn asked him. ‘It’s alright Lou. Broken hearts heal. But to start the healing process, yes you do have to come face to face with your true feelings.’ Louis gulped thickly.

‘How do I even do that?’ he asked softly.

‘Tell yourself that its okay that you have fallen for Harry. Give yourself permission to feel that pain, that betrayal, cry over it but then you have to get back up and start moving on. First step, block them off your social media. You don’t need to be seeing all that. It will only hinder your healing process.’ Louis looked at the picture on IG, of Harry and Eleanor sharing an ice-cream. It hurt. That should be him with Harry not El!

‘You’re right,’ he said as he sat up. He commenced to block them off his social media then he looked at Zayn. ‘What’s step two?’ he asked.

‘Get an account on that new gay dating app Buff or Gruff.’ Louis blinked at him.

‘Why would I do that?’ Louis asked him.

‘Because you are going to put yourself back out there you, dumbass and start dating.’

‘No, I am not!’ Louis told him adamantly. ‘I am not signing up to some dating app called Buff and Gruff.’

‘Alright. Fair enough,’ Zayn said. ‘Sign up to Tinder then.’

‘Zayn!’ Louis whined.

‘Listen to me,’ Zayn stopped him mid-whine. ‘Look if you don’t want to sign up to a dating app then that’s cool but you are not going to stay locked up in here and waste your life away because your best friend and your crush screwed you over. When I roomed up with you, I never signed up for you to be locked up in your bedroom crying and masturbating, which might I add qualifies for amateur porn.’ Louis gasped.

‘You hear me?’ he squeaked.

‘Hard not to. You’re loud. Whether you’re crying or tossing one off.’ Louis playfully slapped his arm. Zayn shied away from him. ‘But seriously Louis. I’m worried about you. I mean your poor dick must need a break. Is it bruised yet? Is it chaffed? Are you using lube?’ Louis covered his ears.

‘Okay Okay. Just shut up, will you? I will do something if you stop talking about my penis.’ Zayn chuckled.

‘Only you call your dick penis! But joking aside, you are an awesome guy Lou and you deserve someone to love you, you know. Some one who cares for you. Some one who will meet your sexual hunger and if you ever need lube…’

‘Stop! Shut up! Leave.’ Zayn stood up.

‘Fine I’ll go. But do the dating app yeah. One date come on. For me?’ Louis huffed.

‘I’ll do it if you make me dinner. I’m starving.’ Zayn bent down and places a kiss on top of his head.

‘That’s my boy. I’ll go make dinner.’ As soon as Zayn left the room, Louis sighed heavily. He went to his app store and downloaded Tinder. As he waited for the app to download, a messenger notification from Eleanor popped up on his screen. It said “Hey, can we talk?” Louis was tempted to reply and listen to what she had to say but he was not going to act out on missing his best friend and fall for it. No! It was time to start healing and moving on. He blocked El off his messenger too.

X

Louis returned home feeling tired and worn out. Selena and Zayn were in the living room watching episodes of Cake Boss on TLC. He could hear them talking. He locked the door behind him, took off his shoes and padded into the living room. He plopped down heavily on the couch and reached for the bowl of popcorn in Zayn’s lap.

‘You’re home early,’ Selena said.

‘I’m tired,’ Louis replied through a mouthful of popcorn.

‘How was your date?’ Zayn asked him.

‘Not for me,’ Louis replied, his eyes glued to the telly.

‘Why not?’ Selena asked. Louis shoved a handful of popcorn in his mouth.

‘Just wasn’t,’ he said. Zayn and Selena exchanged glances. Louis had been on a few dates and all had been a failure. All of them were not for him. They could see a pattern forming.

‘Lou you keep finding problems with everyone,’ Zayn pointed out. ‘How can you find someone when you don’t even finish a first date with them? They can’t all be the wrong guy! What was the problem this time?’

‘Harry,’ Louis said flatly.

‘Wait what?’ Selena asked sitting up in her chair. ‘Harry as in Harry Styles?’ Louis rolled his eyes.

‘No, it wasn’t him Sel. He’s with El remember? The guy was just called Harry.’ Zayn scooted closer to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulder and gave him a cuddle.

‘Aww baby. That must’ve been hard huh?’

‘It was,’ Louis admitted. Zayn cuddled him harder.

‘Oh baby,’ he cooed. Zayn knew that unless Louis let Harry go, he was never going to find someone else. Louis was never going to allow anyone to love him unless that someone was Harry Styles.

Part 5 coming soon.