In Too Deep (Dancing With The Shadows)

twenty three

"After I burnt the pasta. Had to throw that pot away, Mabel was pissed."

Harry cackles, pokes Louis' belly button which causes his tummy to ripple. "Only you would do something like that."

Louis swallows the lump in his throat. "I don't want to be there when you leave," he says truthfully. "It'll be too hard to watch you slip right out of my fingers. I saw Owen leave, I can't watch you go, too."

Harry squeezes Louis tighter. "I respect that." He rolls over for a moment and there's a light illuminating into the room before it vanishes. "We have just under an hour," Harry mutters sadly. "What should we do for that hour?"

"Say goodbye," Louis whispers with a slight waver to his voice. He rolls so Harry is on the bed and he's kneeling over his body. 

His palms lay flat on Harry's bare chest and he brings his lips down to Harry's plump ones, savouring every little touch until he can memorise it as easily as it is to breathe. He wants it to be second nature to him. 

They make out for as long as they can until they're pulling apart to catch a breath. Louis slumps into Harry, holding him close because in a few minutes, Harry will be gone. 

He so desperately wants to let those three words slip out like his dad told him to do, but he's too afraid. He doesn't want to spoil what they already have with something that could potentially fuck them up forever. 

Harry's phone buzzes and he picks it up. "David is thirty minutes away. I still gotta shower," he says on a sigh. 

Louis' stomach and heart twists. This is it. This is where they part ways after the best month of his life, despite his mother's words, he hasn't been this peaceful and happy in a long time. And now the demons want to crowd back around knowing that Harry is leaving.

He won't let them win, though. 

Louis gets up from the bed, legs like lead, much like his heart. "I'll let you get ready," he decides, giving Harry a soft smile. He gives a short wave and quickly pops his shorts back on, leaving the room. "Bye, Harry," he whispers.

His lip wobbles, tears threatening to escape, the lump in his throat making it hard to swallow.

He reaches the front door. 

As he goes to close it behind him, Harry's voice travels to his ear and he stops.

"Lou, wait!" Harry desperately yells.

Louis turns around and Harry is striding over, quickly pulling Louis in for another kiss. It tingles Louis lips. fingertips and toes and he wants to savour in it forever.

But as quick as it comes, Harry is pulling away and leaning his forehead against Louis'. 

"Goodbye, Lou."

"Bye, Haz." A tear escapes Louis' eye and Harry is quick to capture it with the pad of his finger. 

"None of that."

Louis gives a weak smile, wipes his hand down his face. "Gonna go sleep. Thanks to you, I've been up all night," he teases.

Harry grins, dimples at play. "Don't act as if you didn't enjoy it."

Louis rolls his eyes and steps away, walking silently to the mansion with only one last glance back. 

He finds Clifford on his bed, fast asleep. He curls up beside him, burying his head into the dog's fur and he lets his emotions run free, crying into Clifford before he slips into a restless sleep.

...

A sound of knocking stirs him out of sleep and with bleary eyes he looks toward the window to see that it's still not fully light outside. He checks his phone to see that it's five in the morning, meaning he's only been asleep for less than an hour.