Black Coffee (Larry Stylinson)

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Ben adjusted himself, feeling a foreign weight on him. He peeled his eyes open, looking down at his abdomen. Lying completely on top of him, was a sleeping Louis.

His mouth was slightly open, his breathing was loud and slow. His entire body was on top of Ben, but it wasn't uncomfortable. His arms were wrapped around Louis, as if he were protecting him in his sleep.

Ben shook out his hair, before slowly sitting up, careful not to wake Louis. Thankfully, he found Louis to be an incredibly heavy sleeper.

He shimmied his way out from underneath Louis, carefully setting his limp body onto the couch. Ben watched as Louis adjusted quickly, wrapping the blanket around him and sighed contently. Ben noticed that the purple bags under his eyes that always seemed to linger, was now fading.

He stretched his limbs as he made his way into the kitchen. He yawned and opened the cupboard, looking for something to eat. All that was inside, was two cans of tomatoes. He rolled his eyes, thinking of Louis' laziness.

Ben opened the fridge, his eyes instantly fell onto the eggs. He opened the box to see four perfect eggs. He smiled and pulled out the pre-shredded cheese. A couple simple omelets would be perfect.

He began making breakfast, humming a tune all his own, flipping the omelet with skills he wasn't aware of having.

Then, he heard a knock at the door.

Ben placed the hot omelet on the plate, and made his way curiously to the door. Sure, it was Louis' cabin, but curiosity of the man who was once his best friend took over.

He opened to door, spatula in his other hand, and came face to face with two familiar faces.

"Harry?" A thick Irish accent asked Ben, clearly shocked.

Ben was speechless. Two of the lads from Harry's band were right in front of him.

The brown haired one just stared right at Ben, with no words.

"Ben." He corrected, finally finding his voice. They just continued to stare. "Come in?" He was nervous and unsure. Louis wouldn't mind if they came in, right? They were friends after all, right? Maybe leaving Louis to sleep was a bad idea..

"Liam. " The brunette seemed to shake from the trance first, introducing himself. "This is Niall." He said as he pushed a shell-shocked Niall into the cabin. Blue eyes seemed to be locked on Ben as he shut the door behind the two lads.

He turned around to face them again. He was in no means prepared to talk to them yet. He was still growing accustom to having an unknown life before his memory provided. Their eyes seemed to be darting around the cabin, as if Ben himself have left clues all around.

"Um." Ben cleared his throat. "How are you guys?"

Louis suddenly groaned and stretched, his arms poking over the couch. Niall and Liam looked over with smiles on their faces.

"Is that food I smell?" His morning voice sounded, and he poked his head over the couch, and instantly he spotted the two boys.

"NIALL, LIAM!" He cheered happily and jumped over the back of the couch and into their arms. They had a cute moment when Louis held both of them in his arms before ruffling their hair happily. All three were screaming hundreds of questions and exclamations, and if Ben didn't know better, he'd assume they were brothers.

Ben watched them with a stupid spatula still in his right hand. He looked at their reunion with a heavy heart. How long has he wanted a relationship like the one he was witnessing? He suddenly felt guilty for keeping Harry from enjoying his relationship with his friends. He, Ben, was forcing Louis, Niall and Liam to live without Harry. It was his fault the band broke up and it's all his fault that Louis hasn't seen his best friends in months. Because of Ben, none of them have even spoken to Zayn in months. It was all Ben's fault and all he could do, was state longingly at a brothers' reunion.

"What are you guys doing here?" Louis laughed happily running a hand through his knotted hair.

"Merry Christmas!" Niall screamed, his hands raised above his head happily.

Liam laughed and gave Niall a shove, "We came down for Christmas! And for your belated birthday." He winked, making Louis laughed, still shocked they were here.

Ben almost gasped. That's right! He totally forgot it was Christmas Day.

"We have presents in the car for you!" Niall said happily.

Ben wished he hadn't said that, because suddenly three pairs of eyes were on him.

"If we had known you were here.. Uh.. Ben... We would have.. Um-"

Ben held up his spatula. "That's alright. We technically just met." He snuck that in, letting them both know that he wasn't Harry. "I'll go.. Um. I'll go make some more omelets."

Ben didn't make eye contact with them as he scurried into the kitchen, and pulling out more eggs.

This wasn't happening. This wasn't happening.

As he made breakfast, the boys behind him we laughing and reminiscing, and all Ben could do was sit back and wish that he could join them.

Was it wrong to want Louis? Because Ben wanted Louis all to himself today, and now he won't get that chance. He shouldn't like Louis. He can't like Louis. Louis was Harry's, and Harry was Louis'. It would be wrong to be selfish and take Harry from Louis.

Ben could feel it. He could feel Harry's love for Louis radiating off his bones. He knew that Harry had loved Louis. That emotion was hard to ignore. It was difficult to not feel the same way.

No, Ben didn't love Louis like Harry did. Ben loved Louis in a much different way.

A tear rolled down his cheek as conflicting emotions ran through his veins. He wanted to give Harry back. He wanted to not exist, just to make Louis happy.

A small part of him hoped that Louis wanted Ben to stay.

He shook his head. No. Louis didn't want Ben, he wanted Harry.

As he flipped the last omelet, Ben feared that Harry might not ever return to his love.

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