Work Text:
Sent via submission via Doiseus
Pseudonym, Please: Lure Night
Email: [email protected]
Subject: How to catch an Astor.
Message: Can't say how I know this but I heard from a good source that a certain Stylish heir is planning to woo a cruel and cold bff before officially asking his Darling Boy out so they won't end up like Darling Boy's prior relationships. This Stylish heir means BUSINESS.
-‘๑’-
To understand the level of deep water Louis was in, one first needed to know he has had the same best friend since he was five. Ethan Astor was family to him—a friend who he loved deeply despite their differences. A friend he would do almost anything for.
He couldn’t recall when it became a thing, but probably after Ethan’s second boyfriend cheated on him and he had to find out when he showed up as Sabine Vanderbilt’s partner at the International Debutante Ball only to later find them kissing at the gardens.
The next Monday, Louis spread several unflattering rumors about Dalton on the low and told anyone and everyone who had the time how ridiculous Sabine’s dress and presentation were. Both of their reputations were destroyed in a matter of days. That, of course, was in high school when Louis’ words held a weight and no one questioned anything he did or said.
However, that wasn’t enough for Ethan. That first betrayal, as silly as many could think it was, shifted something inside of him, made him insecure. Louis hated to see him like that, so when Ethan came to him with the plan, no matter how he felt about it, Louis accepted it.
At first it was simple, he just had to flutter his eyelashes at any of the boys that showed interest in Ethan, and if they fell for it, he just dumped them without telling them the reason. Somehow the rumors spread around campus that Ethan had an insufferable friend they had to somehow win over to reach him. Like a final monster before getting the princess.
Louis honestly had no idea how he went from ruling his high school to being the uptight friend of one of the most desired men in college.
Still, the situation wouldn’t annoy him as much as it did if it wasn’t because Ethan always got extremely upset by the results and sometimes even at Louis.
He wasn’t a pariah, he still had a last name most respected, but he wasn’t by any means as sought after as Ethan. People kept their distance with him, murmured that he was too high maintenance—which… was true in most senses. That’s why he never tried to correct any of the rumors, because they all were threaded with some truth here and there and he had no time to explain that yes, he perhaps was a brat but that he wasn’t a weirdo set to destroy anyone that came close to Ethan.
That was why they stopped doing that. It was Louis’ birthday gift; he made Ethan promise the scheming had to stop so Louis could focus on his grades and own life. And his friend has kept his promise for almost eight months until Harry Styles came into the picture.
“Please,” Ethan whined. “I promise this is the last time.”
“Absolutely not.” He said, cold cucumbers covering his eyes as he tried his best to keep his face relaxed as the Italian clay mask Annika smeared on his face dried.
“Lou, please, I haven’t been this infatuated since—”
“Andrew, eight months ago. I remember, I was there.” He drawled, still remaining calm and collected. This was his cleansing day, nothing could nor should disturb his cleansing day. “You didn’t talk to me for like two weeks after he folded at my fucking birthday.”
“You basically threw yourself at him!” Ethan cried out.
“You told me to!” Louis sat up, cucumbers dropping to his lap and Italian clay mas cracking up. “I was the one who suggested stopping when he didn’t react to my flirting after the second month! You promised it was going to be the last time!”
“This time is different.” Ethan whispered, looking like a kicked puppy. “Do you know who Harry Styles is?”
Harry Styles, son of Cassius Styles, sole heir of Styles’ industries. He was young, handsome, and soon to be very powerful. He was, in one word, trouble.
He sighed, feeling his face tight and dirty. “Barely.”
“Liar.” Ethan narrowed his eyes. “He is always all over Doiseus and you read that thing as if it was the morning paper.”
“That doesn’t mean I know him or if it’s worth my time and efforts.”
“He so is, and he wants to date me, Lou. Me!”
Louis rolled his eyes. “Then date him. Try to enjoy your relationship for once.”
“Don’t be mean. He is way out of my league, so there must be something up.”
“Then don’t date him. Find a person who doesn’t have the reputation of an asshole.”
“But I like that about him. I want him to treat me gently while he is mean to the rest of the world. I want to be his exception. I want to be someone’s exception. But I cannot risk myself anymore.”
Behind all the theatrics, Louis could hear how nervous and almost defeated his friend actually sounded. Just like he always did when he met someone new that showed interest in him.
It wasn’t Ethan’s fault; it was just how he grew up and what he thought was the only solution to let himself be loved. To truly trust people like he couldn’t with his parents. Above the annoyance and the ridiculousness of the situations Ethan put Louis in, he also wanted his friend to have the type of romantic love he was looking for. Because if someone deserved that, it was Ethan.
“Alright… Let’s find out all his weaknesses or whatever.”
-‘๑’-
Harry Styles had no weakness in sight. He was a triple Aquarius, which made him a triple threat. He liked what he liked, and right now, he liked Ethan. He was confident enough about his looks and manipulative tendencies that he told his friends that he would; ‘get the best friend eating from the palm of his hand in a week tops.’. If the asshole acted like he looked, it would only take Louis a single night to make him show his true colors.
He knew what they did wasn’t really fair. That they set up those guys to fail. But in their favor, sometimes it just speeded the process, saving both sides a good amount of time they could’ve lost pretending to be loyal and in love. Ethan’s words aside, it’s important to note that Louis never actually threw himself at any of those guys. Yes, he flirted, and smiled and twirled, but never ever touched them, and if all it took to cheat on Ethan was a few lingering looks, then good riddance.
“You are Louis, right? Tomlinson?”
Louis’ spine tingles as a deep voice asked from behind him. Slowly turning around, he could already guess who it belonged to; after all, he was the sole reason why he was seated in that bar in the first place. However, he wasn't prepared for the tall, commanding man who stood before him.
Harry Styles extruded an air of authority that demanded respect, broad shoulders, strong jaw and intense gaze made it clear that he was not to be taken lightly. As their eyes met, his treacherous heart skipped a beat, making Louis realize that the encounter might not be as simple as he had anticipated.
Because Harry wasn't only conventionally attractive, he was smart too. It was wise of him to call him by his name rather than asking if he was Ethan's friend. It showed that he saw Louis as a person rather than just using him as a tool to pursue Ethan, which gave his charade more credibility.
Just Triple Aquarius Things, Louis guessed.
“Who is asking?” He asked with a bored tone.
The man gave him a slow smile, the kind that seemed to hold a secret, a knowing glimmer in his eyes. “I’m Harry Styles.”
“And what do you want, Harry Styles?” Louis arched a single, well-trimmed brow.
Harry shrugged. “Nothing. You seemed a little lonely.” He tilted his head. “You don’t come here very often.”
“I enjoy my solitude. And someone told me the cocktails here were better than at the bar close to my place.”
“Better than Duke’s?” Harry raised both eyebrows.
Louis looked over his shoulder, brushing a small piece of lint from his green Jacquemus cardigan, then, the blue-eyed boy gave Harry a look under his eyelashes, a subtle yet seductive move he knew drove many men a little crazy. “I’m going to ignore that you somehow know which bars are close to my house and only focus on your terrible taste instead.”
Harry’s eyes lit up with genuine intrigue, smile turning into a full grin.
Got you.
“You don’t like Duke’s?” He crossed his arms, face twisting. “It’s a staple, the best artisanal beer you could get here.”
Louis’ quiet smile faltered—did he read him wrong before? Suddenly, it didn't seem like Harry was trying to flirt with him.
He scoffed, dropping the farce just for a moment. “What makes you think I would be interested in artisanal beer? This french martini or the cardamom rose cocktail I’ll order next?”
“Have you tried Chambord Bellini?”
Louis' brows furrowed, feeling a little out of place, realizing Harry’s attitude was one of challenge rather than seduction.
“I don’t like Prosecco.”
Harry narrowed his eyes. “Why don’t I believe you?”
“What do you really want, Harry Styles?” He said, trying to level his own voice, to not sound too offended at the clear rejection.
It wasn't like he wanted Harry to fail, because that would also mean that Ethan would get hurt. It was just that after what he had read in Doiseus, this one felt a little more personal.
“Right now? For you to try Prosecco.”
“I have tried, didn’t like it.” Louis blinked coolly. Truth was, he had never even tried the drink, but his heart was thundering in a way he wasn’t enjoying too much and wanted the conversation to be over as soon as possible.
Harry passed the test. Ethan could date him without the fear of being cheated on.
The man’s jaw dropped. “Liar!” He let out a throaty laugh. “Oh, that one was so smooth, I almost believed it. Alright, I have had enough. Anton,” he called the bartender. “Give me a glass of Prosecco, Col de L’Utia. And a Chambord Bellini.” He winked at him. “Thank you.”
“I told you I didn’t—”
He shook his head. “Let me spoil you.” He said casually, as if saying the weather instead of rocking Louis’ world a little. “If you don’t like these, you can spit it on my face.”
“That’s tempting.”
“I knew I could get you with that last part.”
“Am I that predictable?”
“Not at all. I just have a sixth sense for the ruthless.” Harry said, with the same easy cadence Louis struggled to not find fresh and attractive.
“Prosecco and Chambord Bellini.” The bartender said before putting down two glasses with sparkling liquor.
He pushed the glass with just Prosecco first. “Taste this first.”
When Louis listened to his suggestion— Or was it an order?—Harry’s smile broadened.
“There you go, let it linger on your mouth just for a few seconds. Roll your tongue a little, enjoy the feeling of the bubbles, you deserve them. Swallow. Good.”
Louis thanked the dim lights in the bar for hopefully hiding the crimson of his burning cheeks. He felt ridiculous, like an inexperienced teenager, and Harry still didn't seem to be flirting with him, no matter how suggestive his words sounded.
Were they suggestive? Or was it all in Louis's head?
“It’s a little dry.” Louis rasped out, voice sounding a little strangled.
“But how good that dryness works with the green apple and pear notes? How good they mix. Ruthless and sweet.”
He cleared his throat. “Wouldn’t call it ruthless.”
“To each...” Harry said, already handing him the Chambord Bellini. “Now try this.”
From the first sip, Louis knew he found a new favorite. The rich and intense berry flavor of the Chambord mixed with the sweetness of the berries and the light bubbles of the Prosecco made the perfect combination.
“Oh, my god…” Louis whispered at the drink.
“Much better than a cardamom rose cocktail, isn’t it?”
Louis rolled his eyes. “Don’t push it. Both can coexist in my world.”
“Hi,” Ethan said brightly, stopping whatever Harry was about to say. “Am I late?” He kissed Louis temple, making him relax a little.
He did it, he survived the night.
“No, you came just in time to taste this.” He handed him the glass of Prosecco. “My new friend Harry, he's a Prosecco connoisseur.”
“Oh, I love Prosecco.”
“Do you?” Louis' brows knitted in confusion before it dawned on him. “Oh yeah, you do.”
“We know each other.” Harry told Louis, eyes solely focused on Ethan. “I asked him out this week but he told me he already had plans with his friend. Guess that’s you.”
Louis took a big swig of his drink, popping a raspberry in his mouth.“You guess right.”
“Isn’t he loyal?” Harry looked a little dumb as he smiled at Ethan.
“Aren’t you?”
Harry shrugged. “I’m a little possessive—that requires a high level of loyalty on my part.”
“No, it doesn’t.” Louis rebutted him, feeling suddenly a little annoyed.
The man’s attention focused on him again, if only a little, body still twisted towards Ethan.
“No?”
“Not really. You can feel possessive over several things, people, but that doesn’t mean you will be loyal to them.”
“To me, it does. People say I’m like a starved dog when I’m in love. That’s how loyal I am.”
Louis hummed. “That’s a little pathetic.”
“Do you agree with your friend, Ethan?”
His friend shook his head rapidly. “Not at all.”
Louis let out a tired sigh, lightly shaking his head. “He is the one with the heart. I’m the one with the brains.” He drawled as he stood up, already knowing his words wouldn’t be listened to by either of them.
“Well, I’m afraid now you will have to stay in my life forever.” Harry said quietly, words not really meant for Louis to hear.
“It would be my pleasure.”
“As riveting this conversation is,” Louis caught the bartender’s gaze and silently asked for the check. “I think I’m going to take a smoke break.”
Ethan nodded as he bit his lips while Harry played with his hand. “Have fun.”
“Are you giving up that easily?” The bartender asked quietly, grabbing his black credit card.
“On the contrary. My job here is done. Pay for their drinks, too.”
It was good, it really was. Ethan might have just found his one. That small slip Louis had there only meant he probably should start dating again. Just that.
-‘๑’-
Louis had a tight group of friends, for not to say an almost non-existent one. He had Ethan, Annika—that many would say she didn’t count because Louis’ mother paid her to take care of him since he was a child, but she still was the only one who knew absolutely all his secrets—and Belle.
Belle was his Persian white cat.
Throughout his life, this fact has led to a lot of unnecessary comments being made about him and his few friendships. For example, people loved to assume that the only reason Ethan stayed his friend after high school was because Louis blackmailed him. On the other hand, Doiseus and its followers were sure that the reason Ethan stayed his friend was because he enjoyed the clout that brought him. After all, what Louis lacked in friendships, he made up for in followers.
The truth behind all gossip was that he had to burn a lot of bridges, that Ethan simply refused to do so. The people at Trinity—their old school—were as mean and shallow as Louis was, the only difference Louis had no patience or the necessity to hide behind fake smiles and as soon they tried to mock Ethan for openly expressing how hurt he felt for what Dalton did to him, Louis reacted as any sane friend would.
He tried to destroy all their reputations one by one, sending as many blind items as he could about all the secrets he knew about them.
It was a brilliant spectacle, marvelously performed by him and Doiseus. Every Thursday at eight, people waited patiently to see who was going to be exposed next. At the end they figured out who was behind the blind items when Dorothea Fitzroy's turn came and everyone found out she liked to kiss her second cousin at every Christmas party, a thing apparently only Louis knew about.
Anyway, thanks to Louis, Doiseus became an actual reliable gossip site. He made them, and they still showed their gratitude from time to time portraying him as a still mysterious and cold figure in New York’s society instead of a friendless pariah.
He became their Ice Prince.
Every show needed a villain, and Louis was more than happy to oblige.
“Why did you leave last night?” Ethan asked as he barged in his room without warning, holding a brown paper bag, most probably filled with treats from their favorite bakery in Spring Street.
Louis sighed as he kept brushing Belle's long hair. “I thought that’s what you wanted.”
“I did, but not long after you left, some friends of Harry came to ruin the night, and I was dying of boredom.” He plopped on the bed, making Belle hiss in annoyance. It wasn’t really personal, she just disliked anyone besides Louis. “By the way, Harry thinks you are a royal asshole for leaving me alone. I think he is one of the good ones, Lou.”
“You always think that.”
“No, but this time is different, I swear. He is diff—” Ethan cut himself off, face twisting in displeasure. “Ew… I sounded like my mother. God,” He laid down on the bed. In response, Belle hit him with her paw. Used to her antics, Louis’ friend only nodded solemnly and said, “I deserve it, Miss Belly, I’m pathetic.”
“Don’t. You aren’t pathetic. It’s normal to be excited. And it’s good he thinks I’m an asshole. It means he cares.”
“I don’t want him to hate you, though.” Ethan moved on the bed until his cheek was pressed against Louis’ leg. “You are the most important person in my life. I want you two to get along.”
Louis snorted, “And this is before or after I try to make him cheat on you?”
“Stop!” Ethan nudged his tummy lightly, the playful gesture bringing a burst of giggles from Louis. “I need this.” He said, a little more relaxed. “It will only be the first month. And then, if he doesn’t fuck up, in six months. And then in a year.”
“In a year?” Louis asked, scandalized. “Ethan, are you out of your mind?”
Ethan sat up. “You know it’s more probable he would cheat after a few months or in a year. After all the excitement washes over and he gets bored of me. It’s what the majority does.” He visibly swallowed, averting his eyes from Louis. “I know sometimes I sound like my mother, but I refuse to be as stupid as her.”
Louis’ brows furrowed in deep worry. “You can’t live your life like this, though. Just waiting for your partner to cheat. You deserve to feel safe and happy.”
Taking a deep breath, his friend smiled broad and bright, although Louis noticed it never reached his eyes. “And I will—with your help.”
A quiet knock interrupted Louis’ next words.
“Mr. Louis,” Annika said with a strange look on her face. “Mr. Harry Styles is waiting for you in the living room.”
“What does he want?”
“I am no medium, sir, but by the amount of alcohol he brought, he probably wants to sell it to you, or you have planned another soirée without telling me, so I’ll have no time to make your favorite canapés. Which is a little distressing because you love them so much, and you always like to eat them after none of your new classmates show up.”
Louis could only blink at her before he said, “Tell Harry I’m indisposed—”
“No! Don’t tell him that, Annika. Just tell him Louis will come down in a few seconds.”
“With all due respect, Mr. Ethan.” Annika said briskly. “I only follow orders from Mr. Louis or his parents.”
“Tell him that, Annika.” Louis said, finally putting Belle in her baby blue collar. “I really don’t want to play pretend right now. It’s fucking Sunday.”
“No, no, I think he is trying to be your friend.”
“He is not trying to be my friend.” Louis pointed out as he watched Belle leave the room, not before hissing at both Ethan and Annika as she left. “He wants to pretend to be my friend so he can get closer to you. And like I said, it's Sunday, I deserve a day free of manipulation.”
“I know, but please. I really want to know what he wants.”
“Why don’t you ask him yourself?”
Ethan rolled his eyes. “Because he probably thinks I’m still mad at you for leaving me yesterday.”
“Oh, you really are losing it, aren’t you?” Louis chuckled lightly. “If I didn’t find that so amusing, I’d be a little scared.”
“This is like our final act. Go big or go home.”
“I guess so.”
-‘๑’-
There were only a few things that could ruin his day, one of them stood in front of him in the form of Belle purring around Harry’s legs. That was his baby girl right there, giving her heart away to a stranger man with ill intentions.
“Is there something wrong?” Harry asked, amusement clear in his voice.
“Belle usually doesn’t do that with anyone but me.”
“Does she?” He crouched down to stroke Belle’s fur. “What a nice girl.”
Louis felt his left eye twitch. “What do you want?”
“You still live with your parents?” He asked, looking at Belle as he scratched her chin.
“Why wouldn’t I live here?” Louis crossed his arms. “It’s a perfectly habitable house. And if we have to go into technical details, they live with me. This, just like all the other properties owned by my parents, is in my name. The perks of being a sought and awaited only child.”
“I meant you seem more the type to be seeking the presidency of one of the many frat houses on campus.”
“I don’t know if you have noticed,” He smoothed his satin gold rose robe. “But I’m not only gay, but I’m the type of gay many of the men at my college, including the most respectable frat houses, don’t find tolerable.”
“They’re just probably afraid of what you make them feel. Isn’t that right, lovely?” He asked Belle sweetly, the velvety richness of his voice sounding like melted dark chocolate in Louis’ ears.
Louis scoffed. “Hatred? Yeah, I’d be scared of that feeling too.” His eyes focused on the tower of boxes of liquor besides Harry. “What’s up with all the bottles?”
“Ah,” The man stood up as Belle let out a small mew at the loss. “Before you so rudely ditched us, I was going to suggest for you to try to make some prosecco cocktails, experiment with them until we found the ones you like.”
“Do you have like a brand deal with Col de L’Utia or something?”
“Doubt that Sacchetto needs my help. What do you think?”
Louis sighed. “I think you are doing too much for something you already have.”
Harry stared at him, intense gaze looking for something in Louis’ face.
“Alright,” He said simply at last. “But about the cocktails?”
Many things could go wrong if he said yes, Louis was aware of it. However, he knew if he straight up said that to Harry, he would only delay his departure from his house. So Louis said what he thought the man wanted to hear.
“Fine, but you have to take all this with you.” He pointed to the boxes of Prosecco with his chin. “I don’t want my parents to think I have a drinking problem. I’ll go to your house next week or something.”
“I was thinking today.”
“I have plans today.”
Harry shrugged. “When you finish them.”
“What if I don’t finish until nine?” Louis’ brows furrowed.
“Okay.” He accepted, smiling. “So, my house or yours?”
Louis blinked. “Yours.” The boy made a beeline for the lift. “I will walk you to the door.”
“You aren’t coming, are you?”
“Guess you have to wait and find out.” Louis pressed the button that opened the elevator's doors.
“I’ll send you my address on Instagram. You can follow me back if you wish, or accept me on your private account.”
Louis opened his mouth, then quickly shut it, not having an ounce of idea of how Harry found his private accounts.
“I don’t, but thanks for the offer.”
The lift door dinged open, allowing Louis to push Harry inside and press the button again to close the doors quickly.
When Louis turned around, he saw the tower of boxes lined up in his living room. Sighing he pulled out his cellphone quickly looking at his message request. After scrolling for a bit, he found Harry’s message with his address and another text.
Louis stared at the screen of his phone, unable to believe the aloof guy that had half of New York City crazy for him and the other half cursing him for their heartbreak was the one texting him like that.
Against his better judgment, he went to stalk Harry’s brand-new account to find out he only followed Louis and only had one post, not of himself or his friends but Ryan Gosling as Ken in the Barbie movie. Louis wondered if the reason he didn’t follow Ethan was because he didn’t want to seem too desperate, well… more than he already did.
“What did he say?” Ethan asked, coming down the stairs, startling Louis a little. “Oh wow, what’s up with the boxes?”
“He is trying to convince me he is a good guy, so I can trust you with him. And his way of doing it is with alcohol.”
Ethan cooed, running to hug the tower of boxes. “That’s so sweet of him!”
“Sure…”
“You still haven’t told me, what did he say!”
Louis rubbed his eyes tiredly. “He wants to teach me how to make some boring drinks, I don’t really know. Obviously, I won’t gonna take his offer—”
“Louis, no, please, you have to!” Ethan grabbed him by his shoulders and shook him lightly. “I want to know his actual intentions, and you know it’s easier when they trust you.”
“I have stuff to do today…”
“It’s Sunday, you spend your day watching reruns of Love is Blind and brushing Belle’s hair.”
“She has anxiety and that calms her down.” Louis broke free of Ethan's grip and looked at him accusingly. “It’s our ritual and it’s very important. Besides, after that I have lunch with The Diane Prescott and the other members of the Century Association board. If they accept me, I could be their youngest member to date. So yes, I am busy today.”
“I don’t know why you care so much about those things. You are studying fashion design, none of those people care about that.”
“Do you have any idea of who Diane Prescott is? Besides, almost all of the well-renowned fashion designers are members of that club. Because of her.”
Ethan waved his hand off. “The boring ones, probably. You said so yourself, you would be the youngest one to join. That place is filled with old and creepy snobs. Come on, accept Harry’s offer and let’s find out how he really feels about me.”
“Mr. Louis,” Annika called him with a stern voice. “Your Sunday bath is ready. You need to hurry or else the water will turn cold. Mr. Ethan, I will walk you out.”
“But—”
“Mr. Ethan,” Annika’s frown deepened. “You know how important the Sunday rituals are.”
“Fine.” Ethan groaned. “You don’t have to walk me out, I know the exit.” He told Annika, then he turned to Louis. “Call me later?”
“Alright.”
After Ethan disappeared inside the lift, Louis finally asked Annika, “You actually ran me a bath?”
Annika nodded. “You need to focus more on your own happiness, Mr. Louis.”
“I do. It’s just, it’s hard for Ethan sometimes to trust in people, you know what happened with his parents and then what happened to him. He is scared, Annika.”
“And I’m sorry for him,” She said, not sounding sorry at all. “But that’s something he has to resolve on his own. You are only human, Mr. Louis, you cannot fix all the problems in his life as you forget about yours.”
“That’s the thing, I don’t really have major problems. I’m fine, great even.”
Annika pursed her lips. “Alright,” she said at last. “If you say so. I’ll leave you to have some alone time.”
“Thanks for the bath.”
-‘๑’-
There was a mess in his room, but after a few hours, Louis finally found the perfect attire for his lunch with Diane Prescott; a beige Dior ‘02 dress shirt with organza long sleeves and high waist Ralph Lauren pants. Sealing the attire with a Dior body chain adorned with pearls and delicate butterflies that emanated a golden glow to his look. He was dressed to impress without trying too hard—or at least that was what he was trying to compel with his clothes.
He was almost ready to leave when he saw a row of text from Ethan pleading him to pick up his phone. Without waiting for his friend to call again, he pressed over his name to call him back, fearing the worst.
“What’s going on? Are you okay? What happened?” Louis asked in a hurry, unable to hide the concern in his voice.
After what it felt the longest seconds of his life, Ethan finally spoke. “Please don’t be mad at me.”
It was clear he had been crying, and his friend only cried when he felt too overwhelmed, which it wasn’t really a good sign.
“Why would I be mad at you?” Louis sat, feeling a little lightheaded.
“Promise me you won't be mad.”
“Ethan…”
“Promise!” His voice broke.
“Fine, I promise.”
At the other end of the line, Louis could hear Ethan draw a deep breath.
“Diane Prescott’s assistant will call you in any minute now to cancel your lunch.”
“What?” He said, voice void of any feeling.
“You were so excited about this club and I remember my grandfather insisting for years that I should join, but I have always found it all so pretentious and snobbish. But I said, 'What the hell', if I give him a quick call and tell him I want to join, but we're a package deal, you wouldn't have to spend your Sunday morning flattering those boring people...”
It was a good thing he was sitting down, otherwise Louis might have fallen to the floor.
“You took my place, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t know there was only one spot left!” Ethan said hurriedly, mortification clear in his voice. “Why didn’t you tell me? I told him I wanted to join, but he was at a golf club with some colleagues, so I couldn’t say much after that. I thought we were going to talk later, turns out he was with one of the owners, so he handled everything there.”
Louis struggled to comprehend what Ethan had just said as his face began to go numb and a prickling sensation spread through his entire body. He experienced a wave of confusion and disbelief that rendered him speechless for a moment. His heart began to race from the sudden rush of adrenaline, increasing the tingling sensation even more.
“Lou?” Ethan whispered. “You promised to not be mad. Please don’t be mad, I really didn’t know.”
“This was really important to me.”
“I know, and I will fix it, I promise. I will quit tomorrow morning and I will vouch for you.”
“No.”
“No?”
“No. Quit today and let them know I’m still up for our afternoon lunch.”
“I don’t know how to do that.” Ethan choked out desperately. “I don’t know any of those people. I just know my grandfather, and I doubt he would be willing to do that either. You know how he is. But I promise I will fix it tomorrow.”
Louis closed his eyes as he tried to control his breathing, struggling to be rational about the situation. Logically speaking, he knew his friend didn’t do that to fuck him over, that he just carelessly did what he thought could help Louis. Just like when Louis thought the only way he could pull out Ethan from his seasonal depression was to paint his hair bright green, and then he had to shave his head for all the damage he did to it.
They sometimes complicated their lives trying to fix things that required more time and care, but that didn’t mean they had bad intentions behind it. They were growing and learning, and it would be a little unfair to be mad at Ethan when his friend was always quick to forgive him when he slipped.
Louis sighed. “You have to.”
“Yes, and I will. Please, forgive me.”
“It’s whatever,” Louis said, feeling ten years older. “Just don’t ever do this again.”
“I promise too!” Ethan said hurriedly. “Thank you for not being mad.”
“It was an honest mistake.”
“It really was.” He paused. The silence made Louis' chest tighten as he prayed silently that his friend wouldn't say what he suspected. The weight of anticipation hung heavy in the air, leaving Louis feeling both vulnerable and deeply angry. “But now, thanks to this turn of events, you can accept Harry’s invitation without any issue. Right?”
Louis was at the verge of hanging up, anger still bubbling raw and present in his body, when all of a sudden he had a much better idea. Ethan took something that was meant to be his, perhaps it was time for Louis to take something from him in return.
“You know what, Ethan? You are absolutely right.”
Opening his Twitter—so that when Ethan checked his Instagram later, he wouldn't find out— he typed Harry’s Instagram username on the search bar, not really surprised when he found out the man shared usernames in both and that his direct messages were open. That was how, with two simple sentences, his life turned into a royal mess.
-‘๑’-
As he rang the bell in Harry’s loft, Louis almost got cold feet. It just felt easier to run away and never speak of the incident ever again before going through what he had planned. He felt too grumpy to seduce, too exhausted to pretend he actually liked Harry.
“Oh, you really came.” Harry exclaimed, his voice tingeing with genuine surprise, making it obvious that his invitation was nothing more than a mere show, to tell Ethan later he at least tried to please his very difficult friend.
“I guess I did. Are you busy right now? Because I can leave—”
“No, of course not,” He said hurriedly as he moved to let Louis into his house. “I just wasn’t expecting you but come in.”
“You invited me…” Louis mumbled eyes studying every little detail in Harry’s loft, from the endless window
“I know, I just thought someone was fucking with me before, cause you sent me that DM on a private account on Twitter. I didn’t know about that one.”
“You have a way of saying things that makes them sound kinda creepy sometimes.”
Harry smirked, smugly. “‘Kinda’ and ‘sometimes’ is always better than ‘very’ and ‘all the time’.”
Louis narrowed his eyes, a rebuttal ready to come out from his mouth when he remembered the reason he was there in the first place.
Right… seduction.
Forcing a sultry smile on his face, he lifted a shoulder. “We have only spoken twice so far, so things might change. Where’s the booze?”
“Bossy.” Harry snorted, unfazed with Louis' unmatched flirting skills. If his self-esteem wasn’t so high, he would have felt offended by it. “Come with me.” He said as he moved to his kitchen.
The loft was large and beautiful with sky high windows with a perfect view to the city. The dim lights and all the little details made the place look like an actual home instead of the typical bachelor penthouse but he guessed that was more thanks to professional decorator than to Harry.
As they reached the kitchen, he found an ungodly amount of desserts on top of the counter.
“What’s all this?”
“Well, these,” Harry opened a small purple box. “Are Bon Vivant’s petit four demitasses, Ladurée’s macarons,” he moved to point to the other desserts. “Cosme’s corn husk meringue,” he showed him a small hard meringue. “It has corn mousse and burnt vanilla ice cream inside.”
“Oh… That sounds interesting.” Louis muttered, intrigued.
“I know.” Harry grinned, proudly. “ I also got Lady’s M’s mille Crêpes, Ferrara’s Cannoli, and of course, Maison Pickle’s twenty-four layer chocolate cake. Do you want to help me pick one before we start the drinks?”
Louis stared at him as Harry pulled a box of Kreuther handcrafted chocolate.
“Why did you buy so many desserts?”
Harry’s smile turned devastatingly soft, a thing Louis didn’t know he could do. Perhaps that was how he got to get whoever he wanted, with soft smiles, a lot of sweets and silly emojis.
“Because I like someone, and when I like someone, I enjoy spoiling them rotten. To give them only the best. And these are the best of the best of New York’s desserts.”
Suddenly, Louis felt like the worst friend in existence. What was he even trying to do? There was a man ready to give his best friend what he had always wanted, and Louis was set to ruin that because of a petty fight.
“This one.” He pointed at the macarons, Ethan’s favorite sweets.
“You haven’t even tried them.”
“I don’t need to. Oh, shoot,” Louis tapped lightly on his forehead. “Look at this, it seems I can’t stay, my mom is calling.”
“How do you know it’s your mom? You haven’t even checked your phone.” Harry’s brows furrowed, a smile still on his face.
“Huh, haven’t I? Weird. Anyway, I have to go.”
“If I have scared you off, it only can mean I’m doing way more than my usual ‘too much’.”
“No, no, it’s really cool. You should totally, you know, keep doing your thing.” Louis said in a hurry, trying to not fuck things even more for his fiend. “Pick the macaroons, you will be fine.”
Harry hummed and tilted his head. “Are you going to keep running away every time we meet?”
“What makes you believe we will meet again?”
The man shrugged. “Just a hunch. Stop running, stay, I have way too much Prosecco for myself.”
“You have too much alcohol for the two of us.” Louis stated, but his derisive tone only made a smirk spread across Harry’s features.
“I have a deal.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You have a deal? What makes you believe I would accept anything you have to offer?”
“Because you are trying your best to get to know me. So give me a chance to make my best impression.”
Louis thought about Ethan, in how excited and hopeful he was for this to go well. How he wanted to get rid of the lingering feeling of guilt in his body for what he almost did as quickly as possible and what better way than to give Harry an actual chance to convince him he was the right guy for best friend.
After one long and defeated sigh, he said, “Alright… What’s your deal?”
“I heard you like reunions. That you have tried to make a lot of them and tasteless people have fumbled the opportunity to enjoy them. So, let’s have a small Sunday reunion here, now.”
Louis flushed at the mention of his failed attempts to get on the good side of his new college classmates.
“Who would even come so last minute?”
“I can invite some friends, you can invite yours. We have the food and the drinks, and ourselves. I’m sure after a successful reunion, you would feel less sad.”
Louis felt his muscles tense. “What? What are you talking about?”
“Your eyes look a little red.”
“I’m high.” He lied easily, feeling a little trapped.
“Your nose too.”
Louis scowled. “It’s called blush. I look virginal and pure.”
“You still sound sad. Do you want to talk about it?” Harry’s words sounded hesitant yet sincere in Louis’ ears.
Oh, he was so fucking good at what he was doing, and Louis hadn't given himself the time to realize how desperate he was to just let out what he was feeling since the morning, how hurt he actually was. He felt vulnerable and ready to burst.
“As a matter of fact, I do.”
“Oh,” Harry raised both brows. It was clear he didn’t expect Louis to accept his offer… again. But it was too late to back down now, the incoming rant was already on the tip of his tongue. “Okay. Do you wanna sit?”
Louis' only reply was to sit in the nearest stool.
“What happened?” Harry pushed the triple chocolate cake towards him.
Looking at nothing, Louis shrugged. “I lost something I really wanted today. And it hurts more than what I want to admit. It’s scary because I’m not used to feeling this angry. It’s like— I’ve always had this feeling dormant, ready to burst, but it only got this big because I let it. I kept too many things to myself, let too many thoughts pass. Thinking if I ignored them, I would no longer feel this way. But I am angry, I am hurt. I don’t know why I ever thought I would find pleasure in giving and giving and giving. When I know I am very selfish, but I act like I’m not and at the same time I act like I am, but only to an extent. But my selfishness goes beyond that.”
He was sure Harry didn’t understand a single thing of what he tried to say, Louis himself was also struggling in putting all his thoughts into words. He loved Ethan fiercely, and ultimately he was the one who decided and even helped to create the intricate plans for his friend, but this time a line was crossed that it felt like it shifted something permanently in their friendship. Which in retrospect upset Louis even more than the actual betrayal.
“Then why do you keep on giving?”
“One,” Louis played with the chocolate cake with his fork. “I’m a people’s pleaser, despite only having like two people in my life. Two, the benefits, if the people I love are happy, my life becomes easier. I’m fooling the world.”
Harry huffed a silent chuckle. “You think people do good deeds out of the goodness of their hearts?”
“Yeah?” He took a big bite of cake, the rich, and dark flavors melting against his tongue. “Oh wow, this tastes delicious.”
“Yeah?”
Louis hummed as he nodded. “Try it.”
Without giving it much thought, he offered Harry some of the cake with his fork. Harry hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to accept the gesture, causing Louis to realize what he was doing. However, before he could have the time to do something stupid like flinging the fork and running away from his house, Harry opened his mouth and accepted the bite of cake, smiling around the fork.
Harry let out a soft hum, closing his eyes as he tasted all the flavors in the dessert. “Fuck, you are right.” His intense stare was fixed on him as he opened his eyes. “What a lovely discovery.”
Louis cleared his throat, averting his eyes from him. “I guess.”
“The majority have ulterior motives.”
“What?” Louis asked, confused.
“That almost no one does good deeds out of the goodness of our hearts. We all are selfish humans. And the fact you keep giving despite that, makes you a way better person than many.”
“You included?”
“‘Specially me.” Harry grinned, making Louis’ stomach lit up with foolish giddiness. “Tell me what did you lose today?”
“A spot in the Century Association.” He sighed, waving his hand off. “I know, stupid and superficial, I told you I was selfish.”
“What about CORE? I can help you get in and you know it’s one of the best.”
Louis shook his head. “The only reason I chose this one was because of the amount of well recognized designers that are part of it. I don’t have much time left before we graduate, and so far I’ve made almost no contacts.”
Harry’s brows creased. “I’m pretty sure if I open your Instagram right now, you at least would have two brand deals only this week. People already want to buy your clothes. You don’t need contacts, you are the contact.”
Louis took another bite of his cake and hummed. “Four.” He said, covering his mouth with his knuckle.
Harry raised his eyebrows as if asking a question.
“Four brand deals if you count my stories. How did you find my private account, by the way?”
“A friend showed me that Ethan tagged you once on his close friends’ stories.”
“Of course he did.”
Harry tilted his head. “My friend told me you have been friends since you were kids. That you are family.”
“He is the brother my parents never wanted to give me.”
Harry smiled brightly. “And you always pretend to get what you want.”
“That I do.”
“Let’s have that reunion, yeah?” Harry suggested as he lifted his hand to clean the side of Louis’ mouth with his thumb.
Louis rolled his eyes and sighed. “Fine…”
“But first, let’s make some cocktails.”
-‘๑’-
If one thing was clear, it was that they would never become mixologists. After looking at some basic recipes, they felt they could create their own twists, only with the result of murky and oddly tasting drinks.
For his part, Louis was trying his hardest to not enjoy too much the evening, just a normal amount. The type one would enjoy with their best friend’s future boyfriends. Minimal, cordial.
He went to freshen himself when Harry began to text his friends at the last minute, it was the perfect time to do the same with Ethan but for some reason he couldn’t get himself to do it.
“Our guests are here, they came in a group. Wanna open the door? Be a proper host?” Harry said an hour later when his friends finally arrived to the party.
“Sure. Give those glasses.”
Harry winked at him as he passed him two tall glasses. Louis pinned the heat he felt rose to his cheeks at the usual nervousness that came from meeting new people.
“Hi, welcome.” He said as soon as he opened the door. “Want some Prosecco? He told the small group of people in front of him. Louis knew no one and based on some of their faces, he was almost sure that they knew of him.
“Uh… Sure…” A woman with big brown eyes and an unsure but beautiful smile said.
The guy who took the remaining glass in his hand grinned warmly at him.
“Please, come in.” Louis said, trying to act as relaxed as he knew. To make the situation less forced. “Did you come in the same car?”
“No,” the girl shook his head, body less tense than before. “Jude and I came in the same car. The rest came on their own and were just waiting for us to come up.”
“I’m Jude.” Announced the boy who picked the other glass of Prosecco, tight, almost pitch black curly hair framed his soft cheeks and face full of freckles.
“It was about time you showed up.” Harry shouted happily from the kitchen counter. “Come to taste our creations. There is food on it’s way.”
“Lover boy,” one of the men chirped. “Didn’t expect you to call me today.”
“Hey,” Jude whispered beside him. “You invited an ex-girlfriend to one of your little gatherings once. She didn’t want to—” He cleared his throat. “She couldn’t go.”
“Yeah, that happens a lot,” Louis replied curtly but politely as he saw Harry share Ethan’s desserts with all his friends.
“Is this that?” The girl with brown eyes asked. She pursed her lips. “Huh, I like it.”
“Oh my god, this is amazing!” Jude said, trying the mille crepe cake.
“Thank you, I made it myself.”
Jude’s eyes widened. “Did you?”
“No? I was kidding.” Louis huffed a confused laugh. “You are eating it from the box that it came from.”
“Oh…” Jude’s brows furrowed right before letting out a throaty laugh. “You are right!”
“But he did make this.” Harry chimed in, giving Jude one of the murky drinks they made. “Try it.”
After one sip, Jude’s face twisted in displeasure. “It tastes like ass.” He choked out. “But…” He cleared his throat, looking at Harry. “Good thing I like to eat ass, so this is amazing to me.” He took another sip. “Really for real.”
Louis grimaced. “Please, stop drinking that,” He took the drink from Jude’s hands. “It was my first try, I didn’t even know what I was doing.”
Harry laughed. “Come on, let’s pour you something you like.” Then turning to the girl, he said, “Be nice, Nelle.”
The girl’s only reply was a low hum but to Harry was enough to leave them alone as the party kept going.
“You don’t seem the type that doesn’t know what they are doing too often.”
Louis snorted, trying to not seem too caught off guard. “You make it sound like a good thing.”
“Assertiveness is never bad.”
“Hey, is Ethan coming?” Harry asked casually as soon as he came back.
“Yeah, yes.” He scratched his left brow. “He is uh— He is probably getting ready.” He said, pulling out his phone to send a quick text to his friend.
“Harry,” Another of his friends called him at the other side of the kitchen. “Come here to try this shit.”
“That looks worse than the ones we did…” Harry mumbled before walking towards the man calling him.
“Etha— Oh…” Jude’s face lit up. “You are that Louis.”
Louis lifted one brow. “That Louis?”
Jude’s face flushed. “Well—Uh—”
“You have a reputation around campus.” Nelle cut him off, shrugging. “There are some individuals from Trinity who swear you are nothing but an uptight, self-centered, pre-judgmental asshole who loves to lie and spread rumors because you have no life. People talk a lot in small circles.”
“What?” Jude whispered, sounding a little outraged. “Who is saying that? What the fuck…”
“I think he knows who.” Nelle stared at Louis. “But don’t worry, your friend Ethan has spent as much time making sure we know what an incredible friend you are.”
Louis tilted his head. “And you believed him?”
“Not a word.” Nelle smiled slowly. “I see you sometimes with Ethan, he even introduced us once, but you didn’t even look up from your phone. So the self-centered part made sense.”
“I’d also be self-centered with that face.” Jude murmured. “What? It’s the truth! And whoever is spreading those rumors can go fuck themselves, why are you obsessing over high school trivialities? We all were assholes there.”
Nelle scoffed. “I wasn’t.”
“You literally have broken the heart of every single girl you have slept with, don’t even try it.”
As Nelle and Jude continued bickering, Louis checked his messages. Ethan’s simple and quick reply hit him like a bucket of cold water.
It took Ethan exactly seven minutes to arrive, making it pretty obvious he was waiting in some coffee shop or store close to Harry’s house for Louis. His best friend was waiting for him, and Louis wasn’t even planning on inviting him in.
“All good?” Harry said suddenly beside him.
“Yeah,” He said, startled. “Ethan is here. Go open the door?”
Harry smiled, narrowing his eyes slightly as if studying his face. It was just a fraction of a second before he stood up and went to receive his friend, but Louis still noticed.
“For what is worth,” Nelle lightly bumped their shoulders together. “I don’t think you are a pre-judgmental asshole anymore.”
“Thank you. It means the world to me.” Louis said meekly.
“Hi,” Ethan smiled brightly at him, Harry following his steps. “God, I felt like such a loser for coming so quickly? But I was literally at Gotan, can you believe it?”
Harry’s eyes were focused on Louis as if waiting for any type of reaction at Ethan admitting Louis only invited him a few minutes ago. However, years of practice made that his smile never falter until Nelle took both him and Ethan by surprise.
“Not really. Gotan is undergoing remodeling, so it’s closed all week.” A cat-like grin slid onto Nelle’s features as she shrugged. “It’s my favorite cafe.”
Ethan’s face turned crimson red before his eyes finally landed on the kitchen counter. “You guys got a buffet of sweets here? You even got macaroons from Ladurée. Oh my god? These are my favorites!” He turned to Harry and grabbed his arm. “You have to try the guava one.”
“So that’s it?” Nelle asked, looking at Ethan leave without giving any explanation. “Is he your only friend?”
“I’m an only child. I don’t need many friends.”
“Thought you guys were like desperate for attention.”
Louis scoffed. “Those are Leo moons.”
Nelle laughed, light and freely. “You are funny… And kinda shy.”
“I’m not shy, what are you talking about?”
“You are. You're like an introverted extrovert. You play the role so well, it’s almost believable.” Louis opened his mouth to protest. “No, don’t even try, that’s actually your saving grace, the things that make you funny instead of well… an uptight, self-centered, pre-judgmental asshole who loves to lie and spread rumors because you have no life.”
Louis pursed his lips. It could be so easy to let her think that. He didn’t need to explain himself, much less to people he really didn’t care about, but to his own demise, Louis was known for never choosing the easiest way nor things.
“I know you are trying to like me because it seems your friend and my friend are about to become a thing despite you thinking that we are most probable pathological liars,” He began. “And you are trying to find redeeming characteristics in at least my persona. But I hate to inform you I am all of those things, sans the no life part, of course—I am in fact a terribly busy person. If you cross me I will find a way to ruin you, and yes, I’ll go as low as I need to.”
Instead of refuting his statement, Nelle only smiled. “So, no shyness?”
“Not even a little bit.”
“Just an asshole.”
Louis hummed. “That’s right.”
“That works too.” Nelle shrugged. “So do you extend that ‘do not cross me’ policy to friends? As in, like, ‘do not cross me or my friends’ type of thing. Because to be honest, I’d love that.”
“Told you I don’t need many friends.”
“Two aren’t many, though. Besides, you need a single friend now that Harry and Ethan are about to become a thing.”
Jude elbowed her. “Leave him alone, Nelle.”
“I’m just making my offer here.” She put her hands up in mock surrender, smiling sheepishly. “Oh! I know! Put me on a friend trial.”
Louis laughed. “A friend what?”
“Friend trial.” She chirped. “We hang out for two weekends and if by the end of those two weekends we do not click you can dump me as your friend, I won’t even cry or ask why.”
“Hey, I want that too.” Jude pouted.
“No, three friends is a multitude, this is my deal.”
“It is not,” Jude refuted. “It’s an intimate group, every friend group need a third member to defuse the situation, to be the comic relief in fights.”
“I am the third member! Ethan would be the second.”
Jude waved her off. “He doesn’t count, he is about to get Harried for like a month.” He cut himself off, giving Nelle an odd look.
“What was that?” Louis frowned.
“Nothing.”
“I don’t think it’s nothing.” Louis narrowed his eyes. “If you really want this trial, you need to start opening up to me, like real friends do.”
Nelle rested her cheek on the palm of her hand. “You are really lucky that I am kind of into manipulation. It was kinda hot.”
“Yeah, I’m manipulative and cute. I’m the whole package. Why only a month?”
Jude looked at Nelle expectantly.
“Harry tries to not extend his relationships for more than a month.”
“He is also an only child. So he clearly has some issues.” Jude rushed to say, as if that softened the blow somehow. “Like you must know and understand.”
Louis swallowed hard, eyes shifting to his friend, who was laughing at something Harry said to him. “And Ethan knows this?”
Nelle frowned. “That Harry is an only child?”
“That he is about to be dumped in like a month…”
“Well…”
It was the only confirmation Louis needed. Ethan wanted more than that, and he knew that. He should have felt mad, furious even, and he was, for the most part… however, there was a very tiny part that felt… happy about knowing their relationship had an expiration date.
“Right.”
“Did Harry just cross you?” Jude asked, chewing the side of his thumb.
“What do you think?”
“For what it’s worth, I think this time he found his one.” Nelle offered with a placating tone that wasn’t helping Louis with his confusing feelings at all. “He seems kinda gone.”
“You think?”
“Yeah, the lengths he is going—”
“Point is Harry is not what Doiseus paints him to be.” Jude cut her off, most probably trying to hide that Harry only got close to him because of his friend.
If Louis was in a better mood, he definitely would tease them about that, but his head was too wrapped in the deadline of Ethan and Harry’s relationship, in the moral dilemma he was in. Should he tell Ethan now or just wait for things to run its course? A thing was sure, if Louis told his friend now, he would probably try to make Harry fall for him in that timeframe. But if he didn’t, Louis wouldn’t even need to prove a thing.
“Well, let’s see how true that is in a month.”
-‘๑’-
Somehow, he was convinced to go out with Harry’s friends the next weekend. Perhaps it was because of the fight he had with Ethan, or the fact his friend refused to talk to him all because Louis hated himself and adored to make his own life a living hell, so he decided to tell Ethan that Harry was going to dump him after a month.
“He is taking his time to even kiss me. What makes you think he will want to leave me so soon?”
“Call it a hunch, I just know.” Louis lied, not wanting Nelle or Jude to get caught in a mess he started.
“You just know or are you mad someone finally didn’t fall for your advances,” Ethan said briskly, eyes filling with tears. “That wants me and only me.”
They had that conversation on Monday afternoon; it was now Friday night, and Ethan only texted him to let him know Harry was going to the bar they were at after his date with him. Not even a ‘Hi’ before that, not even when Louis texted his best friend he bought sushi from his favorite place or when he had an awful day at campus.
“I don’t get it. I told him what he was planning. He knows he will dump him in a few weeks.”
“Maybe you were too harsh at the delivery?” Nelle half shouted after taking a shot, the loud music making it a little hard to listen to her. “Jude says I have that problem, too. Make myself sound more like a moron than a worried friend.”
“Aren’t you mad that I told him?”
Nelle shrugged. “Kinda suspected you were going to tell him. It’s not like Harry is keeping it a secret, either. Everyone knows he has commitment issues. That he likes the chase more than the actual relationship.” She tilted her head from side to side. “And most people who try to be with him likes more the idea of Harry than Harry himself, the challenge behind the relationship.”
“They all want to break the month mark.” Jude said putting down on their table four shots instead of three.
“That sounds awful.” Louis mumbled.
“It is entertaining for both parts. Mostly.”
Louis shook his head. “I don’t think Ethan is doing this for the challenge. He genuinely cares.”
“Not gonna speak about your friend because you probably know him better than I do.”
“But you differ.”
She drank another shot. “I…” Nelle dragged the vowel out. “Am not gonna reply to that.”
“It wasn’t really a question.”
“Oh, look who has finally arrived.” Jude cheered loudly.
“Hey,” Harry said, with that trademark smirk that made something odd flutter in his stomach.
Louis’ muscles tensed as he tried to avoid looking at Harry. “I guess I’m leaving. See you later?”
“Oh, then, I’m coming with you.” Harry said, grinning at him.
Louis scowled. “What? Why? No!”
“Ethan told me to keep an eye on you.”
“Ethan? And you do everything he asks you to?” Louis fixed Harry with a judgmental stare.
“It depends.” He replied with a shrug.
“Of what?”
“If you stay I will tell you.”
“Stay, Lou,” Nelle pouted. “You promised me a fair trial.”
“I would have never offered you such a thing.”
Harry laughed warmly, and Louis tried his best to repress the smile threatening to bloom in his face.
“But you are still going to give me exactly that. Come on! We can go somewhere else if you want. Please.”
The idea didn’t sound very tempting but he still didn’t want to go back to his house nor have to check his phone to see Ethan probably texting him only to ask about Harry and how he behaved tonight.
“Fine.” Louis said at last. “But we are going to Venus. This club sucks.”
Harry flashed a mischievous smile. “Lead the way, Princeling.”
-‘๑’-
There were voices behind Louis’ bedroom doors, making the throb in his head increase as they got closer to his door. He groaned and buried his head against his warm pillow.
“Mr. Louis is sleeping. You cannot enter.”
Louis frowned, having no idea why Annika wasn’t letting Ethan in. Struggling to recover his senses, he slowly tried to sit down, but a strong arm curled around his waist kept him in his place. The boy’s eyes flew to the naked arm, instantly recognizing the tattoos adorning the flesh.
Harry Styles was sleeping on his bed. Not only that, based on how good he felt his smooth skin against his, he probably was only wearing his underwear just like Louis.
“And? It wouldn’t be the first time I come when he is sleeping.”
“He is feeling poorly. I think he caught a virus. A very big one.”
Harry hummed, mouth so close to his skin he could feel his lips against the back of his neck as his hand moved to smooth over Louis’ tummy, pinky bumping the lace of his panties.
“Then let me in so I can take care of him?”
If there was a hell for bad friends, Louis was going straight to it. Outside his bedroom was his very worried best friend, trying to help him while Louis was getting embarrassingly hard underneath his satin sheets because of his future boyfriend.
“It’s very contagious.” He could hear Annika say, a little more far away than before. “Just let him take care of his virus alone.”
“Are you sure?…” was the last thing Louis heard before there was nothing but the sound of his own loud heartbeat in his ears.
“That was close.”
Louis let out a little surprised yelp as Nelle’s head popped up from the chaise lounge. Harry shushed him in his sleep as if trying to calm him down while the hand on his stomach drew soothing circles around his belly button.
“What are you all doing here?” Louis hissed under his breath.
“You invited us last night!” Nelle said. “You don’t remember?”
Flashes of the night prior popped in his head. The sugary drinks, the dance floor, the laughs. Because at some point, he was having so much fun, he stopped caring about Ethan or the lies piling up. He danced and sang and got disgustingly drunk.
Louis had fun.
And then… they all came back to his house and Jude made them peanut butter sandwiches and Louis almost threw up because of the texture. Harry gave him water and laughed at him, but it was all okay because Louis was laughing, too. They were laughing together. He couldn’t remember when was the last time he felt that happy, almost giddy.
To Louis’ relief and conscience, nothing happened the night prior between them. At least nothing sexual. He invited them all to sleep in his bedroom; he was so sloshed he just threw himself over his bed, shoes and all and pretended to spend the night like that, but Harry had other ideas.
Louis remembered vividly how his stomach fluttered as Harry undressed him and how he wanted to throw himself at him after the man kicked his friends from his bedroom before he pulled down his trousers, right after he noticed the lace sheer panties Louis was wearing. And even when they were all alone, and the boy was pathetically hard for him, only wearing the tiniest and prettiest underwear of the world, Harry did nothing more than leave a tender kiss on his forehead before he tuck him on his bed.
Louis needed to move and needed to do it fast before Harry woke up and noticed he was hard because of him again, right in front of one of his friends.
“Where’s— uh, where is Jude?” Louis managed to ask with a strangled voice, slowly dying of mortification.
“Probably sleeping in the bathtub. He threw up twice last night.”
Louis made a face. “I can ask Annika to bring him something, at least for his head.” His breath hitched as Harry shuffled in his sleep, pressing his body a bit closer to him, his hard cock rubbing against Louis’ panties.
“That would be amazing, please.”
Harry grunted behind him, his pinky brushing the hem of his panties, only this time instead of lace, he touched the wet tip of his hard cock. “Don’t be fucking lazy. Go ask her yourself.” He muttered against Louis’ nape, voice throaty and thick.
Nelle pouted. “But she doesn’t know me. What if she kicks me? She sounds so scary.”
“She won’t.” Louis said hurriedly. “Just tell her I sent you.”
“Fine, but if I don’t come back in fifteen minutes, assume she just sent me away and I just obeyed her because I cannot say no to strong female figures.”
As soon as Nelle walked out, Louis detached himself from Harry’s hold, covering his body with a pillow. “You are hard!” He accused Harry, not caring how ridiculous he sounded or probably looked.
Harry stretched his body, looking like a lion on the sun, big and regal. Perfect. “You are too. Are we pointing out the obvious?”
“I got hard because you were touching me. It’s mere biology.”
“I was sleeping, I woke up like this. Also, mere biology. There’s nothing wrong in it. I’m not gonna feel bad because of that, and I won’t gonna make you feel bad because it happened to you too.”
“You are so gross.”
Harry let out a throaty laugh that made Louis’ knees feel weak. “Am I?” He tilted his head, scratching his naked chest with the same hand that grazed the tip of Louis’ cock minutes earlier. “Are we blaming biology now? Does that make you gross too?”
“You are gross because you are doing nothing to disguise you’re still hard,” Louis hissed, refusing to look again at the tent forming under his sheets.
“Oh, this…” Harry looked down at his cock, making Louis follow his tracks, just in time to see it twitch. “I’m trying my very best, I promise.”
“You are dirtying my silk sheets.”
“I’ll buy you five more today.”
Louis pursed his lips. “I like rose gold and basil green.”
“What about baby blue?” Harry smiled lazily. “You like that?”
“I guess so. I like champagne better.”
Harry hummed. “I can get you champagne, too. What other color?”
“Maroon?”
“Sexy.”
Louis sniffed. “I can be sexy too.”
“I’m very sure you can. And talking about that.” Harry turned to grab his shirt from the floor. “Here,” he handed it to Louis. “You can use it while we are here. Is not that you don’t look lovely in it but I doubt you want Jude or Nelle to see you like this.”
“Or you.”
“In my defense, you did ask me to help you take your clothes off.”
“That’s a lie.” Louis snapped, despite knowing the man was right. That despite Harry only intended to take off his shoes and jacket, Louis in fact asked him to take his crop top and trousers.
“It’s not, you went all, ‘please, Harry, buttons are so hard’, ” he faked an over-exaggerated pout. “‘ my skin will get so irritated if I sleep in these.’”
“Oh my god, shut up, shut up, shut up!” Louis said with a shrill voice as he moved to cover Harry’s mouth with his hand and straddled one of his legs.
Harry laughed again, placing both hands on Louis’ hips as he bent up his knee. Eyes happily dancing over Louis’ body as the boy sat on his leg, allowing Harry to look at his torso, his still hard dick trapped in his panties, his pre-come glistening his soft tummy.
It was wrong and unfair to Ethan, because even though Louis could fool himself into thinking he was seducing Harry to make him cheat, show his true colors. There was no need because, at least in that sense, Harry was being honest about what he wanted and how he wanted it.
That was Ethan on his own terms.
Harry didn’t give a single fuck about destroying Louis and Ethan’s friendship. He just wanted to pull the stick out of Louis’ ass so he could be with Ethan freely without the annoying friend whispering how bad he was for him. And what better way to do that than to put his dick instead?
“What’s wrong?”
“I remembered the type of asshole you are.”
Harry’s delighted laugh sent a rush of warmth through his chest. “Hey, be nice.” he pulled the string of Louis’ panty, letting the band slap against his skin.
“Don’t know how to do that.”
There was no doubt Harry knew what he was doing when his lips stretched into a sleepy and smug smile. “I’d offer my help to change that, but I don’t think I want to.”
“Don’t want to help me become a better person?”
“Nah. I think you are perfectly fine the way you are.”
The breath that rushed through Louis’ throat sounded more like a weak whine than he intended, face immediately heating.
“Don’t you want to tame me?” He questioned at last, when he was sure his voice wouldn’t betray him.
“That’d be a shame.”
Louis had never wanted to kiss someone as badly as he wanted to kiss Harry at that moment. His cock twitched, needy and desperate for something. Harry licked his lips hungrily.
Louis leaned in to whisper against Harry’s ear. “At least you are an asshole with good taste.” he said, enjoying the pressure of Harry’s hands squeezing his hips before climbing off him. “I will go check on Jude. Fix that before Nelle comes back.” He pointed to Harry’s cock with his chin as he left him on the bed.
-‘๑’-
The wise thing should’ve been to change as soon as he could. Instead, Louis threw an old big shirt to Harry, put on some shorts and kept Harry’s shirt on for the rest of the day. To his fortune, no one even blinked when he decided to do that. They ate, or at least tried to, and made plans for the night.
It was a scarily good day. The kind where nothing major happens, yet you still smile when you remember them in the future.
“I want to get hammered tonight,” Nelle announced as they all lay cramped together on Louis' bed while watching Love Island reruns. “Then I want to be kissed by a bunch of girls. A bunch.”
“Didn’t you do that last night?” Jude mumbled, eyes closed as an ice mask melted against his face.
Nelle shook her head. “Last night, I just got slightly tipsy and got kissed by two girls.” She lifted a hand, hands making a peace sign. “We need to go to Electric Room for all that to happen.”
“I’m up for it.” Harry easily accepted with a shrug as he stroked Belle’s fur slowly.
“Me too, if I get to recover from my hangover, that is.”
Three eyes looked expectantly at Louis. “Fine, I will go too. I’ll invite Ethan too, don’t worry. I got you.” He said looking at Harry, when most probably he was thinking he got Louis.
And Harry oh so got him. It was almost painful to admit. Embarrassingly so.
“It’s all settled then.” Nelle sat up. “Come on, let’s go,” She said to Jude. “I have to get stunning for tonight.”
Louis cleared his throat. “If you want…” He shrugged, trying to find his cool. Act aloof and nonchalant. “You can get ready here, I have clothes that could totally suit you.”
And it was true, he had many clothes he designed and created that could see them in. That didn’t change the real reason he offered it was because he had forgotten the last time he felt this content, and wanted to prolong that feeling as long as he could.
“Really?” Nelle lit up, shuffling in the bed to hug Louis. “Oh my god? Yes! Of course.”
“Can I stay too?” Jude asked shyly.
“The invitation was for you too, actually.”
Jude crawled on the bed to join Nelle into the hug. “You are literally my favorite person in the whole wide world.”
“Look,” Louis said smugly. “You got my cat and I got your best friends.”
Harry laughed. “I would say it’s a fair deal, but I’m afraid you got the short end of things.”
“Hey,” Nelle threw a pillow at Harry, making Belle hiss at the disturbance. “You are just jealous you weren’t invited.” She said, snuggling again against Louis.
“It was for him too.” Louis clarified. “If I text Ethan right now, he will be here in around an hour.”
Harry smiled softly. “Nah, I’m fine. But maybe next time?”
“Alright…” Louis replied, trying not to sound too disappointed. “Next time.”
-‘๑’-
After Harry left, they spent almost all afternoon picking the right attire for the night, Jude insisting on doing a little catwalk so between them could choose the right attire for each one. A thing that turned out to be beneficial because Louis could finally see his designs in different body shapes.
“These are so cool.” Jude said, looking in a mirror at the clothes he finally decided to wear. “Are you sure I can wear it?”
“Of course you can.”
“But what if I spill something over it?” He whispered, mortified. “I don’t want to ruin it.”
Louis bit his lip to keep his grin proportional. “You won’t ruin it. And if you do, I still can make another. The perks of being a designer.”
“Can you explain to me why Annika didn’t let me—Oh,” Ethan stopped in his tracks and stood awkwardly in front of Louis' bedroom door. Despite everything, Louis couldn’t help but smile at seeing his friend after a long and very odd week. “Hi Jude.” He said, furrowing his brows. “What are you doing here?”
“Getting ready for tonight.”
“Oh... that’s nice.” Ethan gave him a strained smile. “Uhm, Louis, weren’t you sick this morning? A very dangerous virus or something.”
“Ah… that… Well—”
“I think I am the dangerous virus. I slept here. Maybe she thought Louis and me… You know.”
“What? Fucked?” Ethan barked a laugh. “Please. Wait…” His smile dropped from his face. “Did you?”
“Ouch? And no. I’m straight.”
“Boring.” Louis and Ethan echoed each other, sharing a private smile.
Jude scoffed. “Okay, enough.” He said with no heat behind his voice. “I’m going to change.”
Seeming way more relaxed, Ethan went to give him a quick hug.
“Thanks for doing this. For a moment, I thought you were trying to sabotage my relationship with Harry. But you are actually helping me.”
“What do you mean?”
Ethan rolled his eyes. “That you are being nice with his friends. It’s the first time I’ve seen you do this with one of my boyfriends.”
“I wasn’t trying to sabotage your relationship with Harry,” Louis’ brows drew together. “I just told you what I knew. What you also know about him. Today wasn’t about you, E.”
“So, are they your new pets?”
Louis sighed. “I like them. I really like them. They are nice.”
“You don’t do nice with strangers.” Ethan crossed his arms.
“They aren’t strangers anymore.”
“What do you think?” Nelle came out from Louis’ closet, posing. “I’m stunning, aren’t I?”
“Oh, you look so good, Nelle!” Louis walked towards the girl, fixing the belt of the wide-legged trousers.
“I fucking love the embroiled details.” Her fingers glided carefully over the intricate stitching and delicate details of the cropped blazer. The tenderness in her touch brought a warm feeling to Louis’ stomach and a soft smile to his face.
“Thank you. I designed each one by hand.”
“You are a genius.”
“Wait…” Ethan's brows furrowed in confusion. “When did you finish that?”
“On Thursday. You would have known if you had answered my calls or texts.”
“Okay, maybe I overreacted, but it was kinda justified.”
“No, it wasn’t, but we can talk about it later.” Louis sighed. “Do you have something in mind for tonight?”
Ethan brightened up. “I want to wear something sexy. What does Harry like?” He asked Nelle.
“I don’t know…” She shrugged, then looking at Louis, she said, “Lace, maybe?”
Louis’ jaw went slack for a moment, not really sure if Nelle was looking at him for his approbation or if she actually saw him and Harry tussle around.
He cleared his throat. “If he likes you, he should like you no matter what you are wearing.”
“Please.” Ethan begged, with an overexaggerated pout.
“I will see what I can find.”
“With lace.”
Louis huffed a defeated chuckle. “With lace.”
-‘๑’-
The club’s music reverberated in Louis’ throat and chest. His body, glistening in sweat, hummed pleasantly thanks to the liquor as he danced his heart out with Nelle and Jude. Louis was aware Harry was looking at them, at first with amusement clear in his face but at some point, between Nelle’s hands traveling up and down Louis’ chest and tummy as she danced behind him, and him wrapping his arm around Jude’s neck as they moved their hips in sync, Harry’s gaze turned more intense, darker.
Or maybe it was the alcohol making Louis see things and intentions that just weren’t there.
“Okay, so, tell me if I’m losing my mind but, is that girl eyeing me?” Nelle half yelled close to his ear, making Louis turn to see a woman looking at her as if she was the main dish of a decadent feast.
Louis laughed, throwing his head back and turning to yell, “She is gone for you,” in Nelle’s ears.
The girl spun Louis and cupped his face. “You are the best wingman ever.” She said, beaming, a smile so big it looked like it must hurt. “Okay, both of you, wish me luck.”
“First of the night?” Jude said behind Louis, arms wrapping around his waist while they swayed at the rhythm of the music.
“First?” Nelle’s eyebrows shot up. “Look at her! If it’s on me, she will be my only one for the rest of my life!”
Louis cooed. “Good luck then.”
“Thank you. You will be my best man at our wedding.” She said, before leaving a big and wet kiss on his cheek.
“What the fuck?” Jude half-laughed, half-screamed. “What about me?”
Nelle rolled her big eyes. “You can be the flower girl. Bye now.” She waved as she walked away towards her girl.
“There are several people looking at you,” Louis told Jude as they picked up the pace on their movements.
“I’m sure of that.”
Louis snorted. “A humble man.”
“A man with a mission.”
The boy narrowed his eyes and turned around to face Jude. “What do you mean?”
“Well…” Jude’s eyes looked behind Louis’ shoulder, smile broadening.
Before hearing him, Louis felt Harry’s strong chest against his back, replacing Jude’s hands on Louis’ hips with his.
“Jude,” he said with a deep voice. “Ethan wants some drinks, and you are the only one the barman actually listens to. Can you go with him?”
Jude barked a laugh. “Sure. Take care of my dance partner while I’m with Ethan, yeah?”
“I will try my best.”
Feeling a little self-conscious, Louis fixed his fringe and tried to walk away from Harry’s hold, but before he could do anything, the man spun him around, hands grabbing Louis’ wrist, to guide his hands behind Harry’s neck.
“If I let you go,” said Harry, hands running from Louis’ wrist to his shoulders, then down his torso. “I will have to give so many explanations to Jude.” His whole body began to move slowly, making Louis move with him.
“That sounds like a you problem.”
“I like your shirt.”
“It’s not a shirt. It’s a crochet top”
Harry hummed with a small but pleased smile on his face. “It’s very cute,” he pulled lightly the knitted flower hanging from the cord that was keeping the top together. “Did you make it?”
“No. These are kinda complicated to make.”
“So are the clothes you gave to Nelle and Jude.”
“Is that why you didn’t want to wear them?” Louis tilted his head to the side. “Because they’re complicated?”
Harry shook his head. “I wanted to bring my own jacket.”
“It looked nice.” Louis admitted as he let himself be swayed by Harry’s hands and body.
“And it’s also very warm.” Harry leaned in and whispered in his ear. “You will see later.” The words puffin hot air against Louis’ skin as goosebumps covered all his body.
“Doubt it, I’m leaving before you.”
“Why?”
“Because otherwise Ethan will want to come to my house. I’m doing you a favor, you should be grateful.”
“I fucking love this song.” Harry said, ignoring Louis’ words. Strong arms wrapped around his torso, pulling him so close their bodies were completely flushed together. “Are you falling in love?’” He began to sing with the music, smiling against his temple. “I’ve a feeling you are. Are you falling in love? With the feeling.”
Louis laughed and threw his head back. Harry took that as an opportunity to move his mouth from his temple to his exposed neck. As he grazed the tender skin, a shiver ran down Louis' spine, causing him to let out a soft gasp. The sensation sent a rush of warmth and desire coursing through his veins, making him crave more of Harry's touch, craving more of the electrifying feeling. “You are ridiculous.” He said, almost breathless.
“It doesn’t make you feel things?” He asked, voice low and husky as he trailed his lips over Louis' throat. “To want to fall in love? Don’t you want to fall in love?”
“Not really.” Louis lied, his voice trembling slightly and heart pounding against his rib cage. Refusing to acknowledge how Harry's touch had awakened a dormant longing within him, a newfound yearning that he couldn't ignore.
He felt a surge of vulnerability as Harry's last question resonated in his chest. The way Harry's lips moved against his skin only intensified all his sensations. In that electrifying moment, Louis realized that he had never craved love. To fall. But each moment he spent with Harry made the idea more and more tempting.
The realization hit Louis like a thunderbolt, leaving him breathless and dizzy with a mix of fear and excitement. All the rules and walls he had carefully built around his heart suddenly crumbling for a man that wasn’t even interested in him for something serious. A man he barely knew.
“Let me walk you.” Harry whispered amidst the chaos of his thoughts.
“What?”
“When you leave.” He explained, still holding Louis close. “Don’t just disappear like the first night. Let me walk you to your Uber.”
“Ethan told me you thought I was an asshole for leaving that night.” The amusement in Harry's eyes as he smirked at him made Louis feel as though he had failed miserably in his attempt to avoid sounding overly reproachful.
“Not an asshole. Just kinda rude. I thought you liked me.”
Louis snorted. “You know I didn’t.”
“And now?”
“Now… I’m fond of your friends.”
“Only them?” Harry opened his mouth dramatically, feigning surprise and betrayal. “We came in a package deal.”
“And that’s the only reason why I let you in my house. Luring you in, so I can steal them later.”
“You don’t have to put in a lot of work. They are already gone for you.”
“Don’t worry,” Louis moved his hands from Harry’s neck to his chest, giving it soft pats. “I’ll still come to our parties.”
“What an honor. Would I be invited to the sleepovers? I make a great pillow.”
Louis let out a throaty laugh. “Pillow? More like a human koala. In any case, I made a better pillow than you did.”
“I am not gonna even try to deny that.” Harry grinned at him, tongue between his teeth, head cocked to the side.
Louis’ hands itched to touch, his lips to kiss. He needed to get out of there as soon as he could before he would do something he would come to regret the next morning.
“Walk me out?” He said as a last resort, counting on Harry to focus more on fulfilling his duty as a fake friend—or whatever he was doing with Louis— than to ask why Louis decided to leave so soon.
“Of course. Just let me pick my jacket first.”
The night was cold and Harry was completely right about his jacket, it was very warm and comfortable and Louis couldn’t stop looking away from his reflection on the polarized glass doors of the club.
“Oh, it’s really nice.” Louis breathed out, touching the smooth fabric of the jacket, warmth seeping into his fingertips.
Harry smirked behind him, seemingly pleased with Louis’ reaction. “Told you.”
“Can I—Uh–” He cleared his throat. “Can I take a picture?”
Harry’s brows shot up. “Of the two of us?”
“It’s for my Instagram. It’s totally fine if you don’t want to. It’s just— your clothes make a nice contrast with mine.”
As soon as the words came out, Louis regretted them. He was almost sure Harry was about to tease him. He could already see the hint of a smile showing in his eyes, the smug ‘Are they?’ highlighting how odd it was his request.
If that came to happen, Louis would prefer the earth to swallow him whole than to spend another minute there.
But instead of that, the man only grinned and said, “Sure. Can I pick the pose?”
Louis blinked, utterly shocked by his reply. “Uh— yeah? Why not.”
“Cool. Come here.” Harry ordered, pulling him closer to his body. “Now turn around. You have to show them your little bow.” He pulled down Louis’ jacket. “It’s too pretty to keep it hidden.”
The pink bow that adorned Louis' crocheted crop top caught his eye as he glanced over his shoulder. “It’s not little.”
“To me, it kinda is.” He placed a big hand over it to make his point even more obvious. “Let’s do this, yeah?” As Harry took pictures with his own phone, he wrapped his arms around Louis’ torso.
If anyone asked, Louis probably wouldn’t be able to pinpoint when Harry began to solely take pictures of him alone. He just followed each instruction the man gave him without thinking much. Like a second nature.
“You did wonderful.” Harry's deep voice was filled with warmth as he drew nearer to him once more. Louis was almost sure he saw a hint of wonder gleaming in his eyes. The man reached out and gently held Louis's hand, as they stood there, the weight of all his conflicting thoughts seemed to dissipate. “What do you think?” He handed Louis his phone.
Louis’ face flushed in embarrassment, of course Harry only grabbed his hand to pass him his phone. What was he even thinking?
Without saying another word, he went through each one of the pictures, eyes widening in genuine surprise at how good they were. Harry somehow understood perfectly the type of pictures Louis wanted and delivered in each picture. “They look… amazing.” Louis breathed out as Harry preened.
“Well, I’m here for whatever service you need. Including photographer.”
“I might actually take you at your word because I’m a little obsessed with these. Can you send them to me?”
“Sure, just give me your number.”
“Oh,” Louis paused, brows knitting together. “I was thinking on Instagram through a Drive link?”
“And I was thinking the same but via text. In fact,” Harry said, grabbing his phone to open his Contact’s app. “You can add it now.” When he saw Louis hesitate, he added, “They are really good pictures.”
Harry was right, they were great pictures and Louis was already buried, so why not dig a bigger hole?
Louis groaned. “Give me,” he ordered at last.
“Are you going to post them on your account?” Harry asked as Louis typed his number.
“Yeah, in my stories.”
“In which one?”
“My main.”
“You can post it on your private accounts too, and if you want to accept my follow request now that I'm part of your official crew, that would be nice too.”
The boy glared at Harry. “Don’t push it Styles.”
“I was just saying.” Harry laughed as he put his hands up in mock surrender.
Louis shook his head, but he did nothing to stop the smile from spreading across his face. “That’s my ride.” He said, pointing at the car in front of them while he began to take off Harry’s jacket. “Thank you for the ja—”
“No,” Harry stopped him. “Keep it. I don’t really need it, but you will.”
“I’m literally going home.”
“Still.” He shrugged, biting his lip, stifling what would have been a heart melting toothy grin. “Your building is freezing.”
“That’s absolutely not true.”
“Don’t make your Uber wait, that’s rude.”
“You are rude.”
Harry laughed, throwing his head back, making Louis realize how much trouble he was actually in. “Goodnight, bluebell.”
“Night, jerk.”
Not even twenty minutes after he arrived at his house, Louis' phone buzzed alive.
Louis stared at his phone, his mouth hanging open and his heart beating a little faster than it should. The picture was… enlightening but what truly surprised him was that it wasn’t even half an hour after he left the bar and Harry was already back home.
Hundreds of questions popped into his head, making it difficult for him to fall asleep. Did he leave after Louis? Was Ethan with him? Were they eating together?
If true, Louis would be happy for both of them. Truly. The twisting feeling inside his stomach was most probably nothing more than hunger. Harry was probably right, he needed to eat something before going to sleep.
-‘๑’-
The next morning, Louis tried his best to keep his normal Saturday routine, that meant a shopping spree, his usual hunt for the very rare collector edition of the Valentino Garavani art book and then Afternoon Tea at Ladurée. But things weren’t like it used to be anymore so throughout all his day, he not only bought things for him and Ethan as usual but he also picked a few things for Nelle and Jude, and to his dismay he even caught himself almost grabbing a sage green sweater that would look rather good on certain man. Same man he spent almost all night texting with. The same one that was now calling him, disrupting his sacred routine.
“What?”
“Morning.” Harry said, smile clear even through the phone. “Why are your fans asking if I know how to fight?”
“Fans?” Louis squinted. “Fight? What are you talking about?”
“Maybe they found out about my post of Ryan Gosling looking like a Madame Tussauds figurine.” Harry mumbled. “Anyway, I’m pretty sure your fans think we are Instagram boyfriends?”
“I do not have fans.”
“Well, the people on Twitter and Instagram trying to fight me might differ. We do look together in your story though.”
Louis was about to ask Harry to be more clear when an incoming call made his whole world freeze.
“Oh god… Oh fuck… I gotta go.”
“Wait! But-”
“Hello?” Louis said, trying to sound as calm and collected as he could.
“Mr. Tomlinson, I’m Jannine Evans, Diane Prescott’s assistant. I was calling you to confirm your assistance today. We sent you several mails with no response, and she personally wanted to be sure you were receiving them.”
Louis’ heart plummeted, face heating up with embarrassment. “Oh my god, it must have gone straight to spam. I’m so very sorry.”
“It’s fine.” The assistant said curtly. “She just wants you to be sure you are attending.”
“Of course I will be attending. Thank you so much for this opportunity.”
“Have a good day.”
With trembling hands, he called the first person that he wanted to give the news.
“I think I’m getting a spot at the Century Association.”
“Oh my god, Louis, congratulations!” Ethan screamed in excitement. “I’m so, so happy for you. You deserve this!”
“Thank you, I wanted you to be the first one to know.”
They have always struggled with expressing themselves, especially feelings. But this time felt necessary.
“Oh, Lou, you are going to make me cry. Let’s not cry on your special day, okay?”
“You are right, I just— Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure!”
“Did you help with this?”
“No, I tried my very best, but they told me I couldn’t give my place to anyone else. But maybe they listened to my suggestions!”
Louis laughed. “Maybe they did!”
“You got in!” Ethan screamed again.
“I got in!”
-‘๑’-
The brunch was going unsurprisingly well. He was ready for it even before he put it on his yearly goals, because he knew everything that needed to be known about Diane Prescott. And how he could not if since he learned how to walk on heels and the names of Elsa Schiaparelli and Thierry Mugler, he also learned about the now global editor of Vogue and Condé Nast’s lead of editorial teams across all of its global brands.
Diane Prescott started from nothing, just her and her hunger to be, and now she was the fashion industry. Louis prepared all his life to prove to her he belonged there too.
“Thank you so much for giving me the chance to at least talk to you.” He said at the end of the brunch. “It was a pleasure to finally meet you. Mrs. Prescott.”
Her lips pressed together into an odd smile. “If I have to be honest, I was a tad curious about the person behind the sudden submissions, drops, and influx of donations this past week.” She cleaned the sides of her mouth with her napkin. “Can I ask you a question?”
Louis perked up. “Of course.”
“Who do you think you are?” Diane asked with a cold tone.
“Pardon?”
“Do you believe you and your little friends with your daddies and mommies’ money and influence can make me do something? This is my playground, and none of you hold any power here. You are nothing here.”
Louis’ eyes widened in horror. “That wasn’t my intention at all, I swear. I had no idea about the donations or the droppings.”
“No, I bet you were too busy learning my Wikipedia page, so you could recite it back to me.”
“I—”
“What?” She raised a perfectly well trimmed brow as she stood up from their table. “Do you think I would be flattered, playing trivia about my life? I know my achievements, but I have no idea of who you are. And you probably don’t know either. Don’t dare to waste my time like this ever again, or I will ruin the little career you will have left after this.”
Dumbfounded and a little shaken up, Louis sat in the same place for god knows how long, until a warm hand touched his shoulder.
“Are you alright, darling?” A woman asked with a thick French accent. “Do you want some water?”
Louis looked up to find no other than Lola Fedarige, one of the most iconic models of the world. Because of course, Diane Prescott had to put Louis in his place in front of more people he admired.
“No, I’m fi—It’s fine.” He waved a trembling hand, eyes filled with tears. “I’m very sorry you had to witness that. I’m a big fan of your work. Not that if I wasn’t a fan of your work, I wouldn’t be sorry for it. That’s just two different facts.”
Her green eyes turned soft. “Oh, darling, it’s okay if it isn’t. The first one is the harshest one to swallow.”
“First one?”
Lola smiled. “Your first Diane Prescott public scolding. My first one was when I got pregnant when I was twenty. She told me my career was over. That was almost ten years ago, and look at me. I think I’ve done pretty good.”
“More than pretty good. You are an icon now.”
She laughed, making the dimples on her face look more prominent. “Are you a model or a designer?”
“Designer.”
Lola hummed. “Then you should have worn something yours.”
“I guess you are right.” Louis said, flushing.
“Let’s do something. If you need a model at any point, let me know, I’d gladly help you with your future projects. And as you know, I am one of Diane’s favorites.”
“Really?” Louis asked, a wobbly smile appearing on his face. “Thank you.”
“It’s nothing, darling. Oh, look at that smile,” Lola touched her cheek. “You are as pretty as they told me.”
“Wha—”
“Oh, I am sorry to cut this short, dear, but I have some places to be. Here’s my card, call me whenever you need.”
With his heart fluttering wildly inside his chest, he tried to process his afternoon. From Diane’s humiliation to Lola’s comfort. He felt confused and hurt, and really didn't think much as he told his driver where he wanted to go. Or at least that was what he wanted to believe.
-‘๑’-
It was utterly impolite to arrive at someone's house without a warning or invitation. Even more when you weren’t actually close to the person and only started to talk with them a few weeks ago. Alas, he really didn’t want to worry Annika or stress Belle, and he definitely didn’t want to see Ethan, so this was Louis’ very last option.
“Hi,” Harry said as he opened his door. “I didn’t expect to see you today. Is everything okay?”
“Not really, I—”
“Harry,” A very familiar voice yelled from inside the house. “Your mom is calling?” Ethan said, looking at Harry. Then he finally looked at Louis. “Oh, hey, Lou, how did you know I was here? What’s wrong?” He asked, looking between them with worry clear in his eyes. “Is this about that fashion club?”
“Yeah. I fucking blew it.”
“I will—I have to call back my mom.” Harry mumbled hurriedly, before getting back inside his home.
“Oh, LouLou, come here.” Ethan cooed, pulling Louis into a hug. “It’s alright, you can find another club, maybe.”
Louis felt all the muscles of his body stiffen. “There’s no other fucking club for me, Ethan.” He detached himself from his friend’s hold. “This was it. And you joining and dropping didn’t help my case either.”
Ethan furrowed his brows. “I did it because of you!”
“No, you did it because—You did it for yourself.”
“I was just trying to help.”
“I didn’t ask for help!” Louis snapped. “She humiliated me in front of so many people I admire today. I could have kept living without experiencing this moment all my life. You probably fucked my career for what? For a— You are— Don’t call me for like a day because I don’t want to hurt you or say things I don’t really mean. I love you, but I don’t really like you right now.”
“Okay, I’m sorry.” Ethan said, quiet and small.
“I know you are.” Louis exhaled, feeling all kinds of defeated as he ran a hand over his face. “I’m sorry for ruining your Sunday, I guess.”
Ethan shook his head, eyes already red. “It’s all fine. Did you bring a driver?”
“Yeah.”
-‘๑’-
In his house, Belle was trying her very best to comfort Louis, from purring all over him to trying to make little buns out of part of his body. She even let him caress her belly without biting him, which was very gratifying. All the while, Annika was telling him his favorite stories from her childhood.
It was working, it really was, just that Louis needed a little time to take a well deserved late afternoon nap. The only thing was that when Annika left him and Belle fell asleep over his chest, his brain refused to turn off. He was so disappointed, so angry. Funnily enough, guilt was also a very prominent feeling in all that mix, not allowing him to feel what he wanted to because he also wasn’t being a good friend to Ethan. And unlike his friend, he was aware what he was doing wasn’t so right.
“Knock, knock,” Nelle said cheerfully from his door, turning on almost all the lights in his room. “Jude and I bring treats for you and Belle.”
Louis groaned, covering his eyes. “Who let you in?”
“My girl Annika. We are close like that.” Nelle shrugged as she placed all the bags and boxes she brought with herself.
“Go away, I’m not good company today.”
“Okay, but we got truffles, and planned the perfect movie marathon. Jawbreaker, Clueless and Legally Blonde.” Jude informed him with a smug smile on his face.
“That does sound like the perfect movie marathon.” Louis mumbled against his pillow.
With a shared smile, the two friends jumped on Louis’ bed and began to bicker about which movie they should start watching, successfully making Louis forget about all his worries, at least for a few hours.
“Did Harry tell you what happened?” Louis asked Nelle as the third movie began to play and Jude snored against his shoulder.
“Kinda.”
Louis covered his face with both hands. “I feel I just made a fool out of myself all day. I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be. Mistakes are great for character development.” She bumped his shoulder with hers. “I’m sure we will laugh about this day in a few years.”
Louis sighed. “You really think?”
“Of course. And we will remember how nice your night was.”
“It is really nice.” Louis coincided. “Thank you. I don’t deserve any of you.”
“You really do.” Nelle smiled at him, grabbing his hand. “Oh shit.” She jumped as she pulled out her phone. “Francesca is calling.”
“Who?”
“The girl I met at the club!”
“Oh my god?” Louis replied excitedly. “Go take your call!”
“Would you be fine?”
“Of course,” Louis waved off his hand. “Jude’s snores will keep me company. Now go!”
Nelle kissed him on his temple before leaving the room.
After half an hour, Louis' eyes began to drift, but a sudden movement on his bed jolted him awake.
“Hey, am I too late?” Harry whispered.
“I’m going to have a serious talk with Annika about whom she lets into my house…”
“Don’t be mad at her. I told her I brought actual food instead of just sweets.” Harry shrugged, sheepishly. “I also brought more sweets, but I didn’t tell her that part.”
“You are sitting in Nelle’s place.”
“She will survive. Come here” He said, wrapping an arm around his shoulder, pulling him close to him, oh-so-slowly, giving Louis enough time to reject the hug. A thing he, foolishly enough, didn’t do. “How bad was it?”
“I almost cried in front of one of my favorite models.” He mumbled quietly against Harry’s chest.
“Oh, sweetheart. Wait a few years, and we can buy that ugly woman out of her place.”
“Stop. It’s not funny.” Louis giggled, slapping Harry’s hard abs. “Besides, she said we and our money had no power over her.”
He hummed. “Pretty sure that’s a lie.”
“I wanted to prove her wrong but in the right way though.”
“You still can do it.” Harry placed his chin over his head as he caressed his arm up and down with his fingertips. “You are the most talented person I know, and design the most beautiful clothes I’ve ever seen and believe me, I have seen many clothes throughout my life. On top of that, you have a massive following that actually listens to you. You have the IT factor all of those people are looking for. A 360 as they say.”
It felt nice to snuggle with Harry, a very different kind of nice than when he did it with his other friends. Louis was always craving more from Harry, and that was a big problem.
“Lola Fedarige told me she would be my model.”
“Did she?”
“Mhm. Do you know her?”
Harry chuckled. “Yes.”
“She was so nice to me. She made me feel less alone there.”
“I’m glad she was nice to you.”
“Harry?”
Not really realizing how close they were, Louis looked up to get a better view of Harry. As he tilted his head back, a sudden sense of awe washed over Louis. The sight of Harry's soft smile made his heart skip a beat.
“Yeah?” He asked, gently easing Louis' fringe away from his forehead.
“Thank you for telling Jude and Nelle to come here.”
Harry shook his head, hand dropping to the crook of his neck. “There’s nothing to thank me for. I’m sorry you couldn’t stay at my house,”
“It’s fine, I should have texted you.”
“Nah,” Harry said, as the side of his mouth lifted. His mischievous eyes sparkled with a hint of something Louis was struggling to name. “You can go whenever you want. I can even give you the code of my loft.”
Louis lifted his chin, haughtily, lips dangerously close to Harry’s. “That would be only fair if you take in mind that you come and go from here whenever you want and without a warning.”
“I got a second date!” Nelle screamed as she ran to the bed, causing not only Harry and Louis to jump in surprise, but Jude as well.
“What happened?” He slurred, one eye still closed.
“I got a second date!”
“Nice.” Jude cleaned the spit from his face. “I’m hungry, can we order some food?”
Harry cleared his throat as he shuffled on his place, still not letting Louis go. “I brought some.”
-‘๑’-
Louis' life used to lack structure. His parents loved him endlessly and always made sure he always had this fact very present, but they were very busy individuals who weren’t really around to bring some much-needed discipline to his life. This culminated in a very messy summer back in high school, where he lost his virginity to a boy that never spoke to him again. But instead of coming up with a plan to ruin the guy’s reputation like he did with Ethan’s ex, he fully blamed himself for the incident. So he cleaned his tears, blocked his number, and created a set of rules that would prevent him from spiraling to that point ever again.
Rule # 1: No parties on weekdays. No matter if he was on a break, there was no reason to wake up with a hangover on a Wednesday afternoon.
Rule # 2: School always came first. The world could end, but his pristine score should remain.
Rule # 3: NO BOYFRIENDS OR CRUSHES.
He didn’t need to expand on the last one. Romantic relationships in college were often a waste of time that ended up in broken hearts and teary nights. He hated to feel less than what he knew he was. And no stupid boy would reduce him to a crying mess because he didn’t know how to appreciate him. How to handle him.
You see, Louis was too much, and he wasn’t ashamed to admit it, wasn’t afraid to be it. He wasn’t about to shrink himself, dim his shine for anyone, let alone for a manipulative player with a bright smile, strong arms, and the most enchanting dimples he had ever seen.
Especially if said manipulative player was his best friend’s soon to be boyfriend.
He had everything under control. He just needed to follow his simple set of rules.
“What do you say, sweetheart?” Harry asked, slapping a dough on Louis’ kitchen counter. “Do you want to go?”
Louis was letting that particular nickname slip because he was a sweetheart, and it was about time someone noticed it. It had nothing to do with how good it sounded coming from Harry’s lips. There was some flour on his forehead and butter on his chin. He was making homemade pretzels for Louis.
Only for Louis.
“I don’t go out on weekdays.”
Harry raised his brows. “You have a curfew?”
“A self-imposed one.” Louis smoothed his vintage baby blue Versace blazer. “Do you think Jude will get upset?”
“Nah. He will understand. We can celebrate his birthday together on Saturday.”
Louis attempted to clean the flour from Harry's cheek, but before he could reach his face, Harry stopped him gently, slowly caressing his knuckles with his thumb.“Don’t want you to get dirty. Your clothes are too pretty.”
The earnest in Harry’s voice and his closeness made him feel off-balance. Weak on the knees.
“You are a mess.” Louis breathed out before clearing his throat and moving away from him. “Do you wanna get a picture?”
“I always want to get pictures with you. You make me look actually decent. Should I pose?” He said stretching the dough, flexing his muscles.
“No,” Louis said, flustered. “Just be you.”
Harry chuckled lightly, doing as he was told, continuing knitting the dough manually while he took some pictures for his story.
“There, thank you.”
“Show me the final results?” He said, twisting the dough into a pretzel. “But come closer because I can’t grab your phone.”
Walking around the kitchen counter, Louis reached Harry and showed him the pictures one by one.
“Are they helping you with your engagement?” Harry inquired, still close to him. Louis could smell his cologne, making his stomach feel tight.
Truth was, yes, people were interested in the mysterious and faceless man who lately showed up in his pictures, but they were as equally intrigued by the glimpse of Nelle, Jude and Ethan. It seemed Louis finally had an entertaining life for them to see besides his clothes. Saturday nights at different parties, dinners with wine and tarot readings and midnight showings at the cinema.
He didn’t need Harry to get good engagement or brand deals, he just wanted him there, in his life, close to him. But he couldn’t say that because that sounded as if Louis was crushing on Harry, which… he wasn’t, because he didn’t have crushes.
So he nodded and lied a little more. “You are good for my business, you got me a Dior deal.”
“Did I?”
He didn’t. The company account followed him and sent him his first PR package after he used their lip-gloss and tagged them.
“Yeah. Got me some makeup and bags.”
“Bet you look stunning in them.”
“I always look stunning.”
Most men Louis talked to got annoyed when he got too cocky. When he called himself beautiful and smart. Not Harry, he just gave him a goofy smile and weird hazy eyes, it made him look like a mixture of pride and another thing he just couldn’t point out.
“I will dress in Dior if you need it.” Harry’s finger hooked through Louis’ belt loop, encouraging him to close the little distance between them. “But I much prefer to wear the ones you make.”
“Do you? Because you always end up covering my clothes with your gigantic jackets.” Louis finally cleaned the flour from his cheek.
Harry leaned into his touch. “That you end up wearing.”
“Thought you didn’t want to get me messy.”
The boy could feel Harry’s thumb on the waistline of his plaid skirt just against his skin.
“I’m just a weak man.”
He snorted, flushing his body against Harry’s. “You are gross.”
“And you are a little mean.” Harry replies, wrapping one arm around Louis’ waist.
Louis had heard plenty of people tell him that before, even worse. But no one had made it sound as if it was okay to be it. As if it was something attractive.
Electricity ran through his spine as Harry’ eyes studied his face closely but before anything else could happen, his phone began to ring.
“Who is it?”
“Ethan.” Louis sighed as he read his message. “He wants to see if he can come over.”
Harry’s brows shot up in surprise.“He is asking?”
“Things are still shaky between us because of the whole club thing.”
“Oh… I’m sure he, uh—“ Harry turned around to place the pretzels in the pan, completely avoiding Louis’ eyes, “He just wanted to help. Thought using connections was the quickest way to get you in.”
Louis couldn’t say that wasn’t what upset him. That it wouldn’t have mattered that he got rejected by one of his idols if Ethan’s real intentions behind that wouldn’t have been so selfish.
So he said, “Well, it didn’t work out.” Instead. Fully waiting for Harry’s outrage, to keep defending Ethan, but up-close, the man looked more conflicted than annoyed. Almost worried.
Guilty.
“Oh… You helped him.”
Harry closed his eyes, brows furrowed. “I never thought it would be that counterproductive.” He turned around to face Louis. “Even my family got in with a little help. But I guess we overdid it.”
“And you were going to let Ethan take the fall while you kept hanging out with me, making me homemade pretzels?” Louis deadpanned, trying his very best to not sound too amused by that.
“Yes.”
“You are a jerk and a liar.”
Harry cleaned his hands on the apron he bought to make Louis’ pretzels.
“I’m really sorry.” He said with genuine worry in his eyes as he grabbed Louis’ hands.
“Are you?” He arched a brow.
“I really am. It wasn't my intention to screw you over. I just wanted to help you.”
Louis hummed, not knowing how to pretend to be mad at Harry. He betrayed his best friend to save face with Louis, that wasn’t only a red flag but ambulance lights in full force. Still, he got Louis’ chest fluttering.
“I like flowers.” He said in a neutral tone. “The oven is ready.”
-‘๑’-
Sent via submission via Doiseus
Pseudonym, Please: Jude’s BDAY
Email: [email protected]
Subject: the fall of an Astor
Message: saw a certain darling boy trying his very best to fit in with the best friends of his alleged new beau at the party of the week. but sadly, the only thing he got was the side eye of one of their new lovers. ig you can't win them all.
The thing about Doiseus was that despite swearing they were objective with no type of bias, they did have favorites, and they made it clear not only with their wording but in the tips they posted. This fact would probably annoy Louis if he wasn’t part of their few chosen ones. Only posting neutral and positive things about him as the rest of New York’s elite burned. Which often got him in trouble with certain people who believed he was behind the accounts.
It wasn’t an ideal balance for many, but it worked perfectly for Louis and the gossip account. He didn’t mind the harsh looks and the whispers he already got for merely existing, and the page remained the most credible source in town. Since Louis was in high school, they coexisted without making any contact, whoever things were about to change.
Oddly enough, he trusted whoever was behind that account and despite sensing they maybe wanted to stir the drama pot, they didn’t send those texts to purposely mess with Louis. They were giving him time to play this at his own accord. To set things straight or twist them in his favor.
The decision should have been easy. His priority was Ethan, and the only thing he needed to do was to either cut all contact with Harry… or keep their blossoming friendship private.
In the end, he did neither, because that same day he was received with an obscene floral arrangement in his house as a form of apology from Harry. It was like nothing he had seen before, his living room and stairs were basically drowning in different flower arrangements and on the floor there were several boxes and bags of his favorite shops spelling the word; SORRY.
Louis could blame the serotonin rush for making him take quick pictures of everything and then posting them to his stories, but the truth was, he wanted to share this moment. Louis wanted for everyone to see it.
The call came not even five minutes later, and Louis’ body was burning with giddiness.
“You are ridiculous,” was the first thing Louis said before Harry could say anything else.
“But you loved it. I saw the multiple hearts in your story.”
“It was just three.”
Harry chuckled softly. “That’s multiple, sweetheart.”
Louis’ stomach fluttered at the nickname.
“You had fun last night.” He said to change the topic, to regain some self-control.
“That doesn’t sound like a question.”
“Saw you and Ethan on Doiseus.”
“He is trying his best to befriend Nelle and Jude.”
Louis hummed. “Is he succeeding?” He tried to sound as aloof as he could.
“They are easy to please.”
“So do you…”
“You looked very pretty surrounded by all those flowers.” Harry told him softly.
“You have nice taste.”
There was a velvety groan on the other side line. “Can I see you?”
“Since when do you have to ask to barge in my house?”
“Since you are mad at me.”
“Come. I need you to take me some pictures with my flowers.”
There was no deeper reason behind Louis changing his clothes for his maroon satin pajamas, he just wanted to feel comfortable. And if it combined with all the flowers around him and made his cheek look rosier, it was just mere coincidence.
Every time Harry arrived at his home, he never came empty-handed. He always had to bring something for Louis, nothing too expensive or big, but the gesture never failed to bring a smile to Louis' face. This time, Harry brought him pink strawberries and cotton candy grapes.
“You look like you belong here, surrounded by flowers and gifts.” He said instead of ‘Hi’ like a normal human being who wasn’t trying to kill Louis by melting his heart.
“How did you even know I wanted cotton candy grapes?”
“You posted about them in your stories the other day. I don’t know if the strawberries are good, they just looked pretty and thought of you.”
Louis blinked dumbfounded, heart beating rapidly. Did he say that to all his friends or was it because he was trying really hard to convince Louis he was a good guy?
“You are a stalker.” Louis blurted instead, cheeks feeling hot and tingling.
Harry let out a wonderful laugh that did not help with his treacherous feelings.
“I’d prefer observant.”
Louis rolled his eyes. “That’s what a stalker would say.” He grabbed Harry’s hand and led him to his unopened presents.“Help me pick up my gifts?”
“You haven’t opened any.”
“Want you to help me with that too. I want to know why you bought each thing.”
Harry’s cheeks flushed. “I didn’t choose all of them. My mom picked some out, she is better at fashion stuff than I am. But I explained to her the things you liked.” He grabbed a box, picking up a silk sage green scarf that seemed to flow through his fingers like water. “I picked this one, though.”
“I saw this one at Armani.” Louis said, staring in awe at the scarf. “Thought about buying it for you.”
“For me? Really?”
“Yeah,” He said, closing the distance between them, so he could grasp the delicate fabric, their fingertips brushing against each other as he did so. “But now it’s mine, so I can lend it to you when you need it.”
“It sounds like an amazing plan.”
Harry’s closeness made Louis feel a little dizzy, about to lose the little strength he had left since he entered his house. He wanted Harry with every fiber of his body, not because of the gifts he constantly gave him. He wanted him because no matter if it all was a lie, he made him feel like the most special person on earth, from how he listened to him to the little secrets about himself he shared with Louis.
If there was a word to describe Harry Styles that would be thoughtful. But if there was a person in this world who deserved a person like Harry, that was Ethan. And yet, there was Louis unable to push Harry away or to give him his blessing to be with Ethan despite all of these things.
However, he could at least try.
“You know what would be an even better plan?”
“What?” The sun setting made Harry’s eyes look a little darker, pupils enlarging to adjust to the light.
“If we invite Nelle and Jude over.”
“Oh–no, yeah, of course. That would be amazing.”
Yes, Louis was going to try.
-‘๑’-
It was another successful day where Louis avoided jumping the bones of the object of interest of his best friend. His self-control and loyalty were truly commendable. Despite the intense temptation, he remained steadfast in his commitment to his friend, proving himself to be a paragon of virtue. If anyone deserved to be beatified at this point, it was Louis.
“Are you guys fighting?” Nelle asked as she shoved a mouthful of popcorn in her mouth.
“No?” Louis frowned. “Why did you ask that?”
“Because you aren’t attached to the hip talking nonsense while I try to watch movies.”
“No, we are good. We are perfect. Just look at what he did today? Why would we be fighting?”
“Perhaps because it was too much and you aren’t keen on those types of shows of affection.”
“Oh, god, no. I was born to receive that type of gesture.”
“Okay, now I’m officially confused. Then why are you keeping your distance?”
Louis trusted Nelle and knew she would never judge him, that if anything telling her what was going on in his mind and heart it could be the wake-up call he so much needed. Because Nelle would never let him get his hopes up for someone who was basically taken.
“Well,” he began looking at Harry who was watching the movie with a frown in his face. “I think I have fall—”
“Oh, you all are here.” Ethan interrupted Louis from the entrance of his room with a sour smile. “Movie night? What are you watching?”
“Nothing special.” Louis replied a tad curtly.
“Special enough to gather all of you here.”
“Do you need something?” Nelle snapped at Ethan.
“Yes. I need to talk to my friend in private . Please.”
Nelle was about to say something more, but Harry interrupted her. “Come on,” He stood up, pulling Jude with him. “Let’s get something to eat. Do you guys want something?”
“No.” Ethan said with blushed cheeks at the same time Louis replied, “Whatever you are getting but without onions.”
Harry smiled at him, the first sincere one since Jude and Nelle arrived. “Roger that. Nelle, let’s go,” he said sternly at his friend.
“Fine. But I’m coming back.” She squeezed Louis’ hand before leaving with Harry and Jude.
Ethan crossed his arms and said, “At some point, you need to stop doing this.”
“Doing what?”
“Pushing me away. Getting new friends and forgetting about me.”
“I’m not—” Louis rubbed both eyes with his fingertips. “You really fucked up this time, Ethan.”
“I know. And I haven’t been able to sleep since that ugly lady treated you the way she did! But I cannot do anything more about it. I have tried to fix it, but I can’t. And to be honest, it’s a little shitty you are doing this much to me, but you had no problem with Harry.”
“It’s not the same, and you know it.”
“How is it not the same?” He yelled at Louis. “Do you think he did it for the goodness of his heart? He wanted to gain points with me. To make me happy, so he can get me to say yes to go out with him.”
“But he wasn’t my friend back then. So no, it's still not the same.”
“And you think he is your friend now? Do you remember what this is? What are you doing? Why did he get close to you in the first place? Why did you get close to him?” Ethan laughed hysterically. “You chose to forgive a random guy who wants to fuck me over your best friend.”
“It’s really hard to forgive you when you are practically saying the only reason I got new friends is because one of them wants to be with you.”
“You are lying and using each other!” Ethan hissed, eyes red filled with tears.
“What’s the difference between that friendship and this one?”
Ethan had a look on his face as if someone had just hit him. “I have never lied to you.”
“But you do use me.” Louis sighed and closed the space between them. “And I’m okay with it. I have fun with it. I love to be the mean and deceiving one from both of us. It does wonders to my ego. But you still use me for your own benefit. So what’s the difference?”
“That he doesn’t know about our little games or that he is being used.”
“Tell him then. End the game. Go out with him and try to have a relationship without the need to tempt him with me. Tell him we know he befriended me to get in your good graces and let’s see what he does.”
Ethan shook his head. “He will keep going with his life! He will call us crazy and ruin our reputation!” He signaled with his finger between them. “Our little scheming days will be over!”
“I’m fine with that too.”
Ethan blinked astonished. “You actually think he will regret using you… You think he— Louis…” He said in a tone that sounded more worried than angry, which only served to make the tightness growing in Louis’ chest constrict even further. “I expected this from me, but you? You cannot be this stupid.”
A slam on the door made them both snap from their fight “Okay, I don’t know what this is about,” Nelle said, staring coldly at Ethan, “but you better change that tone…”
“Nelle,” Ethan gave her a strained smile. “Didn’t see you there. It’s nothing. I’m just trying to make Louis see that an old friend of ours that came back has no real good intentions with him.”
“I think Louis is old and smart enough to decide that for himself.”
“A friend is never too old to be protected.” Ethan countered fiercely and sincerely. “Anyway, I would have loved to stay a little more for dinner, but I have to go.”
Nelle scoffed as soon they were alone in the room. “What’s his problem?”
“That’s how we talk to each other sometimes.”
“Well, that’s fucked up.”
“We have been friends since we were babies. We grew up together. He is my family. And sometimes we cannot help but act like actual siblings. We say harsh things, we yell, and we sometimes hurt each other, but above that, we love each other very deeply.”
“Well, I’m not his sibling, so I don’t have to be okay with the way he treated you.”
“He is just scared.”
Nelle furrowed her brows. “Of what?”
“Of losing me.”
“But you said you were like family.”
Louis shrugged. “But sometimes even family abandons you. And he knows that very well.”
“Will you?”
“Never.”
A few minutes later, Jude—helped by Annika— brought a tray with burgers and different types of fries.
“Where is Harry?”
“He left with Ethan,” Jude told Louis as he handed him his respective burger. “I think he will come back later.”
Louis hummed in knowledge, half expecting it. He gave them the perfect opportunity to bond. Harry could finally be Ethan's knight in shining armor, consoling him and protecting him from Louis' harsh treatment.
At least something good came out of their stupid fight.
Nelle rolled her eyes. “Lame. More food for me.”
Later that night, his phone lit up with a message he had been expecting for hours, but instead of reading a long text from Ethan telling him why he was right and Louis was wrong, he found Harry.
By the end of the night, Louis let Harry in, in almost all senses.
-‘๑’-
The pouring rain made Louis suspect his plans to meet Harry at college were going to have to be postponed, but at least he still had his favorite coffee shop to make up for it and to keep him warm while he waited for the rain to calm down. The only thing was that half of the campus thought the same, so there was no free table in sight.
“Louis!” Someone called him from one of the tables close to a large window. “Come.” The unknown guy waved his hand at Louis to come closer.
Up close, he recognized the guy as Trevor, a classmate of his who he barely spoke with but was always nice to him, so Louis always tried to be kind to him too.
“Hi, Trev. Did you get trapped here too?”
Trevor shook his head lightly. “We came a little before the rain began. My boyfriend is buying my tea. He probably isn’t very happy the rain trapped us here.” He patted the chair next to him. “Do you want to sit?”
“Oh, please, thank you.” He said hurriedly as he sat down.
Trevor chuckled as he turned off his phone. “So, are you excited about going to Milan?”
“For Fashion Week?” Louis snorted. “If no one invited me to New York’s I doubt they would invite me to Milan’s. I’m a little screwed in that sense.”
Trevor’s lips pressed into a thin, worried line. “It’s clear someone blacklisted you. Your account and blog are like the fashion bible around here.”
“And for now, that’s enough for me.”
“Jesus fucking Christ,” A tall guy cursed with a thick British accent as he sat at the other side of Trevor. “Hope this shit is worth it, why is it so fucking expensive? Doesn’t even have sugar in it.”
Trevor's cheeks turned pink. “This is my boyfriend, Ronald. Ron, this is Lou, a classmate.”
“Hello, Ronald.” Louis smiled curtly.
“Oi. Do you enjoy throwing your money away too, or the rain trapped you here?”
Louis frowned, a little annoyed with the guy’s attitude. “I enjoy the coffee here.”
A tap in the window made them all turn around just to find Harry wearing a big lilac raincoat, smiling goofily at him as he waved with one hand and held an umbrella with the other.
“Who is that fucker?” Ronald questioned under his breath as they watched Harry enter the building.
“He is my—Harry. He is Harry.”
Ronald frowned at him as Trevor gave him a reassuring smile.
“Hi, hello. Sorry for my state,” Harry said, plopping in the free seat next to Louis, no longer wearing the lilac raincoat he was using before. “I had to run here. Good thing I came prepared.”
“I sent you a text that you didn’t have to.”
“It’s fine. I owed you a coffee and had to bring you this.” He explained, giving Louis a box.
It took him less than a minute to unwrap his gift, not really expecting the type of surprise Harry had for him. Inside the box, it was none other than the Valentino Garavani art book. Una Grande Astoria Italiana, signed by Valentino himself. It was number twenty of only a few hundred pieces. And now, thanks to Harry, it belonged to Louis.
“How did you know I was looking for this?”
“You told me once.” He smiled at him.
Trevor gasped, covering his mouth. “Oh my goodness? Is it—”
“What is it?” Ronald asked, annoyance clear in his tone. “Why are you almost crying for a book?”
“It’s a special fashion book.” Harry dismissed Ronald with a grin still on his face as he stared at Louis.
“You are studying that shit too?”
“No,” Harry replied. “I’m majoring in business.”
“Tell me isn’t fucking stupid they have to come here in the pouring rain only to watch dicks and tits for an hour?” Ronald snorted sardonically. “Told him if he wants to see a naked body, I could give him a free show.”
Louis felt his jaw tense as Trevor let out a forced laugh, embarrassment clear in his face. “Please, don’t be gross.”
“You don’t be so uptight. We are just having a little laugh.”
“No one else is laughing.” Louis felt his upper lip curl in disgust. “And you are gross. If you don’t give a fuck about what your boyfriend does, keep it to yourself.”
“Aye, control your little boyfriend there.”
Harry shrugged, sliding his arm on the back of Louis’ chair. “Louis can do and say whatever he wants. For what I care, he could chew you up and spit you out, but I guess he appreciates-”
“Trevor.”
“Trevor, and don’t want to embarrass him more than what you already did.” Harry leaned to whisper in Louis’ ear. “Want something to drink?”
“Yes.” Louis said faintly.
“Same order as always?”
“Mhm.” He replied, afraid of how his voice might sound if he spoke.
Harry winked at him and left a tender kiss on his cheek before standing up and going for his drink.
Ronald huffed a humorless laugh. “Fuck this shit, I’m leaving.”
“But it’s raining.” Trevor countered.
“Prefer to catch a little cold than to keep listening to your snob friends talking about materialistic shit.” He grabbed Trevor’s jacket. “Come on, let’s go.”
Trevor was about to stand up, but then paused, brows furrowing slowly. “I’m staying.” He spoke at last, surprising both Louis and Ronald equally.
“Trevor?”
“Ronald.”
“If I walk out,” The man murmured through gritted teeth. “And you don’t come with me, we are over.”
Trevor pursed his lips as he took a deep breath. “Ronald,” He said with a trembling but firm voice. “We are over.”
Ronald’s face turned beet red. “Fuck this. Don’t want to see you crawling back to me later.” He spat out.
“I will take that in mind.” Trevor mumbled under his breath as his now ex-boyfriend stormed out the coffee shop. “Sorry you had to see all that.”
“It’s fine. You were too much for him, anyway.”
“Your boyfriend running down in the pouring rain to give you a limited edition book put things into perspective.”
“Oh he isn’t—”
“Here you go, sweetheart.” Harry put a cup of coffee in front of him. “Iced Caramel Latte to get you through your Friday.”
“Long day?” Trevor asked, sipping his tea.
Louis groaned. “Endless, and I promised a friend we were going to celebrate his birthday today.”
“I don’t think Jude would mind if we celebrate it at my house or yours.”
“No, no.” Louis shook his head. “He deserves a night out, and I promised him a proper bar crawling.”
“Oh, I have always wanted to do that. It sounds so fun!”
“Would you like to come?”
“Oh no, I don’t want to disrupt your Friday.”
“You wouldn’t disrupt a thing. Right, Harry?”
Harry shifted in his seat as he scratched his growing stubble. “Yeah.”
“See? Besides, you just broke up with your ugly boyfriend, you deserve a proper night out too.”
“You really want me there?” Trevor asked softly.
“Of course.” Louis grabbed both of Trevor’s hands. “And I’m sure Nelle and Jude will love to meet you.”
“Oh, look!” Harry touched his arm. “It stopped raining just in time for your first class.”
Trevor smiled at Louis and gave him a knowing look as if saying, ‘Boys, am I right?’ which was a little confusing because Harry said nothing out of the ordinary. “I'll go ahead and save you a seat.” He grabbed his cup of tea and stood up. “Take your time to say goodbye.” He winked at him.
Outside, the weather was just the way Louis liked it. Leaves falling down the asphalt, the rain creating small rainbow puddles, the sun bringing a little heat to an otherwise cold day
“Here.” Harry covered him with the lilac raincoat. “Just in case it rains again.”
Louis threw his arms around Harry’s neck, heart ready to burst.
“Thank you.” He whispered close to his ear, feeling how Harry’s smile grew against his neck.
“It's just a raincoat, sweetheart.”
“Not only for that. For the book and the flowers, and everything else.” He kissed Harry’s jaw softly.
“I’ll find a way to pay you back.”
Louis knew what he could do. He could tell Harry was free to make his final move with his best friend. That he wholeheartedly approved him as Ethan's new boyfriend. That he no longer had to buy him off anymore. But Louis couldn’t force himself to say the words, greedily trapped in his chest.
“You already did.”
The sweet impact of Harry’s words settle low in his tummy and spread out like a sugar rush.
“But-”
“Come on, it’s getting late.” Harry’s lips touched his temple tenderly. “I will walk you to your building.”
-‘๑’-
It was their fifth club, they were a little beyond tipsy, but they weren’t feeling like going home still. Their movements were a little uncoordinated, but none of their friends could judge them because they were no better. Louis followed the pulsations of the lights that coincided with the ones of his heart and tried to dance to it. There was a sea of sweaty bodies surrounding them but to Louis, the only thing that existed Harry’s hands and hips guiding him, owning him, creating their own space in time that no one else could reach.
There’s something about Harry, a careless confidence in himself and his place in the world that made Louis’ mouth water, but that night, that night Harry looked like a work of art, neon lights hitting different muscles as he moved with Louis like two oceans colliding. He didn’t know if what they were doing could be called dancing anymore, Louis just knew he wanted to feel Harry’s teeth on the crook of his neck, his hands under his crop top, touching under his skirt, his hard cock grinding against his.
Louis wanted, wanted, wanted.
And he almost got it if it wasn’t for Trevor crashing against them and throwing his drink all over a random guy.
“Oh my god, I am so sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Louis reassured him, attempting to discreetly readjust his skirt. “Are you okay?”
“Who the fuck cares if he is okay,” the man yelled at them. “He fucked up my phone!”
“It was an accident.” Louis scowled at him, as Harry’s arm slithered around his waist to pull him closer to his chest. “Calm down.”
“Besides, I’m pretty sure phones aren’t allowed in this club.” Trevor drawled, arching a brow.
The man narrowed his eyes. “You did this on purpose?”
“Is everything okay?” A security guard came up close after the commotion they were creating.
“This man has a cellphone.” Trevor accused him.
“I’m going to ask you to leave, sir. Please come with me.”
“Fuck you and your stupid rules.” He spat, then he turned to Louis. “And your fake frigid ass too, it was time people get to know the real you.”
Harry's grip tightened around his waist before he stopped the guard to whisper something in his ear, Louis’ Louis Vuitton vernis purple butterfly bag hanging from his body. As a reply, the beefy man only nodded curtly and escorted the drunk guy outside the club.
“Get ready for your Doiseus debut.” Harry drawled at Trevor. The tone shocked Louis a little but blamed it on the alcohol running through his body and the tension tightening his muscles. “Can't wait to read which pseudonym they chose for you.”
“Stop scaring him.” Louis laughed, a little strained. “I read they weren’t taking tips tonight, he is fine. You are fine,” He said to Trevor, touching his shoulder. “I promise. Besides, they aren’t so bad.”
Trevor's smile was shy and soft. “You think?”
“Yeah.” Louis squeezed his arm. “They have always been nice with me.”
Harry scoffed. “Because only soulless bastards would be mean to you.” He kissed his shoulder.
Louis snorted, turning around to pat Harry’s chest. “Sure. What do we say, do we call the night?”
“I think so.” Trevor said. “I’m a little knackered and I live at the other side of the city—”
“Oh, don’t worry about that, you can sleep in my house tonight. We all are crashing there.”
Trevor grinned. “That actually sounds amazing.”
“Love it!” Louis moved from Harry’s arms to Trevor’s. He gasped and said, “You are going to adore Nelle’s three am snacks. Three am it’s witching hours, so they taste extra yummy because of if, or at least is what she says.”
Trevor giggled as he held him. “I’m pretty sure it’s like four am now.”
Louis waved his hand off. “Time it’s all relative for three am witchy snacks. Come on,” he held both Trevor and Harry’s hands. “Let’s find the rest!”
—
It was bound to be a complicated Saturday from the moment Louis felt the pounding of his head, long before he dared to open his eyes. Despite that, he prepared himself to take the day as it came and with the best attitude. A tiny smile grew on his face as he walked to the kitchen and heard the voices of his friends bickering while they attempted to make a half decent breakfast. All but one person.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Nelle said with a raspy voice. “No one wants my pancakes. Are you going to reject me too?”
“Of course not.” Louis smiled at her, despite his stomach rejecting the idea as soon as he said so. He waited a decent enough time to ask, “Where is Harry?” Without sounding too desperate.
Jude grunted, head flushed against the cold marble of the kitchen counter. “I don’t know, but my head is killing me.”
Trevor perked up at that. “My mom taught me a recipe for hangovers. Do you think there’s green tomatoes?”
“There isn’t.” Annika replied. “But there is kale, cucumber, and green pepper.”
“It kinda has to be green tomatoes.”
As their friends bickered about their breakfast and magic cures for hangovers, Louis sent Harry a harmless text, just out of curiosity.
“Harry is with Ethan but he is bringing the tomatoes later.”
Nelle hummed, spanking an especially fat pancake with the spatula. “Is he bringing your friend too?”
“I don’t know.” Louis shrugged.
A complicated Saturday indeed.
-‘๑’-
Louis felt already tense long before Ethan arrived but tried to not worry any of his friends. Despite that, Annika kept sending knowing looks as she kept helping Nelle to clean the kitchen.
“The tomatoes are here!”
Harry’s voice made the muscles of Louis’ back tense, slowly turning around he saw Ethan holding a paper bag with the green tomatoes and a scowl in his face.
“Who are you?” Ethan’s words sounded more like a curse than a question.
“Trevor.” He smiled awkwardly. “I met Louis at college. Nice to meet you.”
Ethan huffed a humorless laugh. “A college friend.” He shook his head as Trevor grabbed his phone, probably ready to fly out of Louis' house as soon as he could. “So you are just allowing anyone to come into your place now?”
“Trevor is my friend.” Louis said evenly.
“You went from one friend to multiple now? Didn’t you say you didn’t have time for more friends? That you didn’t have the patience? That you thought everyone you met at school was stupid?”
“Hey—” Nelle slammed her palm against the kitchen counter.
“Can you leave us alone for a moment, please?” Four heads nodded hurriedly, but one kept her brown eyes fixed on Ethan. “Please.” Louis tried again just for her.
Nelle's shoulders dropped as her jaw twitched. She wasn’t happy with Louis' decision but was going to respect it.
When they were finally alone, Louis whispered to his friend, “Come here.”
Ethan scoffed and crossed his arms. “No. Why?”
“Come. Here.”
Shortly after Louis opened his arms, his friend sprinted over to give him a hug. As they held each other tightly, all worries and distance melted away, leaving only their genuine affection, a testament to the strong bond they still shared despite all their differences. They both were difficult and stubborn. But they loved each other deeply and dearly.
They were family.
“I’m not going anywhere.” Louis cupped Ethan’s face. “No matter what, I’m not going to leave you.”
“You told me no one was allowed here.” His friends sniffed. “This was our place, ours.”
“And still is, silly.” Louis held the trembling and cold hands of his friend.
“But you have so many new friends now.”
“And you have your friends too. Has it ever crossed your mind the idea of leaving me for them?”
“My god, no.” Ethan replied outraged. “Never ever.”
“But you still love them and like to go out with them, right?”
Ethan nodded.
“This is the same. They are my friends, but you are my very best friend. The one who came to rescue me when Simon was bullying me for liking pink back in kindergarten.”
Ethan let out a wet chuckle. “I still cannot believe they dared to suspend me for an entire week.”
“Perhaps because you put rocks in your bag and hit him with it.”
“We were just babies!”
Louis giggled. “You not only did that, though. After you came back, you began to wear pink just so I wouldn't feel so alone, even though you hate pink. And even now, you were the only one that kept my name semi clean out there, lying to everyone about my good heart.”
“I’m not lying,” Ethan furrowed his brow. “You have the biggest heart. Anyone would be lucky to have you as your friend.” Ethan’s shoulders slumped as he let out a broken sigh. “God, I’m such a jealous jerk.” He covered his eyes with the palm of his hand. “I’m… so sorry. You do deserve to be surrounded by people who appreciate you. Who are aware of how wonderful you are. I have always wanted that for you and as soon as you got it I became a cheap version of Mommie Dearest.”
“Would never call you cheap. It was a spot on imitation, though.”
Ethan snorted and pushed him lightly. “Asshole.” Then his smile turned soft. “Are they nice to you?”
“Very.”
He nodded. “Good. That’s all I care about.”
With one last hug, Louis whispered to Ethan, “Wanna see something fun?” His friend nodded. “Okay.” He yelled at apparently nothing. “You can come back.”
Louis had barely finished the sentence when Nelle walked into the kitchen, followed by Harry and the rest of his friends.
“I wasn’t listening,” Jude said, holding up his hands. “I have a bad ear. It makes a weird sound every time I hear really loud noises and I can’t listen much from afar.”
Nelle rolled her eyes. “You were basically whispering, no one could hear a thing.” She clapped her hands. “Anyway, now that we are one big family, I need you all to get your costumes ready for next week to attend Francesca’s party. It's a murder mystery slash pop culture themed bash.”
“That’s a mouthful.” Jude murmured as Harry asked, “Since when Francesca is having a party?”
“Are we even invited?” Louis chimed in.
“You all are. And we all have to go and say this is the most exclusive and awaited party of the month.”
“Who would believe us?” Jude asked, chewing a cold pancake.
“Everyone. For once in your life, use your status for good. For years, she refused to celebrate her birthday because she was too afraid no one would show up to her parties. This is a big deal for her, and so far, from what she has told me, no one has confirmed their attendance.”
“Did she send an invitation?” Louis checked his messages to see if he got something new.
“She used Facebook.”
Louis’s brows knitted together in confusion. “Do I have a Facebook?”
“You do, but I don’t think it’s you. I already told her that was the reason no one was replying to her. So, what are you wearing for Francesca’s Murder Mystery Slash Pop Culture Themed Bash?”
“Oh, I have a beautiful blue gown and a faux mink coat, I can wear a pageant ribbon, a long red wig, and a tiara.”
“Oh my god, I love it!” Ethan yelled, getting instantly the reference.
“Are you The Little Mermaid outside water?”
“No? I’m going to be Miss Americana!”
Trevor covered his mouth with both hands and said, “It’s perfect!”
Nelle, Jude and Harry still looked a little confused so Louis added, “‘They whisper in the hallways she is a bad, bad girl?’ Nothing?”
“No, but I know you will look super pretty. I’m going to text Francesca that you all are going.”
Ethan turned around and hugged him. “You are going to break so many hearts at that party.”
“Shut up.” Louis shoved him off lightly, face heating up. “Why did you need the green tomatoes?” He asked Trevor to change the topic.
“Oh yes! The lunch.” Trevor perked up and began to wash the tomatoes.
“I’m craving something sweet.” Louis said, grabbing a pancake. “Yesterday I dreamed with a strawberry cake covered in lilac and pink buttercream, and my head and heart are still there.”
“I know a small bakery that makes the most delicious cakes. We can go on Monday after school if you want?”
“Oh, Trevor,” Louis touched his chest with both hands. “I feel like I already love you.”
Out of habit, he turned to Harry, expecting to see his usual smile, but instead he found the man lost in thoughts, frowning at nothing.
Was he feeling guilty of what they did the night prior? Of having Ethan and Louis in the same room?
Before he had the chance to regret it, Louis reached out to touch Harry’s hand to try to get his attention. “Are you okay?” He mouthed.
Harry’s only reply was just a nod and a small smile.
The temptation to reach out again to him was big but the fear of rejection even bigger. Louis guessed he had a good run. His heart, a metronome ticking each rib turned into a countdown running out of time, like a joke everyone laughed at, but he couldn’t quite understand. Perhaps someday he could find a man who made him feel like Harry did, a man he didn’t have to share with anyone else.
Louis guessed. Perhaps. Someday.
-‘๑’-
Harry was ignoring him. Which was totally fine and normal. Now that everything went back to usual, there was no reason for him to hang out with Louis when he could spend his time with the person he actually wanted to be with. And he couldn’t be happier for both of his friends.
Really. For real, this time he meant it. Not like the day prior when he cried when he re-read all their texts. Or two days before that when he found a note he left him in his bedside table from the day he checked both their birth charts, so he could convince Louis he wasn’t as cursed as he thought. And even made a little chart where he compared their charts that read:
“Sun in Cap = Patient, perseverant and ambitious. Moon in Leo = Likes to be spoiled. Ascendant in Gemini = Curious and adaptable. Sun in Aquarius (not a water sign) = Persistent. Moon in Libra = Likes to spoil. Ascendant in Libra = Enjoy balance and harmony. Needs to be surrounded by beauty.”
It didn’t matter how many times Louis explained to him that he was completely forgetting the negative sides, Harry insisted the words in bold were the only ones that mattered.
The issue was that all his life now has a little of Harry in it. His friends, his closet, his social media, even his fridge still had stuff Harry made him. And the worst part was that Louis couldn’t and didn’t want to get rid of any of those things.
They were his now. He had to let Harry go but he was going to keep all the memories with him probably forever.
“If a bad wind comes through the window, you will stay frowning forever.” Annika said beside his bed.
“All the windows are closed.” Louis kept staring at the ceiling. “There’s no wind in here, let alone a bad one.”
“Bad winds do not need windows.” She sighed. “Are you upset that Mr. Harry hasn’t come over?”
For no other reason than to avoid the light of day, Louis covered his eyes with his arm. “No. He is busy with Ethan.”
“Why is that?”
“Because they like each other.”
“Who says that?”
“Them.”
Annika hummed. “That’s odd.”
“Not really. Why do you said that?” Louis sat up, feeling a little dizzy for how fast he moved. “Did someone tell you something?” Louis’ brows furrowed, noticing for the first time the boxes and envelopes Annika was carrying with her. “What’s that?”
“You have been ignoring your mail for two weeks. First because you were happy now because you are moping. You still have to check your mail.” Annika scolded him as she put down all his mail on top of his bed.
Louis' heart fluttered like a bird learning to fly, erratically and joyous as he opened the box that said Jacquemus in big letters.
“A slice of bread? What does that mean?”
“Oh my god?” Louis whispered, “Oh my god!” He threw himself at Annika. “Annika, this is an invitation for Paris Fashion Week.”
“With a slice of bread? Do not even think about eating that. It's been a week since that arrived. And do not keep it, either. Mold is very dangerous for the body.”
Louis nodded as he opened the rest of the envelopes, only to find out they all were invitations for Paris Fashion Week, somehow while he was being blacklisted from every fashion event in America, Europe didn’t give a fuck what Diane Prescott thought about him. “I’m being invited to four different shows!”
“I am very happy for you. You worked very hard for this. You still need to give me that bread after you take your pictures. It cannot stay in your room.”
“I’m going to Paris Fashion Week!”
-‘๑’-
Louis' phone was blowing up, but his mind was focused on the Prada pink heart bag that someone left in his living room with a cryptic note signed by no one that read “Wear me” on one side and “Congratulations. I’m always proud of you.” on the other. The lilac Swarovski crystals simulating a crack in the middle of the bag might upset many, but not Louis. He loved the little detail and was perfect for his outfit for the party.
Someone gifted him the heartbreak for his Miss Americana.
“Can you believe this bullshit?” Ethan flopped down his bed as he got ready for the party. “What did I do to deserve this?”
“Don’t worry about it.” Louis reassured him as he applied blush from his temple to his cheekbones. “You should only have to explain to Harry they’re old pictures. I’m sure he will understand.”
“But they aren’t old. Didn’t you check the post?”
“Not really. When I saw it was about you, I just ignored it.” Louis paused, then turned to face Ethan. “Are you dating someone else now?”
“I wouldn’t call it dating . I hooked up with a guy. Well, I fooled around with like five to be exact, but I just fucked one of them, so I don’t know if the rest counts.”
Louis blinked, trying to process what his friend just told him. The implications. The possibilities. “I think they kinda do…”
“Well, five guys.” Ethan rolled his eyes as he waved off his hand. “Why does it matter? It’s not as if Harry and I are exclusive? He hasn’t even asked me out properly.”
“Maybe it's because you are still hooking up with other people?”
Ethan’s pout turned into a smile. “And I will continue to do so until he gets his shit together. And, to be honest, that is the last thing I'm thinking right now. Have you searched for my pseudonym lately? They are trashing me left and right. I don't know how you've been able to put up with that for all these months.”
“Because I don’t search for my name or my pseudonym.”
“You are right, who cares about nobodies who don't know my and my lover’s European hearts. Let's focus on what's really important. Your outfit for tonight!”
“You should come, too.”
“Oh god, no.” Ethan shook his head. “Everyone would stare at me for the wrong reasons. I prefer to spend my night sending silly tips to Doiseus, so they like me back.”
Louis snorted, applying translucent glitter on his cheekbones. “I don’t think that will work.”
“It worked with you. Maybe lightning can strike in one place twice.”
“Maybe.” He said standing up to pick up his gown.
“Are you wearing this tonight?” Ethan asked, touching the surface of the heart Prada bag. Louis nodded as he undressed in front of the mirror. “Why pink and lilac? It doesn’t match with the outfit.”
“Because those are my favorite colors.” He said, sliding the gown down his body. “My parents have been sending me presents all week because of the Paris Fashion Week thing.”
Ethan's brows creased with curiosity. “Where are they now?
“Milan and Tokyo. My mom comes back in a week and my dad in two.”
“Ugh, you are going to be unbearable.” He threw his back against the mattress. “They turn you into the brattiest brat in the world.”
Louis laughed brightly. “You know it.”
-‘๑’-
The rules were pretty simple: at midnight someone was going to die—not Louis—and it was up to the rest of the party to find out who the killer was—Jude. But until then, they could do whatever they wanted.
Francesca was ecstatic, it seemed everyone and their mother either were at her party or wanted to be there. Doiseus was live tweeting almost every little thing, making the ones who couldn’t assist or weren’t invited even more hyped about it.
Louis had a feeling that Harry wouldn't be there, probably choosing to stay with Ethan instead of spending the night away from him. Maybe it was for the better, maybe it was the night he would meet a man that would sweep Louis off his feet.
At that moment, someone hugged him from behind. After the initial shock, Louis turned around to find Trevor grinning at him.
The boy gasped, covering his mouth with both hands. “You look stunning!” He twirled Louis. “I saw your pictures on Doiseus and you looked like a model, but nothing compares to the real deal.”
“Don’t you think it’s too much?”
“Too much?” Trevor said, sounding offended at even the question. “You look perfect! From head to toe!”
Louis chuckled, cheeks heating up as he finally got to properly see his friend's costume. “What are you supposed to be?” He asked, looking at the white sheet he was wearing with a print that had the same font as the Doiseus’ logo. Just instead of that name, the word that repeated over and over again was Deuxmoi.
“I’m a Doiseus!” He said, showing him two phones lighting up with notifications that oddly enough looked like very real tips. “Well, the parody of it.”
“Oh my god?! Louis laughed. “That’s so clever! You are living in like 2030.”
“I kinda am. Am I?” Trevor giggled, but Louis could notice how his eyes were focused on something else.
He turned to see what or who got his friend so flustered to find a beefy man smiling at Trevor seductively.
“I know you aren’t asking, but I think you should go for it.”
“What?” Trevor's eyes widened. “No. I can’t.” He shook his head. “I just broke up with someone.”
“Are you saying this because you don’t feel ready or for the optics?”
Trevor nibbled his bottom lip, eyes helplessly focusing on the man again. “The optics.”
“Then, go for it. You are young and handsome. You deserve to have some fun.”
“You think he is into me?”
Louis snorted, rolling his eyes. “He is drooling for you.”
“Alright.” Trevor took a deep breath. “Okay. Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need it, but good luck.” Louis hugged his friend. “Come on now, go!”
Louis discretely looked at them from afar, endeared at Trevor’s clumsiness, the hopefulness in his eyes. Louis wished he could feel that. Giddy hope. To know something good could be born from his silly feelings. He wondered if he would ever be that lucky. Wondered if love would ever look that easy.
A warm hand touched his hip, but somehow Louis didn’t have to turn around to know who was behind him.
“You look gorgeous.” Harry’s deep voice sent shivers down Louis’ spine.
“Thank you.” He breathed out, turning around to face Harry as he let his hand slither around his body.
It took Louis’ brain only seconds to understand Harry’s costume, the crooked black crown that combined with the leather jeans and the perfectly tailored white blazer tied by embroidered red gemstones and beads that simulated a bleeding heart being pierced by a dagger.
Harry was his Heartbreak Prince.
“You brought it,” Harry smiled at Louis’ bag. “Nelle thought I should have bought you a red one, but I know you prefer pink, and I wanted you to use it often. She also told me I shouldn’t bedazzle it with lilac crystals, but I thought you would find it fun. But now I’m kinda regretting it. But it doesn’t matter, I will buy you another one, so you can have—”
The clock struck midnight as all the lights went off and Louis gathered the courage to do what he so much wanted since he met Harry that first night.
With trembling hands, he pulled Harry from his blazer, his other hand tightened on a fistful of hair to guide Harry’s mouth to his. A coil of heat slid through Louis at the way Harry took the control of the kiss, hungry and biting, matching his desperation.
Louis felt breathless, hyper-aware of the loud roar in his ears and that the lights would be turned back on any minute. As their lips pressed together, he silently prayed for just a few more stolen seconds of bliss before reality came crashing back. He knew they had to be careful, but at that moment, all he wanted was to savor every second they had left.
Unsurprisingly, as soon the lights came up, Harry broke the kiss.
“Is this because of Trevor?” He asked, mouth and chin a red and glittery mess.
“Trevor?” Louis' brows furrowed in confusion. “What about Trevor?”
“I—” He adjusted the heart on his blazer. “I saw you watching him flirt with someone else.” Harry tipped his head towards where Trevor was sitting with his man just a few minutes ago. “I can kick him if you want. Both of them.”
The frown in Louis’ face deepened. “No. Why?”
“Don’t you like him?”
“Trevor?” He said a little louder than he intended. “Oh my god, no! Not like that?”
“Oh…” Harry's face lit up, but somehow his eyes got a little darker. “Then,” In the middle of a party, with the lights on, he crushed their lips together. “Unreal.” He grunted more for himself than for Louis, but still earned a giddy giggle from the blue-eyed boy.
Louis wasn’t really sure how they ended up in the bathroom, he just knew one second Harry was biting his bottom lip and the second he was kneeling in front of him and pulling down his lacy panties as Louis held his dress with one hand.
“Is this okay?” Harry asked with a hoarse and careful voice. So, so careful, like he always is with Louis.
“Please,” Louis breathed out, body covered in goosebumps.
Harry’s hot mouth felt overwhelmingly good around him. His expert tongue playing with the tip of his cock, making him whimper, drunk with the sensation. His hips jerk only a little, the lucid part he has left, aware of not touching the tiles of the bathroom with his naked skin. However Louis didn’t have to worry much longer because while continuing with his ministrations, Harry covered Louis’ ass with both hands, creating a bumper between him and the wall.
Harry had Louis in the heat of his mouth, at the tip of his tongue, on the palm of his hand.
Harry had him. All of him.
The tip of Harry’s finger grazes Louis’ rim, making his breath hitch as a wave of pleasure shoots through his body. Louis arched his back, pushing against Harry's touch, silently begging for more. Harry, eager to please, slowly inserted his dry digit, causing Louis to gasp in both pain and pleasure as his body adjusted to the new sensation.
The bathroom filled with ragged breaths and a symphony of whimpers and moans. Louis was lost in a world of pleasure, a world where only they existed, only them mattered. Each movement of Harry’s mouth sent sparks of ecstasy through Louis’ bloodstream, building up an intoxicating tension in his lower belly that had him over the edge.
“Harry, I’m—god. I’m coming,” Louis warned him, words slurred and desperate, trying to push Harry’s head away from him.
But Harry didn't relent, his determination evident in the way he held Louis' hips firmly in place. He continued his ministrations, bobbing his head up and down driving Louis to the brink of ecstasy, until finally, with a guttural cry, he succumbed to the overwhelming pleasure that consumed him. Louis tangled his fingers in Harry's hair, desperately clinging to him in the midst of his orgasm. His body shook with the intensity of his release, muscles quivering under Harry's touch.
“I want to feel your cum on me.” Louis whispered, his voice breathless and filled with desire.
Harry’s eyes darkened with a mix of lust and awe as he pulled away and stood up slowly. “Anything you want.” He replied huskily, mouth red and swollen, before he kissed him hungrily. Louis moaned into the kiss, hands roaming all over Harry’s body, craving more of his touch. “I’ll give you everything.” He rasped out, his voice dripping with promise, before turning Louis around and unbuckling his own trousers.
The room was filled with an electrifying tension as he felt the tip of Harry’s hard cock in the cleft of his ass.
“Spit, sweetheart.” Harry ordered, palm close to Louis’ mouth.
The boy eagerly complied, saliva pooling in his mouth before obediently spitting into Harry’s waiting hand. The anticipation was palpable as Harry slicked his own length with the spit. Wet sounds began to fill the bathroom yet again, as he pumped his cock between Louis’ cheeks and left desperate kisses all over his neck and shoulders.
Louis whined quietly as the tip of Harry’s cock brushed his rim, wet with precome. He pushed his ass back, eager to feel more, wishing Harry could just push in and fuck him right there, filling him up with his release.
“Fuck, baby, you want it so bad,” Harry grunted as if he could read his mind. Smell his desire. “I promise I will. Going to fuck you so hard you will forget any other name that isn’t mine.”
“Promise?” Louis said breathlessly.
“Pro— fuck —promise.” He said as hot streaks of cum painted all over Louis’ ass and lower back. “Fuck… baby.” Harry whispered, sounding gone and full of wonder as he played with the cum over his skin.
Louis whimpered, feeling the warmth of Harry’s release against his sensitive skin.
“Can I?” Harry asked after he collected some of his cum with a finger.
Louis nodded eagerly as he opened his mouth. But instead of feeling the tangy flavor of Harry’s come in his tongue, a skilled finger pushed it into his hole, ripping a broken moan out of him.
“Yes,” he breathed out. “Thank you. Thank you.”
“Sweetheart,” Harry whispered against his temple, soft cock flushed against his wet ass. “Hope this is enough for now. I will give you all of it later, yeah?”
Louis hummed, finally satisfied. “I know. You promised.”
“I sure did,” He kissed his neck as he smiled. “Now let me clean you up, okay?”
Later that night, when they still were at the party— Louis going around with a blissful look on his face and very wet panties— he took a picture of Harry’ neck covered in red lipstick. But also did half of the party. So when he posted it on his stories with three very tiny white hearts hidden in the left corner, no one suspected he was the one who left Harry like that. The one who got to mark him.
And despite that Harry only reposted Louis’ story on his, Doiseus never connected the dots.
At least for that night, they got away with it.
-‘๑’-
Part of him felt a little sad they couldn’t reach Harry’s bed so he could fantasize about it later. The silly fantasy twirling in his head of Harry treating him like his lover for one night shattering as he magically appeared a bottle of lube in some part of his living room while he kissed Louis against a wall.
He tried to avoid thinking of the reasons why Harry would have something like that at such an unconventional place as he slowly teased Louis’ hole with one finger. About how many people he had fucked in the same couch, he now laid fully naked on. If Harry had whispered the same filthy things he was telling Louis as he pushed his cock past his rim.
However, as soon Harry bottomed out, leaving reverent kisses all over Louis’ face, any lingering doubt or question faded into the background. In that moment, all the walls Louis had built around himself came crashing down. The vulnerability he had guarded so fiercely was now laid bare in front of Harry.
Louis felt overwhelmingly full, like he had never before, as his eyes welled up with tears.
“Yeah? Harry asked, voice sounding a little wrecked.
Louis had no idea what he was asking, but it didn’t really matter, he was sure his response would be the same no matter what Harry wanted. “Yes.” He breathed out, caressing Harry’s cheekbone with his thumb.
The air stills around them as Harry began to move. There was nothing graceful about the way Harry was claiming him and Louis loved every second of it. He moaned and clutched his lover’s shoulders as he pumped into him, rutting now harsher and faster than before, the slap of wet skin and ragged breaths making everything feel more real.
The room began to spin as Harry bit and suck his bottom lip,
“You look beautiful, all full of me.” He said, voice full of wonder, pressing their foreheads together, shoving his cock even deeper than before.
‘This moment,’ Louis thought. ‘This is when he ruins me.’
He came and came, quietly and with small shudders. It shouldn’t feel intimate, Louis was sure it was the last thing Harry wanted but Louis couldn’t help but feel cherished as Harry kept kissing him softly, lips tasting like liquor and a little bit of him, movements slowing down as if his only goal was to make Louis come yet again.
“What are you doing?” Louis murmured as Harry pulled out, pumping his hard cock over his tummy. “You promised you were going to come inside me.” He sounded small and hurt.
“Sweetheart, I—“ Harry cursed, voice rough and unbearably sexy. “I just don’t want to hurt you. You already came.”
“I thought you knew what I wanted, what I liked.” Louis said, trembling, hyper aware of the rush of blood roaring in his ears.
“Fuck. You are—” A guttural sound came from Harry’s throat before he went back to kiss Louis. “I know,” he said against his mouth as he aligned himself again against Louis’ entrance, making him gasp at the sudden intrusion. “I know what you want. What you need.” He hissed, bottoming out, easy and fluid, as if he belonged there.
It hurts in the most wonderful way. Overwhelmingly good. Harry’s seeking his pleasure, using his body for it made Louis’ spent and soft cock twitch in interest.
“Baby, my baby,” he groaned incoherently as he came deep inside him, hot and abundantly.
Louis thought having Harry once could satiate his hunger but it only seemed to have increased it. Aching for even more.
The clock marked three am and Louis knew it was time for him to leave. But Harry was still on top of him and instead of letting him go so he could change, he lifted him up and took him to his bathroom.
Harry washed his hair slowly, as they bathed. Louis let himself be massaged and hugged. He let it all happen with no remorse in his head or heart. He could worry about the consequences and hate himself another day but that night was his to enjoy.
‘But if you want more, then get more.’
“How’s your schedule for the first week of June?” Louis asked as Harry left a trail of kisses over Louis’ shoulder.
“I’m free, my break starts in late May.” He said between kisses.
“How do you feel about Paris?”
That night, two important things happened; Louis became the worst friend in history. And he got more.
-‘๑’-
It wasn’t a big deal, and Louis had everything under absolute control. He was just making things even. If Ethan was sleeping with other people, it was only fair Harry did the same, right?
It was a one time thing anyway, just to get him out of his system for once and for all—well, four if what they did in the bathroom, the bathtub, and Harry’s kitchen counter the next day counted—so there was nothing to worry about.
So what if now they were in Paris eating at Derrière, sitting on a small table beside a half made bed and would stay at Louis’ penthouse for an entire week. That didn’t mean a thing, they were friends, doing a friendly trip.
“Did you just take another picture of me?”
“Parisian air suits you.” Harry smiled at him, taking yet another picture, now with his film camera. “Besides, your fans require daily content.”
“I don’t have fans. When are you going to start posting pictures of yourself on your own account? Right now it looks like a fan account of me.”
“I don’t care much about it. I only use it to check your account and all the nice comments your fans leave you on mine, so I can send them to you later.”
Louis chuckled, shaking his head lightly. “You are so weird.”
“Good morning, everything alright?” The waiter asked them with a thick French accent as he handed them their menus.
“Yes, thank you.” Louis smiled at her. He was about to tell him she didn’t have to speak English when the waitress stunned the words out of his mouth.
“Good. It seems the dark clouds seem to have disappeared since you arrived.” He said with a seductive smirk that had him flushing from head to toe.
Louis huffed a strangled chuckle. “They are probably scared of my bad temper. I’m a menace without coffee.”
“Well, let me fix that. Americano for the American?” He arched a brow. “Perhaps an espresso? You have to try the espresso that’s served here.”
“He likes iced lattes, caramel.” Harry drawled with a sneer on his face.
“I do.”
“I’ll sneak a cup of espresso for you to try. It’s on me.” He winked at Louis. “Did you choose what else you would like to order?” The server said directly to Louis, completely ignoring Harry.
“Uh… eggs Benedict and fruit salad. And you?” He asked Harry, a little amused with the whole scene.
“The espresso you are trying to make him drink, iced latte with extra caramel, an omelet, and peach juice.” Harry uttered in perfect French. “And a server who isn’t trying to flirt with my husband? Perhaps I could ask the change of the server to the owner, who happens to be one of my father’s closest friends.”
The waiter’s face paled. “There is no need, sir.” He said with a forced smile. “Someone else will bring your food shortly.”
“Do you know the owner, husband?” Louis asked, chin resting on the back of his hand.
“Of course not. This place is a trendy trash can.”
“I told you we shouldn’t have listened to the taxi driver. But you wanted an adventure.”
Harry hummed, reaching to hold Louis’ hand. “Next time, just kiss me and remind me of this place.” He leaned in and left a light kiss on top of Louis’ lips.
“Good morning,” said a nervous looking waitress. “Here are your drinks.” Her smile looked strained as she set the drinks and toasted bread on the table. “I will bring your food in shortly.”
“Thank you.” Louis smiled at her in an attempt to ease her stress, but the girl simply avoided any kind of eye contact with them until she left the table. “You scared them all.”
“Good.”
Louis laughed as Harry took a sip of his espresso with a dark look on his face. “It’s so amusing to see this other side of you. I thought for a second I had imagined it for years.”
“Imagined it?”
“That you are a jerk to most people.”
“Am I?”
Louis rolled his eyes. “You know you are.” He felt himself smile. “But you are nice to me.”
“You like that… You really do.” Harry mused, mostly to himself, as if he had just discovered the eighth wonder of the World.
“What?”
“That I treat you different from others. You love it.”
Louis’ face heated, feeling a little exposed. “It’s whatever.”
“I also like that you are softer with me. It feels like a privilege.” Harry smiled and it was so sweet, so sincere.
“You are so silly.”
“Do you want to try the espresso?”
“Oh god, no.” Louis made a face. “I am nervous as it is for the Jacquemus’ show, if I drink that foul thing I’m going to be all jittery and I have to sit on a boat for the show. Imagine me falling from there…”
Harry bit his lip and pulled him closer, chair making a loud sound as he did so, but Louis couldn’t care less when Harry was whispering against his ear, “My mouth watered just to think about you all wet.”
Louis covered Harry’s mouth with three fingers. “You are such a pervert.”
Harry kissed his fingers and moved them to his cheek. “Yet you are smiling. And you cannot stop, can you?”
And how could he when Harry’s smile was so contagious, and his eyes were so green when he was happy, lighter, so pretty that he probably could convince anyone to commit treason.
He kissed Louis’ wrist, slowly. “Now wait for me to tell you about this particular fantasy I have of you at a private beach of a friend of mine, always sun-kissed, naked and sticky from me.” He kissed the palm of his hand, intense gaze still fixated on him.
Louis’ eyes fluttered close. “Harry…”
The waitress cleared her throat. “Here’s your food. Bon Appétit.”
-‘๑’-
It was a hectic week, but one of the most fulfilling of Louis' life. He not only assisted at the fashion shows and some after parties, he also made tons of videos for the brand's social media accounts and even got to meet some of his favorite designers and talk to them. Actual conversations that could help with his future career.
“How did it go?”
Louis could hear Harry in the kitchen as a delicious smell filled the whole house.
“It was amazing,” Louis smiled as he dropped his bags on the sofa. “I met so many people.” He walked in the kitchen. “And you?” He rested his hip against the door frame.
Harry smiled at him, bashfully, the kind that blooms into something dazzling. “I went to see my grandmother.” He said as he finished to make two Chambord Bellinis.
“Your grandmother lives here?” Louis said, eyes widening in surprise.
“Well, in Yvelines. I needed a recipe for something. I stole some other recipes too.”
Throughout the week they had spent there, Harry made sure Louis somehow ate all his three meals. Meals Harry himself made from scratch for him. If Louis was spoiled before, Harry put the final nail in his coffin. There was no way back now. He ruined Louis for anyone else.
“Is she okay?”
“Yeah.” He passed Louis his glass. “She wants to meet you. I told her you were a very busy man, but she insists we visit her this weekend. My mom and the rest of her family will be there too. It’s okay if you can’t.”
“I’d love to go!” Louis said hurriedly, then his smile dropped. “I mean, if you are okay with it? Are you okay with it? Wouldn’t want to impose or for them to get the wrong idea.”
Harry's smile softened. “I want you there.” He moved closer, wrapping his arms around Louis’ waist, voice dropping to a pleasant rumble. “I think you will love my grandmother and my mom too.”
His hair was getting longer, curls more defined. The permanent dark circles under his eyes almost completely gone as the stubble in his face grew free, unkept. He felt warmer, more relaxed. Paris looked wonderful on Harry.
Louis touched his face with his free hand, fingertips trying to learn every wrinkle his smile created. “Then I will go.”
“I will text my mom tonight, then.” Harry’s lips touched his softly, more smile than kiss. “Come,” He held his hand. “Let me show you what I made.”
“What is it?” Louis waited patiently while Harry pulled something from the fridge.
“A strawberry cake with purple and pink buttercream. Like the one you dreamed.”
Louis blinked at what he thought was the most beautiful cake he had ever seen in his life. Sure, it was a little wonky and the flowers and hearts looked more like blobs than anything else, but it was something Harry made for him.
Harry made his dreams come true. Literally.
“This is—” He looked up at Harry, his smile a little strained, muscles clearly tense. Harry was nervous about Louis’ reaction. Louis was in so much fucking trouble. “Thank you.” He got to mumble before he was launching himself into Harry’s arms.
As he wrapped his arms around Harry, Louis couldn’t resist kissing all his worries away. Harry whispered his name, sounding like devotion against his lips.
Harry didn’t fuck him on the kitchen counter, nor the living room. This time, he carried Louis to their bedroom and undressed him slowly, carefully.
It felt like a first time.
Every kiss, every touch, intimate but with purpose. Harry never marked him, that was Louis' thing, always leaving paths of purples and reds all over Harry’s body, long and short strikes on his back where his nails dug and slid. Not that afternoon, though. Harry’s mouth was demanding as he opened him slowly, his teeth leaving marks all over his collarbones and shoulders. And Louis wanted everything he could give him. He wanted Harry everywhere.
“I want to suck your cock, please.”
“Sweetheart.” Harry cooed, grinding against his aching cock. “You are so polite.” He kissed both eyelids before moving back and whispering, “And who am I to deny you anything?”
Soon Harry’s cock was hovering to his face, the tip of his head brushing Louis’ cheek, traveling down to his bottom lip. “Open up, baby.”
Louis blinked hungrily and obeyed his order, watching Harry hiss as his lips wrapped around him. Harry’s cock felt as good as the rest of him inside Louis’ hungry mouth. He is so enthralled by it, he barely noticed the spit running down the corner of his stretched lips, moaning shamelessly at how Harry pushed himself more.
“My sweetheart, you are doing so good.” Harry grunted as Louis tried to relax his throat for him. Harry was big, bigger than anyone he had been with before, so no matter how much he was fascinated with his hard cock, he still was struggling a little with it. “Don’t push yourself too much, baby, you are taking me so good already.”
Louis' reply was to grab Harry by his ass and push him deeper inside of him. So deep, his pubic hair was now touching his nose as his hips humped into the air, at nothing.
“You like it when it’s too much. You like it as much as you like me being softer with you.” Harry began to move his hips slowly, grabbing his head by the hair, using Louis’ mouth as he pleased. “It overwhelms you. You like to feel overwhelmed.” His voice was gone and reverent as he fastened his thrusts. “My greedy baby. You want to feel it all.” Harry’s movements became slower, giving Louis the opportunity to use his tongue properly over the tip of his cock until all movements ceased. “Well, let me make you feel it all.”
Harry pulled out, moving to kiss him, up against him in the blink of an eye, and Louis’ heart claws at the insides of his rib cage, because his lips taste almost like love and his hands moved around his body like hope. Three lubed fingers pushed into his already stretched hole, but Louis’ back arched as if it wasn’t, clenching around the digits, fingers tangled in the sheets.
“Do you want to feel me, sweetheart?” Harry whispered, and Louis’ heart swells and floods with warmth for how much he did.
Louis wanted Harry. Not only body and mind. He wanted his heart too. His days and nights. All of it. All of him. He nodded instead, afraid to say all of that if he dared to open his mouth.
“My pretty baby,” Harry said, hoarsely, as his lubed cock nudged Louis’ entrance. “Made only for me.”
Before Louis could even think about his words, Harry pushed inside him, big and demanding, making a space inside of Louis’ body only he could fill up, fit in, making everything else disappear. After that, for every merciless push, Harry left a tender kiss over his face, as a wordless apology. As if even was needed. As if Louis’ body wasn’t pleading for more.
Louis had never cried during sex before, never understood why people did it. Why it happened at all when it was supposed to be a pleasurable moment. But as tears ran down his temples while Harry kept hitting that specific spot that was making his toes curl, he understood that sometimes sex went beyond pleasure and desire. It was raw and vulnerable, connecting him to Harry on a deeper level than he had ever imagined possible.
A loud sob ripped from Louis’ throat as Harry began to pump his neglected cock in time with his relentless movements. Obscene wet sounds filled the room, bodies clashing together, sloppily, hungrily, desperate mouths seeking one another. It was filthy, beyond good.
Louis felt whole.
“My sweetheart. The sweetest one. Only to me.” Harry grunted close his mouth as the heat on Louis’ lower belly reached a new peak. “Mine.”
Louis keened and Harry steals the sound of his mouth with his as hot streaks of cum painted his belly and his cock spasmed around Harry’s cock.
“Fuck, baby, that—” Harry grunted, pushing his cock even deeper, fucking him through his orgasm. “Love this,” he slurred, movements turning erratic. “Love your mind, your body, love—fuck,” he moaned close to Louis’ mouth, filling him with his hot cum. “You, you, you.” He kept babbling between kisses. “Fucking perfect.”
Louis hummed, letting Harry clean his tears, making him whole again, now in a different way.
“I think I have a shot here.” Louis said later that night as Harry played with the cum over his pelvis, head resting on his tummy. “All my bridges are burned in New York and despite that I love it there with my entire soul, it doesn’t compare to how things move here. Fashion.”
“And I think,” the deep rumble of Harry’s voice reverberated in his body. “Whatever path you choose will be the right one, because you will make it right.”
-‘๑’-
The weekend arrived, and they went to Harry’s grandmother’s country house in Yvelines. It was a beautiful house, classic but with a bright and light touch that only could mean it was updated very recently. There was no echo in their steps as they walked inside, because every space of the house was lived in.
‘This isn’t a museum,’ Louis thought to himself, ‘It is a home.’
“Mon chou!” Harry’s grandmother received them in the living room. “You actually came back with him!” She laughed as he hugged Harry. “You must be, Louis.” She said with a thick French accent as she wrapped her arms around Louis’ shoulders and swayed him slowly. “I’m Cecile. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Cecile cupped his face. “You are as gorgeous as I imagined.” She said, letting him go. “Come in, we are making honey pie and tarte tatin.” She patted both of their shoulders. “Do you like sweets?”
“Love them.”
“Ah, then let me find something for you.” She said walking into the kitchen before them. “Girls, they are here!”
“And these are my mom and my aunt.” Harry whispered close to his ear.
“Hi, lovely.” Ines Styles said with a warm and beautiful smile. “I’m so glad you made it here.” She gave him a tight hug. “And we are still deeply sorry for messing up your lunch with Diane. If it helps, Lola isn’t my sister, she's my second cousin, we can easily kick her out of the family dinners if you wish.”
Behind the kitchen counter, Lola Federige laughed as she finished a pie crust, a green and very dirty apron wrapped around her body. “Hey!” She threw a little flour at her cousin. “I’m Harry’s favorite aunt and Louis’ favorite model, I’d be more careful if it was you.” She sniffed. “Besides, I was the one who told you he was going to be fine and I, as always, was right.” She smiled at Louis. “I saw you went to the Mugler and Vivianne Westwood’s shows too.”
Louis felt a little foolish for not seeing it before. The same green eyes and dimpled smile. He guessed if he had seen her with her face smeared with flour before, it would have been easier for him to link her to Harry.
“Yes. Actually,” Louis said, squeezing Harry’s hand. “Thanks to you I’m thinking of trying to branch out to other markets.”
Lola’s smile broadened, almost looking proud of him. “Well, my offer still stands. When you have your fashion line ready I will gladly model it for you. Me and some friends too.”
“I’d love to. Thank you so much.”
“Here.” Harry’s grandma reappeared, holding two aprons. “They are blue like your eyes.”
“Mom. No…” Ines whispered.
“What’s wrong? Oh, you don’t like to cook. So sorry, that was so inappropriate of me to assume. Is just that we all love to cook here.”
Louis turned to see Harry who looked beyond mortified. Did he think Louis wouldn't want to help his grandmother? Maybe he didn’t want Louis to spend too much time with them. Perhaps it all boiled down that Louis was nothing more than Harry’s fuck buddy,
“No, mom.” Ines said, interrupting Louis’ inner turmoil. “Harry has something else ready.”
“Oh yes,” Cecile clapped her hands. “The picnic! It’s so lovely.”
“Mother…” Lola closed her eyes, letting out a strangled sigh. “It was a surprise.”
“Oh, merde.” Cecile's shoulders slumped in defeat. “I think I’ll go for a cigarette.”
Louis had the urge to hug her, to tell her it was all okay, but his body couldn’t move from Harry’s tense and nervous side.
“Please, forgive her.” Ines said with an apologetic smile. “She has been waiting for you almost all week. She gets like this when she is nervous.”
Louis shook his head. “It’s okay, she is lovely.”
Harry cleared his throat. “Do you want to…” He trailed off, chin pointing to the garden.
“Of course.” He smiled, reassuringly.
“Take your time, but the others will arrive around five, yeah?”
“Mom,” Harry sent Ines a helpless look.
“I’m sorry,” she chuckled, putting her hands up. “Go, have some fun.”
The garden is as big and beautiful as Louis expected. The air was cleaner, easier to breathe. From where he stood he could see the different orchards growing there, just like he also could see a perfectly arranged picnic with fresh fruit and different types of sweets.
“This is…” Louis breathed out, trying to swallow the lump forming in his throat. “Is this for me?”
Harry adjusted Louis’ tote bag over his shoulder. “I saw in your Pinterest dream board you wanted one of these.”
Louis felt his face slip into a wide, giddy grin. “You are such a stalker.” He grabbed Harry’s face to kiss him slowly.
“I so am.” Harry’ smile stretched against his lips as he couldn’t help to feel as happy as Louis was. “I like to see the things you love.”
“Thank you.” Louis wrapped his arms around his shoulder. “Part of the dream was to have someone feed me grapes and sweets while they kiss me. But I couldn’t put that on my dream board.”
“Well,” Harry said, sitting down on the blanket before pulling Louis over his lap. “Here we are, and there are grapes, the sunlight, and my mouth.”
Louis hummed. “Your big hands too.”
“My big hands too.” Harry rumbled, said hands running up and down Louis’ back, as if studying every curve in it. “You are so pretty.” He left a small trail of tender kisses all over his chin and jaw, mouth sometimes barely touching his skin until it reached Louis' lips.
The feeling of their lips against another traveled through all his body, from the tip of his toes to the back of his head. A mix of innocence and hunger as Harry licked past his parted lips to touch his tongue, slowly and wonderfully.
“You give the best kisses.” Louis whispered as he touched Harry’s face with both hands, making sure he wasn’t dreaming, that the man under him who was making all his dreams come true was real. “Soft and slow. Harsh and fast. You can do it all. It’s a little unfair.” Louis' breath hitched as Harry shifted slightly and his hard cock brushed his semi-hard one. “Oh my god, Harry, really?” He laughed, slapping the man’s shoulders lightly. “We are at your grandma’s house.”
Harry groaned faintly, hiding his face on the crook of Louis’ neck, “You are here kissing me and telling me I’m the best kisser, smiling, looking the way you do. I am just a human.”
Louis cooed, rubbing his back in small circles. “You are just a man.”
“That’s what I do.” He pulled back to look at Louis, flushed cheeks and bright smile on his face. “Sadly, yes.”
Louis brushed Harry’s hair back from his forehead. “You are lucky that I kinda like you.”
“Very.”
“Did you put on sunscreen?” He kissed Harry's red cheeks.
He shook his head, a goofy smile still plastered on his face.
“Wait, let me.” Louis turned to check his tote back, looking for his sunscreen between books, lip balms and keys.
Harry was pliant under his touch, thumbs still idly rubbing circled in his hip bones as Louis applied sunscreen all over his face.
“There.” Louis kissed the tip of Harry’s nose. “Later we will put some aloe so it doesn’t sting so much.”
“Thank you.”
For a second Louis thought Harry was going to say something more but he only licked at his lips and kept smiling, eyes shining brightly.
Louis tilted his head. “I should be the one thanking you for all of this. I just put some sunscreen on you.”
“It isn’t just that. You always take care of me.”
“You are exaggerating.”
“I’m not. You bought me B12 whenI told you I got dizzy once because of the sun. You send me coffee and food throughout my finals’ week. Wishing me luck half an hour before they started. Sending me those voice notes I like so much the nights I couldn’t sleep.”
It was Louis' turn to flush, feeling exposed and a little embarrassed. “Well, you are worse with me.”
“I know.” Harry's grin turned smug. “That doesn’t change that you always take care of me.”
Louis cleared his throat, averting his gaze from Harry. “I want to make something like this back home.” He changed topics, not caring if it was too obvious or too abrupt. He didn’t want to know if Harry was aware of his true feelings, “A continental breakfast with all of our friends.”
Harry hummed, kissing his shoulder. “I can make some arrangements. Call a chef to make breakfast and get your favorite pastries.”
Louis’ hearty thundered in his chest at Harry’s readiness. At what his words could mean.
“I want to learn to make something too. Do you think your grandma would want to teach me how to make a honey pie?”
“I think she would want and love to teach you.”
Louis wanted to kiss Harry’s smile forever.
Forever.
Something twisted in his chest, not entirely unknown. It wasn’t a shocking discovery, just something that he was refusing to acknowledge but cannot longer ignore. A feeling he couldn’t hold back anymore.
“What?” A small wrinkle appeared between Harry’s eyebrows, still his smile remained.
“I also want to host a candle party, but I don’t want any type of candle, they must be from this specific shop in London and the colorants must be from there too. I also want to host a formal dinner where we taste only cakes from Marion, but I want Marion herself to bake them all, though, not her assistants or whatever she has.” Louis said flippantly, just to be annoying. Too much.
To finally give Harry the Ice Prince treatment, so he could trash about with his friends later. A spoiled, self-centered brat who wanted what he wanted, no matter how ridiculous and banal it was. It was silly and most probably would ruin his perfect picnic but Louis felt cornered and he knew the easiest way out was to be, sadly, himself.
“Yeah?” Harry asked, frowning, the thumbs caressing his skin coming to a halt.
“Yes. It’s been a long time since I made them seethe in jealousy. I want them all to know their rightful place. That they could never compete against me.”
Harry’s lips pressed into a thin line, brows furrowed. Louis would laugh if he wasn’t feeling so sad. People didn’t find it attractive when others talked like that. It was too petty, tacky. They should wish to be above the rest of their peers in silence, scheme only in their heads. Because they all were scheming, no matter how much they all pretended. They were all hypocrites trying to outdo each other.
Liars who lie because they all were liars.
But then… Harry’s face lit up as a sunny day of spring. “Oh, I do know someone who knows Marion personally.” He pulled Louis closer. “You don’t worry about anything, I will help with all of it. You just tell me what you need, and I will get it for you.”
Louis blinked, dumbfounded. “You do?” Louis said faintly, ears ringing loudly.
“Yes, I got a little worried because I thought I had no connections with her, but now I’m sure I can get her for you.”
Harry wasn’t rejecting Louis, didn’t care if he was too frivolous or immature. He planned to help Louis, worried when he thought he couldn’t give Louis what he wished.
“You can…” Louis breathed out, feeling a little dizzy with how much he wanted.
“I will get her for you. They will all seethe in jealousy. I will make sure of that.”
“Shut up, please, just—” He covered Harry’s mouth with both hands as he closed his eyes. “You are making my tummy feel all fluttery and weird, and we are at your grandmas.”
Harry laughed lightly. “Sorry.” He said, not sounding sorry at all, a sly little smile playing at the corner of his mouth. “I will stop saying I will give anything you want.”
“Harry!” Louis hid his face in the crook of Harry’s neck..
“Anything, baby.” Harry kissed Louis’ jaw, tenderly. “Any party.” His lips touched his neck. “Any book.” Teeth grazed his pulse point. “Any clothes.”
“What if I want,” Louis threw his head back and shook it.” I don’t know, a private jet?”
“Give me a year, and you got it.” There wasn’t any smugness in Harry’s face, if anything Louis’ fuzzy brain would say, he looked adoringly at him.
Louis kissed him because he could and wanted to. Lips moving languidly as he melted on top of Harry’s body.
“You were supposed to say no because of global warming.”
Harry shrugged. “Just a man, all through and through.”
“You are so silly.” Louis giggled, teeth scraping lightly across Harry’s bottom lip as a wave of laughter burst from afar. “I think the rest of your family arrived.”
“Want to meet them?” Harry rubbed his nose against Louis’, tenderly.
He eyed Harry for a second, trying to find any type of discomfort or reluctance at the idea of Louis getting to know his family, but there's nothing more than a content smile.
“I would love to.”
“Come on, then,” His grin stretched into a bashful smile. “Let's go inside.”
As they stood up, the book inside his tote bag fell to the ground.
“Did you finish it?” Harry asked as he picked it up.
Louis snorted. “No, I’ve only read like three chapters.”
“Is it boring?” Harry offered his hand as they walked inside the house.
“No, I love the author and so far it’s perfect, but I haven’t had a lot of time to sit and read it properly.”
Harry hummed. “We should take another weekend off after this. How do you feel about Santorini?”
“Love it.”
“It’s settled then.” He pulled Louis in by his hand, wrapping his arms around his torso, leaving a tender kiss on his forehead. “Make a reading list, I’ll tell the staff there to install a bookshelf for you.”
“Stop.” Louis whined, rested his face in Harry’s chest.
“What?” He huffed a silent laugh.
“You are so over the top.”
“You like that.” Harry kissed his cheek, then he moved his lips close to his ear. “It makes your tummy flutter.”
Louis laughed, throwing his head back. “You are such a pervert.” When Harry nipped his neck just the way he liked, he pushed him lightly. “No,” he giggled. “Let’s go inside.”
The unspoken, fragile thing they had going, now went beyond traps and schemes. It might be casual, but it was definitely real. Or at least that was what Louis wanted to believe.
-‘๑’-
In the end, they didn’t have time to go anywhere, because a week after that, Louis was offered an internship at Condé Nast as an entertainment intern. From there and until he graduated, he helped manage Vogue, GQ and Vanity Fair social media accounts, helping them grow exponentially to the point even the Diane Prescott had to admit to Louis that she might have been wrong about him. Despite this, he was sure after his internship ended he would struggle to find another ‘credible’ job in the industry, but the same Diane offered him to showcase his designs at Vogue’s Fashion Night Out, and he of course used that opportunity to call Lola to be his model.
Thanks to her and her friends, Louis’ line sparked interest and an uproar among guests and people who were following the show online. As Louis saw four of the biggest supermodels walk with his clothes, he knew no matter what happened after that, no one would take that moment from him.
Together, they created a small moment in fashion history.
The night was a success that Louis got to share with his parents, Harry, and his friends. That night, ‘Tomlinson’ became an official and promising fashion brand.
But as much as his career was flourishing, he was still struggling with the same troubles in his personal life. He figured that no matter what, your twenties had to be messy in some way, or else they weren't twenties at all.
“We need to talk.” Ethan barged in his studio. “It’s a life or death emergency.”
“Is there something wrong?”
“Everything is wrong.” He sat at the other side of his desk. “The man of my year is slipping through my fingers. I can feel it.”
Louis' brows furrowed. “Man of your year? What?”
“Harry! Your newest bestie?
For a second, everything stilled. No. Ethan had forgotten Harry for many months ago, going out with other men, even posting them on his Instagram. That gave Louis a real shot with Harry. Sure, stealing your best friend’s man was all kinds of wrong, but at that point Louis couldn’t give less of fucks. Harry made him so happy, and he was trying all his best to make Harry as happy as he was.
“But you are seeing other people…”
“So is he! And all was fine and very European-like. But today Doiseus posted a blind item, and apparently he is seeing someone and very serious. And I know it’s the VonCarter bitch.”
“Von—From all the people, you choose someone who isn’t even close to him? Really?” Louis said, a little offended by the way his friend completely dismissed the possibility that he could be the person Harry was seeing.
‘It’s because he trusts you, you fucking moron. ’ Louis' brain screamed at him.
“They were spotted at Mendax Friday last week, and supposedly he went to VonCarter's house after that. But apparently,” Ethan lowered his voice and narrowed his eyes. “It isn’t the first time they do this, this has been happening for almost a year. A year!” He hissed. “Anyway, they also were spotted at VonCarter’s father restaurant, and they looked smitten and all that.”
“When was this?” Louis said faintly as his phone vibrated besides his hand.
“I just told you, last Friday!”
Louis was aware Harry had been as busy as him in the past months, it was fine, they always ended up in the same bed most nights anyway. However, for the past weekends, Harry often went missing almost every Friday. But Louis hadn't thought anything of it until now.
“No, no. The uh— dinner.”
“It wasn’t a dinner, someone saw them at the restaurant like two days ago.”
“I love the food there.” Louis mumbled, remembering how Harry brought him food from there exactly two nights ago.
“That VonCarter fucker...”
“Exactly!” Ethan held both his hands. “This is why I need your help.”
“My help—Oh no, no.” Louis shook his head. “I have retired from all that. I’m a proper designer now.”
“Designers also scheme.” Ethan pouted. “Please, I just need to confirm they are together so I can let him go.”
Louis could sympathize with that. He probably even needed that too so he could do the same. He couldn’t see himself sharing Harry, not with Cristian VonCarter or Ethan. He wanted Harry all to himself, and if Harry couldn’t give him that, it was perhaps time to end things for good.
“I cannot believe you are still pining over him. You don’t even speak to each other anymore.”
“I thought we just entered our second season where we both explored new flavors before coming back together again, stronger than ever.” Ethan sniffed. “Besides, can you blame me?”
Louis sighed. “No, not really,” he mumbled, checking his phone again.
And okay, Louis maybe needed to talk with Harry and Ethan and probably with a therapist but first, one last messy deed.
“We are going to spy on them tonight.”
Ethan blinked. “Are we?”
“Yes we are. I’m going to text Nelle and Jude telling them there are free passes for Albatross, they will obviously invite Harry too. You will invite Cristian. If they are serious, we will know tonight.”
“I barely talk with VonCarter, we don’t even follow each other on Instagram.”
“But you are friends with the cousin, right? Well, invite the cousin and Cristian.”
“You are a genius! Then, if they leave together, we can tell the Uber to follow their car. I have always wanted to do that. Then we will cry after listening to Taylor.”
“We will see. I just know I want burgers later.”
Ethan circled Louis’ desk and hugged him. “Cancer moons’ night, stalking, crying, burgers and Taylor.”
“My moon isn’t in Cancer.”
“But your spirit is.” Ethan patted Louis’ heart. “Now come on. We have to be the best dressed there.”
-‘๑’-
The air in the club was heady and charged and Louis felt overdressed for the occasion, but Ethan insisted on looking hot, so Harry could see what he was missing and Louis couldn’t just let him be the only one being ridiculously petty about the whole deal.
“I found them. They both are there.” Ethan grabbed him by the shoulder. “They look awfully close. This is it. He changed me for a VonCarter. I cannot bear the humiliation.”
Louis felt his chest clench, overwhelmed with confusing emotions. He didn’t want to see that, Harry sharing the same smiles he gave Louis, kissing another person. But he just couldn’t look away.
However, to his surprise, despite them sitting together, they didn’t look as close as Ethan made him seem at first.
“I think I have seen enough. I don’t want to follow them anymore, let’s just go.”
“Too late.” Louis mumbled as Nelle waved from their table. “They spotted us.”
Ethan's shoulders slumped, before taking a deep breath and turning around, a blinding smiling plastered over his face. “Hi!” He said as he walked to their table, Louis following him close behind.
“I thought you weren’t coming!” Jude said, as everyone stood up to hug them.
“I wasn’t. Ethan insisted.” Louis muttered, turning to VonCarter. “Cristian, what a surprise.” He smiled. “It’s been ages since the last time we saw each other.”
“Hi.” Harry smiled at him while patting the seat beside him, simultaneously, Ethan grabbed his hand to sit on the empty seat.
Cristian took a sip from his drink. It was a Chambord Bellini. “I saw you in Paris, but you were preoccupied with… some other stuff.”
“Oh, so you and Harry met there?” Ethan chimed in, lifting a brow.
“You did?” Louis frowned, looking at Harry.
“No. Harry and I met at boarding school.”
“Weird. He never talks about you.” Ethan said innocently.
Cristian snorted. “Why would he? I barely remembered him, too, until we saw each other in Paris. But I did remember both of you, twisted sisters.” He pointed at them with two fingers. “Actually, I saw a show the other day and the protagonists reminded me so much of you two at Elementary school.”
Ethan preened at that. “Was it The O.C? I see it too, Louis is totally Summer, and I’m Marissa, without overdosing,” He rolled his eyes. “Of course.”
“Of course. No, I mean Pen 15, you are as delusional as them.” The table froze as Cristian laughed, lifting his hands. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding!”
Louis' brows furrowed. “I thought you said you didn’t meet Harry in Paris.”
“I didn’t meet him for the first time in Paris. We reconnected there. Very different things.”
“He has a music studio.” Louis heard Harry say, eyes still focused on Cristian, mind spinning trying to make sense of all the new information he got.
They reconnected in Paris, while Louis thought he was having the most wonderful week of his life. Perhaps they thought the same. Harry wanted what he wanted, and maybe he wanted both Cristian and Louis at the same time, no strings attached. But if Ethan and Doiseus were right, if Harry actually was getting serious with Cristian to the point of having dinner with his parents, Louis didn’t want to be his dirty little secret anymore. He couldn’t.
“How interesting.” Louis said faintly. “I have to—” he cleared his throat. “I have to go to the bathroom.”
Not even five minutes later, Harry walked inside the bathroom, sending murderous looks at the two men washing their hands beside Louis.
“Hi,” He said from behind when the men left, wrapping his arms around Louis’ torso. “I thought you were going to be busy today.”
Harry’s tone wasn’t accusatory, it never was. Always understanding, often smiling at him for everything and anything.
Louis hated him a little for it at that moment.
He shrugged. “Things changed.”
“Well, I’m glad you are here.” Harry kissed his neck. “Do you want something to drink? You feel tense.”
“I am tense.”
“Do you want to leave?”
“Oh,” Louis huffed a silent humorless laugh as he turned around. “You would love that,” he pushed a finger against Harry’s chest. “Don’t you?”
“Well, yeah.” Harry chuckled, trapping Louis’ finger with his hand. “I’m not going to lie. I would much prefer to go to my house and show you the surprise I have for you.”
“Are you for real?”
“Alright,” Harry sighed dramatically as he rolled his eyes. “I can show you here too. It’s just there’s a lot of noise, but I guess I can show you now, and you can listen to it later.”
Louis frowned. “Listen to it?”
Harry laughed, nose scrunching up, and Louis had the urge to kiss and lick his entire face. God, he was helpless.
“You look adorable.” Harry said, his grin a little lopsided as he leaned in to kiss him. A kiss Louis accepted without a fight, because he was nothing more than a weak man. “I recorded myself reading all the books you put in your ‘to read’ list.” He said, pulling out his phone and opening Spotify.
“Shut up, you are lying.” Louis held Harry’s phone with trembling hands. “Oh my god.” He whispered as he scrolled down all the titles on the playlist. “There are so many.”
“Your list was a bit long.”
“But—” Louis swallowed. “It was for a bookshelf,” he said weakly.
“I know, baby, but I also know how excited you were to read them and noticed how sad you got when we had to postpone our trip.”
Louis’ heart skipped at that. “I got sad because I wanted to be with you alone for a few weeks.”
“We can be alone here. And now you can catch up with your books while you work too.”
So wonderful. So thoughtful. Louis wanted him for him alone so fucking bad.
He let out a trembling sigh. “I cannot keep doing this.”
“What? Clubbing? Yeah,” he scratched his stubble. “I prefer to stay home now too. Are we getting old?”
“No, Harry. I can’t— It hurts.”
Harry went stormy pretty much instantly at that, worry taking over all his features. “What happened?” he touched his face tenderly with his big hands. “Where does it hurt, baby? How can I fix it?”
“Oh, you are so…” Louis let out a small whine, his forehead resting on Harry’s shoulder. He really didn’t want to lose Harry, and knew he had to take a big risk if he pretended to keep him. “You know how you could fix this?” He said hesitantly.
“How?”
Louis took a deep breath. “Leave your boyfriend.”
Harry titled his head, like a big and confused golden retriever. “Hmm?”
“You heard me. I am not going to pull a Meredith Grey. This is not a pick me speech, it doesn’t matter how it sounds. It is not. You asked me what you could do to fix things. This is it.”
“No?”
Louis’ jaw dropped. “Oh wow, that was too quick. You could have waited like a second.”
“Why?” Harry made a face. Louis took everything nice he said about him, he was so rude. So fucking rude and mean and— “I am not going to leave you. Is this a role play thing? Because if it is, we can start over but you have to tell me.”
“Wait. What? It’s not a role play thing.”
“Oh…” Harry frowned. “Are you breaking up with me? Because we can talk and if I’m doing something that’s bothering you, I could fix that too.”
“Breaking—” Louis paused, trying to not lose his mind as he finally put the last piece of the messiest puzzle in existence. “I’m your boyfriend.” It wasn't a question, he just said it out loud to see if it sounded more coherent than it did in his head. “Things are going strong… with me.”
“I hope so.”
Louis narrowed his eyes. “Okay, but you wanted to get close to me only so you could have a chance with Ethan. I’m not—I’m not making this up in my head. It got blasted in Doiseus.”
“Yeah… about that.” Harry scratched the corner of his eye. “I asked Jude to send that tip on purpose.”
For a moment, Louis was struck speechless. “You what?”
“I'd like to start by saying that I tried to get close to you like a normal human being, but you don't quite work that way. But—” he added quickly. “That’s one of the things I love the most about you.”
“You lo—” Louis closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. Focus. One thing at a time. “Okay… Go on.”
“You know how people say desperate times call for desperate measures?”
Louis nodded, unable to say more.
“Well… As you may be aware, one of the things you are known for is sabotaging your best friend's relationships—which,” Harry held up one hand as he saw Louis open his mouth to protest. “I find it very fascinating, as we already stated. So what better way to gain your attention than to approach Ethan?”
Louis stared at him, heart beating wildly. “You reverse UNO carded us…” He whispered, voice sounding bewildered even to his own ears.
“And it worked perfectly, because as soon as I did, you showed up at my favorite bar like the most beautiful vision I've ever seen. Then when you came to my house, I texted Nelle and Jude to slip into your conversation that I was only interested in Ethan for a month, which would solidify the idea that I wasn't serious about him while also giving you a reason to try harder to keep me away from him. And what better way than to get close to me?”
Harry was probably insane, there was no doubt about that. But so was Louis, and even worse because he was actually finding the whole plan not only fascinating but extremely hot.
“What if Ethan was actually in love with you?” He still said to keep some appearances. No matter if he was as gone as Harry, at least he had to seem level-headed.
“He ended up kissing someone else two hours after you left that first night. I have the feeling he will be okay.”
“But you kinda string him along…”
Harry shrugged. “Not really, I spread around some rumors, we talked one night, we hugged goodbye and people assumed whatever they wanted. The night at the bar I spend all night flirting with you and then I tried to make you a little jealous which didn’t work because—”
Louis signed through his nose. “I don’t quite work like that.”
“Exactly,” Harry huffed a nervous laugh and hesitantly held his hand. When he noticed Louis didn’t pull away, his shoulders visibly relaxed. “After that, I was only ever cordial with him. I usually left the parties when you did or with you. And when he showed up at my house for advice or texted me he needed help with you, I helped him. I am aware he is family to you, so I tried my best to be nice to him for you.”
Louis nibbled his bottom lip, wondering if he should ask what he was thinking. If he was ready to hear the answer. “Did Nelle and Jude only become my friends because of you?” He questioned at last, voice small and unsure.
“Oh, no, baby, no,” Harry cupped his face with both hands, tenderly. “That was all on them. Actually, things got a little complicated for me when they became your friends. Nelle wanted to tell you the truth every two days, and Jude is always saying if you break up with me, you get to have him in the custody battle.” He chuckled. “But I can’t even blame them.” He said softly, leaving a tender kiss on top of Louis’ nose. “Who wouldn’t fall for you?”
“So you did all of that just to get me.”
“I did everything in my power for you to fall for me, yes.” Harry reached for Louis' hands, placing them behind his neck. “And look at us now?” He kissed his mouth slowly. “Completely in love.”
Louis’ breath hitched against Harry’s lips. “In love…”
“Yeah. Don’t you love me?”
“Oh…” Louis blinked dazedly. Because he did, from the moment Harry baked him his dream cake, perhaps way before that, Louis was deeply in love with him. So much it hurt. “Oh. I do.” He said out loud, because if someone needed to hear that, it was his boyfriend.
His boyfriend.
Louis had a boyfriend. Harry was Louis’ boyfriend.
“I love you more, baby.” Harry kissed him again, this time taking his time to explore Louis’ mouth. “Now tell me,” he rasped, lips swollen and red. “What did I do to make you mad tonight?”
Louis’ brows furrowed in confusion until he remembered.
Right. Louis not only had a boyfriend. He had a boyfriend who liked to spend his Fridays at other men's houses.
“How many boyfriends do you have?”
Harry’s eyes widened, grin amused and bright. “Only you and all your demons.”
Louis bit his top lip and breathed in, helplessly trying to suppress a smile. “It’s really not the time.”
“But you are smiling. And I personally believe it’s always the time to make you smile.”
“This is kinda serious, though.” Louis said weakly, pursing his lips. “There was a blind item about you and Cristian. Some people have seen you at his house every Friday night. And from the past few months, you kinda have disappeared every Friday. So they aren’t so wrong.”
The smile on Harry’s face dropped. “Sweetheart… God, I’m a fucking idiot,” He cursed, sounding genuinely mad at himself. “That’s not his house, it’s his music studio. I hired him to help me with your audiobooks.” he pressed his forehead against Louis’. “I should have told you before, but I really didn't want to ruin your surprise.”
“They also said you went to dinner with him and met his family at his father’s restaurant.”
“Two days ago?”
Louis nodded faintly.
“You were craving food from there for a week or so but have been too busy to go out, and they don’t do takeaway. I asked Cristian for a favor and he said yes. I even brought containers for the food and everything, you remember? Only his father was inside, and it was all a big coincidence, we barely even spoke.”
“Ah…” Louis breathed out, no longer able to contain the smile on his face. “You truly are obsessed with me, huh?” He tilted his head, feeling how Harry relaxed under his fingertips.
“You could say so.”
Louis hummed, hands running up Harry’s neck to the back of his head, fingers threading through his hair to pull him into a heated kiss. Harry’s skillful hands move to his ass, squeezing hard, just the way Louis liked.
“Want to go home?” Harry asked against his lips, hoarsely, his semi-hard cock already poking his tummy.
“Yes,” He whispered, playing with Harry’s soft hair. “But I have something to do first.”
-‘๑’-
It didn’t come as a surprise when he found Ethan kissing some random guy on the dance floor, still, the scene did nothing to lessen his guilt. His friend had called Harry the man of his year and had looked genuinely crushed when he thought Cristian was dating him formally. Part of him wanted to run away, to avoid the conversation at least for one night more, but he knew it had to be done, if he wanted to be with Harry, he needed to confess everything to Ethan right away.
“E,” He touched his shoulder. “Can we talk?.”
Ethan turned around, eyes glassy and with a huge grin on his face. “Can it wait? I’m kinda in the middle of something.”
“I—it could. But…”
“It’s better if it doesn't, right?”
Louis nodded, eyes cast down in shame.
His friend held his hand. “Come on. Let’s talk.”
After a quick and heated goodbye to his dance partner, Ethan walked out the bar with Louis, hands squeezing his from time to time, reassuringly.
“This is very difficult to say but—”
“You crashed my hot wheels car when we were six?” Ethan said, cigarette smoke blowing out his mouth as he speaks. “I know. I have come to terms with that fact. You are forgiven.”
“No.” Louis’ brows furrowed. “Well, yes. But this isn’t about that.”
“What’s wrong then?”
“It’s about Harry.”
Ethan sighed. “He is serious with VonCarter, right?” He groaned. “I cannot believe this.”
“No.” Louis swallowed, nervously. “He—He is serious with me. We have been dating since—I’m not really sure since when. But we are.”
Ethan stared at him, face void of any emotion. “That’s going to be an issue.”
Louis winced. “Is it?”
“Of course. If you don’t know the exact date since you have been dating, what are you going to do for your anniversary?” Ethan perked up. “Do you want me to find out when you officially got together?”
“Aren’t you mad?”
His friend made a face. “Mad, no? I can totally get him falling for you. Now for VonCarter?” He snorted. “That’s just a low blow to my self-esteem.”
“It really wasn’t my intention.”
Ethan's smile was soft and reassuring. “I know, silly. Despite all my tantrums, I know you love me too much to do something like that on purpose.” He licked his lips, cheeks flushing. “Every time we test a new man, I’m fully prepared for them to fall for you. You never believe this, but you are actually quite lovable. You were like the ultimate test, if they could resist you,” He shrugged. “I might have a shot with them.”
“But they couldn’t resist me because we set them up to fail. It was always on purpose. You don’t even give them the chance to really get to know you in the first place.”
“I know. It’s just hard to imagine someone loving me only. I don’t think I’m quite good enough for that.”
“But you are, E. You are funny, beautiful, and smart. You just need to give yourself time to love yourself, to see what I see. Maybe you could talk with someone who knows about this type of stuff?”
Ethan let out a wet chuckle. “Are you telling me to go to therapy?” He gasped. “We can do couples!”
Louis laughed. “I don’t think we can.”
“Okay, but you low-key need it too.” He sniffed. “At least, I have never been in a relationship I wasn’t aware of.”
“We still cannot do couples therapy.”
Ethan scoffed, playfully. “But perhaps it’s time to give myself some alone time.” Ethan shrugged, then he smirked. “After tonight.” He wiggled his brows.
“Everything alright?” Harry’s deep voice made Louis’ tummy flutter in excitement.
That was his very own boyfriend coming to check on him.
“Hey,” Ethan said with a serious tone. “You better take care of my best friend or else I will destroy your entire reputation so hard and fast you will have to change cities. And I know how to,” he smiled tenderly at Louis, “because I learned from the best. Now,” he clapped his hands as he stood up. “If you excuse me, there is a man waiting for me inside.”
Ethan kissed Louis’ cheek before going back to the club.
“Ready to go home?” He said to Harry.
“With you?” He circled his arms around Louis’ torso before leaning in to softly kiss his lips. “Always.”
-‘๑’-
Since the very first time Harry saw Louis Tomlinson, he reminded him of New York’s winters, ruthless and cold. And Harry was fucking gone for him.
Neither of them had the best reputation, people always had something to say about them, always trying to find ways to fix them. To make them either softer or less detached, better to be around. Less.
It was preposterous. If anything, what they needed to do—in Harry's opinion—was indulge Louis’ greatness, not dim his light. Who cared if he crafted intricate plans to fuck over his best friend's lovers—at this point if they fell for that was more on them than on Louis, if he single-handedly turned an entire school upside down—they fucked around and found out, or if he thought it was too good for everyone—he was, they all knew he was.
They filled their mouths with discourses about self-love and when they finally encountered someone who knew his worth and wasn't ashamed of the space he took, squirmed in anger.
“They think you will leave me one day,” Louis said between choked out gasps as he moved up and down Harry’s cock. “That you will get bored of me when my mean side finally overpowers my beauty.”
Harry would laugh if he wasn’t so focused on not shoving his entire cock in his boyfriend, so deep he could feel his heartbeat, just the way he knew Louis loved. It was his turn to be used for Louis’ pleasure, Harry could feel how much he needed it. Needed him.
“But they don’t know how much you love that.” Louis slurred, wet and sloppy hole constricting around Harry as he bounced on top of him. “How you are the only one to get to see me like this, to get to have all my love and devotion. To see me on my knees, to come inside and over me.”
A loud and guttural moan was ripped from Harry’s throat as he began to move his hips thoughtlessly.
Louis threw his head back as he let Harry take control, hands gripping his hips. “You love that I’m your sweetheart. Only sweet for you.”
“The sweetest.” Harry grunted as one of his hands moved around Louis’ throbbing cock, thumb swirling around his swollen tip. “So good for me.”
“I’m your baby.” Louis whispered, sweat gathering on his chest and along his hairline.
“You are my fucking world.” Harry’s thighs clenched as he buried himself deeper in Louis’ body. “My everything, my soul.” He said low and rough, wishing he could savor the moment for the rest of his life, that Louis could carry a part of him inside forever.
Louis leaned in, tongue swiping across his swollen lips, swallowing his grunts and moans. Harry felt how Louis’ legs began to tremble besides his, his ragged breath hitching as he clenched his blunt nails on Harry’s chest, indicating how close he was from the edge.
“Come for me, sweetheart.” Harry ordered, movements becoming harsher as he finally found the bundle of nerves that always made Louis lose himself in pleasure, small cock slamming against Harry’s stomach and his pelvis with every thrust.
Lover’s body felt malleable in his hands as he impaled Louis on his cock over and over again until thick ropes of cum covered Harry’s chest and Louis’ chin.
Harry marveled at the view, a work of art undone, fat tears running down his cheek, mouth wet and open, pink lips begging to be kissed. Harry’s heart thudded out to the beat of the blood thrumming through his veins while Louis’ hole milked his throbbing cock.
“I do carry a part of you in me,” Louis whispered slowly against his mouth, words sounding as reverent as Harry’s wishes. “Your love, your tenderness. In my mind, in my heart. Forever. You are in me forever.”
“Fuck, sweetheart.” Harry hissed as he began to flood Louis with warmth. “My baby love,” he slurred, between uncoordinated kisses, shuddering as he kept filling up his lover. “I love you so much.”
In that moment, Harry wished he was as good as expressing his feelings as he was demonstrating them, because it wasn’t just love he felt for Louis, it was an unwavering admiration, a tenderness that made his bones ache, an unbreakable loyalty.
Louis was his New York’s winters, but also his Yvelines' springs. He was all the good things of every season. The thrilling part of a good lie, the fulfillment of a truth.
Louis was love above love. And Harry was the lucky one who got to cherish him forever.
