Love is War (L.S.)

23

"SURPRISE!"

Harry stands there looking like a deer caught in headlights, and Louis would laugh if it wasn't so unbelievably endearing. 

His eyes are bright and wide, his mouth is slightly open, and his cheeks are slowly turning pink. He's also clutching his chest like it's the last thing he'll ever do. 

Louis also notices then that Harry looks incredibly underdressed compared to the rest of the room. He's wearing grey sweatpants and an oversized white t-shirt that seems to have a mustard stain on it. His hair is loose and hanging around his shoulders but not in the effortless way it usually is. No. It's more greasy and like he's been touching it all afternoon. 

The Harry that's standing in front of the room looking like he's seen a ghost is such.a stark contrast from the feared Harry that was dictating the meeting mere hours earlier. 

Harry blinks a few times and slowly loosens the tight grip on his t-shirt. "This..." he visibly swallows and slowly drags his eyes around the room, like he's soaking up every detail. "This is all for me?" His voice is small, unsure.

"Of course it is Styles! Happy Birthday!" Horan responds loudly from his corner of the room.

Everyone chimes in with a series of whoops, hollers, and happy birthdays, and Louis watches as the frightened deer before him starts to grin like a little kid at Christmas. 

This is it. This is the look Louis was waiting for.

Louis can't stop the smile that encompasses his face as he watches him. Yeah, he looks like he hasn't showered in years and like he was eating junk food on the living room couch for the last two hours, but he's still the personification of what it means to be ethereal. 

Harry bites his lip then and Louis watches as his eyes flit from person to person in the room. He lingers on each guest from his spot still at the entryway, almost like he's trying to convey with his eyes only, just how grateful he is. Louis knows it's coming; knows they'll land on him soon. 

"Alright!" he announces loudly at the exact moment Harry's eyes reach his. "Let's get the party started then! My good man," he gestures to the bartender who returns a thumbs up and switches on the music again. 

Everyone immediately starts moving around from their position at the back of the room. Some go to Harry to wish him a happy birthday and give him his present, others to the bar, and a few to the dance floor. 

All in all, Louis deems it a success. Even though the party's been going on for less than five minutes, he'll say it loud and clear: success. 

"You did this, didn't you?" 

Louis looks up from where he was fiddling with his cufflinks. "I might have," he responds with a small smile. 

Harry's cheeks are still a beautiful shade of pink as he ducks his head a little. "I wish you'd have told me before."

Louis snorts. "Then it wouldn't have been a surprise, would it?"

"Yeah but," he glances up at him. "I could've changed before coming here."

"There's nothing wrong with what you're wearing," Louis responds without missing a beat. 

"I guess, but," he tugs at the ends of his stained t-shirt. "You know how much I like dressing up," he admits quietly. 

"Harry."

He lets go of his t-shirt and looks at Louis properly. "Yeah?"

"Happy Birthday."