Before Christmas

Nineteen

Harry POV

I felt awkward all day once the boys had left and that look on Louis' face was hard to forget. He looked so confused, listening to me singing but I had to keep going because I wanted him to know how I was feeling. Maybe then he'd realize that he needed to stop fucking me up.

While I was lying in bed after dinner thinking all these thoughts my phone rang.

I picked it up and noticed Liam's name before I accepted the call.

"Hey Payno, what's up?" I asked.

"Well, I was just thinking that I'd love to surprise Zayn with another trip to see you guys. He really is best mates with Louis, he just keeps talking about him all the time." Liam said.

I laughed. It was really cute how close Louis was to Zayn.

"If you want, you can bring him down tomorrow? You can stay the night and we can hang out?" I suggested.

"That sounds wicked Harry, he'll be so happy." Liam replied.

"Alright then, come around about three." I said.

"Yup, see you H." 

He hung up and I tossed my phone aside. Hopefully it would make Louis happy to see Zayn and I loved hanging out with him and Liam, we had quickly become really good friends.

I decided to go to sleep and forget about the song fiasco, excited about surprising Louis tomorrow, especially so close to his birthday, which was in two days from tomorrow.

---

In the morning I slept in late, eventually getting up when I needed to pee and then going downstairs for breakfast.

"Morning then sleepyhead." Louis said, looking up from his phone.

"Morning." I replied.

"You got any plans for today?" Louis asked.

"Well, this morning I need to run out and pick you up a birthday present, I've only got a Christmas one." I said.

"Oh, thanks." Louis replied.

I grinned over the bowl of cereal I'd just made and asked him about his plans for the day.

Louis had no plans other than watching movies all day so I promised him I'd bring back lunch and went out to the shop.

After searching for a while I found the perfect jacket for him and paid for it, stopping to buy some KFC on the way home. I pulled up in the driveway, made sure his present was out of sight and went inside, quickly hiding his jacket and then running back downstairs and announcing that I had lunch.

Gemma was out with her friends and Robin and Mum had already eaten so I joined Louis on the couch with Paddington playing and we tucked in.

After the movie Louis went up to his room and I got a text from Liam saying they weren't far away. I had already talked to Mum about Liam and Zayn staying for the night. It meant that Louis would have to sleep in my room but I didn't mind, as long as nothing happened.

Around five minutes to three someone knocked on the door. I answered it.

"Hey." I said, hugging Liam and helping him with his bags, hugging Zayn with one arm once he'd come inside too. 

"We can leave these here for now and you can go and surprise Louis." I said, tossing the bag I had got from Liam into the corner. I lead the way upstairs and knocked on Louis' door.

"Yeah, come in." he called.

Zayn opened the door and bounded in. Louis cheered and got up to hug Zayn and then Liam and then me for helping to organize it. He got even more excited when he heard that they would be staying the night.

After introducing Zayn and Liam to Mum and Robin we helped them get comfy in the spare room, Louis clearing some of his stuff away.

"You're alright sharing a bed with me right?" I asked when Louis went back to my room to put his things down.

"Yeah, not like we haven't done it before." Louis replied with a grin. I grinned as well.

During dinner we all just talked and then went into the living room for a movie. Mum and Robin said they would watch a movie upstairs to leave us alone and Gemma wasn't home yet. Liam and Zayn pulled a blanket over themselves and cuddled up in the corner of the couch. Louis and I cooed at them and Zayn flipped us off, laughing.

We watched a random movie on Netflix and it was done by ten o'clock.

"Goodnight then." Liam said when we got to the top of the stairs and him and Zayn moved to the spare room.

"Night." I replied.

Zayn and Louis said goodnight as well and Zayn and Liam went into their room with a 'no sex!' from Louis. Louis and I laughed and we went into my room. 

This was the awkward part, how do you casually share a bed with the completely sober friend you're in love with? Obviously Louis didn't have those worries because he stripped right down to his boxers, snuggled in between the sheets and sighed peacefully. 

I laughed and went about closing the curtains and turning my phone on silent, having some nose spray to help me sleep peacefully and then shimmying out of my sweatpants and tugging my shirt over my head.

I joined Louis in the double bed but it was still small and I couldn't avoid my skin brushing against his.

"Goodnight then Harold." he said.

"Goodnight." I replied.

I closed my eyes but I couldn't get to sleep. After about half an hour Louis was deeply breathing and within an hour he moved, pressing his body closer against mine, settling his head comfortably in between my shoulder and the pillow. I automatically brought him closer, holding him. Almost as though it was a spell I immediately started to drift off, breathing in time with the rise and fall of his chest.