I Want What You Have - l.s

Chapter 14 - Louis

Louis smiles up at Harry from where he stands clutching a beer bottle near the back of the crowded pub. Zayn is leaning against the wall beside him as they watch 5SOS play to the ever-growing crowd. There are people sitting at the various tables spread around the room as well as dancing in the open space in front of the makeshift stage that has been constructed on one of the far sides of the pub.

Harry had been freaking out all week over this show. It's the first time that 5SOS has actually gotten the opportunity to play for someone that is interested in paying them professionally. If everything goes well, 5SOS will get a regular time-slot to play at the pub every Saturday night. Louis knows that 5SOS would feel perfectly content playing their usual parties and being known by pretty much every teenager within Cheshire, but they are so talented they deserve to be heard by as many people as possible. Playing at a pub regularly could get them some great exposure.

"Why's he keep looking at you?" Zayn asks into Louis' ear so he can hear him over the deafening thrum of the music.

"Hmm?"

Louis' noticed how Harry keeps looking straight at him while he sings, it's been causing him to feel an excited-nervousness all night. He still can't believe he gets Harry all to himself, even if no one knows yet. Louis had been hoping that Zayn wouldn't be so observational for once so he and Harry could keep ogling greedily at one another. Louis knows Zayn wouldn't give one shit for the fact that he's attracted to Harry but it's still sorta scary for him, considering he just admitted this all to himself. He's gonna tell his friends soon though. It's not fair to Harry, for him to have to hide this part of himself from everyone. Especially when he is just so made to be seen, Louis thinks as he tilts his head to get a better view of the stage

"Harry? It's like he's singing straight to you..."

They both continue to stare as Harry belts out the chorus,

I want you here with me

Like how I pictured it

So I don't have to keep imagining

Come on, jump out at me

Come on, bring everything

Is it too much to ask for something great?

Louis bites his lip while he forces himself not to blush at how happy Zayn's words are making him feel.

He tries his best attempt at a scoff, "No, he's not! I think he's just really into the song, he's probably not even really looking at anything in particular."

"Uh huh. I know googly eyes when I see 'em." Zayn jokes.

Louis rolls his eyes but it doesn't stop the swarm of butterflies from flitting around in his stomach, his heart tingling like it's skipping a beat. 5SOS is killing it as always but, for some reason, their performance feels more special to Louis now. Maybe because now he has a better understanding of the true meaning of the lyrics. Or maybe Louis just never took the time to really notice.

Louis has always felt a sort of pride when watching Harry, specifically, perform since they've been best friends for so long and have watched each other grow up. Now that they've managed to become even closer and have like this huge thing going on in their lives that only they know about, Louis feels an even more solid connection to him. He feels like he understands Harry better. Up on stage everything is loud and bright and sexy but you can still see the emotion and soul that lies beneath the surface.

Liam comes over and he and Zayn hang with Louis in the back of the room for the rest of the set. A couple of his teammates wander over at one point as well as some other kids that they're friends with (mostly Zayn and Liam's friends if Louis' being honest) from school. Having them by his side, combined with the alcohol running through his veins, and getting to watch Harry up onstage makes this a pretty fun night. Louis' social anxiety feels subdued for once.