Just Let Me Adore You

XIII

Harry didn't know what paused his stride mid step, Louis standing so perfectly still or the drawing that he was gazing at. The drawing was photorealistic, as were many of the works Harry had previously seen of Sarah's, but this one was different. Hanging in the school's gallery, it stood out as truly a masterpiece among amateur work.

At the forefront of the work in most painstaking clarity were two hands bent to look exactly like Durer's 'praying hands', except the hands did not belong to the same people. At first glance, it appeared to be a drawing of Harry staring into a mirror, his hand reflecting in the mirror to which he was pressed against. But under closer inspection it became clear that there was no mirror but instead glass and the reflection on the other side was Louis. Louis' hand pressed in symmetry to Harry's one on each side of the glass.

The piece was so photorealistic he would think it was indeed a photo if he didn't know with certainty that he had never been in this situation. Harry's breath caught when he took in the expression on Louis' face, one of small and casual love. Soft lines around his eyes, and a playful pout to his lips, anyone would glance and see a man in love. A look he'd seen before. His own face hidden from this prospective, left Harry reeling.

He slowly began his move forward, until he stood directly beside Louis. The blue eyed boy didn't even glance in his direction before whispering, "She's talented."

"Extremely." Harry turned, fully facing Louis with a tilted head. Louis still stared ahead until it became too much to bear. The feeling of Harry's eyes on the side of his face. With bated breath he took in Harry's face, his busted lip and pale complexion.

The room they were in was empty, so Louis reached across the space between them and caressed the side of Harry's face. The green eyed boy sighing in relief, his posture slumping. His feet seemed to move him closer until they were just a hair width away, "He packs a punch."

"I suppose I deserved it."

Louis hummed an agreement, "You did let your girlfriend say terrible things about me, about my friend."

"Ex-girlfriend." Harry corrected, "And your right, I apologized to Cara for what she said and for Aspen, even though I didn't know I should care for people more. Shouldn't be so shitty."

Louis nodded into his shoes, pausing before finally blurting out, "Ex-girlfriend?"

Harry ducked his head so they were only separated by an inch of heated air, "She left me, but I would have left her if she hadn't done it right after you left."

"Did she tell your dad?"

"No." Louis sighed, because as angry as he had been before he never wanted to see Harry hurt, "But I did."

The blue-eyed boy sucked in a breath, "What?"

"I told him." Harry nodded, "I told him everything. Every detail. A-a-and I said that if you'd have me you'd be my boyfriend."

Louis shook his head, "What did he do?"

"His head almost exploded. He threw around some priceless shit and threatened to disown me." Harry's voice shook, "But in the time it took me to pack a bag..."

"Pack a bag, Harry!" Louis shook his head, "Are you homeless? Where have you been staying?"

"In the time it took me to pack my bag, he cooled off." Harry finished his sentence, "And he said that he'd learn to handle it. So, what do you say?"

"Harry..."

"Anything."

"What?"

"I'll do anything to earn you back." Harry whispered, "I meant every word I said, Louis. I don't want anyone else."