Chasing Empty Spaces

Chapter 3

Harry flushed and ducked his head down, “I dunno.” He wiped a bead of sweat off the back of his neck, “I don’t go out much.” When Louis’ eyes widened, Harry added, “Well, I go to the club, obviously. But that’s just to perform.”

“Hold on,” Louis slightly flailed his hands in the air, “Do you mean to tell me that you don’t go out drinkin’?”

“Uh,” Harry drawled out, “Why would I do that?”

Louis incredulously held out his palms, “Just cos you wanna?”

“I’m too busy,” Harry quickly deflected.

“Too busy to do somethin’ fun?”

“Our ideas of what fun is, are different, Louis.”

Louis rested his back against the door of the truck, “Then what’s your idea of fun?”

“Piano,” Harry easily answered, stepping towards Louis’ left and mirroring his position against the truck.

“Fair enough,” Louis exhaled on a small laugh. He craned his neck to meet Harry’s gaze, “Awfully lonely, though.”

Harry instinctively opened his mouth to argue, but shut it when the corners of Louis’ lips dipped downwards. He looked away from Louis’ unnerving stare and lightly thrummed his fingertips along the book in his grasp.

“Maybe,” Was all that Harry could muster to mumble.

“Harry,” Louis quietly said, almost too tenderly for Harry’s comfort. He gently pressed his elbow into Harry’s side, “Are you lonely?”

He let out an affronted spat of laughter, “That’s awfully rude to ask.”

Louis turned his body to face Harry, his arms folded over his chest. Harry kept his body angled forwards, avoiding eye contact during Louis’ following question.

“Why did you come to the shop yesterday?”

Harry self-consciously fidgeted in place, “I needed someone to talk to.”

“Cos you’re lonely?”

Harry whipped his head to the side and glared at Louis, “I’m not lonely.” He pointedly looked around the plantation, “Already got everything I need.”

Louis let out an unimpressed snort, “You have things, Harry.”

“And what do you have that’s so much better?” Harry incredulously asked.

“My health,” Louis pointed towards his chest, “A roof tuh sleep under.” He dropped his hands to his side and lifted his eyebrows, “People who care about me.”

Not bothering to wait for a response, Louis rounded the truck and hauled a bike from the bed of the car. He steadied the bike between his hands and swung a leg over the seat. Harry rushed to the front of Louis’ bike and gripped the center of the handlebars, his thighs bracketing the tire.

“Let go, Harry,” Louis sighed.

Harry petulantly shook his head, “Why do you always have to insult me?”

“D’you honestly think I’m around just to make you feel bad?” Louis narrowed his eyes.

Harry’s hand tightened around the metal, “Sure does feel like that.”

“All I did was ask ya a question,” Louis rolled his eyes.

Blood rushed to Harry’s cheeks as he quickly said, “An inappropriate question.”

“Are you forgettin’ everything we talked about yesterday?” Louis disbelieving asked. “Fuckin’ hell,” He scrubbed a hand over his face, “All I asked was if you’re lonely.”