2.1

Louis blinked as the door of Harry's house opened to reveal a very pretty girl.

"Um... Is Harry here?" Louis asked slowly.

"Yeah, he's in the shower," the girl replied, pushing back a dark lock of hair. "You must be his friend, Louis."

"I am," Louis replied slowly. "Are you, um, Harry's cousin or something?"

The girl let out a loud laugh. "That would be a little awkward if we were related. I'm Daphne, his-"

There was a loud slam from inside the house and the girl sighed, opening the door wider for Louis to enter.

Was this girl Harry's girlfriend? He couldn't have a girlfriend, he admitted to liking Louis and now, Niall.

But Harry had said he was bisexual.

"Daphne!" A familiar blonde girl stepped into the room, smiling when she saw the pair. "Oh! You're Louis! What a cutie," the girl cooed, walking over to Louis and holding out a hand. "I'm Harry's sister, Gemma."

"Nice to meet you," Louis mumbled, reaching out his hand and shaking hers.

This was Gemma?

Louis had been sure, by the way Harry spoke, that Gemma was depressed or there was something wrong with her, but this girl looked happy.

"Go upstairs and wait for Harry," Gemma ordered. "He should be out in a minute, he was saying how late he'd be."

Louis nodded, eyeing the Daphne girl before making his way to Harry's bedroom. He opened the door, blushing at the sight.

Harry was turned away from him, a towel loose on his slim waist, back muscles clenching as he opened a dresser drawer, long hair wet and dripping over the skin.

Harry turned around at the sound of his door opening, smiling at Louis as if they hadn't been in an argument and as if Harry wasn't naked, besides a towel.

Harry placed some clothes on his bed, now showing off his bare chest, raising an eyebrow. "Close the door, would ya? Sort of have to change."

Louis kicks the door closed with his foot, staring at Harry dropped the towel and- fuck, Harry was so hot. Louis gulped, adjusting his eyes to the floor.

A knowing Harry was smirking widely as he pulled on boxers, green plaid pajama bottoms, and a grey tee, occasionally glancing at Louis, who was staring at his feet.

"Take off your shoes, stay a while," Harry suggested.

"Why do you want me here?" Louis asked instead, finally looking up to see Harry ruffling his hair with the towel.

"I want to hang out," Harry replied simply. "You're right. We should be able to be friends and I was overreacting."

Louis stared at Harry before carefully sitting on the bed. "Yeah... You're right. So, is that your sister's friend downstairs?"

"Daphne? Yeah, something like that," Harry replied, smiling shyly.

Shit.

"Is she your girlfriend?" Louis blurted, making Harry let out a loud laugh, falling onto his back and clutching his stomach.

"Shit, I wish. Daphne is Gemma's girlfriend," Harry said, still laughing uncontrollably. It was a bit annoying, actually.

Louis knit his eyebrows together, embarrassment creeping up his neck and into his cheeks. "It's... Your sister is gay?"

"She is," Harry replied, calming down. "She's always been that way, even when she was very young. She's always preferred girls."

Louis felt a sort of realization flowing through his bones, eyes focusing on Harry. "That's why you wanted to help me? But Gemma's so carefree-"

"She's had years of therapy," Harry said quietly, smile dropping. "She... She's better now, but I'm still scared for her."

"Why? What happened?" Louis pressed.

Harry opened his mouth to answer, but the door burst open and fucking Niall entered, grinning.

"Hey, Lou," Niall said. "I didn't realize the time, Harry, sorry."

"It's okay," Harry answered, his usual smirk on his pretty lips. "Louis was early, anyways. Come sit."

Niall threw down his bag and Louis just watched as the blonde crawled onto the bed, smiling at Louis.

"Is this a joke?" Louis asked aloud, eyes on his friend.

"Of the sort," Harry replied under his breath. Niall snickered but Louis just sat there, dumbfounded.

"What the fuck? Why would you invite him? I thought you and I were hanging out?" Louis countered.

"You can invite Ed," Harry said casually, shrugging his shoulders. "I don't care."

Louis clenched his fists, a little upset.

He was jealous.

And Louis knew it was wrong to like Harry, who hadn't any reason to be a dick to him, but he did and he hated himself for it.

"I don't want Ed over here!" Louis said in a rather high-pitched voice.

"Wow, Louis, don't be a jealous twat," Niall snickered.

Louis's face was red and he was about ready to cry. "I just want... I don't... I-"

Harry laughed, tackling Louis into the bed with a kiss, gripping Louis's cheeks and laughing into his mouth.

Harry pulled away and all Louis heard was Niall's laughter and his own heavy breathing.

The fuck?

"What was that?" Louis asked in surprise.

"You're cute when yore jealous," Harry teased. "I couldn't help myself. And you were overreacting."

"Wait," Louis said when he sat up and saw Niall smiling. "You were in on this?"

"Duh," Niall said with a roll of his eyes. "You and Harry are really good together. I ship you times a thousand."

Harry laughed, kissing Louis's cheek. "And... After we have a few talks... Maybe you can stay I'm Doncaster with me?"

Louis suddenly stayed crying, talking Harry in a hug, because, yeah, he was stupid, but maybe Louis was falling in love.

~~~

Louis stepped out of Roni's car, blue eyes glittering with a sort of happy that hadn't been there in a while. Louis was honestly just happy.

"So, I was thinking that after the play tomorrow, you could come stay with me," Roni said as they walked towards the doors. Niall had gotten a ride from his parents today and Harry had to serve before-school detention for something, but Louis was okay because he wasn't mad at either of them and it was all alright.

"I'm... I have plans," Louis said nonchalantly, smiling as he saw Harry up ahead. The boy blew him a kiss, green eyes glittering as well.

"With Harry?" Roni asked, watched as the lanky boy walked towards them.

"That's the one," Louis said softly, grinning when Harry held his arms open and Louis giggled Bessie this was cheesy, but he ran into them, laughing and hugging Harry tight even though he saw him the previous night.

"Cute," Roni said with a thin smile. "Oh... There's Calum."

Sure enough, the boy was getting out of a sleek black car. Louis could see how dull his eyes were from thirty feet away. His hair was a wreck and he was wearing wrinkled clothes. He looked horrid.

"I hope he regrets what he did to Niall," Roni said curtly.

"He cries a lot. I've seen him in the restroom crying all of the time," Harry said. "Niall told me what happened."

"Poor Calum... He's usually so emotionless. You can tell he cares," Louis said quietly as the boy got closer, merely sparing them a glance. "Cal," he spoke up, but Calum shook his head and walked past them, causing Louis to sigh.

"He'll come around. Niall forgives him," Harry spoke, rubbing Louis's hip softly. "Let's get inside."

The three friends head inside and walk to Louis's locker, which isn't far from Harry's, but Harry preferred to be with Louis right now.

They weren't a couple, but Louis knew he couldn't be with Ed anymore. He felt bad, but Ed had once done him wrong and, although he was forgiven, Louis wasn't in love with Ed anymore. In fact, he hasn't loved Ed since he was fourteen.

"Can I kiss you?" Harry asked suddenly as Louis leaned against his own locker.

"No, " Louis replied quietly. "I'm still trying to think things out."

"I like you," Harry reminded him, brushing his fingers across Louis's cheek.

"Oi! Louis!" Louis turned his head to see Niall rushing towards them, face red. "Have you see Calum?"

"Not since he arrived at school-" Louis said, but Niall interrupted him, shoving a piece of paper into Louis's hands.

Niall, I want you to know that I'm really sorry for what I did. I suppose I just love control. But, Niall, I love you. I'll treat you like a prince, I promise, and I'm so sorry for what I did, truly. Call me after school if you forgive me. I love you.

Calum.

Niall blushed when Louis started laughing, patting Niall's face in mock fondness. "Oh, Nialler, go find your man."

~~~

Louis managed to skip in-lunch practice to go see Ed. The ginger wasn't playing his guitar.

He was slumped on the floor... Crying.

"Ed," Louis breathed out, making Ed look up, startled.

"Louis? What are you doing here?"

"Wanted to talk... Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Ed mumbled. "I'm just... I'm okay." He wipe his flushed face, avoiding Louis's stare.

"You aren't," Louis said. "Why are you lying?"

"Leave me alone," Ed said angrily, glaring at Louis. "It's none of your business but you're sticking your nose in it anyways!"

Louis's eyes watered up a little and he suddenly felt guilty. He couldn't make up his mind about what he wanted, so he figured he should spend the weekend with Harry and see how it goes before ending what he had with Ed.

"I'm sorry," Louis whispered. "You're right."

Ed's features softened and he sighed. "I was a little harsh... I just have a few home problems and since I offered you a place to stay-"

"I found another place, if you can't take me in," Louis said immediately. "Don't let me affect what's going on in your house."

Ed smiled softly, getting to his feet and pulling Louis into a hug. "I love you, Louis."

Louis hummed, hugging back.

He honestly was confused on what to do.

~~~

Hm.

QOTC: is it a good idea for loos to be trusting Harry again so easily?

Why do you think Louis can't make up his mind?

PQOTC: what cool are the walls in your bedroom?

MA: we moved recently so the walls are pink but they're getting painted royal purple (like Louis's in this) bc that's my fave

Xx