Here In The Afterglow

Chapter 1.9

They form a tentative friendship.

Louis never really saw much of Harry at school before, and that didn't really bother him. But now, instead of wondering about where Harry is, he's hyper-aware of where he isn't.

The only time he's ever in the cafeteria is if he's brushing past to say hello to Louis, going out of his way to maneuver his way through the rowdy students and stop by their table, even just to wave and continue on his way. When Harry corners him in the hallways, at his locker or when he's waiting to go in to class, he can feel every pair of eyes on him.

Because Harry doesn't talk to the juniors that much, if at all. Most of the time, the seniors and juniors keep to their respective year levels, with the occasional friendships forming. Harry, though, of course, seems exempt from this, and wherever he goes, all eyes follow.

Harry doesn't really talk to the juniors, no, but then Louis thinks about the way that even when Harry's talking to someone in passing, or there are girls watching him across the hall, he's always alone. Everyone seems to like him, but at the same time, he's always in his own untouchable bubble.

About a week after the phone call, Harry keeps Louis at his locker all of lunch, chatting his ear off. Louis doesn't even realize it's happening until the bell is ringing and Harry backs away slowly, a giant smile on his face like he knows exactly what he's just done. When Stan asks him where he was later, he says he was asking Mr McCarthy for extra help on a literature assignment.

It keeps happening.

Harry will pull him aside randomly, will pop up behind him with no prior warning, and lull him into a quiet conversation that lasts the whole of break.

Louis likes it.

Because before, when he would sit squished among the others at that table, he would never get a word in. He didn't want to get a word in.

With Harry, it's like he doesn't have enough to say.

When they don't see each other at school, seemingly because Harry appears to disappear off the face of the planet somehow, he leaves notes in Louis' locker. The first time, Louis had blinked in surprise at the tiny slip of paper that had floated down to the floor. When he'd picked it up, he'd shoved it into his pocket as quickly as he could.

Records and a read at mine? H

And so instead of riding home, Louis had diverted his route entirely and gone to Harry's.

At first, it was entirely awkward and awful, with Lisa answering the door. Louis had flushed immediately, thinking back to the first time he'd come over and sat on Harry's bed.

The door is left open, the records spin, and Harry giggles aloud when he reads something amusing, lets out a little hum when he reads something he likes the sound of.

They sit side by side on the window seat, leant back against the window with their knees pulled up. They switch and trade their books and read aloud, and the only time either of them move is when Harry gets up to switch a record over.

He plays him everything, from the weirdest, most underground shit he owns to the things that Louis hears on the radio sometimes. He learns, very quickly, that music is something Harry has a passion for. He has boxes and boxes of records stashed away that Louis didn't even see the first time he came over, and Harry talks wildly about every single one, telling Louis his favorite songs and singing along.

And he's good. He's actually really good, and whenever he sings under his breath, or at the top of his lungs, Louis can't stop himself from smiling at him.