Reasons to be a Nerd: a Larry Stylinson AU fic

Chapter 6 (Part 1)

(Niall's POV)

He's so obvious.

It'd take someone who lived under a rock their entire life not to notice.

When I look up from whatever dish I'm currently massacring (I think it started out as a fried egg but now I'm not sure), Harry's curled up on the couch, a blanket pulled up to his chin and his phone clasped between his fingers.

The phone buzzes quietly, and his eyes light up like a kid's on Christmas, his whole face going a shade or two even pinker than it was before. Hazza's lopsided smile turns into a shy grin, his dimples showing as he taps out a reply.

I shake my head, turning back to the probably burning food.

My straight best friend, falling for my gay ex best friend; it's funny how things work out.

"Uhh... hey Harry? Help?" I call pathetically. I glance back over to see him still smiling widely and staring at his phone, probably waiting for a reply.

"HARRY!"

His head shoots up and he grins, embarrassed, his cheeks going bright red. "Sorry?"

I sigh, forcing the smile I'm fighting into a straight line.

"Help me, I'm killing this poor egg. Order Chinese."

He laughs, shooting me a thumbs-up as I tip the eggy mess into the trashcan and toss the pan into the sink with a clatter.

Heading over to the couches, I flop down on the one across from Hazza.

He orders food and immediately goes back to texting.

"Louis?"

Harry looks up quickly, and a look almost like embarrassment crosses his face before his features smooth back out.

"Why would I be texting him? It's the girl I told you about," Hazza smiles, his eyes dancing.

Okay Harry, definitely 'the girl'...

I just shrug, smiling. "Right then. How's it going?"

He grins wickedly. "Awesome. Taking more time than usual, though. Normally after a month they've got their bras on my floor." The arrogance that I'd gotten used to is back as Harry winks, clicks his tongue and leans back, crossing his arms behind his head. I sigh internally and put on my best grin, humoring him. And here I thought Louis was changing him for the better.

"Nah, normally a week, mate," I laugh back.

"Maybe two, for the daddy's girls who like their pants on their body."

"What happened to that chick Britt?" I ask. She was the last girl I remember him talking about going after.

He shrugs, looking bored.

"Been there, done that. How many times can a bitch ride you before ya get bored?"

I grit my teeth a little harder.

"Or ya get caught by her sister," I chuckle.

Harry grimaces.

"That was one time!"

Thankfully, our food gets here before he can continue.

"Mom should be back soon," I say through a mouthful of noodles. Harry looks up from his phone, where I can make out a smiley beside some name I can't read upside down.

"D'you wan me t'leave?" comes out of his mouth muffled by a ridiculous amount of rice he just stuffed in his face.

I shrug, frowning.

"Maybe...she likes you but ya know how she can get about me having people over when she's not home..."

He nods simply in response.

...

A horn blares outside the door, and Harry hops up from the couch. "That'd be my ride. I'll text ya later, mate," he says, giving a little grin and a wave before trotting out the door. I can't help but go over to the window and peer out; and sure enough, my thoughts were right.

Harry waves at Louis as he hops into the car, obviously chattering away. I grin when I realize he's gotten relegated to the back, having lost the shotgun seat to a petite blond girl sitting in the front with Lou.

Oh man, he's not gonna like that.

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The front door opens and shuts as I'm finishing wiping down the kitchen counter. It was still looking like a war zone since I tried to cook a bit ago.

"Hey Nialler!" my mom calls as she drops her purse on a table in the hall. "Hey Mum," I respond, still scrubbing at a spot. She laughs as she walks into the kitchen. "You tried to cook again, didn't you?" she laughs, putting a hand to her mouth.

"Maybe... I ended up just getting Chinese. There's leftovers in the fridge if you want them," I gesture towards the fridge. Mom shakes her head, chuckling, and heats up the leftover food. She heads off to the living room to watch one of those reality shows she loves.

I've been trying to come up with something. Something to get Harry and Lou together. Cause obviously it's not gonna happen on its own - Lou doesn't seem interested, but that could just be him being oblivious, and he might not even realize that Harry likes him.

And then there's Hazza.

I purse my lips, working at another spot on the countertop. The hugs, the texts, just the way he looks at Lou... it's got to mean something. He acts differently about Lou than he does about anyone else. Even when he just talks about Louis, he gets a little smile on his face or starts blushing, or both. It's funny, really.

But he's Harry Styles, womanizer extraordinaire. There's no way he'd be willing to openly go for Louis. I don't think it'd just happen. So that's where I'm jumping in. So how can I get the two of them together? I did try to apologize to Louis for... everything as a start, but God knows that didn't go well. I hardly think he'd listen to me if I tried to talk to him. I push the cloth in my hand into the counter harder in thought.

How am I supposed to play matchmaker with these two? Hazza isn't gonna ask Louis out anytime soon. Actually, I'm not even sure if he knows Lou's gay. That could be another setback - if he thinks he's falling for a straight guy, he's sure as hell not gonna go for it. So somehow, I'm gonna get two supposedly straight dudes to date. Or. Something like that.

Suddenly a grin spreads across my face. I know exactly how.

"Hey Mum!"

"Yeah Nialler? What's up, love?"

"Can I have a couple friends over Friday night?"

She frowns, putting her plate down. "I don't know, honey... I'm going to help Greg move into his new apartment Thursday night through Saturday- I told you about that. I'm not sure I want you having friends over without me here."

"Please Mum? Just like Harry and Darren. Not many, promise."

She thinks it over for a minute. "Okay... Okay, I suppose you could have one or two friends come spend the night. But-" she waggles a finger in my direction "No more than three."

"Thank you Mum!!"

I run over and hug her, a grin spreading across my face. Maybe a little more than three...