Scared (L.S)

three

When Harry woke up the next morning, he was almost excited to go to school, which hadn't happened since he was seven. Harry knew that he had English first period, which meant that he would see Louis and that the older boy would talk to him. Maybe Harry's mind was moving too quickly, but he had been crushing on Louis since year 10 when he saw the blue-eyed boy in a play the school had put on, so he really couldn't help but be excited about this whole thing.

Harry had truly thought that Louis hated him, but to be fair Harry thought everyone hated him. It was this thought that stuck in the back of his head at all times and he had a hard time shutting it off.

Because of his excitement, Harry was quick to get ready and leave for school, slipping on his uniform and kissing his mother on the cheek before walking out the door, headphones securely in his ears with The Strokes playing loudly.

Harry began on his usual walk, even if it was 20 minutes earlier than he normally left, not much was different. Except for today, Harry was struggling to focus on the lyrics of Someday as his mind kept drifting to the blue-eyed boy he had seen the day before.

And with that, as if by fate, Harry happened to glance behind him to see a familiar car approaching. Harry pulled out an earbud as the small grey car approached him, Louis Tomlinson sitting in the driver's seat in the full, angel-like glory that seemed to follow him everywhere.

"Harry!" Louis called out as he rolled down the passenger seat window and pulled to a stop beside the shorter boy. "You need a ride?"

Harry thought for a minute, as much as he loved his daily walk to school, which allowed him to get some peace with just his music and thoughts, he would have to kill himself if he passed up the opportunity to get a ride to school with the Louis Tomlinson.

So Harry shrugged and Louis took that as a yes, leaning across the passenger seat to open the door for the other boy. Harry slid into the seat and shrugged off the sweater he had on over his uniform. Louis' car was hot. Although it was mid-September and definitely beginning to cool down, Harry couldn't help but think that it was absolutely ridiculous for anyone to have their heat on yet.

Louis, noticing Harry take off his sweater, smiled at the boy as he pulled away from the curb. "Sorry about the heat, 'm still not quite sure how the car works, only started driving it a few months ago."

"You had the heat on like this all summer?" Harry asked. It had been quite warm in England that past summer, a few heat waves taking up most of the summer.

Louis chuckled, "No, I turned it on a few nights ago when it got cold but I haven't figured out how to turn it off... I think the button's stuck."

Harry just nodded, deciding that he's probably said enough for the day, or at least for the car ride.

As they drove, Louis spoke about their English project and his other classes. As they approached the school, Harry could see Louis fidgeting with his sleeve. "You okay?" He asked.

"Hmm?" Louis said, turning to look at Harry for a brief moment before looking back at the road, "Yeah, yeah, it's just... Um... I need to drop you off a bit from school."

Harry furrowed his eyebrows, confused. Louis pulled to the side of the road, they were just around the corner. Louis turned the car off and pulled the keys from the ignition, turning to look at the younger boy.

Louis' hand was tapping away on the gear shift and Harry couldn't take the anxious energy so he reached over and placed his hand over the other boy's, stopping the fidgeting. Harry could feel Louis flinch the slightest bit when their hands made contact but he didn't say anything and neither boy attempted to move.

"Fuck it," Louis muttered, pulling his hand away from Harry's to put the key back in the ignition and start the car again. Once they were back on the road, turning the corner towards the school, Louis reached over the console and took Harry's lonely hand, that had been resting on his lap, into his hand. And neither boy said a thing.

As Louis pulled into the school's parking lot he had to pull his hand away from Harry's, his parking skills were limited and he needed both hands to do it successfully. Once the car was stopped and in place, Louis turned it off and turned to look at Harry.

"Look, about back there..."

Harry cut him off, "It's okay, I get it, you don't want to be seen with me," Harry was used to this kind of thing. He knew that no one at the school liked him and he had gotten used to living his life that way.

"No, Harry," Louis reached across the armrest again and took lightly took hold of Harry's hand, but only after quickly glancing around the parking lot to make sure that no one was watching them, "I really like you, it's just my friends and the soccer team... I'm sorry, I'll, uh, see you in English ya?"

Harry nodded and grabbed his bag from the floor of the car, opening the door and leaving Louis alone.

As he walked into the school, headphones in, without looking back to see if Louis was following, he couldn't help but scold himself. How could he have been so stupid to think that Louis had actually liked him, had actually wanted to be his friend? Nobody wanted to be friends with Harry.