My Because || A Larry AU Story

1- New Beginnings

Moving away to University is supposed to be an exciting and major life event for your average eighteen year old, one you spend the majority of your teenage years waiting for. For me, it was a last minute decision, an escape even. Why?

I'd decided on a whim to finally come out as bisexual before almost immediately panicking and realising I'd actually have to face people's reactions. My family were mostly supportive, but Holmes Chapel is a small town, where everyone knows everyone and people talk. I couldn't bare the idea of people staring and whispering about me everywhere I went. So instead of dealing with it, I applied through clearing to a university far away down South, where no-one would know who I am, mere weeks before the start of term. At least this way, I wouldn't have to worry about seeing people until Christmas, when they'd hopefully gotten over their initial shock.

And now, here I was, sat in a shitty little room, on a shitty little bed, having been dropped off not even ten minutes ago by my mum and sister and of course, I was the first one here. Feeling suddenly agitated, I begin to pace around said shitty room, pondering on whether I tell my housemates about myself immediately, or let them figure it out for themselves. I didn't want to just be known as 'Harry, the bisexual one'. Yet, I didn't want to be closeted again either, especially considering these new people wouldn't have known me for years as 'the sweet lad who worked in the bakery for a while.' I could be whoever I wanted to be. Whatever that would mean.

The sound of voices carry upstairs and drag me out of my thoughts. Though barely audible, I can already tell whoever they are have a strong accent. I check myself in the mirror and adjust my hair slightly before heading out of my room to greet them. According to Gemma, my sister, it was important to be social with your new housemates on the first day and to not stay hidden up in your room. So, although I feel awkward, I begin to head downstairs to do so. As I get closer, the accent is unmistakable. Irish.

As I'm halfway downstairs, my eyes meet with a blonde-haired boy, holding a cardboard box. He smiles at me and I smile back.

'Hello, I'm Harry,' I say, before making my way down the rest of the stairs.

'Niall Horan,' he replies, removing one of his hands from the box to shake mine. 'Did you just get here?'

'About twenty minutes ago, or so, yeah,' I answer. 'Looks like we're the first two here.'

'Ah, I'm so excited to meet everyone,' Niall says, with a smile. 'Hope they don't take too long to arrive.'

'Yeah, I just hope everyone's...nice,' I reply, thinking about all the horror stories I've heard about awkward housemates and fallings out.

'Me too,' Niall agrees. 'I can't wait to go out with everyone tonight, either.'

He then looks into his room at who, I assume, are his parents, unpacking some more boxes.

'Well, I better go help,' he says. 'Was nice meeting ya, see you later.'

x

Two hours later, with everyone now arrived and settled, we are all sat in the kitchen, already breaking out the pre-drinks before our first freshers night out together. There's six of us in total, and I'm still trying to remember all their names.

'We should all get to know to each other!' exclaims the girl on my right, pouring tropical VK into all of our glasses. I think her name is Lara. 'How about a game of Never Have I Ever?'

I can't help but roll my eyes slightly as everyone else excitedly agrees - of course they wanted to play this game. In my experience, the questions always turned sexual, which was always incredibly awkward during my closeted younger years. Not to mention, I still hadn't decided what to do about telling people here.

Niall catches my eye from across the table and shoots me an almost knowing look.

'Lighten up, Harry,' he says. 'It won't be all bad, you know.'

'I'm fine, Niall,' I respond, before taking a sip of my drink.

'No, not yet!' says Lara, nudging me, which almost knocks over my glass in the process. 'Save it for the game.'

'Alright, alright!' I say, chuckling slightly. 'Let's get on with it then.'

'Can I ask the first question?' asks the guy sitting next to Niall, whose name I'd completely forgotten.

'Fiiine,' Lara replies, rolling her eyes. 'Just don't make it boring!'

'Right,' he says, rubbing his hands together. He then grins mischievously. 'Never have I ever gotten with someone without knowing their name.'

Lara covers her face before taking a sip, so does the person who asked the question. Reluctantly, I take one too. The others just stare at us.

'I so wanna know all the stories behind this!' exclaims one of the other girls who's been quiet so far.

'There's not much to tell really,' Lara blushes. 'You know how it goes, you meet some guy while off your face in a club, and end up going home with them. Then they've pissed off somewhere before you even wake up.'

'Every time,' I mutter, without thinking. Heat instantly rises to my cheeks when I realise what I've just said and I feel all eyes on me. And then the questions start.

'Wait, what?'

'With a girl or-?'

'I'm well confused.'

'But I was talking about a guy...' Lara reminds me, looking confused.

I sigh. It was now or never.

'Look, so was I, alright?' I say to everyone. 'There's more than just straight you know and if you MUST know, I'm bi.'

I look away, slightly dreading the responses.

'Fair enough, no judgement here,' Lara says, with a shrug. No one else says anything, implying they probably don't give a shit. At least I hoped so. 'Alright, I'll ask the next question, give me a sec to think.'

And just like that, the debate over whether I should tell them or not is resolved.