Friends

"Do you want to go out to eat?" Harry asks letting his breath hit against Louis' ear.

He has to resist the strong urge to nuzzle into Louis' neck when he notices the goosebumps form on his skin. Instead, he closes his eyes and lets everything Louis crowd his senses like his smell of baby powder and lavender.

"Normally, I would be offended that you don't want my burnt food but," Louis pauses to turn around in Harry's arms, "Since it was your birthday yesterday, I'll let it slide," he says sounding a lot more out of breath than when he started.

But really can anyone blame him? Harry is right in front of him pressing him against the counter with his arms wrapped loosely around his waist. Yup, Louis definitely can't breath properly with all of this going on. Can't think properly either.

"Thanks Boobear," Harry says equally out of breath. He quickly clears his throat and takes a few steps away from Louis even if it physically pains him to do so, "Should we go to the diner? Niall should be working today," he nervously runs a hand through his messy curls.

"Sure," Louis smiles, "You might want to put some clothes on first," he suggests as his eyes rake over Harry's body which is still only covered by some rather tight boxers.

"You don't think Niall will want to see me like this?" Harry chuckles and holds his arms out for a better view of his naked torso.

"He better not," Louis huffs out and crosses his arms over his chest.

Harry grins a bit and reaches out to ruffle Louis' oh so soft hair, "I'm only joking Lou," he assures him, "You're the only one who can see me like this," he winks before walking back into his room to get dressed.

"Good," Louis mumbles to himself before following Harry in.

In the room, Harry slips on some black skinny jeans and his favorite sweatshirt which just so happens to be his favorite shade of blue. He messes around with his hair while Louis looks through his closet.

"Lou, can you pass me my blue bandanna?" Harry asks as he puts on his rings.

Louis grabs the bandanna and hands it to Harry, "You're a bit obsessed," Louis giggles when he's looked over Harry's very blue outfit.

"Haha, yeah," Harry chuckles nervously.

He quickly turns away from Louis to put the bandanna in his hair before he makes things really awkward. When he's finished tying it up he looks back at Louis who is now sitting on the bed wearing Harry's green Adidas hoodie. Again, Harry has to physically restrain himself from jumping on top of Louis and never letting him go.

"Ready?" Louis asks with a smile when he looks up from his phone.

Harry nods choosing not to embarrass himself by speaking. Louis pushes himself off the bed and they both walk out of the room to get their shoes on. Louis goes for his classic black vans while Harry chooses his brown Chelsea boots, shoes he knows Louis doesn't love because he once told the boy that those shoes make his heart beat faster than anything in the world. Obviously a lie, because Louis literally makes his heart explode on a daily basis, but ever since then Louis has expressed a strong disliking for the shoes. He always makes sure to tell Harry that they look good though because he doesn't want Harry to misinterpret what he means and get self conscious about it. How is he supposed to explain that he's jealous of a pair of shoes?

They choose to walk to the diner once they've gotten their shoes on since it's close by. A horrid mistake on their part because, the whole time, both boys just wanted to throw themselves off a cliff because their hands kept brushing against each other.

It got to a point where Louis was so shy and blushy by the simple touch he had to shove his hands in his - technically Harry's - hoodie pockets. Harry really wasn't much better because once he saw how adorable Louis looked he started stuttering like no other. He swears he has never made so many horse noises in one conversation.

Finally, to both of their reliefs, they make it to the small diner. Harry holds the door open and Louis smiles at him like he just gave him the world. Harry's really not sure how much more of this he can endure before he just melts with fondness.

"Tommo! Harold! How are you guys?" the Irish lad happily greets them as soon as they're in the building.

"Good mate," Louis grins, "How have you been?"

"Eh today's been a shit shift but that's only because Liam and Zayn left me," Niall pouts.

Harry chuckles and shakes his head at the Irish lad, "Of course they did Nialler. You scare them off too much by always talking about golf and Nandos."

"What's wrong with that?" Niall questions with confusion written all over his face, "Anyways, Harry, how was your birthday yesterday? I barely got to see you."

"It was good mate, thanks," Harry nods.

"I can't believe you didn't want to go out for drinks," Niall says seemingly still in disbelief.

Harry shrugs, "I just wanted to have a quiet one in, you know."

Niall smirks at him, "With Louis?" he raises an eyebrow suggestively.

Harry blushes and looks down at the floor scuffing his shoes against the wooden surface, "Well, yeah."

"Right, well I hope you two had fun," Niall winks.

Harry feels his eyes widen and he quickly glances over to Louis who's watching him very intensely. Harry looks away and he's not sure if his face will ever not be flushed around Louis.

"We did, thanks Niall," Louis states before hooking his arm with Harry's and guiding him to their usual booth in the back.

"I'm sorry," Harry mumbles with his eyes directed on the ground.

"About what love?" Louis asks gently squeezing Harry's bicep for comfort but also because, sue him, he fucking wanted to.

"Niall," Harry sighs, "He was like insinuating things and-"

Louis is quick to interrupt because he knows exactly what Niall was getting at and he doesn't need to hear his crush completely dismiss the idea, "It's okay Haz, I don't mind," he lets himself drag his fingers up and down Harry's arm to reassure him.

Harry's head snaps over to Louis, "You don't?" he questions sheepishly.

Louis stops in front of their table and turns to fully face Harry, "Not at all," he admits quietly.

Harry breaks out into a toothy, dimpled smile that now, officially, owns Louis' heart and soul, "Me neither."