Dalliance

Love Me Please

Harry and Louis – ages 22 and 23

Louis waited for two years.

He waited for Harry to be ready. He was patient, he was diligent, and he was there. He watched Harry as he had the occasional dalliance with a girl or boy that caught his eye. That's what hurt the most. He knew Harry didn't do it to hurt him, he didn't do it maliciously. He was just living his life the way Louis had.

But when was it time to stop waiting? Was one day ever going to come for Louis? How long did Harry wait for his one day? That's really the only thought that keeps Louis going.

Louis broke up with Elle a week after he spent the night with Harry. It wasn't something he wanted to surprise her with, that wasn't fair, she didn't deserve that, Harry understood. Harry understood because he knew they weren't jumping into being together. Sure, they went on dates and would kiss and do things that best mates just don't do. But they weren't together. Harry made that clear and Louis understood his boundaries. Still, it was hard, and the line was drawn in the sand.

"Lou?" Harry pulls Louis back from the depths of his mind.

"Hm?" He turns his head to face Harry. They fell asleep watching Grease in Harry's bed for the fourth time this week.

"What do you think of my sister's boyfriend?" Harry asks, turning onto his side with his hand under his cheek.

"He's alright, nice lad," Louis says. They had dinner with Gemma and Ashton last night, they've gotten very serious, and Gemma has always valued Harry's opinion and in extension to that, Louis' as well. Wherever one is, the other is never far behind. Harry stares at Louis, obviously waiting for more of an appraisal of the boy. "What do you want me to say about him? He was fit?"

Harry scrunches his eyebrows together and pouts at Louis. "No,"

"He was a nice lad. I had fun at dinner with them," Louis shrugs. "He's attractive, smart, funny, kind, all the things that Gemma deserves in a boyfriend,"

"Stop saying he's attractive," Harry further pouts.

"Alright, sorry love," Louis chuckles. "I just meant that they looked good together,"

"And what about you?" Harry asks.

"Do I think he would look good with me?" Louis jokes. "No, I don't think so. I'm more into lads with curly hair and pretty eyes,"

Harry scoffs and rolls his eyes. "I meant what do you think you deserve in a boyfriend?"

Louis tilts his head from side to side, thinking. "I don't know, I haven't really thought about it,"
"I think you deserve someone that wants you and only you,"

"That would be ideal, wouldn't it?" Louis jokes.

Harry doesn't even crack a smile. "I think you deserve someone that wants to do the little things for you. Someone that will bring you tea in the morning or make you dinner after a hard day or leave you notes on the bathroom mirror after a shower,"

"That sounds lovely," Louis muses. He thinks about all the little things they do for each other. All the things they used to do and all the things they do now. The notes slipped into each other's pockets, midnight baking when they couldn't sleep, tea and cookies in bed in the middle of the day. Louis wants that in a boyfriend. He wants Harry. Not that he'd ever tell him that.

"Doesn't it?" Harry sighs contently.

"What about you? Is that what you feel like you deserve in a relationship?" Louis asks.

"I guess," he shrugs. "Sometimes I feel like I'll never be good at relationships, and it scares me,"

"You have never been bad in a relationship, you are a wonderful person to be with," Louis rubs Harry's arm, hoping to wash away the sadness in his eyes.