I Hate You ~ Louis Tomlinson

TRYING

Today is the day Louis is going to try, he's going to put in the effort to try to hang out with everyone. They're all in the basement so he decides to just go down there, what's the worst that can happen?

He ignores their strange looks as he walks down the stairs. "Hey, what's everyone doing?" He says somewhat awkwardly.

"We're about to play Mario Kart, we don't have a fourth player. These losers are too scared," Liam says motioning to the rest of the boys. "Do you want to join?" He asks.

Bless Liam, he's always good at making sure everyone feels included.

"We're not scared, we just don't want to deal with Harry's complaining when he loses." Niall says pointedly.

"I don't complain!" Harry exclaims.

Louis just shakes his head and gratefully takes the controller from Liam. He sits down next to him on the ground in front of the tv and they pick out players.

"Princes Peach, really?" Louis says looking at Natalie and rolling his eyes. "Typical." He remarks snarkily and then he turns back to the screen.

"Uh, that's not me, but your sexism is refreshing. Thank you for that." She says back sarcastically and smirking at the back of his head.

"Then who are you?" He says turning back to her defiantly.

"Yoshi."

He turns around and looks between Liam and Harry, trying to figure out who it is and sees Liam's cheeks turn pink.

"Oh Payno, come on lad."

They play the game and Natalie does in fact beat all of them, Harry throws a fit. Not really, he just likes to be really dramatic about it. Fake tears were shed by him, but real tears of laughter were shed by her, probably why Harry had brought out his dramatic side to begin with.

Once everyone has calmed down, they decide to put in a movie. Movie night has become somewhat of a Saturday night tradition since Natalie has moved in with them. After 15 minutes of fighting over what to watch and some snack gathering they end up putting on How to Train Your Dragon, because it's awesome. The commercials start and they all pick where they are going to sit.

Harry and Liam are on the shorter part of the L shaped couch and Natalie, Zayn, and Niall are on the larger part. Zayn puts his arm on the backrest, and she takes that as her cue to cuddle into him. Looking up at him with a smile to see him already smiling down at her.

Louis comes downstairs with some more snacks and rolls his eyes at them, scoffing. She just raises her eyebrows to challenge him, but he stays quiet until Zayn brings it up.

"And what's the matter with you huh?" Zayn's tone is teasing, but Natalie listens close enough to hear that there's something else in there, something more strained.

"I just don't think she always has to be laying on someone is all." Louis says as he rolls his eyes.

"Yes, yes. You've voiced your jealousy before," Zayn says.

Louis starts to protest but Natalie cuts him off. "Really Lou, I mean if you wanted me to cuddle with you, you could have just asked."

"No, that's not what I meant," he tries but she's already getting up.

"No need to beg, I'm coming."

She smirks at him and joins him on the couch. He's sitting with his legs stretched out and his left arm around the back of the couch, hand dangling over the edge. There's some space between him and the back of the couch, that is until she comes over and takes it. She curls into herself, bringing her knees up toward her chest and leaning back so her head rests against him arm.

He groans, "You're not staying here for the movie."

"Yeah, I am. I'm too comfortable to move."

"Well I'm not." He grunts.

"Then don't be so stiff and cuddle with me," she says with a shrug.

"Oh, who's the one begging to cuddle now, hm?" He says and looks down at her, forgetting the boys are listening to them from the other couch.

"Wait, you begged her to cuddle you before?" Liam asks incredulously.

"Yeah. He did," Zayn replies.

"No, I said it sarcastically," Louis says.

"Still said it," Zayn says.

"When did you guys cuddle each other?" Harry asks.

"Yeah, what did we miss?" Niall adds.

"Here, I have the proof," Zayn says and Louis throws his head back and groans.

"Ugh I forgot you had that," Louis says.

The rest of the boys lean over Zayn, trying to look at his phone.

"Aww look at them, so cute," Liam says genuinely.

"Louis, you look so happy," Niall says in a high pitch voice with a smirk.

"Well not as much in those but look at when he fell asleep. He's never looked so peaceful." Zayn says and he's really enjoying this.

"What a happy couple," Niall also finds this really funny.

"Ugh, I don't want to have to hear about this too, get up." Louis says and then tries to push her up and off of him.

He lets go of her, intending for her to stay sitting up, but she falls back. She sticks her hands out, falling slightly and landing on his chest so she doesn't completely fall. 

She look sup at him and she fists her hands in his t-shirt, for dramatic effect.

"Please Lou, don't make me get up," she looks at him with wide eyes and it actually kind of takes her breathe away looking this closely in his eyes. She doesn't know what it is with him, he's annoying and rude and sarcastic and did she mention annoying. But he's also funny and caring (when he wants to be) and handsome. So very handsome.

"Fine," he rolls his eyes, "But don't expect me to like it." He huffs.

She squeals in victory and lays back down. "Yay thank you."

"Whatever and don't call me Lou."

"Okay Lou." She says with a smirk. 

"Don't push it. Quiet now, the movie is starting." He hushes her. 

She does as she's told and curls into his side, quietly. Half an hour into the movie her legs hurt from being crunched up for so long, so she hesitantly stretches her legs out. There isn't much room on the couch, so she turns more onto her side and crosses one of her legs over his, tangling it in the middle of them.

He doesn't say anything, so she relaxes once again and moves her hand up to his chest. To her surprise he relaxes too and moves his hand from the back of the couch to her hip. Her shirt rolls up a bit and he brushes his thumb up and down, unconsciously playing with the fabric and touching her exposed skin.

They stay like that until the movie is over and then Louis realizes everyone will be able to see them when the lights are all on. Was he comfortable? Yes, but he can't fall into the same trap that all the rest of them have. How would it look if all he does is bother her for cuddling with the other guys when he cuddles with her himself?

"Up, up, up," he says pushing her not so gently so she's sitting up.

"What the hell?"

"Movie's over."

"Okay, and?"

"And now I want you to get up."

"Okay, geez. No need to manhandle me." She says and annoyed. What has gotten into him?

He tries to untangle his legs from hers while still pushing her and ends up knocking her to the floor. She lands with a big thud and the rest of the boys all whip their heads over to the two of them.

"Shit, I'm sorry I didn't mean to-" Louis starts but Harry is already looming over him, about ready to square up.

"What the hell?" Harry seethes.