Backpacking Through Europe

Rome, Italy

Thank you for telling me about Italy Ody_92 ❤

Their day in Barcelona had been absolutely perfect! They had to skip Mount Tibidabo to make it to the game on time but Harry didn't mind. The happy, blissful smile that never left Louis' lips as they watched the game was so worth it. How cuddly he was later that night made it even more worth it.

They had to take a cab to make it to the ferry. They showed up just in time and got situated in their small cabin. It was cozy. Louis wouldn't shut up about the game but Harry only found him adorable. He was happy that he had been able to do that for Louis who held him close as they were laying in bed. Harry was resting his head on Louis' chest and just listened to him rambling about the game, as if he hadn't just watched the same thing. Louis was so excited, gesturing and squeezing him closer once in a while.

They fell asleep eventually. They slept in and missed breakfast. They ate a lot for lunch instead. They spent the ferry ride in their cabin. They decided to skip dinner and go out for a pizza in Rome as soon as they had checked into a hotel. Harry had made reservations.

There were two beds in their cabin but Louis didn't leave his side and he didn't comment on it. He liked having him close. They discussed what they were gonna do in Rome. Harry showed Louis his list and he agreed to everything easily. Sometimes they got stuck just staring into each other's eyes and Harry held his breath, hoping that Louis would kiss him but he never did even if it seemed like he might think of it. At least he hoped so. Was he delusional? Louis hasn't even told him if he was into guys or not, but it wasn't like he had told him that he was gay either. How did you even ease that into a conversation naturally? He had to try at least.
"So Louis, are you eh, are you single?"

"Yes. You?" Louis asked and sat up, putting some distance between them.

"Yeah." Harry smiled nervously.

"Alright." Louis smiled and laid back down.

Why couldn't he just have said "I don't have a boyfriend?" Then he would have put it out there. Too scary. What if Louis was homophobic? Not that he thought that he would be but to be fair, they hadn't known each other that long. Damn it! Shouldn't his gaydar be working? He was too inexperienced. He had never had a boyfriend. Just kissed a couple of guys at parties.

"Hey, a penny for your thoughts." Louis said softly and caressed his hair briefly.

He snapped out of it and looked at him.
"Sorry. I'm excited about Italy. I always wanted to go to Rome." It wasn't exactly what he had been thinking of but it was true.

"Yeah? Paris was always my go-to place and you made it really special. I got to see so much in such a short amount of time thanks to you." Louis smiled.

Stupid butterflies.
"We make an excellent duo. My planning and your spontaneity make the perfect combo."

"It does." Louis laughed softly.

"This trip has become so much more than I could have ever dreamt of." Harry said and bit his lower lip.

"Same." Louis smiled. He glanced at the clock. "We're almost in Rome. We better pack our bags."

They got off the ferry 40 minutes later and found their hotel before they headed out to find somewhere to eat pizza. They only had to walk for five minutes and sat down at a table by the window and looked through the menu. Harry decided to eat a Quattro Formaggi, a pizza with four kinds of cheese. Louis chose Diavola, a pepperoni pizza.

They both moaned when they tried their first bite and then they tried each other's pizza.
"That's it. I'm moving to Italy." Harry announced with a grin.

"Second that." Louis replied, mouth stuffed with food.

It took them an hour to finish and they headed back to the hotel for an early night. Louis looked up at the sky and grabbed Harry's hand to stop him. He pulled him to a spot of grass on the side of the road and laid on his back.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked.

"Come here, just look at that sky." Louis said.

Harry laid on his back next to Louis and looked at him.
"If someone murders us now I'll blame you."

"I'll let them kill me first so you can get away. Look at the sky now." Louis giggled.

Harry turned his head and looked up at millions of stars.
"It's mindblowing to think about everyone seeing the same stars all around the world."

"Depending on where they live they look at another piece of the sky so technically it's not the same stars." Louis replied sassily.

Harry bumped his knee against Louis'.
"You know what I mean."

"Yeah." Louis said.

They lay in silence for a while stargazing.
"Why did you ask if I'm single?" Louis asked all of a sudden.

Harry's stomach flipped.
"Curiosity. You never mentioned a partner."

"Do you really think I would share a bed with you if I wasn't? I'm the faithful kind of guy." Louis said.

"Me too." Harry said.

Louis inhaled.
"Harry? I've tried to be smooth but I guess it's time to be really blunt. Ehm, I'm gay as fuck and I'm really into you."

Harry snapped his head to look at Louis just to find him already looking at him.
"Sorry, that was really fucking blunt. It's okay if you're not into me." Louis chuckled, sounding embarrassed.

"I am!" Harry hurried to say.

Louis smiled and then he came closer. Harry met him halfway and they shared a soft, first kiss under the stars on a piece of grass somewhere in Rome.