Careless Whisper

VII

A few months have passed since their first time. Harry's 17th birthday is approaching and Louis is feverishly thinking about a present. Nothing seems to be good enough because Louis loves gifting things with meaning. And that's why it's so difficult, because it must be something very special for Harry. It's supposed to be something that, at best, always reminds Harry of Louis. Louis runs both hands over his face and decides to postpone the considerations until later. Harry is about to come and pick him up, they want to stroll around town and while away the afternoon. Louis looks out the window and sees that Harry has already turned onto their street. His hands deep in his jacket pocket to protect himself from the cold January wind and headphones on, his beloved Walkman always with him on the go. Louis belly does somersaults, he can't wait to finally have his boyfriend all to himself.

At school they always keep an appropriate distance so that no one could think they're more than good friends, but the secret dates in the boys' toilet have become their ritual and made room for the meetings in the yard. Louis quickly checks his outfit again in the mirror, light-colored, washed-out jeans fall loosely around his legs and he is wearing a thick knitted winter jumper by Jay that nestles softly against him. It's okay, nothing special but Harry loves him nonetheless in everything he wears. Preferably naked, of course, Louis thinks smiling.

When he hears the bell, he quickly runs downstairs and brushes against Jay who was already on her way to the front door. He literally slides past her just to be the first to get to the front door and Jay calls out an indignant "Louis William Tomlinson'' at him. But Louis doesn't care, he opens the door in one go and quickly pulls Harry into him in a hasty move. Harry doesn't quite know what's happening to him and a small gasp of surprise escapes his mouth.

Jay observes everything with an amused look and says "God Louis, don't be so boisterous. You're acting as if you didn't just see each other at school this morning." Louis doesn't look at her but throws her a shooing hand. Only to then pull Harry close and bury his nose in his curls. Harry throws his arms and neck up and leans back slightly so that Louis has to look at him.

"Did you miss me?" he asks smiling.

"So much. Come on, give me a kiss," Louis says demandingly and Harry, still with the headphones on his ears, kisses him smackingly.

Jay, who briefly disappeared into the living room, returns, smiling and brandishing a camera in her hands.

"We don't have a photo of you two, come on...get together!"

Harry and Louis stand close to themselves, their hands clasped at their sides and each with a big grin on their face. Jay makes sure they're both fully up and pulls the button to make the photo. Both are briefly blinded by the bright flash and start giggling while rubbing their eyes.

"Shall we go?" Louis asks and Harry nods in agreement. Louis hopes that he will come up with an idea for his gift while strolling with Harry and has decided to observe him closely and see what things his eyes linger on.

Both shout a loud goodbye to Jay, who had gone away with her camera, and they can only hear her from another room yelling "Take care lovebirds."

They both chuckle, exchange a quick kiss and make their way to downtown Manchester. As they walk side by side, Louis asks

"What did you actually hear as you came by?" and points to his walkman, which is now in his jacket pocket along with the headphones

"Careless Whisper... what else? I love it so much. God, his voice is sooooo good," Harry starts raving again.

"That you can still hear it, you've been consuming it like a drug for days," Louis laughs and shakes his head fondly.

"What can I say? It's my favorite song of his so far," Harry smiles.