Just Another Prank (A One Direction/Larry Stylinson Fan Fic)

Chapter Thirty-Three

Harry

            The days I spent with Louis and his parents in Doncaster flew by, and before I knew it, time had stopped on Christmas Eve. I rolled out of bed early and bounded across the hall into Louis’ room, the first real joy I had felt since our talk with Simon spreading through my body. Today was Louis’ day, and I would not allow myself to be upset. He deserved my full attention. “Lou! Wake up! IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY!”

            He groaned and rolled over in bed, pulling the pillow over his head. “Don’t remind me.” He squinted out the window at the newly-risen sun. “Why are you up so goddamn early, anyway?”

            “Because,” I responded, sitting down next to him and yanking the covers off his bed, “we’re spending the day together. And it starts now.” Absently, I noticed that he had slept in nothing but boxers, and it took everything I had not to do a number of unspeakable things to him right then and there. As long as I was in his parent’s house, I was going to respect the disillusioned idea of their son’s chastity.

            He glanced at me in my dark jeans, soft white jumper, and tan coat and waggled his eyebrows, considerably more awake. I knew that was his favorite outfit on me. “Can it start with some kissing?”

            “No!” I thwacked him on the shoulder. “We’re in your parent’s house. Show some respect.”

            “Oh, come on! They made five children here, and not all at once! Obviously they don’t have any respect for us!” He sat up on his knees and crawled over to me, his big blue eyes pleading. “Besides, we’re both adults. It’s not like they’re going to tell us we can’t.”

            As much as it hurt me to do it, I wasn’t about to contradict my own rules. “No,” I said firmly, but when I shoved him off, my hands were gentle. “I promise we can do it later, but not here. Now get up and get dressed. We have to be at our dinner reservations by six, and there’s a lot to do.”

            The air outside was nippier than I remembered—too long in the United States had gotten me accustomed to warm weather. I shivered and pulled my scarf closer to my neck, taking Louis’ hand. Although I couldn’t feel his skin under our gloves, it gave me warmth that a thousand layers couldn’t provide. He smiled and absently touched my cheek. “So, where are you taking me, anyway? A superbly fancy breakfast buffet? A magical meadow where you tell me you’re a vampire? To Narnia, for breakfast with Aslan?”

            I rolled my eyes. “Actually, smartass, we’re going to the park.”

            He raised his eyebrows. “What for? Isn’t it a bit nippy for that?”

            “It is. But I remembered the other day that the first thing on your bucket list was to walk through a public place eating banana pudding out of mayonnaise jars and drinking blue Gatorade out of Windex bottles, and I figured, what better birthday activity than freaking out the public?”

            “You didn’t,” he gasped, his eyes shining.

            “Oh, but I did.” I took all the necessary supplies out of my overly-large coat pockets and handed them to him. “Shall we?”

            Louis linked my arm with his and spooned a huge amount of pudding into his mouth. “We shall,” he said thickly, dragging me through the throng of people that were already starting to give us funny looks.

            “Harry……I…..how much did this cost you?” Louis looked around at the lavish restaurant, his mouth slightly open. In the background, music played softly, too muffled to distinguish. I had faith that it was romantic, whatever it was. “This place is ridiculously fancy.”