coffee stains ; larry stylinson

chapter six

"today's the big day buddy, don't cream your pants."

"eleanor, i'm gonna throw this coffee in your face."

"sure you will."

"sure i won't."

louis was informed by eleanor that today was the day harry started school and had been itchy and had dreaded monday throughout the entire weekend. now, standing by the lockers louis felt extremely awkward and nervous, especially because of their encounter at the clothing store. 

"here comes lover boy," eleanor whispered and louis followed her gaze to the boy who had just walked through the doors. 

there he was. harry. 

he was dressed in his usual uniform: a plain white t-shirt with black skinny jeans and boots. 

he was calm and collected, face not betraying the slightest hint of awkwardness or nervousness as people turned to look at him; his back was straight, his bag slung casually over one broad shoulder; he stride was graceful and fluid.

he approached his locker, which of course had to be right next to louis'. louis found this extremely annoying and internally rolled his eyes. eleanor just smirked. harry's gaze fell upon louis and he nodded imperceptibly. louis tried to smile at him, just as imperceptibly, failed and then abandoned the effort. 

he really took the cologne advice seriously, louis thought amazedly as he got a whiff of harry's lightly sprayed cologne as he spun on his heel and headed towards his class. 

"he's hot. but i don't really do the brunette-sebastian-morgernstern chaps," eleanor said wistfully. 

louis mumbled something under his breath and eleanor slapped her forehead. 

"by the gods what has gotten into me." eleanor was shaking her head, her ponytail brushing louis' shoulder. "he's yours! i am on some shit this morning. anyways, there's the bell and that's my cue. kisses, love you. bye."

"you're a fucker," louis yelled behind her. in response, eleanor just flipped him off and whisked off. 

. . .

harry, being the little shit he is, had to obviously choose to sit right in front of louis in every class just to piss him off. 

"that seat," louis was saying though gritted teeth, "is sheila diaz's."

"too bad," harry would say and plop down on the seat, pointedly smirking at sheila diaz who would stammer a reassurance and scurry off to find another seat. 

it wasn't that louis had a problem with harry sitting in front of him -- they barely even talked -- but the problem was that harry was huge and his fly away curls would be in louis' face, breaking the last bit of concentration louis' coffee-deprived brain could muster up. 

it continued like this for a couple of days until a geography project came up.

and louis and harry were paired up. 

louis squirmed uncomfortably in his seat as the topic for their project was assigned. they were to begin drafting their thesis in class, forcing harry to turn his seat and face louis. 

"what is the matter with you?" harry asked curiously as louis fanned out a shaky breath. he met harry's gaze with horror. 

"nothing," louis said a little bit too casually. 

"you're sweating. it's ice cold in this class."

"rubbish," louis said while wiping sweat from his brow. harry just stared. 

"are you nervous?" harry asked. 

louis covered his face with his hands. "yes. i mean, no. maybe? i don't know."

"why are you nervous?" harry asked in a somewhat demanding tone that made louis internally roll his eyes in annoyance. 

"don't flatter yourself, styles. it's the social anxiety."

"you've got social anxiety?" harry leaned forward in interest and rested his arms on louis' desk. louis felt like an animal being goggled at the zoo. louis resisted the urge of flipping him the bird. 

"yes, i do. what are you gonna do about it," louis snapped. his social anxiety was something he hated to talk about and he did not need a therapy session with this apathetic bloke with hair that, at the moment, looked like a bird's nest. 

harry, probably sensing his irritation, just shrugged and turned back to his desk. louis felt a pang of guilt and kind of felt bad for snapping at him. 

"oi."

harry turned to him with a raised eyebrow.

"meet me at the library at five?"

"for-?"

"the project, of course."

"right. okay."

louis nodded at him. harry nodded back.

and maybe louis was imagining it, but he would have bet his ass he caught the smallest flash of a grin as harry turned back to his seat.  

a/n: HI GUYSSSS 

update after a long time. BUT i am working on a bunch of chaps atm which will prolly be published mid next week. 

how do we like this chapter?

baby close ur eyes and see <3 

all the love, tay x