Falling L.S

Chapter 4

To the untrained eye, the cafeteria was a maze, inescapable and intimidating as fuck. For Harry and Niall, the cafeteria was their kingdom. They sat wherever they wanted and whoever's was sat there previously had to move over to another area.

Niall had a preferred table though, in the back corner just next to the bay windows where he could have a smoke without the lunch lady noticing. Harry didn't mind sitting there, he was a photographer, and the huge windows gave a good view.

Today though, Harry felt like a freshman, entering the cafeteria, he was well aware of he three boys following him, in the middle of some sort of deep conversation and Harry literally wanted to jump off a cliff.

Niall and Louis had hit off as soon as they met and were inseparable since. As much as Harry wanted to blame the blonde boy for putting him in such a compromised position, he couldn't, he knew that if Niall were to find out what happened between Louis and him, he would drop Louis without a second thought.

For now though, Harry walked awkwardly instep with Zayn as the other two bickered on about something useless.

When they finally approached their corner table, Harry finally began to relax. Liam was sat patiently waiting for the duo to join him and he gave Harry a puzzled look when he noticed Louis trailing behind him.

Harry shot Liam a knowing glance before sitting down besides him. Liam immediately understood and kept his questions for later.

Niall, Louis and Zayn sat opposite the two boys, Zayn looking as uncomfortable as Harry felt, and the group started on their food.

"So, where are you from Niall?" Zayn uttered, attempting to break the ice.

"Oh, I'm Irish." Niall declared, using his strongest Irish accent.

"I'm from Bradford." Zayn mumbled, as if everyone didn't know that already.

Harry risked a glance in Louis' direction, locking eyes with he older boy before looking away, feeling flustered.

"I'm from here, I just moved away about three years ago-"

"Four." Harry interrupted unconsciously, only noticing he had said it out loud when he saw the weird looks Niall and Zayn were giving him.

"What, I knew him before he left!" Harry exclaimed vaguely, keeping his eyes glued to the ham sandwich that lay untouched on his tray.

"O-kay." Niall drawled, giving Harry a pointed look.

Zayn, noticing the tense atmosphere, abruptly reached into his pocket and pulled out a half empty pack of 'Davidoff Lights' and a lighter. Harry almost laughed at the look on Liam's face.

Liam being the goody two shoes he was, had never so much as smelt tobacco, let alone smoking it. So when Zayn lit his cigarette, Liam's hand flew to his nose, plugging it.

"Want one?" Zay  chuckled, pushing the box towards Liam whose nose was scrunched in disgust.

"I want one." Niall announced eagerly. Zayn threw the pack to the middle of the table and Niall and Harry both took a cigarette each taking turns to light theirs.

Harry brought the cigarette to his mouth, eyes closed, dragging in the cancerous fumes and inhaling before blowing out the smoke through his nose. When he opened his eyes, Louis was staring at him again, though this time it was more of a 'I'm going to murder you' glare than a 'randomly looking at you' stare.

"What?" Harry sneered, smirking at Louis before bringing the cigarette back to his lips. Louis' gaze followed his hand before landing on his lips, wrapped around the small object. The blue eyed boy's gaze lingered on Harry's lips before looking away, flustered.

Niall observed the two boys soon giving up and continuing to smoke, he really needed this.

"Don't you wanna try it?" Zayn asked Liam, sensing how uncomfy he was.

"Erm-"

"Oh come on." Zayn pestered, pushing his cigarette between Liam's lips. Liam looked helplessly at his friends, who were too busy trying out smoking tricks, before drawing on the cig and exhaling, making a huge cloud into Zayn's face.

Zayn just chuckled and lit Liam his own. Harry was immediately sure he liked Zayn, he had an okay sense of humor and was weirdly generous with his shit.

The study hall bell rang and the lads flicked their fags out of the window before strolling back to class.

***

When sixth period ended, Harry couldn't shake the feeling that he had forgotten something. Regardless, he paraded out of class, satisfied that he didn't have to spend another second in the same space as Louis fucking Tomlinson.

Catching up with Niall, he threw his arm around the shorter boys shoulder and put all his weight on him, suddenly in a good mood.

"Why Harold, why must you torture me so?" Niall cried dramatically, placing the back of his palm against his forehead.

"Harold?" Harry questioned in mock hurt, "I thought we agreed not to use my real name in front of people."

"Harold's your real name?" Exclaimed a familiar voice, seeming to be coming from behind them.

Harry spun them around to meet the eyes of Barbara, a Hispanic girl who Niall had been fawning over for weeks on end.

"Nope, this idiot just calls me that sometimes." Harry replied, gesturing towards Niall and flashing Barbara an easy smile.

Niall on the other hand just stood there gawking at the gorgeous brown skinned girl, soon realizing all the attention was on him and blushing profusely.

"He's a quiet one innit?" Barbara said, mocking Harry's accent.

"This one never shuts up when he's with me." Harry chuckled, "you just have to earn his trust first."

"And how do I do that?" Barbara breathed seductively, biting her lip and gazing at Niall. Niall was certain he would be in a puddle on the ground if it weren't for Harry's hand on his shoulder.

"A date could do." Harry answered for his apparently shy friend, nudging him in the stomach to speak to for himself.

"Y-yeah." Niall stammered, his eyes still strained to his feet.

"Okay great pick me up at seven thirty, don't be late." Barbara proclaimed before sashaying away.

"Looks like Nialler's got himself a date." Harry teased poking Niall's cheeks.

"Oh fuck off." The blonde boy squeaked, flipping Harry off and shrugging out of his little side hug.

"Niall and Barbara, sitting in a tree-"  Harry sang, loudly, trying to annoy his friend, but instead earning a punch to the gut.

"Stahhp." Niall cried, his face red with embarrassment only to hear Barbara continue from a far off distance, "K-I-S-S-I-N-G"

Harry couldn't hold in his giggles, as he watched the mortified expression on his best friend's face.

Totally worth it.