I figured it out

Breaking the news

Niall opened his eyes and stared blearily and murderously at his phone, which was ringing at full volume. He contemplated ignoring it and falling back asleep, but in the end, his curiosity got the best of him and he reached over to grab the device. Harry's smiling face graced the small screen and the Irishman heaved a long-suffering sigh.

"This better-" he was cut off by a squealing from the opposite end 

"What the- mate are you alright?" Niall asked, voice still groggy but more alert than before.

"LOUISTOMLINSONKISSEDME!" came the shrill shout 

"What? Can you please repeat that in a way I can understand mate?" Niall asked, feeling genuinely concerned now.

He heard the younger man take several deep breaths before he repeated his statement at a far more sensible volume and pitch.

"Louis. Tomlinson. Kissed. Me." he carefully enunciated before he let out another squeal. 

  

Niall's eyes widened as the information sunk in.

"No!" he exclaimed

"Yes! He did! It was so romantic! AH!" the younger man gushed 

Niall felt the last vestiges of sleepiness leave him and he sat up straight in his bed.

"I can't believe it! Did he kiss you first?"  

"HE DID, HE DID, UGH IT WAS AMAZING!" 

"Wait a minute, how did he kiss you?" 

"With his lips?"

The blonde rolled his eyes, "No shit Sherlock," he said sarcastically.

"Oh Nialler, it was like something straight out of a Disney film," the younger man gushed. 

Niall settled comfortably against his headboard and listened intently to Harry's tale. 

*************"

Liam Payne stumbled down into his parent's kitchen sometime in the evening. The only thought in his head was predominantly based on getting some caffeine into his body.

In his single-minded focus completely on the glorious coffee machine that was seducing him with the smell of the freshly brewed black coffee, he completely missed out on his mum watching him fondly from her seat at his dining table.

"Liam-" 

"Holy mother of- Mum! Don't sneak up on me like that! You nearly scared the bejesus out of me!" Liam shrieked at his now laughing mother. 

"I'm sorry dear, but you were about to pour a nice flowerpot of coffee for yourself," Karen Payne managed to explain through her chuckles, pointing at the small pot containing an indoor plant that was still in Liam's death grip. 

"Oh, right sorry mum," the firefighter apologized abashedly. 

An embarrassed flush graced his cheeks while he rummaged through his mother's cupboards looking for a mug. His blush deepened when his mum gave him a searching look.

"Sweetheart is there something that's bothering you?" she asked after a moment.

Liam thought to himself for a minute, was something bothering him? But in the end, he shook it off and just shrugged at his mum.

"Nah, just really tired mum, I'll be fine," 

The older woman stepped closer and caressed her son's cheek affectionately,

"Alright Liam, but if there's anything you need to talk to your mum about, I'll be here," 

"Of course, I know that mum, thanks and I love you," Liam said, wrapping Karen up in a warm hug.

He sat down with his coffee on the sofa, with the sounds of his mum making something in the kitchen when his phone rang out, breaking the peaceful lull.

Louis' name flashed on the screen and Liam immediately picked it up.

"Hello?" 

"Mate, you won't believe what happened," the older man began with no greeting. 

                                                                                     ****************

Karen jumped nearly a foot into the air at her son's ear-splitting whoop about three minutes after his phone first rang.