One More Night

Chapter 4 - Day 4

Day four of the trip arrives bright and early and Harry pulls his duvet higher, sinking himself lower into his bed. There's no activity this morning but he is already mentally preparing himself for today's dance session in the afternoon. He wants to take advantage of the relaxed, easy paced morning, so he takes his time getting ready. The moment Harry hears Louis start to wake up, he is taken back to last night. He remembers the thoughts that went through his head and though he tries to shake them, it proves a little difficult. Sometimes epiphanies aren't all they're cracked up to be.

After he feels partially ready for social interaction, he heads down to the main hall for breakfast, grabbing a bowl of cereal and a banana and sitting down next to Niall. They chat casually about how they slept, and Niall's dream, which was about him shaving his hair off and tattooing his scalp with a picture of Zayn.

"Niall, I'd usually tell you to go with your heart and do what you want to do, but I would be lying if I said that to you right now," He laughs, "I think you've been spending too much time together with Zayn, and this dorm sharing is getting to your head. Literally."

They both joke around as they eat their breakfast, munching quietly as they both take time to wake up fully. When Harry is finished, he heads out of the canteen and towards his dorm block. On his way to the corridor, he spots Zayn, and Louis flashes in his mind again. He has to say something. If he doesn't, he'll probably burst.

"I need to talk to you," He says quietly, "Like, now."

"What's up?" Zayn inquires, baffled.

"Just come with me, I need to say this in private," Harry replies, pulling him by the arm into the nearest empty rehearsal room. It's fairly small, but it's good for this conversation. He can't keep this a secret for the whole trip. Especially from Zayn. It will eat him alive.

"Harry, what's going on? You're making me nervous."

"I think I like Louis." He says it very quickly and it's almost a whisper, but it makes Zayn stop in his tracks.

"Like as in... as a person or-"

"No, like, like like."

"You like him?"

"Yes, Zayn!"

"I fucking knew it!" Zayn exclaims, and Harry shushes him frantically.

"No one can know about this, okay? No. One."

"Promise. Shit, that's.... That's something."

"I think I'm in deep shit. I don't know what to do. He can't fucking find out, though, can he?"

"Wait, so how did you realise? Was it our conversation about him on the first day?"

"No..? I- It's too many things," He starts, but then he remembers he has to consider Louis here. There are some things that aren't his to share and should stay between the two of them and he thinks last night is one of those things. He tries to steer the conversation so he won't have to provide details, so he doesn't have to say that it was Louis flirting with him, his breath on his neck, his eyes pinning him in place. "I'm scared he's going to realise, and I can't let that happen! He'll tell his friends and you know what they are like!"

"Homophobic as fuck? Yeah, it's not looking too good. I have to say, I'm not exactly agreeing with your taste here. Yeah, he's hot, obviously, but he treats you like shit on the bottom of his shoe. How are you attracted to him when he yells at you and blames you for literally everything?"

"No, it's- he's been... he's been different this trip. We haven't become, like, best friends or anything, but he hasn't been completely mean to me the entire time. He's shown a different side to him and it seems genuine. I don't want to sound delusional, but he's not going to show that side towards me in front of anyone else so I can't prove it to you."