Have I forgotten how to love; remind me once again

Chapter Twenty-Three

A/N Sorry for taking a moment to update but I'm emotionally exhausted from my Louis concert (which was incredible) and Harry deciding to release new music AND a bunch of interviews. Anygays, here you go!

Louis wakes up to an empty bed, and his first thoughts are all littered with disappointment despite trying to pull himself together with the knowledge that it's unreasonable to expect things to be perfect instantly - after all, that's what went wrong in the first place, and with that, Louis rolls out of bed with a groan, reminding himself that they're going on a date today, so it's going to be a great day. Maybe. No! Definitely.

He pulls on a pair of sweats and a T-shirt from his bag - trying not to dwell too long on the fact that he slept with Harry shirtless - something that he wouldn't usually think twice about, but somehow seems kind of big now. A little too intimate.

Deciding that it's too early for socks, Louis runs a hand through his bedhead, deciding that will just have to do as he walks into the hall, figuring Harry has probably gone downstairs to get a cup of tea - Louis knows he isn't out running, because despite his leg having healed already, Harry said it still aches a bit if he does excessive exercise.

Yawning, he rubs at his eyes while taking the first few steps of the stairs but when he opens them again, Harry is standing below him with a cup of tea in his left hand. "Morning", Louis smiles, knees instantly going a little weak at the sight of the boy in front of him; his ruffled hair and slightly puffy eyes.

"Oh Hi!", Harry responds, then corrects himself, "Good morning, I mean. I was just coming back upstairs to give you this". 'This' being the cup of tea in Harry's hand that he is currently holding out between them, still standing a couple steps below Louis - which barely makes Louis taller, but whatever.

Gratefully, Louis accepts the cup, his tummy doing swirls and backwards handsprings at the familiar gesture. "Thanks, love", he hums, gesturing for them to go back downstairs when Harry doesn't move from the middle of the stairs. Blushing, Harry follows his lead, and they find their way into the kitchen.

As Louis drinks his cup of tea, he wonders if Harry has forgotten their date today, or if he simply doesn't want to bring it up. Either way, it's not ideal, but Louis is only allowed to worry for the duration of his cup of tea because then Harry is smiling his 'you have something, and I want it smile' and leaning his head slightly to one side. "So, where are we going on a date today?" He hums, and Louis is well aware that the boy's sugary sweet tone is all pretend.

Too bad that Louis has a lifetime of practice of not giving in to Harry's puppy eyes and ruin surprises, and he simply smiles back, "It's a surprise", he says, and across the table Harry's smile turns into a frown. "Cooome on", he tries, but Louis can't be affected - well he is, but the boy doesn't need to know that.

"I'm not telling you", Louis begins, loving to have this kind of banter again, "But I can tell you that it will be a lunch kind of thing, so you don't have to wait too long". Harry groans obnoxiously at that, as if that's a completely unreasonable time frame, but Louis just laughs again, pushing back his chair and declaring that he will be gone for about an hour, preparing things for the date.

One last attempt from Harry to figure out the details fails miserably as he tries the sweet approach again. "Loooouuu, can I come? Pretty please". It takes merely a look from Louis for Harry's face to fall into disappointment, and for him to mutter out. "Fine", as offended as if Louis had told him he could never drink tea in the morning again.

At last, Harry accepts his fate of waiting an entire hour to find out, and Louis scours through the house in secrecy before taking a bag full of unidentified stuff into his car and driving off, leaving Harry pouting on the couch.