Unexpected encounters - Larry

Chapter two

As Harry approached the lake, a great feeling of nostalgia enveloped him. He was reminded of all the memories of when they used to meet here in secret, during the few moments when they weren't performing or writing songs. It was a beautiful lake, perfectly reflecting the sky as if it were a mirror. The setting sun in combination with the colours autumn brought created a magnificent colour pallet in the trees, consisting of orange, red and yellow. 'Hello, there' A strong British accent said, startling Harry. Harry turned around and there he stood; Louis Tomlinson, who agreed to speak with Harry of all people. 'Hi,' Harry said, almost awkwardly. But it was awkward, as the two hadn't spoken in years. 'So... What did you want to talk about?' Harry couldn't bring himself to look Louis in the eye, as he was probably going to tell Harry that they should continue to pretend like the other doesn't exist, while Harry just wanted to see Louis and talk to him. In reality, Louis didn't want that and he waited patiently for Harry to say something since he was the one who called. 'I- I was wondering how you've been with.. y'know, the band being broken up and all.' Harry said, as he finally looked up. Louis was a lot more relaxed than a few hours ago, probably because they were in public then and Louis used to be even more worried about judgement when they were in public. Harry was actually quite surprised that Louis agreed to this meeting in the first place since he had been so eager to get away from Harry. 'I've been.. well you probably heard a lot but... I mean, I guess I've been doing pretty good.' Louis said, although it came out more as a question than an answer and surprisingly, Harry noticed, even after all this time. 'You sure? You uhm, I don't know how to explain it and it's probably really weird but you sound kind of uncertain and..' Harry looked nervous saying that, which was kind of weird since Harry used to be able to be completely himself around Louis, and now he was just nervous and awkward. 'I mean, I've been good. I'm happy with Eleanor, raising my child and making my own music so life is- Life is not good If I'm being honest. I know I haven't talked to you in ages but I trust you and I... I missed you, Harry.' Louis said, looking Harry directly in his emerald pearls that people call eyes. Harry showed a small smile, but it was obvious he was trying to hide his emotions. 'What about you?' Louis asked, not wanting to talk about his own troubles for too long. 'I mean, a lot of people listen to my music and I have the money to do what I want so I shouldn't complain.' Harry said vaguely, not wanting to be vulnerable with Louis after so long. Harry looked almost sad, talking about how he felt. Louis was surprised about this, he genuinely thought Harry was happy, actually happy. 'I'm just so alone, Lou.' Harry talked like he was on the verge of tears, though he didn't show it on his face. Louis decided against trying to get Harry to tell him more, and instead enveloped him in a hug. They just stood there, knowing that not only Harry but also Louis needed this hug - even though Louis won't admit it. 'Can I be honest with you?' Harry said after a while. Louis pulled back from the hug, but didn't let Harry go. 'Yeah, of course you can.' Louis said, a small smile on his face because Harry was willing to be open with him. Harry's beautiful green eyes looked into Louis' gorgeous blue ones and an honest and happy smile appeared on Louis' face. 'I missed you too, you know.' Harry said. 'When I saw you, I knew that I could always be alone, but that wouldn't make me less lonely. I have no one, really. After the band split up, I never talked to you guys again and besides that, I had zero friends. The only people I speak to nowadays are my manager, the fans and sometimes my family. I'm lonely, Louis. I really am.' Louis buried his face in the crook of Harry's neck, hoping to comfort the latter as he didn't know what else to do. 'Is that why you called me?' Louis asked carefully. 'I thought we both could use some company. I mean, I could use some company.' Harry answered, after which Louis chuckled a bit, probably happy to have his friend back. 'It's nice, if that's not weird to say.' Harry said, unsure of himself. 'No, I get it. It's nice.'

The two lads talked for a while after that, until Louis said: 'I was lost after One Direction, did you know that? I had no idea what to do.' Harry raised his eyebrows, as Louis had always looked like he had everything figured out. 'Now I know what to do, well sort of... I'm just going to make music that everyone accepts and I guess I should eventually marry Eleanor.' Louis said with a defeated tone in his voice and Harry was almost angry because Louis would say such a thing. 'I know you don't want to marry her, Lou. Back when you guys first started dating you said you didn't like her at all. And now you've convinced yourself you want her to be you wife?!' Louis opened his mouth to say something, but he had no idea how to react. Harry was right; Louis didn't want to marry her, that's just what he was supposed to do. In fact, Louis was convinced for a while that he might be gay, but he wasn't going to tell anybody that. 'I don't want to...' Louis admitted, after which he slapped a hand in front of his mouth; he hadn't admitted that to anyone. Harry had a content smile on his face, as he was proud to have been able to tell it - for Harry it meant that he still knew Louis, even it was just a little. 'You shouldn't do it if you don't want to, no matter what the public might think.' Harry said, after which Louis scoffed a bit. 'That's easier said than done, especially for you. I mean, you're Harry Styles. You have nothing to worry about...' Harry opened his mouth - ready to explain why he didn't have to worry - but he quickly shut it again. He wasn't going to tell Louis the reason. That it was because he shut everyone out, because he was scared to get hurt. So now he was alone, with no one who's opinions could hurt Harry. So instead of saying something, Harry just shrugged and avoided the subject, trying to talk about something else. He might tell Louis sometime, but not right now.