"Please tell me that this is the last load." Harry drawled out to me as he sat in the chair, helping me with all the folding as I pulled out the freshly dry sports shorts from the drying machine. He was the one who offered to help me with the washing in the first place. I've never thought I would hear the bloke complaining about laundry. There wasn't even that much to do. Then again, I was used to doing this sort of thing.
"I bet you this is your first time having to wash your own uniform." I told him as I picked up the practice jerseys and dropped the pile down in front of where he was sitting. I then walked over to the pile of black shorts to put them into the clean linen bin.
"You do it so wonderfully." He joked with me as he lifted up the first jersey and folded it in half.
I wanted to turn around when he said it because I actually took the small joke as a compliment. Nobody obviously appreciated me for my work and it was nice to hear it from the person I wanted to most, the light hint that he might not be serious aside.
He seemed to melt into the idea of us being friends rather quickly. It was only about an hour ago that I had sat beside him and watched as he struggled with telling me that he could read me and know that I was not looking at him but I was looking to him. That must have meant the Harry wasn't just looking at the water boy. He, too, was looking to me. I never even noticed that because Harry's face was so serious, maybe to the point where it fooled me into thinking that it was emotionless. I was in complete awe with the words and how they sounded coming from him that my jaw felt heavy. I kept it closed because I didn't want him to feel any worse than his straining voice was already showing to me.
Of course, I didn't feel so open about it like we was. I still felt myself holding back about being around Harry. I still had that beaten boy to protect. I was starting to sound a bit like Liam. Though, after our conversation, I did feel a relaxing feeling that I never thought I would have a chance to feel.
When I did turn around to talk to him I stopped as I saw him holding up the 'TOMLINSON' jersey. As much as I wanted to cringe, like I did whenever I had his or Zayn's uniform in my hands, I didn't because a frown began to form across Harry's face at the sight of his, now ex, best friend's jersey. I didn't ask him how he felt because he had no clue that I heard the conversation between them earlier. I did what I was best at. I kept quiet.
Harry caught me watching him so gave him a short smile. All he did was let out a sigh as he quickly folded it and set it back down to the floor. He didn't talk much afterwards and he was probably just lost in thought about all the recent happenings. Just like with me, everything must have been hitting him all at once. I just hoped that he wouldn't have a breakdown in the laundry room because I wouldn't be stable enough to help him this time. Don't beat yourself up over me. It's too late to change what happened.
"All set." He announced to me quietly. Harry leaned forward from his chair and picked up the freshly done pile of jerseys and placed them on his lap, drumming them before lifting them up to hand over to my approaching figure.
Taking them from him, my fingertips accidentally glided along the long length of his fingers, running them over his knuckles and then the bump of the ring he wore. His skin was softer than I had imagined. I always figured it would be rough. He never pulled away from my unintentional touch but his eyes did glance down from his fingers and then up at me. By now the jerseys were already in my possession and I still stood right in front of Harry. Just friends, Niall. Just friends.
He was the first to clear his throat, reaching over to his side to pick up his aiding crutch. "Um, why don't you put those away and I'll meet you in the foyer?" He ran those fingers through his hair before he stood up, not wanting me to help as I went to tuck the thick pile of jerseys under my arm to reach out to him.
"Yeah, sure." I said awkwardly, wondering if something was suddenly bothering him. I silently told myself off that I shouldn't have lingered my touch for so long. We haven't even been friends for more than an hour.
I turned my back on him, still being able to hear as he left. As I bent down to put the folded clothes in the cart the large heavy door creaked opened and then loudly closed. Harry was now gone, thinking about God knows what. I decided to not let myself dread on whatever it was because I didn't want it to be about me.
I pushed the cart back into the change room and collected my things as I already had done this morning. I felt a bit more at ease with having my schoolbag with me this time because I felt like I was going to make it home without an obstacle in my wake.
Once I came out of the change room again, I turned my head to look down both ends of the hallway to see if I'd see Harry standing off to the side anywhere. I sighed when I did finally find him, his head hung low as he looked at his feet, his crutch being twirled under his palm. Readjusting my schoolbag onto my shoulder I walked on over to him, hoping that I wasn't about to interrupt something serious.
He looked up after my sneakers squeaked on the ground to give me away. Harry smoothed his hand through his hair like he always did, yet I never tired of watching him do that. One day, I wished it'd be my fingers allowed to thread through his hair. I wondered if he'd enjoyed feeling my fingers run through his soft locks. At first, my fingers would probably be trembling so maybe he'd feel uncomfortable about it. Then again, I didn't even know if he'd want a boy stroking his hair.
I have seen Harry with girls but he's never held their hands or anything. I never knew if he's ever had a girlfriend. He probably has though. He's probably has already had his first kiss, something I wouldn't be able to share with him fully; unless I'd be the first boy. I could imagine it being the perfect first kiss but, honestly, I've only kissed family, so I'd be a shit kisser.
Harry took a sharp intake of breath in before speaking. "Ready to go?"
I nodded, my lips in a thin line as I waited for him to lead the way over to his car. I looked down to his empty hands and bare back. "Did you forget your things?" Because I should be carrying them for you.
"I put them in my car before I came to the change room. I didn't want to be stuck sitting in there doing nothing for the shortest time possible. Plus, I didn't know if I'd be taking you home today so I didn't want to have to carry them if I were alone. I mean, not that I'm helpless because I'm not." The latter came out a bit bitter and it made me feel guilty for asking, for wanting to help him all the time. I never wanted to make him feel helpless. I was the helpless one after all.
"Oh, okay."
Yeah, nice touch in trying to sound oblivious to the obvious.
The rest of our journey to the car park was silent. Harry let me throw my things in his trunk along with his things. He was already in the car as I loaded up his trunk and I couldn't help but pause and let my eyes wander over his football bag, his sneakers, and the ball that had rolled all the way back inside the small space. It must have pained him to have to open his trunk and see this, knowing that for now it was all over. It even pained me to think it.
I got in beside Harry after stalling some with being overly observant. As he started the car and pulled out of his space I wondered if the drive to my flat was already quite familiar for him. He's made it a handful of times in the past few weeks so it must have felt like he knew exactly where I was.
He stopped just outside my house like he always did and he swallowed some air. "So, I was thinking, if you wanted I could drive you to school in the mornings and to the games. It would gives us that time to get to know each other." He shrugged.
As much as I would have gleefully screamed 'yes' I was able to keep my cool, trying to keep my smile small because of how much time he wanted to use to get to know me was getting to me more and more each time he mentioned it. That didn't make me want to forgive him though because I still didn't know much about him.
"If I had a car, I'd be the one offering you." I found myself saying to be polite to him since he was always driving me around like a taxi boy. I tried not to point off towards the top of the crutch that had slid from the back window to the front.
I immediately saw as Harry's face seemed to sadden and I instantly regretted the words that fell from my mouth. "I'm sorry about that. I hope that your appointment gets you back to where you should be." I apologized quickly, and rather lamely.
"It's alright. I'm sure things I'll return soon." He shook it off, giving me a sideways smile. Even if he didn't look completely happy, he was still just as attractive to me, maybe even more so that I could fix him.
I just nodded. I didn't really know what to say from here or what to do. The day had been eventful enough. I mean if you look at it, I had this heartfelt conversation with Liam and gotten his number if I wanted to ring him up. I had my full apology from Harry and rides to and from school from him. Maybe I could get Harry's number one day. All in all, I had gained two friends.
"I'll see you here tomorrow morning then?" I asked as I took off my safety belt, twisting my back to stretch it out.
"Yeah, don't forget your things from the back." He quickly licked at his lips. "I should be coming around half past six? Did you need to get there early for anything?"
"No, that's fine. I'll manage. Thank you, Harry."
"No problem. Um, could I get your number so I can message you when I come around?"
Why, yes. Of course, you can have my number, Harry Styles. What should I put my name as in your phone?
"That's probably a good idea. I was just planning on waiting outside for you so you didn't have to get out." My words shook as I wiped my sweaty palms onto the thighs of my sweatpants. Then I felt around my pants pockets for my phone, turning frantic when I couldn't find it. Shit.
"Is everything okay there?" Harry asked me as he turned to face me with his phone already in his hand.
"Yeah, I think I put my phone in my bag. Hang on a second." I went to open the door but to my awful embarrassment, the door had yet to be unlocked. I could use a graceful moment in front of Harry but I just wasn't allowed to have those.
He let out a small chuckle. "Let me get that for you." He shifted in his chair as my red face looked to watch his muscular back move, my lip sinking into my bottom lip as I was in a trance over the fascination from a simple movement.
Hearing the click brought me out of it. "I'll be right back." I nervously repeated as I was lucky enough to get the door opened this time. Before I wanted to hurriedly walk, I opened my door again. "Um, you might want to unlock the trunk." I let out a laugh, wishing this situation had already passed me.
"Good point." He smiled as he popped open the trunk for me. His fingers began to tap on the steering wheel as he waited for me to get my young schoolboy shit together.
I dug through the smaller pockets of my schoolbag, hoping that when I happily found my phone that I wouldn't lift my head up without thinking and knock myself out from smacking my head onto the door of the trunk. Trust me, the rate this was going, it was highly possible that was gonna happen.
"There ya are, ya little shit." I said to myself as I now held my phone in my hand. I paused for a moment before I took steps backwards from being burried in the trunk before I straightened my back. I put my phone into my pocket so I could dump my bags and things onto the grass besides Harry's car.
I took a deep breath and then let it out before I went back over to Harry. I was making this into a much larger deal than it was but things like this just never happen to me in real life.
"I thought you fell in and I was gonna have to come drag you out." He joked when I was sitting beside him.
Note to self: Harry doesn't tell very good jokes.
I passed him over my phone after he raised his eyebrow, letting me have his. As I slowly typed my mobile number in, in case I did it wrong and never heard from him, my concentration face appeared, my tongue poking out from the side. I went with just putting my name as 'Niall' into his phone. He could change it into whatever he wanted later. I was not opposed to him giving me a nickname because I probably would want to put something secretive into my phone for his name. I was getting too far into this whole thing. I wished it was just easy like with Liam, just giving me a piece of paper which reminded me that I needed to find where I put his number and put his number into my phone as well.
We traded phones back and said goodbye to each other again. My hand was sweating from how tightly I was now holding onto my phone, like it was going to disappear somehow and I'd lose a way to connect to Harry forever. I walked into my flat, my thumb going back and forth against the screen of my phone, leaving a wet smear from my nerves.
"You were sitting out there for quite a long time." My mum pointed out as I greeted her with my usual hug. I rolled my eyes. "How was your day back at school?"
"It was great." I wasn't lying to her about that. "I do have loads of coursework to get through. Thanks for that, by the way." I joked with her.
_______________________________________________
It was the next morning and just as promised Harry messaged me when he was here. I couldn't help but feel this strange wash of lurching go through my body when I saw his name, Harry, light up onto my screen. While I was working on my studies last night, I did happen to look over at my phone in case he thought he'd just send me a quick message or something for the hell of it or sometimes I just looked to see his number in my contacts because I didn't believe it. Then I would put it down and carefully leave my contacts but I always went back to check it because I didn't want to accidentally delete his number. I was being a bit of a madman over it.
Tonight was another match, the first match that Harry wouldn't be taking his part in. As cheerful as I wanted to be with him this morning, I knew it was going to be a sore for sorts day for him so I didn't want to mention anything about it.
When I did get back into the car I could tell that he was upset and maybe that was why. He wasn't going to get to play tonight and he still had to be there in support of his team. I didn't think he'd skip out on another, especially with his new stand as taking proper charge in being the captain. I was anxious to see what that would endure.
I hesitantly reached my arm over to give him one of those comforting shoulder rubs that he and Liam were always seeming to give me. They did help now that I was used to being touched for the sole purpose of having someone comfort me but I wasn't so expert at giving the comfort myself. My hand shook as I touched his shoulder and I think I dug my fingers in too deep like I was clutching onto it. I probably made him feel worse. I wanted it to bring him some relaxation, even if it felt like I was clawing into him like a vulture, capturing my kill.
His green eyes slowly peered over to me behind dazed eyelids. "I never missed a match, ya know?" He spoke slowly as he let out another frustrated sigh.
I sure did.
He let out a snide chuckle. "It's bullshit. I wasn't even tackled that hard and I still end up fucking injured." He scowled as he began to seethe.
That was when my hold on him began to soften, my own shoulder dropping as I relaxed, my thumb massaging circles into his shoulder, me not caring about my feelings about what I was doing. The only thing that matter was Harry and how he was taking things.
"But it's not going to be forever, yeah? I think you can walk just fine without needing that crutch. Soon enough, you'll get your brace off and be on the field again." I told him, trying to hold back my pride and enthusiasm that he was going to get better. He was going to come back from this, that his world wasn't over because of this. It was just a set back and he could beat it by pushing back.
"But it's right now, Niall. There's a difference." He muttered and he eyed my hand until I finally dropped it from his shoulder when I really wanted to keep it there because he needed it.
As I let out a sigh, I began to think about what type of wise words Liam would give. It's just the way you think about it. Yeah, that sounds like Liam.
But I wasn't Liam.
I was just the water boy who cared too much about the star player.
"It's going to be okay. I've sat through many matches and if you need to go back to the change room like the last time, I'm sure the coach would let you."
"Yeah, so I can go insane in confinement?" He scoffed. "I'm sorry. I'm just not used to be the one sitting out. I'll get over it."
No, you won't. That's not you. You let things eat at you.
"You've got me for company, remember?" I couldn't help but give him a lame nudge and a hopeful smile that his spirits would boost again.
He gave me a smile but I knew it wasn't completely genuine but the words that followed were enough for me to drop this conversation that Harry wasn't too into having.
"Yeah, I have you."