Invisible string

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Time, curious time, gave me no compasses, gave me no signs...

*

The following day was cooler than usual, but had rays of sun peeking through clouds and no wind. Harry considered this a perfect day to go down to the lake. He should make use of the summery view down there while it lasted- the leaves were holding on to their lasts drops of green by now.

Harry gathered his belongings off his desk: earphones, wallet and most importantly his book, which had now moved on to be the 8th one so far.

He was currently reading The Notebook. Sure, Harry had already seen the movie but it was no match to the book, even if he knew it would leave him in tears by the end of it. It was immediately one of his favourite novels ever since he opened the book, and has barely been able to put it down ever since.

Once he packed away his stuff and got ready to leave, he then hustled down the stairs towards the front door.

"Bye mum, I'll be back later tonight!" He called out before he left.

"Okay, text me if you need anything." His mum, Anne, replied from the kitchen.

With that, the curly-haired boy stepped outside and shut the door behind him. He set off on the familiar journey towards the lake while pulling open his book so he could read while walking.

He minded his own business while walking, his head stuck in his book and not watching where he was going. As he turned a corner, he collided with something as hard as a wall causing him to stumble backwards and drop his book.

"Oops! Sorry I didn't see-" he was cut off by a familiar voice.

"Hi, are you alright? I didn't mean you crash into you." The blue-eyed boy said, bending down to collect Harry's book off the ground. He stood back upright and extended his arm out to hand it back.

Harry's voice caught in his throat. It was the Teal Shirt Boy. Except he had no teal shirt on this time. And with the absence of a counter between the two boys, they felt much closer than usual.

"Thanks... Louis." He stumbled, taking the book back. The sun must've come out because it felt a lot hotter than it did a minute ago.

"It's nice to see you here, I didn't expect to run into you," Louis said surprised, but contentedly. This made Harry smile.

"Neither did I," He laughed.

"That book is great...The Notebook is it?" Louis said, gesturing towards the one he just picked off the ground. "It was one of my favourites actually."

"Oh, you've read it? I love it so far. I already know the ending though, because I've seen the movie." Harry replied.

It was a mixture of relief and excitement knowing that Louis shared the same interest in his book. Unlike previous encounters, their conversation came so naturally and Harry found himself getting lost in the smoothness of it.

For the first time, he was hearing Louis talk about his own thoughts and expressing his personality, and that merely made Harry fall impossibly harder for him.

"So where are you heading off to?" Louis asked, changing the subject.

For a second, Harry forgot what he was doing out in the first place. "Oh, right, I was just going down to the lake."

"A lake? I didn't know there was one around here. I haven't had time to explore the town yet." He said, head tilted to one side.

"If you like I could show you it?" Harry blurted out before he could stop himself. "It's one of my favourite spots to go to. Only if you're not busy, of course." He added on.