Once they first began texting, they didn't seem capable of stopping again. Louis seemed to have a new notification from Harry every time he unlocked his phone, and he loved it.
It made butterflies take flight in his stomach, and his heart beat a few beats too fast as he read over Harry's words. It wasn't big things they texted about, mostly just random stuff. Louis asked Harry about his writing, and Harry would ask about his photography. Louis would ask what Harry was doing, and Harry would send a picture of him in the middle of cooking dinner.
Harry would ask if he and the boys wanted to come over to their apartment to help build their new beds.
It was the Saturday after their trip to the park, and Louis hadn't seen Harry in person since. He stared at the text, nibbling his bottom lip. He had planned on doing some cleaning, maybe going for a run, but he would honestly rather build a bed with Harry and Niall while listening to Harry's records than go out in the Autumn air.
He quickly typed a reply. Let me go ask the boys if they can, but you can count me in for sure.
Seconds later, Harry's reply came.
Harry: Sounds like a plan :))
Harry had a habit of putting that emoji almost in every text he sent, Louis had noticed. It was something he had grown quite fond of. It was almost like Harry's dimples showed through the phone, his eyes shining the way they always did when they looked at Louis.
Louis left his room, walking into the kitchen. "Parents!" he yelled into the room. "I summon you!"
The door to Zayn's room opened, and both Liam and he looked out, confused. They looked like they had been sleeping, a pillow mark evident on Liam's cheek.
Louis furrowed his eyebrows. "Having a sleepover without me? How rude."
"Um—"
"I have plans for us today if you'd like to join," Louis said. "They involve a certain boy named Harry."
"Oh." Zayn's eyes lit up in interest. "Do tell more."
"He and Niall are building their beds today," Louis said. "They didn't get them until today, and they're asking if we wanna join. There's beer and Niall is bringing pizza from his shift at work."
"Doesn't sound all bad," Liam said. "I'm in."
"Same," Zayn grinned. "I gotta watch this romance go down." He wriggled his eyebrows. "Especially after your romantic trip in the park."
Louis' cheeks turned crimson. "Shut up, it was not. Besides we are just friends."
"For now," Liam said.
"I don't even know if he's queer yet, Payno," Louis said.
"With the way he gets when he's around you, how could he not be?" Zayn asked.
Louis shrugged, smiling slightly. "I hope you're right. I just... I really fucking like him. God, this ain't like me. I haven't had a crush on someone like this... ever actually."
"Which makes it even more adorable," Zayn said.
Louis grabbed an apple from their fruit bowl and threw it toward Zayn. It wasn't even close to hitting him. Zayn just gave him an amused glance.
"I'm just saying facts, Lou."
"And please don't throw the fruits, Louis," Liam said. "I just bought them."
"Sorry, Liam, my other dad was being annoying."
"I was not!"
"You're really getting into this parents thing," Liam amusedly said.
"Well, you started it," Louis grinned. "I just jumped on the train."
Liam rolled his eyes fondly, picking up the apple. "When are we to be at Harry's place?"
"Three hours," Louis said. "That's when Niall's shift ends."
"Great," Liam said. "You mentioned you wanted to go on a run. Wanna run together?"
Louis groaned, looking out at the window. The sky was grey. "Do I have to?"
"No."
"Fine, if you insist, I will join you."
Liam beamed. "Thanks, Lou."
* * *
"Do I look alright?" asked Louis, gesturing down himself. They were standing outside Harry's building, the rain drizzling down. He was wearing jeans and a white hoodie, his denmin jacket over.
"Bit too late to change it now, innit?" Zayn said. "But yes, you do. Now fucking ask if we can come inside. I'm freezing."
Louis rolled his eyes. "Thanks, Zaynie." He stepped up to the, finding Harry and Niall's apartment on the buzzer list. He found it and pressed down.
Static sounded, but then, "Hello?"
"Hi, Harry," Louis spoke as he held the button down. His stomach fluttered. "It's us."
"I see," came Harry's voice, teasingly. "That clarifies it. Come on in."
The door buzzed, and when Louis grabbed it opened. They went inside, walking up the stairs to Harry and Niall's floor. It was Zayn who knocked, and once it was opened by Harry, Louis couldn't stifle the smile that spread on his face. Harry's eyes immediately sought out Louis', his own grin forming. Harry was wearing a pair of grey sweatpants and a green sweater. His hair was damp as if he had just showered. Slight stubble covered his chin.
"Hey," he said. It came out almost breathless.
"Hello to you too," Zayn said. He looked like someone who was trying hard to hold in his laughter.
"Oh." Harry shifted his gaze to the two others. "Hi. Come in." He stepped aside, making space for them to step through the door.
They stepped inside, Louis walking through lastly. His shoulder brushed against Harry's in his passing.
Harry closed the door. "You can put your jackets and stuff here." He gestured to the wall next to the door. There were hooks on the wall.
"Thanks, mate," Zayn said, shrugging his coat off.
Louis took off his jacket, putting it on a hanger. He took his Vans off as well, putting them next to Zayn's.
"Niall will be here in twenty," Harry said, walking through the hallway. "Until then, can I offer you something to drink?"
They followed him into the kitchen, Louis letting his eyes trail over the place. There were tons of boxes standing everywhere, some open.
Harry's cheeks turned red when he noticed Louis' gaze. "We, um, we haven't gotten around to unpacking yet. Well, not that much. We still have to agree on how to do it and such, and—"
"It's lovely, Harry," Louis grinned.
"Yeah," agreed Liam. "It's a really nice apartment you've got here."
"Thanks," Harry said, his cheeks still red. "Now, I have beer and coffee, and I also think we have some soda." He went to open the fridge, peering inside. "Ah! Yes, we do."
"Coffee for me would be lovely," Liam said. "Louis and I just went on the most tiring run of our lives.. I need the energy"
Harry raised an eyebrow at Louis. "You run?"
Louis nodded. "Yup."
"Same," Harry grinned, beginning to work on coffee. "Who else wants coffee?"
"I would love some," Zayn said. "Thank you."
"Me too," Louis said.
While the coffee was brewing, Harry showed them around the apartment. He showed them the living room, a small, cosy place. It wasn't that decorated yet, the only things there being two comfortable-looking chairs, a table, a television, and a few shelves on the walls. He showed them the bathroom. It had a shower and bath in one, and on the counter next to the sink, was a row of men's perfume. Harry also showed them both Niall's and his rooms. Niall had decorated slightly more than Harry had—the only thing Harry had, was his record player and the stack of records next to it. One thing common with both rooms, though, was the big boxes that stood in the middle of each of them. Their beds.
In the end, they ended up in the kitchen once again, the coffee brewed and finished. They sat around the small dining table, Harry asking Zayn about his fitness routines.
"You go to the gym a lot?" Louis asked.
"Yeah," grinned Harry. "I run once or twice a week and go to the gym at least three times. I love exercising."
Oh boy. "That's nice."
"I tried to get Louis to join me in the gym in the beginning, but he has a fear of weights," Zayn explained, teasingly. "He is sticking with running, and so is Liam. Those traitors have left me without a fitness buddy."
"I would love to join you every now and then," Harry said. "I could spot you."
Before Zayn got the chance to answer, the sound of the front door being opened was heard. "I'm home!" sounded Niall's voice. "And I brought food!"
Grinning, Harry stood up. "Coming, Nigel."
"That's what she said," Louis mumbled, taking a sip of his coffee.
Harry chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. He headed for the hallway, emerging seconds later with three pizza boxes in hand, and Niall in his heels. Niall was also carrying two pizza boxes, a big grin on his face. "Hey, guys."
"Sup, Niall," Zayn greeted. "Great seeing you again."
"I can only say the same," Niall said. "I love it when people come over to help me build my bed. Or rather, do the job for me—Ow!"
Harry, who had just punched Niall in the shoulder, shook his head, sighing. "Don't mind him."
Niall pursed his lips. "Here I was, bringing home pizza, and you just—"
"Hush, Niall, you know I love ya."
"Whatever." Niall rolled his eyes fondly. He placed the pizza boxes he was carrying on the table, taking the seat next to Liam. The seat where Harry had sat before. Now the only free spot was next to Louis.
Harry placed down the boxes as well, pulling the chair next to Louis out. He sat down.
"I'm one of the men of this house," Niall said, "and I say we start by eating and then do the hard work afterwards. Sounds good?"
"More than," Louis grinned. "What options are there?"
Niall began opening the boxes while listing off the different kinds. "Pepperoni, salad, meat, vegan, and... well, I am not a judgemental human being, so I also bought pineapple." The look in his eyes clearly showed that he was judgemental. Out of spite, Louis took a piece of pineapple, smirking.
To his surprise, Harry took vegan.
"Are you vegan?" he asked. He hoped he didn't come off as rude.
Luckily, Harry didn't seem to think he did, just smiling. "No, I just prefer vegan over meat most of the time. Tastes amazing."
Louis pursed his lips. "Maybe I should try sometime."
"Harry makes some of the best vegan food I have ever tasted," Niall said. "You guys should come over for dinner sometime."
"We would love to," Liam said.
"Absolutely," Zayn chimed in.
Harry's cheeks had turned red. "He is overreacting. It's not that good."
Niall scoffed. "Sure. You're the best cook I have ever known."
"You like cooking a lot?" Louis asked, a fond smile was on his lips. Harry had sent him plenty of pictures of him cooking, but he had never said if it was something he enjoyed.
"Yeah," Harry nodded. "And baking. If it wasn't for me, Niall would have eaten himself to death in Fastfood already."
"No true!" Niall said, offendedly pointing his piece of pizza in Harry's direction.
"Sorry." Harry held his hands up in defence. A mischievous grin was playing on his features, and Louis didn't think he had ever looked more beautiful.
Zayn, Liam, and Niall began a conversation about sports, but Louis took Harry's attention. "Harry."
Harry looked at him, a small smile playing on his lips. "What's up, Louis?"
"Not my dick."
Harry laughed loudly and suddenly, hiding his mouth behind his hands. Louis laughed along, his heart feeling light with the sound.
"Okay, sorry," he said. "I was actually intending to ask..." What had he even meant to say? He had no clue where to take the conversation, he just wanted to hear him talk. God, he loved his voice. "Um, when did you find out you loved cooking?"
"When I was little," Harry replied. "My sister, Mom, and I would bake every Sunday when we were kids. We would do it while listening to old records and do silly dances." He smiled fondly at the memory.
"Is that where your love for records started?" asked Louis.
"Well, my stepfather had a rather big collection, and still does, I guess it started there."
"What kinda music do you listen to?" Louis asked, resting his chin in his palm.
"A lot of eighties, you know, Queen, Kiss, Fleetwood Mac, but I also really enjoy Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Eminem, all that. What about you?"
"I love The Fray, Coldplay, also Queen, and just a whole lot of pop and punk."
"That sounds about right," Harry said, smiling.
Louis tilted his head to the side. "How so?"
Harry shrugged. "Just fits you."
A warm feeling spread in Louis' chest. "I—"
"Guys, stop flirting," Zayn said, making both of them blush. "If we need to build these beds we need to start now."
Harry pulled out his phone and checked the time. "Damn, yeah. Okay." He got up from the chair, smiling down at Louis. "You coming?"
"Not yet." Once again, Harry laughed loud and bright.
* * *
Building the beds took two and a half hours. They drank beer and cursed a lot, but finally, the two beds were made. They were both Queen sized, and while Liam, Zayn, and Niall went to Niall's room to help him make the bed—because apparently Niall, a grown-arse man, needed help to make a bed—Louis and Harry stayed in Harry's room. They were sitting on the edge of his newly made bed, talking softly.
"Thanks for coming today," Harry spoke softly. "It was really nice."
"It really was," agreed Louis, bumping their shoulder softly together. "Can't wait for next time."
"Next time for what? That we will build a bed? Can't promise that will be in the near future."
"No, silly," chuckled Louis. "Next time we will spend time together."
"Oh." Harry's cheeks turned crimson. He scrunched his nose, and Louis' heart melted.
"I enjoy spending time with you, you know," Louis softly said.
"That's nice," Harry said. He made it sound like people didn't usually tell him that.
Louis furrowed his eyebrows. "Do people not tell you that often?"
Harry shrugged, scratching his neck uncomfortably. "Well, Niall does. And my family. But I have never really had anyone besides them. Used to get bullied a lot in school."
"What?" Louis asked, confused. How could anyone bully anyone as kind as Harry?
Harry shrugged. "Because I knew I was gay from a very young age."
Louis felt bad for the joy that spread through him at Harry's words, given they were said in such a sad matter.
He put his arm around Harry's shoulder, squeezing. "Well, now you've got Zayn, Liam, and I. And we adore you just the way you are." Then he couldn't help but add. "I'm gay too, so if you ever want someone to talk to about... you know, the struggles of it, I'm here."
Harry's face lit up slightly, and Louis' stomach made a backflip. "You are?"
"Yup." Louis nodded, grinning.
Harry grinned, his dimples deep. "Alright."
Louis couldn't help but smile either as warmth spread in his stomach. "Yeah."
Harry looked at him with a soft smile, one that made butterflies take flight in Louis' stomach.
"You know," Louis rushed out, "if you'd like to meet more people, a mate of mine, Stan, is hosting a party this upcoming Friday. The boys and I are all going. You and Niall should come, too."
Harry wet his lips. "I think I would like that."