Golden // Larry Stylinson

Chapter Twelve

The boys unload from the bus, one trailing after the other until they're all out on the hot pavement. They can practically see the heat steaming from the black tar, their eyes squinted against the harsh sun.

"Sure is hot here." Zayn shields his eyes from the intrusive rays, looking around the lot.

"It's only hot because Harry's here." Louis smirks, glancing at his boyfriend, who lets out a small chuckle.

"Sorry guys, I'll try to tone it down." Harry pretends to apologize for his hotness creating this oppressive heat.

"You'd better. I'm melting over here." Fanning himself with his shirt, Niall retreats to the hotel entrance. "I can't wait in this weather any longer. Security'll have to catch up to us."

As he approaches the automatic doors, he stands straight, his hands in front of him, moving with the glass as they slide open as if using The Force.

Gathering in Louis, Liam, and Zayn's room, they lock the door behind them. Liam immediately turns the air conditioning on, pumping cold air through the room.

"What're we gonna do with our free day?" Harry asks, flopping onto the desk chair and pulling Louis onto his lap.

They had all of today and the morning of tomorrow to do as the please, but having a concert and rehearsal tomorrow night makes today basically their only day off.

"I dunno, mate," Zayn grabs a cool water bottle from the mini fridge. "But I've gotta do something to keep cool. You think they have a swimming pool here?"

"I reckon they do, most of the ones we've stayed at do. You wanna go?" Liam answers, looking around the circle.

Niall and Zayn nod along, but Harry looks hesitantly and Louis.

"I don't really feel like swimming. It always messes with my hair." Harry disagrees apologetically.

"Oh." Niall looks dejected.

"Why don't you three go swimming and Harry and I will do something else. We'll go to town or something." Louis suggests.

The boys agree and as Louis and Harry are leaving the room, they can hear Niall trying to be funny.

"Go to town on each other."

"That sounds like a great time, doesn't it Harry? Let's go." Louis exclaims loudly, a fake cheery tone in his voice as he pulls a confused Harry out of the room.

Twenty minutes later, they're outside a small ice cream shop, racing across the sweltering blacktop.

"It's ungodly hot outside."

"No kidding. It makes the ice cream that much better." Harry takes Louis hand in his, keeping a weary eye out for any paparazzi.

They each order an ice cream cone, Harry getting strawberry and Louis getting cookie dough.

Walking out of the restaurant, they have to quickly lick their cones to keep them from dripping.

Making their way to the park, they find a private tree and sit in its shade, receiving just enough relief from the sun.

"This is good." Harry comments, rushing to even out the scoop so it won't fall off.

"It's strawberry ice cream. It tastes the same everywhere."

"So it tastes good everywhere. Did you ever think of that, Mr. Tomlinson?" Harry challenges, waving his cone at Louis, who has a slight ice cream mustache.

"I had thought of that, Mr. Styles, but strawberry ice cream doesn't taste good anywhere, much less everywhere."

"Lies." Harry sits up on his knees in front of Louis. "Here." He smushes his ice cream cone against Louis' mouth, forcing some ice cream between his lips.