Chasing Empty Spaces

Chapter 5

"Okay," He anxiously called out as he tugged off the dress shirt, "Don't turn around."

Louis snickered, "Don't flatter yourself too much, Stud."

"Wait," Harry faltered as he tugged an undershirt over his head. He frowned, "But, I thought you liked -"

"I suggest you think carefully 'bout whateva you're gonna say next," Louis seriously said. There was a tint of laughter lacing his voice, but Harry knew that it was meant as a warning.

Deciding to swallow the words that would have coaxed reassurance of Louis' affection, Harry chucked off the rest of his clothes. His gaze was trained on the nape of Louis' neck as he dropped his clothes into a pile. Cupping a hand over his pelvis, he took a step closer towards the edge and stopped once his toes curled over the lip.

"Is it cold?" Harry asked as he loomed over the side.

"Just get in the water," Louis punctuated by slapping his palm against the surface of the lake.

Harry pinched his eyes shut and catapulted into the lake, knees tucked against his chest into a cannonball position. Cold water instantly drenched him and a rack of shivers rolled over his body. Kicking his feet out, Harry surged above the surface and gasped for air.

"Oh, shit!" Harry yelped, wiping water from his face.

Louis' musical laugh bellowed over the songbirds as he swam closer. Harry shook out his hair and pushed it away from his forehead. He couldn't help the adolescent grin that was stretched over his face once Louis stopped a few feet from him, the other man wearing a matching smile that crinkled the skin by his eyes.

"Too cold?" Louis teased as he sank lower, water lapping along his neck.

Harry sank down too and instinctively placed a hand in front of his groin even though the water was murky.

"No," Harry rolled his eyes, but his goosebumps were likely to give him away.

"You do know how to swim, yeah?"

"You thought to ask that after I jumped in?"

"Hey!" Louis defensively held up his hands, "I dunno know how often rich boys go for a dip!"

"Your right," Harry snuffed with a posh attitude, "We usually get the staff to do that for us."

Louis toothily grinned and shook his head, "You're an idiot."

"Yeah," He shrugged and mindlessly added, "But you're still gay for me."

Both of their eyes widened at his words, the implication blatant and thick in the statement. Louis' head tilted to the side as if he was deciphering whether Harry was testing him. Harry wasn't even sure what compelled him to say it. Possibly, a part of him wanted to hear Louis admit his feelings without the safety of nighttime. The corners of Louis' mouth tipped downwards after a minute.

"What're you playin' at, Harry?"

Harry frowned and sank lower, "M' not playing at anything."

"Right."

Louis turned away from him and waded farther away, the water breaking in his path. He stopped about ten yards out, head lolled forward as his hands rested atop of the surface. Louis' back was rigid and Harry had a guttural feeling that he managed to already ruin things from the posture alone. Without allowing time to doubt his actions, Harry swam towards Louis.

Once he stopped a couple of feet behind him, Harry reached out and brushed his knuckle against Louis' forearm. His finger was slightly shaking and his pulse furiously rabbited inside his neck. Louis looked down at their contact with blatant confusion painting his features. Harry wanted to smooth out the wrinkles along Louis' forehead and comfort him, but his own pride and insecurities stopped him.