The Love Letters (Larry Stylinson)

Chapter 24

"What would you like to drink?", Lucas asks. I'm too occupied to stare at the decoration to answer him. It looks so nice and romantic in this restaurant! The lights are dimmed, we can barely see the other people in there, and there are a few candles. On our table, there's a rose in a vase.

"Harry?"

I look to him. "What? Sorry, I was distracted."

"Don't worry. I asked you what you want to drink. They have really nice red wine."

"Oh. No thanks, I don't drink." Anymore. "I'll have a glass of tap water."

"Are you sure?" He looks worried.

"Of course I am."

"But then, I don't want to drink, either."

"What? Why? You can have a glass of the wine, if you want to." I smile at him.

"No, I have to drive, later, and I don't want you to get hurt." He blushes a little. "Sorry if I'm being weird, the thing is, I really like you a lot, and I don't want to make mistakes."

"Don't worry. I might be weird, too." I look at the menu. The food is... expensive. Very expensive. But I choose to say nothing. If Lucas wasn't able to pay the menu, he wouldn't have invited me in there, right? Wait, is he going to pay? Because I can't afford. Fuck, I should've asked this earlier...

"And? Have you found a meal you would like to order?", Lucas asks. I nod. "I'd like this risotto. I like rice."

"No problem!" He chooses to order a steak. Not very romantic but what do you want me to say.

After he ordered, an awkward silence is formed. He looks down at his pretty, big hands, while I am trying to figure out if he is able to hold me with those muscular arms while I'm sad. I'm sure he is.

"Hey, Harry."

"Hm?"

"Tell me something about you."

"Oh. Well, there isn't much to know about me. I'm not a very interesting person."

"Of course you are! There's literally a Harry-fanclub in our school."

Wait, what? "For real?"

"No." He laughs. "I was joking. Sorry, my humour is terrible."

"So is mine." That means we're compatible. I guess?

"I'm sure it isn't. Tell me a joke!"

Oh. Zayn told me not to tell Lucas any jokes. I don't want to scare him away to be honest.

"No, it really is. I don't want you to be scared of me because of my jokes."

"Well, then you have to talk about yourself. I want to get to know you!"

"Alright." I sigh. "Well, my favourite colour is blue, and I'm in acting class."

"I know. I used to be there, too", he says. Then he smiles. Shit, he's right.

"Oh, yeah, sorry. We're playing Romeo and Juliet and I've got the role of Romeo's dad. Not very exciting, I know. My best friend is Zayn. I have an older sister called Gemma and I love cats. I like tall boys who can protect me. Louis Tomlinson made me figure out that I'm gay. I don't like vegan food-"

"Wait, Louis Tomlinson?"

"What?"

"You just said that Louis made you figure out that you're gay."

"Oh. Yes."

"Louis, the boy that you're hanging out with a lot lately? The one who came with you when I told you to meet me at the backdoor?"

"Exactly. Why?"

"Because... I don't know, isn't it like weird to be that close to him after... the feelings you had for him?"

"Oh! No, I don't think so. Our relationship is very nice right now." Then I remember yesterday. "Well, not exactly right now, because yesterday we got in kind of an argument? I don't know, but I'm glad he's my friend."

"Alright?"

I smirk. "You think it's strange, don't you?"

"I do." He laughs. "But it's none of my business. If you're happy, why not."

"Exactly." And I'm happy. I think.

We started a real conversation, and now I know that he's nineteen, just like Zayn said, that his father is Irish and his mother is British, that his surname is Donohoe- which made me spit my water out- and that there are a lot of Irish surnames that start with a C. After finding out he's Irish, I notice that we can actually hear his accent a little. It's not as strong as Niall's, but it's there and it's cute. He also points out a little scar on his cheek. It's from the first time he wanted to shave; he accidentally cut his skin and that's where the scar is from. It's a little imperfection that makes him human.

By the end of the evening, when the waiter comes to ask us to pay, I become nervous. I really hope he's going to pay; I really can't afford anything. I mean only his glass of wine costs more than my meal!

With an impatient expression on his face, the waiter waits for one of us to pay. He seems annoyed. I think he's homophobic, judging by the way he looks at us. And we don't even kiss or hold hands! I'm wearing a rainbow-coloured bracelet and a necklace with a pink triangle; that are the only indications he could get.

"Uhm, should we do that everyone pays their own meal?", I ask. But being the perfect date, Lucas shakes his head. "No, I'll pay for both of us. I mean I invited you, right?"

I nod relieved. Lucas looks at the bill and takes out his wallet. He pays by cash, and even though the waiter probably is homophobic, he gives him a tip.

"Thank you and good evening", the waiter says coldly, then he turns around and leaves.

"I feel like he hates us", Lucas says. I laugh. "Me too. Alright, let's go."

I get up from my chair, and so does he. When I want to put on my coat, he rushes towards me, grabs it and puts it on me. I can feel how I blush; he's standing so close behind me and his fingers are gently touching my arms and my hands. But still: no butterflies.

"Thank you", I say.

"No problem." He smiles at me, then he puts a hand on my shoulder. "Ready to go?"

"Yes."

We're walking around for a little, and I see that Lucas wants to do something. Something like putting his hand around my hips, something like taking my hand, something like kissing me. But I don't want to rush. We're walking very close next to each other, so that our shoulders touch. But still. Nothing. I feel nothing.

It's only the first date.

About an hour later, I ask Lucas if he could drive me home. He nods, and when we arrive at home, I hug him to say goodbye. I think Zayn would be proud.