Harry and Niall just somehow seem to not get along very well
Love me, love me, (pretend that you love me)
Niall usually doesn't have problems to befriend somebody, really, he likes everyone and everyone likes him. It's a common thing and really. Niall has a lot of friends. Some are better friends, some aren't, but that's just how it is. He's practically 'friends' with everyone at university, well, at least with those he knows and that are a whole damn lot.
But then there's Harry and he just can't seem to find a connection to Harry.
Harry is all independent and hipster and unique and really. Niall thinks that Harry's only selfish and egocentric, sometimes quite a show-off, too. Niall certainly gets that Harry's rich and he also understands that he doesn't want to dress in something less than Prada, because Harry, in Harry's own mind, probably thinks he doesn't deserve anything that doesn't cost at least half of what's in Niall's wardrobe. Plus the wardrobe.
Harry surely has it all: rich parents, a pretty face and good grades. What Harry doesn't have is friends. So that's that.
Niall kind of pities him. Harry's always alone and all on his own and this has to be lonely. This lifestyle of his has to be lonely and no money in the world could buy him happiness.
Well, when Niall thinks about it like that, it's actually kind of suspicious that Harry doesn't have friends, he means, uhm, have you seen that bloke's face and his bulging wallet?
People and mostly broke university students love people with pretty faces and big, fat, overfilled wallets.
But then again, Harry is unbearable and maybe even the poorest students have given up to be friends with him.
There's been a time, actually, when Niall has tried to get to know that dude and his curls, but Harry's just been an ass to Niall back then and therefore Niall hasn't tried any further. They haven't talked after that week, but nasty glares which were shot at each other and still are shot, say it all.
Harry started this glaring competition and Niall didn't know any other way than to glare back. He's simple like that.
It's Tuesday afternoon when Harry obviously decides to talk to Niall for whatever reason. Niall doesn't know and he certainly doesn't care, but he tries to be nice to Harry, despite that they kind of hate each other and despite that he has done nothing and despite that Harry's green eyes are skimming meanly as ever over Niall's body.
"Go on a date with me", is what Harry says and the lad looks Niall straight into the eyes, without a hint of shame or regret flickering in them. Not even is the look mean anymore and it is really, extraordinarily confusing. So Harry isn't shy and he knows how to get to the point, but really. What is happening.
Niall is confused as hell and he stares at Harry for a couple of seconds, before he pulls himself together to actually answer Harry's question. If that even was a question, it sounded more like a threat.
"Well, uhm, no, I can't, but thank you", Niall refuses in the friendliest way he can think of, with a light and apologising smile playing on his lips. Niall is friends with everybody, Niall has a reputation to protect. Also they are both adults, they shouldn't hate each other in this childish way, it's ridiculous.
But Harry obviously doesn't take any of Niall's hypocritical shit.
"Yes you can, I know for a fact that you're gay and that you like taller guys. I am. I am taller. Taller than you anyway", Harry says sternly and it really does sound threatening now and it also looks threatening, the way Harry towers over Niall, stepping even closer and cupping Niall's face.
Niall can't help but frown, because really, he doesn't know what crawled up Harry's ass to act like this right now.
"I saw you dating a bloke with curly hair once. See? I have curly hair as well.", he shakes his head to make his curls slightly bounce up and down. "There's no problem with dating me then", Harry breathes into Niall's face, which causes the blonde Irishman to blink repeatedly.
He's too stunned to even think about fighting against Harry's grip and whatever kind of attack this is.
Niall still tries to be nice, because he is a nice lad and he also is probably dreaming, this can't be real. This can't be Harry. This really cannot be real in the slightest way.
"Well, yeah, I am gay and I also dated a guy with curly hair, but... you know... it's also about personality and-"
"I heard you like football. So do I. See? We fit perfectly.", Harry seems to have it all figured out. "And you're friends with everybody anyway, so I really can't see why you're refusing to go on a simple date with me", Harry grumbles, his voice deep and slow and yeah, Niall is kinda scared of that boy's behaviour and he has to think of a plan on how to escape him and his iron grip on Niall's face. It's too real.
"No, seriously, Harry, sorry but I don't want to go on a date with you. I've never talked to you more than a few insults and really, what's all of this suddenly? Are you on drugs? Have you lost a bet?", Niall lifts his hands to Harry's on his face and pulls them away. The grip suddenly a lot softer than before.
There they stand after that, Niall holding Harry's wrists up in midair and well, they look at each other and there's something new in Harry's glance and it makes Niall's stomach flutter lightly. He doesn't really know it that's a good feeling or not and he also doesn't really want to decide.
"I-I haven't l-lost a bet", Harry mumbles and Niall can barely hear it, but he does and he huffs.
"I a-also am not on drugs, I don't do that kind of stuff, I-I don't even smoke!"
Niall lifts his eyebrows surprised. Harry doesn't smoke? That's news to him.
He finally lets Harry's wrists go and they slump limply to the boy's side. Niall didn't realise he had held them so strongly and it kind of freaks him out, but not enough to actually. Well. Freak out.
Harry takes a deep breath and starts talking again: "So, uhm, you don't want to date me, I get that, okay, I get it. But can we try and be friends? I... I'm sorry for how I behaved in the past, but... can we try? Can you give me a chance? Please, Niall? Please?"
And yeah, Niall's never heard Harry begging for anything and this is weird and new, but Niall's a nice guy, so he nods that yeah, they can be friends.
If Harry ends up deserving his friendship, at least.
"Great", Harry smiles weakly at the blonde in front of him. "How long does it usually take for you to get from friends to lovers?", and to say that Niall is totally baffled is an understatement. This guy has no sensitivity or decency at all, Niall figures and so he doesn't know better but to gape at Harry speechlessly, which makes the taller lad frown.
"Do you just want to fuck? You can just say that, alright? You don't have to beat around the bush, okay?", Niall asks and feels himself turning as red as a tomato. "Can't you just fucking buy your whore if you need one? I'm not here to be your boy toy, you twat!"
Harry can literally see Niall getting angrier and angrier with every word. He doesn't want that, he just wants to... he wants to... he doesn't know what he wants and he reckons that this is the main problem at the moment.
The truth it is, probably. Whatever Harry's truth is, whatever that word even means.
"You know what, Niall? This is not why I came here to talk to you. I just want to befriend you, yeah? I never hated you. I never did. I just envy you, alright? You're smart and funny and pretty and happy and lucky and nice and you can easily gain friends and everybody loves you and well, at first I thought that this is so wrong. That a person simply can't be like this, happy all the time. It seemed fake to me, okay?", Harry snaps and clutches Niall's slim shoulders.
"But it isn't, at least I think it isn't. I don't know you, Niall. I don't. And I realised, that I want to change that. I realised that I even have a fucking crush on you, a crush! A crush! I fancy you and I can't explain why! It's not like nobody does, because, let's be honest, everybody has a crush on you, even the straightest blokes and the lesbianest lesbians! It's just impossible to not fancy you", his breathing is almost as heavy as if he had ran a foot race.
"I tried to hate you, believe me, but then you smile and all the hatred is simply gone. I don't know how you do it, but it must be something about your innocent blue eyes and that fucking blonde hair. Do you even go to a real hairdresser or do you do that by yourself? Because sometimes it looks ridiculously bad dyed and I just kind of love it even more then, even though I would never admit that. I just did, didn't I? Argh, doesn't matter!", he lets go of Niall's shoulders and runs a hand through his curly hair, clearly frustrated.
"So, let me ask for a date one more time and please, please, don't say no. I beg you. You can even only pretend that you like me, just... please?", Harry's voice sounds weak when he finishes the sentence and Niall feels his chest tightening. He doesn't want to feel guilty, but Harry just makes him. Niall gulps, then croaks out a hoarse yes and it's awkward.
He's had a few awkward relationship beginnings but this is definitely the most awkward one. Also the most confusing one but hey. Who says that this one isn't going to last a lifetime?
He doubts it, because Harry and he never seemed to get along. Maybe they are too different, maybe they are going to skin each other alive, but maybe under all of those curls there's a decent human being? Niall can only hope.
But then, suddenly, Harry takes Niall's hand in his own and kisses his forehead swiftly, smiling at the Irishman afterwards, which makes the lad blush lightly and his heart beat faster. Niall looks then at their joined hands and how warm and big Harry's are and yeah, maybe they can make this work.
And somehow Harry turns from annoying and posh to loveable and caring, yeah, it's strange like that, but it's also some kind of love and love does things nobody can explain. At least Niall can't, he doesn't study psychology.
What Niall understands though, is that the truth sometimes works miracles and maybe Harry and Niall were meant for each other after all.
***
AN: I dedicate this One Shot to MinecraftNoob, because she's a darling and a big, big sweetheart. I love you! :))
Also this is loosely based off the song "Lovefool" by The Cardigans, where I also took the title from.
It's a great song, old yeah, but great! Check it out, if you want!
(Also I've got the feeling that this One Shot ressembles "Turning you gay", if it does, then I'm sorry, I noticed this too late!) x