My Because || A Larry AU Story

4 - Instant Crush

I'm unable to think straight. I'm so aware of Louis being in the room at all times and I desperately want to get to know him. I can barely even remember what the rest of the society leaders talked about, or what their role involved. The feelings are completely consuming me, and honestly, it's a little daunting. I don't want this to be another unrequited crush on a straight boy - it has happened many a time before and I can't deal with the pain of it again. Plus, I've literally just met the guy, so why am I already feeling like this?

I rest my head in my hands trying to get it together, and sink lower into the chair I'd slumped myself on in the corner. Everyone else was interacting with each other, or messing around on the available instruments, including Niall, who I'd told to go ahead without me. Get it together, Harry.

'You alright over here, lad?'

I jump and instantly sit up straight, noticing that Louis is now about to sit down right beside me. Our eyes meet and I notice how blue his are, causing me to feel more nervous. I also spot a cigarette tucked behind one of his ears, which instantly ends up being another thing I find weirdly attractive about him. I break the eye contact for a second, hoping my blushing isn't too visible.

'Uh, yeah,' I say awkwardly, running a hand through my hair. 'Just trying to figure out what I want to do.'

'Well, don't be afraid to get involved, we don't bite you know,' Louis tells me with a smile, gently putting a hand on my arm.

I flinch slightly at his touch, feeling sparks. His eyes then widen slightly as his fingers lightly trace over the ship tattoo I have on my bicep. Oh my god.

'Sick tattoo, mate! Way better than any of mine!' Louis then exclaims. He removes his hand and holds out his arms, examines his own tattoos, allowing me to see them properly for the first time. I so badly want to reach out and touch them like he had done with mine, but I resist the urge.

'Thank you, yours are pretty cool though,' I reply, before instantly cringing at myself.

Really Harry, that's all you can say? Idiot.

'Ah cheers, cheers,' Louis says, giving me another smile. He then looks around the room. 'I better get on, but please don't feel you 'ave to hide in this corner the whole time.'

He gets up and leaves. I let out a deep breath I didn't even realise I'd been holding before getting up myself to join Niall who was currently sat lightly strumming on a guitar.

'Hey, Nialler,' I say, trying to act like everything's cool. He looks up, stops playing and nods at me in acknowledgment

'Alright, Hazza?' he replies. 'How come you were just sitting over there for ages on your own?'

'I'll tell you later,' I say, shifting a glance sideways towards where Louis was now talking to a group of girls. 'How come you've been on your own also?'

'Fuck knows, mate,' Niall says. 'I guess we're both being anti-social tonight.'

x

We carried on being anti-social for the rest of the meet up and just stuck together the whole time, which resulted in us having a little two-man jam session. At the end of the night, Louis announced that auditions were going to be held during the next meet up, and that the musical would be Grease. He was excited for it, since apparently he'd played Danny in a school production of it before. However, I can't think or stress about what I'll do for the audition. All I care about is that it means I can see him again in a few days, which makes me feel a strange mixture of nerves and excitement.

Now that we are finally a safe enough distance away from the hall, and no one else seems to be around, I can finally speak to Niall about what was going on.