Before Christmas

Three

Louis POV

When I woke up it was a while before I remembered exactly where I was. Then I noticed the cute little picture of Harry and Gemma when they were younger on the wall.

I got myself out of bed and pulled on a hoodie over my shirt and sweatpants that I'd slept in. I usually only slept in boxers but it was fucking cold last night. I slipped my phone into my pocket and entered the hallway just as Harry did too. It was obvious that he had just woken up because his long hair was a mess and I guess he could face the cold because he was only wearing a black pair of boxers.

"Morning." I said.

"Morning Louis." he replied, his voice so deep this early in the morning it shocked me.

"I'm going to go toilet." he said and he went into the bathroom. I went downstairs, still thinking of Harry's and his tattoos and his abs and his boxers and that fucking hair. And oh no, I had a girlfriend, get out of here Styles.

Gemma was flipping pancakes at the stove.

"Morning Louis, is that lazy brother of mine still asleep?" she asked.

"Nah, I met him on the stairs, he should be down soon I'm guessing." I replied.

"Ah well, help yourself. Mum and Robin are at work today but after that they've got work off until the new year." Gemma said, putting a plate of pancakes down in front of me. 

"Cheers." I replied and I got up to make a cup of tea.

"So Louis, anyone special in your life?" Gemma asked, helping me find the teabags.

"Yes actually, I have a girlfriend called Eleanor, she's in Germany though, that's why I couldn't spend Christmas with her." I explained.

"Ah I see. And do you loooove her?" she asked.

"Yeah, I guess so." I replied, thinking through my answer. Maybe lately things haven't been going too well but she was still my girlfriend and I still cared about her.

Something about Gemma's friendliness and humor and easy teasing was very easy to like. We talked all through breakfast until Harry came downstairs half an hour later.

"So what should we do today?" Harry asked.

"You lads can do whatever you want, I'm going to my friend's house for the day. See you later." Gemma said and she pulled on her coat and grabbed her handbag and left.

"What do you want to do then?" I asked Harry.

"Hmm, maybe we can watch Christmas movies and eat the rest of those biscuits and mince pies." Harry suggested.

"If you get the blankets I'll make some hot chocolate." I said and we were off, Harry getting the first movie set up, with pillows and blankets piled up on the couch. I lined a big plate with our treats and several other things and two big mugs of hot chocolate.

We got comfortable on the couch and Harry found the remote under his weighted blanket and started the movie.

"Cheers." he said, grinning at me as he raised his mug.

"Cheers." I replied, clinking my mug with his and taking a sip.

We spent most of the day like this until about three o'clock when we got worried our legs would stop moving and decided to go for a walk. We bundled up in our coats and Harry wrapped a scarf around his neck and I tugged a beanie over my head and we went outside, walking down past the bakery Harry used to work at.

We passed a playground where a few kids were chasing each other. 

"C'mon." Harry said and he lead the way onto the playground, climbing up the ladder onto a little platform and sitting down on the edge, his legs swinging below him. I sat beside him, watching the few children play and enjoying the bitingly cold but extremely refreshing countryside air.

"What does Christmas look like at your house?" Harry asked.

"Um, well me and my four step-sisters always sleep in my room together on Christmas Eve and then in the morning we open presents before anything else, I've never actually slept by myself on Christmas Eve. We spend a whole night a few days before Christmas just wrapping presents and singing Christmas carols. What about you?" I replied.

"Well, every year on Christmas Eve there's a big fair over there. See all that open space? They'll set up that with all kinds of cool stuff and we always go there." Harry said, pointing out a field over the little river. Holmes Chapel was a very beautiful area.

By the time we got home it was five o'clock and Anne and Robin were back from work. My phone rang as we went inside and I pulled it out of my pocket to see who it was.

"It's Zayn. I'll be back." I said and I accepted the call as I ran upstairs to my new room.

"Hey Zaynie, how's it going?" I asked.

"Alright, how's it back home?" he replied.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Mum is stuck in Paris because of a storm and I was facing a pretty depressing Christmas but then Harry offered for me to stay at his house, so I'm spending Christmas with his family." I explained.

"Oh, you can come here if you want, unless your having fun there." Zayn offered.

"Nah, it's alright. Harry's family is really nice and it's cool having some one on one time with Harry. In fact I'm seeing him in a totally different light." I said.

"Louis? Do you like Harry?" Zayn asked suspiciously.

"Fuck Zayn, I don't know. I have a girlfriend." I said, flopping down on my bed.

"Yeah but we all know that Eleanor was just, I don't know, I mean, do you see a future with her?" Zayn asked.

"Not really." I replied.

"And you like Harry?" Zayn continued.

"I guess." I replied with a sigh.

"Well Christmas is no time to break up with your girlfriend but I reckon you should mate." Zayn said.

"Seriously? I don't know." I said.

"Think about it. Call me later ok, I have to go." Zayn said.

"Ok, bye lad." I replied and I hung up.

I sighed again, even louder and closed my eyes.