Care for me (L. S.)

26

Saturday the 3rd of October | Harry

Harry shivered in his jean jacket: the warm weather of yesterday had disappeared like Jerry when seeing Tom, making room for an unpleasant cold wind and a sad gray sky.

The tiny gate that opened up to the front yard was disdainfully staring at him, as if it was daring him to go inside. So mean and for no reason. He was just nervous. What if the Louis behind that door was cold and distant again like that day in class when he totally ignored Harry's existence?

When he told his mom and sister that Louis asked him to hang out again today - a big smile on his face and a cup of coffee in his hand - they were ecstatic to say the least. His sister kept screaming at no one in particular that Louis was the cutest human being in the world (even though she still hadn't met him) while his mom just absentmindedly stroked the hair behind his ears and smiled back at him equally bright.

But now it was twelve thirty and Harry could barely feel his toes, standing in a dirty pile of dead leaves in front of the house of Louis Tomlinson. He wished he had brought a coat like Gemma had told him (three times). He didn't, just to prove that she was wrong about the weather. She hadn't been, naturally.

While he was still terrified to go inside, a tiny little corner of his brain felt excited to see Louis' face again. He took that hint of courage and used it to his advantage, racing to the front door, quickly before he would lose it again.

Strangely, the door opened before he could even ring the bell. (If it would have been dark, he would for sure have turned around and ran for his life cuz any sane person knows that doors that open without a warning cannot be trusted and will contribute to your horrifying death!) His-probably frightened- stare met with a highly annoyed girls' who was wearing dungarees and had her blond hair pulled up in a knot.

"Didn't think you were gonna ring," she muttered, giving him a skeptical look. "You've been standing outside our house for twelve minutes."

Lottie could be very intimidating when she wanted to be.

"Yes... well," He scratched the skin underneath his ear. "I was waiting to- uh- you know what?.. Never mind..." He stared at her, feeling very observed. "You've been watching me for twelve minutes?"

Lottie rolled her eyes. "No you duckmind. I do have better things to do, you know?"

"Course yeah." He tucked his freezing hands further into his pockets. His fingertips touched the cold metal of a key and a few crumbly dog treats. Lottie watched him crumble his nose in disgust when feeling a slimy piece that Carl licked when trying to eat it by sticking his entire face in his pocket (which was cute, but also gross).

"Ummm ok??" She eyed him doubtfully, almost like she pitied him.

"Lou is upstairs, shall I call him?"

A flash of panic flooded through him.

Louis?? Louis is here? Oh shit ok Louis is here yes of course he is: this is literally his house! Calm down! Act normal!

"Yeah sure, if he's awake." It didn't sound quite as nonchalant as he might have wanted to go for, but at least his voice didn't crack weirdly...

She let her skeptic eyes roam from the tip of his curls to the points of his dusty old vans. Then she walked off, leaving a shivering Harry in the doorpost.

Not even ten seconds later footsteps were heard as someone was walking down the stairs.

Harry could feel his heart race in his chest.

Act normal! He told himself with a tough voice.

Can't be that hard. Just limit the talking. That'll do it.