All These Smiles That I'm Faking - Larry Stylinson

Chapter 4 - Niall POV

So this is the previous chapter all over again but Niall POV so you guys will get to know what the boys were signing. I know this will be repetitive but this chapter is super important. Sign language will be in bold italics.

Harry and I walked back into school like before. Harry had just reminded me of our last movie night when Liam came red faced with 'mayonnaise' stuck on his face. Apparently, he and Zayn were having a 'mayonnaise' eating competition. That caused both of us to burst out laughing as we walked through the school gates. I was glad for the timing of the joke as it distracted Harry from remembering that the last time he walked through this school gate was the day Gemma died. Harry abruptly stopped laughing and I guess I spoke to soon. "Haz, you alright?" I asked, worried he had remembered Gemma's death. However, when I looked at him, he seemed slightly shocked and he was looking at some guy. "Yeah I'm fine. Should we go and help that guy find his way around. He's too old to be a student so he's probably a new teacher." "Who are you talking about Haz?" I said, faking dumb, wanting to play with him. He obviously was stunned by this guy's looks and I was going to use that against him. Harry huffed in frustration and said, "Seriously Ni are you blind? He's like 5 foot 4. Got beau- brown feathery hair." I chuckled when Harry was about to say beautiful but changed it to brown but he didn't notice, busy describing the man. "He has gorgeous blue eyes that are like oceans and he is pretty - I mean he is pretty fit." He said. Harry was clearly blown by this lad. But I didn't mind. Of course, I'd ensure this fellow didn't hurt Harry but I supported him if he liked this guy. Ever since Harry was raped because he was gay, he tended to shy away from admitting his liking for any guy, so him describing this guy like this was definitely something I liked. I grinned, Liam would be proud. Harry was still describing Louis. "He's wearing a blue shirt and black jeans which show his fine a-" He abruptly stopped and looked at my with suspicious eyes and I couldn't help bursting out with laugher. He pouted at me, "You knew who I was talking about all along, didn't you Ni? You just wanted to make fun of me." I laughed and eventually he also cracked a smile.  "Come now, let's help him out." Harry said and I decided to do this for him. "Ok Haz, let me go and talk to him." I retorted stressing on the 'me'. He frowned at me and I continued to play with him, "Oh come on Haz, we both know you wouldn't speak to him." I said and then bit my tongue and looked at Harry worriedly. Did I push the joke too far? He hated being undermined due to his social anxiety. However, much to my relief he simply stuck his tongue out and walked towards the guy.

When we reached the man, he looked at us with slight distaste which he quickly gave up and I was rather sure he checked out Harry pretty quick. "Hey mate are you a new teacher round here? I'm Niall, the Math teacher and this is Harry the Music teacher." "I'm Louis Tomlinson. Yeah, I am new round here, I am the new drama teacher." He said and gave me his hand for a handshake. I shook his hand and gave him a hug which though he didn't expect he returned kindly. He then gave his hand to Harry and I internally began making excuses for why Harry couldn't shake his hand. Ever since his rape, Harry barely spoke to strangers, forget about touching them. Much to my shock, Harry accepted the handshake and gave Louis' hand a light shake. I was about to express my shock to him, but realized Louis was still there. So, I turned to sign language. After Gemma's death, there was a time when Harry refused to speak. So Liam, Harry and I learnt sign language to communicate. We eventually got him to speak again but sign language was pretty handy for the three of us to communicate in public. Haz, did you just accept a handshake? I asked my shock visible. Yeah  Harry responded with a slight shrug. I had more to say but we were cut off when Louis said, ""Don't want to be rude Harry but are you dumb?" I was about to respond on Harry's behalf as he never spoke to strangers. Goodness know how he can talk to his students so freely. I guess its because they are younger. Since, Harry was raped at such a young age, he is protective over children and gets along with them really well.

 Just when I was going to respond in Harry's behalf, he said, "N-no." Now I couldn't contain my excitement and I immediately signed Am I dreaming? Did you really just speak and touch an absolute stranger?  Harry grinned obviously proud of himself and he signed No I'm pretty sure you're wide awake. And yeah I just did touch and talk to a stranger. He paused as though contemplating whether to say something. Then he signed I don't know how or why, I feel comfortable around him. Oh boy, I was going to tease Harry forever more. Has someone got a crush? I signed wiggling my eyebrows and grinning madly. Harry turned beet red and he had no response making me laugh.

That's when I remembered Louis was also there. Oops. He seemed confused and I don't blame him. I said, "Okay, sorry we sort of ignored you Louis. Harry here is not dumb and can speak. It just takes a while for him to get used to people and as for the signing it's like a code language me, Harry and Liam share."

"Liam?" Louis asked and I said, "Yeah, he's the sports coach." Louis then asked me, "Has he got brown hair, slight stubble, perfectly built body, the most gorgeous brown puppy eyes ever and the hottest tattoos ever?" I laughed loudly, it sounded as though Louis had a crush on Liam but then poor him, Liam was taken. Anyways I responded "Hell yeah. How do you know him?" Beside me, Harry also seemed curious "Zayn Malik, the art teacher, is my best friend. He is always talking about how Liam is the most gorgeous human ever." Louis explained and I burst out laughing while Harry smirked. Oh well at least now I know Harry and I aren't the only ones who get tortured by a lover boy, I thought to myself. Suddenly a voice said, "He is the most gorgeous human ever."

"Zee" Louis yelled and hugged Zayn tight, Zayn returning the gesture and it was the most emotion, I had seen Zayn show to anyone except his family and Liam. Meanwhile, Liam hugged Harry and asked, "You alright Haz?" Liam asked and Harry nodded, smiling. "Haz you know I can tell when somethings wrong," Liam tutted and Harry groaned before signing How do you know? Anyways, you're right I am a bit shaken, had a severe panic attack in the morning. Too many memories came back - all the negative ones. 

Liam frowned at Harry ands signed back visibly annoyed Then why the hell did you come to school?  Harry looked guilty and I was a bit irritated by how much Liam babied Harry. It's not that I didn't care about Harry. I cared about him and protected him when necessary but Liam had to realize that Harry was a grown man and he could make his own decisions. Liam then turned to me and signed Niall why the hell did you let Harry come to school after the panic attack? I could tell he wasn't angry, he was simply concerned and though to an outsider our conversation may seem like and argument, the three of us knew it was just friendly and out of concern and care. Li, he wanted to come. You have to remember he has grown up and can make his own decisions. I asked him if he wanted to rest but he wanted to come. He hasn't been here since a year and he wanted to be there for first day. Liam was about to argue but Harry signed Li, Ni is right. I wanted to come. I am fine now, okay? Please don't argue. I smiled glad that Harry stood up for himself. Liam looked slightly defeated as he realized that Harry no longer had to be babied but he was learning to stand on his own feet. He was happy for sure and I could see it but he was also afraid that Harry would no longer need us. I understood where this was coming from but I also knew that Harry was too sweet to leave us. Besides, though Harry was healing, he still needed us. To cheer Liam up I signed and told him about what happened earlier. Cheer up Li, Haz won't leave us. Plus do you know what happened before you came. Haz here saw Louis and was absolutely infatuated. He asked me to come with him so we could talk to Louis. When Louis offered a handshake, I accepted and I hugged him. Much to my shock Harry also shook his hand despite not having known him. And then we started signing so Louis thought Harry was dumb and he asked him. Just when I was going to respond, Harry spoke for himself. He actually touched and spoke to a stranger. Apparently he feels comfortable around him. Liam smiled brightly and turned to Harry and signed So you feel comfortable around Louis? Is this a crush I'm sensing? Harry blushed and Liam hugged him tightly.

Then the five of us headed to the staff room as the students started arriving in school.

Please comment and vote... I've done my best to make the two chapters in line with each other... Hope the story is good so far