Mystery Buyer (L.S)

Sixteen

It has been a whole two weeks since Louis had last seen Harry. They had both been busy with work and everything and time just went too quickly.

Louis had drawn and listed around ten drawings over those last two weeks and almost all of them had sold already, just two of them were left still listen. He knew that Fran and Harry were both right, and with Frans help he had spent a day and set himself up on Twitter and Instagram but just for his art. He didn't have himself on there and didn't have himself as the profile picture. Of course Harry has followed and everything Harry did, his followers seemed to do. Louis now had just over 5,000 followers on Twitter and around 3,000 on Instagram. It made him anxious and always worried about what to write and what to post. And he almost always had help with that from Fran. He tried to post at least two or three times a week but with his two jobs already, it was kind of like a third job for him. Although, he knew it was the way forward if he ever wanted to get out of him slump.

Louis had paid Harry back for the rent he had covered on his behalf, despite Harry insisting he didn't want him to on at least 700 occasions. Louis always said he was going to pay it back and he intended to keep his word. Plus like he told Harry he does always pay it, its just sometimes late.

Louis had of course filled in Fran about the whole Parker situation. She didn't know the full ins and outs of Louis' ex until this but now she knew everything. She also knew all about the kiss with Harry and the sleepover and everything else.

Fran was still texting the same guy that she was before and felt like it was getting a little serious. Fran was pretty and popular and could get anyone she wanted realistically. Louis was happy for her but Fran was always saying that she wasn't sure about him and worrying about if he really liked he like she liked him. Louis reassured her and he could tell she felt this way simply because she really liked this guy so much.

~

It was Thursday and it had just turned 7pm and Louis had just finished his shift at the record store. He was speaking to Rob as he was grabbing his things from the staffroom, about his shifts for next week. Rob always made sure to be pretty flexible with Louis' shifts since he knew his situation and Louis was always grateful for it. He pulled his hoodie, Harry's hoodie, over his head while the two wear speaking, then Rob handed him a sheet of paper with his shifts on.

Louis had been basically wearing Harrys hoodie since the last time he saw him, instead of wearing a coat or jacket. It was big and warm and it was cosy. And it smelt like Harry.

Louis had walked to work today rather than boarded. It was chilly but after all he did only live a short distance away. He pulled out his phone from his pocket and plugged in his headphone, which were already over his ears, choosing a playlist. Once he had chosen, he started walking home, scrolling through his phone as he did. He checked his socials quickly before checking his Artsy.

Then he checked his texts. Nothing. He had replied to Fran not so long ago so wasn't expecting anything from her. He clicked the Harry thread and re-read their last messages. Louis hadn't replied to Harry for two days, well almost two days. It was early hours Wednesday morning when he last responded. They were talking about family and Harry mentioned that his sister might be coming over to visit and about how he wanted Louis to meet her.

Louis went into protection mode. He hid behind his walls and didn't know how to reply. The last time he had met someone's family was back when he was with Parker. Louis thought it had gone really well but Parker had told him that his family didn't approve of Louis and that he would have to keep the relationship on a down-low. Just like they did at high school. It brought back memories that Louis would rather not be thinking about.

Harry had sent a few other messages since then asking if Louis was okay but he didn't reply either. Louis actually hadn't intended to leave Harry on read and un-replied to for this long. Time had gotten away from him and now Louis felt like the longer he waited the harder it was for him to reply. Louis knew he ruined it. He was angry at himself. Harry was everything he ever wanted and he ruined it. He let himself ruin it and he knew he didn't deserve Harry.

He locked his phone and shoved in into his back pocket before pulling up his hood, Harrys hood, and carried on home as the music filled his ears and his head.

He reached the block of flats that he called home and entered the pin, hearing the buzz of the door and heading inside. He walked past the elevator, which was still broken and most likely will always be broken, and jogged his way up the three flights of stairs. He dropped his backpack to the floor as he reached his door and knelt down on one knee beside it as he rummaged through it in search of his keys. Just as he found them, he glanced over the the flat at the other end of his floor. Harrys uncles flat. He stood up as he wondered whether Harry had been back over there to finish boxing everything up and whatever else needed doing in there.

He unlocked his flat door and headed inside, stepping over his mail as he does and dropping his bag to the floor. He turns to pick up the letters and junk mail from the floor then closes the door behind him with his foot. He kept his headphones on his head, still letting the music flood into his head, while he skimmed through the small pile. Takeaway leaflet, bill, leaflet about the local gym, bill and then a envelope that just said 'Louis' on it.

He placed everything else on the kitchen counter and opened it straight away, furrowing his brows as he did so.

~Hey Lou, I was going to come and see you at work today but I don't know if that's what you want so I thought a note might be a safer bet. Whatever the reason is, I don't care. I just wanted you to know that I care about you a lot but if you don't want to talk to me, I respect your decision. Yours, Harry X X~

'Fuck...' Louis spoke out loud to himself.

He felt awful. He pulled off his headphones and unplugged them from his phone and without even thinking he called Harry. He didn't give himself chance to talk himself out of it and just hoped that Harry answered quickly. Which he did.

'Lou..?' Harrys voice was soft and quiet and cracked slightly as he spoke.

'I've given you the completely wrong idea Harry, I'm so sorry..' Louis blurted it out, again without thinking. 'You did nothing, I just started over thinking and I panicked and I've been an absolute idiot.' Louis carried on talking, not letting Harry respond, then took a deep breath.

'Louis? Firstly, you're not an idiot. Secondly, you looked great at work today. Not to sound like a perv..'

Louis could hear in Harry's voice that he was smiling slightly and was instantly calmed down.

'Don't change the subject, Harry. I fucked up and I'm really sorry' Louis pulled himself up onto the kitchen counter as he spoke, so that his legs were dangling.

'You didn't fuck up, Lou. The only thing I can ask is that you talk to me about it? And if there's a next time talk to me about it before stressing me the fuck out?' Harry laughed as he spoke.

Louis and Harry spoke about everything. Louis explained about his worries about meeting Harrys sister. They spoke about Louis' mum too and how much she would have loved Harry being a part of Louis' life. Harry reassured him about everything and explained it's his choice about meeting them and that whatever the choice he's not going to change his opinion on Louis.

'Thank you for understanding. And forgiving me..' Louis mumbled.

'Thank you for ringing me and explaining. Anyways..' Louis loved when Harry changed the subject after a conversation that made him anxious. '..When can I see you. Well, I saw you today technically, but when can I see you properly.'

'I'm not buying that you saw me at work today?' Louis questioned, slightly self conscious, wondering if Harry had seen him wearing his hoodie.

'I really did. I was going to come inside but didn't. You were stacking some CDs, wearing a blue top and looking cute.' Louis blushed at Harrys words.

'I'm off work now until Monday so I guess anytime you want to see me is fine.'

'Tomorrow settles it then.'