The Inn | L.S.

chapter 3

The night was turbulent. Harry felt alone in the big bed and it felt like a cold, evil hand was creeping into his pyjamas and swallowing him up. He was on his own now, in a completely foreign country and all he wanted was a warm hug.

He was 27 years old but because of Carson, he never had the chance to do something on his own. They started dating when Harry was 23 and from that day forward, he was being kept like Carson's own property. No friends, no job, no hobbies. Writing was the only thing keeping him alive.

When the morning came around, he opened up his curtains and let the sun shine into the cozy room. Milk-white blossoms floated in front of his window and when he opened it, their gentle scent left a soft flowery breeze.

It was a beautiful morning. And it was early. Harry has always been a morning person. He loved to wake up early, read in bed until he had to pee, take a shower and read again in the garden.

He stretched to bring his muscles to life and his neck cracked softly. His loose pyjama trousers with red flowers on them had ridden up one leg and he pushed them back down with his left foot.

He went into the bathroom to do his business and brush his teeth, but the first thing he had to do was take a cold shower. He wanted to wash London off his skin. He wanted to wash away all the bad thoughts and pretend for at least one day that the world was on his side.

He was not a negative person. He discovered the beauty of the whole world in the smallest things and he loved friendly people. Whenever he met new people, he saw their very own version of the world reflected in their eyes and smiles.

At nine o'clock he grabbed a notebook and a pen and went downstairs. He was wearing loose jeans with pink pockets and under his pearl necklace, he was wearing a yellow t-shirt. He found Louis in the room next to the living room.

"Good morning", he greeted Louis with a shy smile. Louis was setting the table where there was toast, scrambled eggs, fruit, cheese, jam and yoghurt.

"Morning Harry, did you sleep okay?" The smaller man smiled so bright Harry thought he was the sun.

"Yes, the bed is very comfortable. And it's so quiet here." Harry loved himself a comfortable silence.

"Yeah I have the same one. Love sleeping in there. Makes you feel like sleeping on a cloud, hm?"

Harry sat down and Louis immediately handed him a cup of tea.

"I hope you don't mind if we have breakfast together. It's just that the other two guests already went out and I felt a bit lonely."

Harry shook his head and looked at Louis fondly. He was so kind. What did Harry do to deserve so much kindness?

"Any plans for today?", Louis asked with a mouth full of grapes.

"Not really. I might sit by the lake and read a bit or take my notebook with me." He pointed at his notebook next to him, it was a leather one with lots of stickers on it. He loved his notebook.

"Yeah the weather is nice today. It won't rain for two or three days I think. But yesterday it was absolutely puring it down, I'm glad you didn't catch a cold."

Harry took a bite of toast with butter and he sighed contently. It was salted butter. His favourite.

"So what do you do for a living Harry?"

"Uhm, I'm a writer..", Harry said, unsure of what Louis was gonna think. Would Louis think that being a writer isn't a real profession?

"Oh that's great! I love myself a good book."

"Yeah, I really like your bookshelf", Harry responded shyly and pointed to the door that lead to the living room.

"Thank you, I'm quite proud of that. My sister helped me with it. She's a booknerd as well."

Harry just nodded in response and turned his attention to the scrambled eggs. Louis seemed to be a very social person. Harry wanted to ask Louis things too, but he didn't dare. He didn't want to mess up the first impression, because Carson always told him that Harry should listen rather than speak himself.

"Will you be here for dinner?", Louis asked him. His voice sounded so genuine and sweet, Harry just had to eat dinner with him.

"Yes, if that's okay with you?"

"Of course it is! Would you rather have a vegetable lasagna or potatoes with spinach and tofu?"

"Lasagna sounds amazing." Harry smiled at him and Louis noticed the cute dimples on his cheeks. Harry looked so sweet and small, even though he was taller than Louis.

"Great, dinner will be ready around seven I think. Just let me know if you change your mind about eating here."