Be My Dandelion

Unit A: Subsection 3

Harry's standing unbelievably still.

He doesn't know what hits him first; the fact that Louis saw the performance, the fact that Louis is Zayn's boyf- wait, are they dating? Now, should he panic about that, too? Should he panic about the fact that he was being all blushy about Zayn's boy? God, did Zayn know? Is this why he brought him to the gig? Harry couldn't have possibly known! Zayn never tells them anything! But, Harry being Harry, is going to beat himself up for it anyway.

Okay, he hasn't spoken and it's getting kind of weird.

He eventually snaps out of it, extending his hand for a handshake, "Harry, nice to meet you." He knows it's not the first time they've met and Louis knows it as well but Harry introduced himself again.

"Well, obviously I'm Louis," he said shaking Harry's hand. "Nice to meet you," and not many seconds later he adds "again."

There's a tiny bit of uncomfortable silence after that. Nobody seems to know what they are supposed to do. Zayn and Louis look pretty chill, Harry is internally freaking out and nobody knows what's going on inside Niall's head.

Harry decides to break the silence saying he'll grab a drink and return. Louis says he'll join him.

Harry gets to the bar before Louis and orders. Once Louis gets there he asks for "whatever he got".

"What a small world we live in, innit?" Louis says almost singing the words. "Had no idea you knew my Zayn. You could've told me, I would've watched out not to embarrass myself".

His Zayn?

"I didn't know you knew Zayn either," Harry responds. "Zayn's always been secretive and mysterious about his boyfriend. How could I have known it was my neighbor?" He's attempting to make a joke, change the atmosphere.

Louis chuckled a bit. "Boyfriend? If Zayn's talking about a boyfriend, 's not me, mate." There's a tiny chuckle at the end again. "He just comes over, we fuck and that's it. No strings attached," he says simply.

Harry is the tiniest bit relieved but that does not change anything. "No, no, I don't think there's somebody else. We just assumed whoever he was seeing was, like, dating him," Harry swallowed.

The bartender gave them the drinks and they both thanked him, reaching for their money simultaneously. The second Harry is about to pay, Louis has put a hand over his and gives money to the bartender saying it's for both drinks. "Keep the change."

"Thanks but I could pay for myself," Harry said, eyebrows furrowed.

"I know you can, big guy. Take it as an apology for dealing with drunk me the other day."

Harry stays silent.

"By the way, nice to finally know where the music's coming from. You had me wondering," Louis commented making evident that he hears Harry when he's playing his songs. "The building isn't exactly soundproof, so."

"Yeah, sorry for that. I try to keep it down. I can be quieter if—"

"Don't you dare, it's nice company. The whole flat is so absurdly silent."

Harry tries not to let his smile show as they return to the table.

He doesn't like the silence , Harry mentally notes.

One drink turns to two and two turn to three and by the end of it they're all a bit tipsy. Niall's probably the most sober.

They talk like Louis was always hanging out with them and it never got uncomfortable again. Niall made random comments throughout the conversations and threw jokes that they probably wouldn't have laughed at if it wasn't for the alcohol in their systems. At this point, Niall could say the simplest thing and they would be bursting out laughing.