second chances {l.s.}

red roses.

Harry felt angry for a long time, and he was worried he was being ridiculous. Maybe it was a little crazy for Harry to be so upset so soon but he'd truly thought that maybe he meant just a little more to Louis. All of that seemed to be out the window at that moment, though.

Whatever.

He didn't meet up with Louis over the weekend, no matter how much he wanted to. He didn't see much of a point. And although he really didn't want to, he showed up to school on Monday, avoiding Louis' eyes in the hallway and moving to the opposite side whenever they were about to cross paths. Maybe it was better that way.

He got through the entire day of classes unscathed, in a way. It wasn't until the middle of his last class that his phone was going off.

My car after school. Meet me.

Harry was rolling his eyes as he read the text, from none other than Louis himself. Why should he? He didn't think Louis deserved to even be in his presence, let alone deserve for Harry to spend his precious time waiting for him. But nonetheless...

Fine.

Truthfully, he wasn't the brightest. He was thinking one set of things but immediately doing another. Though he couldn't help himself. He was already aching for Louis again. The feeling of their lips pressed together hadn't left his mind all weekend, not that he was planning on kissing Louis after school.

He wanted an explanation and an apology. And on top of those, a date to make up for Louis' actions at the very least. He didn't think he was asking for too much.

Once the bell was ringing, Harry was shoving his things into his bag, standing to his feet and slinging it over his shoulder. He was quick on his way out to the parking lot. He knew Louis would have only a moment before he'd have to slip off to footie practice, so Harry wanted to make the most out of their time. He pushed through the crowd of people who were all headed the same direction out to the parking lot, weaving in and out of the cracks so he could get ahead. Harry pushed the doors open and moved down the steps, spotting the head of brown hair already waiting for him beside the boy's hand me down car. It wasn't all that bad for its age, truthfully. Harry figured Louis would be able to even pass it on down to Lottie once he was finished with it. After that, though, Harry figured that would be the end of the car's life.

Louis' head lifted once Harry had settled beside him, but Harry refused to look over. He was stubborn like that.

"Look at me." Louis wasn't having it though.

"No." See? Stubborn.

A sigh left Louis' lips, but Harry didn't slip. "Talk." He spoke again.

Another sigh, this one earning a roll of Harry's eyes. He watched the people moving around them, walking towards their cars and getting inside them before speeding out of the parking lot. As if they couldn't spend another second longer at school. Harry found it a bit dramatic, the way everyone...

"I'm sorry, okay?" Louis said, cutting Harry's thoughts off right in their tracks.

"That's it? Been thinking of that all weekend, huh?" Harry mused, shaking his head as his eyes finally moved to meet with the piercing blue ones already watching him.

"I don't have that much time to talk."

"Then feel free to think it over during footie and meet me at my house after." Harry said, tone bitter. He was upset, still, and unsure of how to express himself and his emotions. Often times it just came out in anger or sadness, but right then he felt angry. Of course, Harry still had feelings for Louis. He still wanted him, and he was even aching right then to feel the boy's arms wrapped around him. But he was angry.

He didn't think he'd stop being angry until he had a proper apology. Some little bullshit "I'm sorry" wasn't going to cut it.

Louis' eyes stayed locked on Harry, and it looked like he was considering his suggestion. Like he had an idea.

"Fine. I'll be there. Can I have a hug, at least?" Louis was asking after a moment, and Harry couldn't bring himself to turn that down. His arms wrapped around Louis' neck, Louis' arms moving around his waist as they hugged for a moment. It was nice. However, it didn't mean Louis was forgiven.

Louis pressed a soft kiss to Harry's cheek, looking back into his eyes as Harry just nodded. Louis was opening his mouth to speak, but Harry didn't let him. Instead, Harry was turning on his heel and leaving the boy's car.

—

Harry was upstairs whenever he heard a knock on the front door, and then the door open and close downstairs. He knew it was Louis. He hoped the boy had at least showered after footie. He didn't want his room smelling like sweat and grass.

Harry didn't move, not an inch. He was laying in bed with his back facing the wall, scrolling almost mindlessly on his phone. Footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs, but he acted like he hadn't heard them as the door to his room was opening and Louis was coming in.

"Harry."

No answer.

"Harry, hey." He was trying again. Persistent, how cute.

The second try was enough for Harry to sit up in the bed, turning to face the older boy. His face immediately softened whenever he saw that Louis had a bouquet of the prettiest roses and a basket full of his favorite snacks. Louis' still wet hair gave away that he had in fact showered, and Harry's heart couldn't help but feel warm. Maybe it was enough for him to get forgiven, but Harry was going to let him speak first.

"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry, okay? For being an asshole and for... what you saw."

God, Louis was awful at apologizing. That was all he had in him?

"Just.. why, Louis?" Harry murmured, taking the roses as Louis was holding them out to him. They were beautiful, and the snacks were a sweet gesture. The fact that Louis had remembered the little details about Harry had him holding back a smile. Even if they'd only known each other for a short amount of time, it meant a lot that Louis had remembered the things he'd told him. He figured maybe that could be enough for him to earn Harry's forgiveness, and totally not the fact that he was just missing Louis himself.

"I was just in the kitchen, making our drinks when he came in. Think he'd had a bit more than us, honestly. Was talking all this stuff about how, 'now that Liam was out of the picture, we could be together.' It just kind of happened, Harry."

Mmm. Harry smelled something in the air, then.

The ripe scent of utter bullshit, that was.

He figured another fight wasn't worth it. Maybe he should just get the whole forgiveness thing out of the way. They could make out and pretend it never even happened.

But it did happen - that was the problem. It was hard for Harry to forget that sinking feeling in his stomach the moment he'd seen the two that night.

Harry shrugged before shaking his head. "Just... Get your ass over here." Harry sighed. He placed the roses down on his nightstand before motioning for Louis to come closer. He watched as Louis placed the snacks on the nightstand as well, before the older boy was climbing in bed alongside him.

They laid back, limbs finding their way into a tangle beneath the covers as Louis' arms were snaking around his waist and if he was being completely honest, it was everything he'd been craving the last couple days. How could he ever refuse this?

"Are we okay?" Louis was asking Harry, and while a part of him wanted to be stubborn and decline, the part of Harry that wanted it all back was just too overpowering.

"Yeah, we're okay."

a/n: short chapter bc i feel bad i haven't published anything in ten days. work has been crazy lately but i hope you all enjoy :)