Playing House

1

Being really smart had its perks, but when you were the only sixteen-year-old in a class with a bunch of eighteen-year-olds, it wasn't great. Everyone saw him as the weird kid.

Skipping two grades ahead while he was younger seemed like a good idea at the time. School bored him out. He was so far ahead of his classmates and started to drop his grades because he couldn't find the inspiration to care. It was too simple for him.

The principal called for a meeting to discuss the issue with his mum. They did some testing to see where he was in his learning curve, hence two grades up. Suddenly, school was challenging and exciting again.

At least until he started high school. He had never felt more alone. No one talked to him. He had chosen another high school than his classmates. Maybe because they hadn't talked to him much either. He had been a lonely child. He had nothing in common with the kids his age. While they played outside, he had his nose stuck in a book.

He had focused on his studies, and now he only had one year left before he could seek a higher education. He had already looked up all the elite schools.

Now, he wasn't totally out of the loop when it came to the other students. It was like any regular high school in England. The football team was the popular guys. At this school, Louis Tomlinson was the star. He understood why. The guy was loud and outgoing and friends with everyone. Oh, and he was absolutely gorgeous. That was just an indisputable fact. An observation. One that all the girls had made as well. There was always a flock of girls surrounding Louis. Harry liked to observe them.

Louis could be flirty, but he never had a girlfriend. He went on dates occasionally but never a second one with the same girl. He didn't sleep around. He wasn't that kind of guy.

These were things he had overheard when the girls discussed it. No one usually noticed him so he could eavesdrop. He shouldn't find it interesting. Gossip. But it made him curious. Perhaps Louis was like him?
He wasn't trying to label him or make assumptions. He just wondered.

Biology. A subject he usually enjoyed, but it was time for sex education. He knew how babies were made, and it wasn't like he would accidentally get someone pregnant. The information he needed wouldn't be discussed since sex ed in schools focused on heterosexual intercourse. He had found his information online.

He took a seat in the back of the classroom. The teacher Mr. Graham entered and walked up to the whiteboard. He wrote SEX ED!
"Alright, the day you've either waited for or dreaded. Nevertheless, it's time to talk about sex. S E X."

Louis wolf whistled up front, making his classmates laugh.
"Listen up, Tomlinson. You might learn a thing or two. First of all, I'm not under the delusion that some of you aren't sexually active. If you're not, that's totally fine. Wait until you feel ready and find a sex partner you can feel comfortable with. Second of all, protection, protection, protection! A condom is your best friend. It doesn't just protect you from a pregnancy you might not be ready for. STD's people! It doesn't matter if you're straight, gay, bi, pan, whatever, everyone can get a STD!"

Harry was surprised. Mr. Graham was a really good teacher.
"But remember, no contraceptive is 100 percent safe. And guys, don't you dare try and use that as a way to try to argue that you don't have to use a condom. That's bullshit! Wrap that willy! Don't be that guy. Treat your partner respectfully."

Harry looked around the room. Some students seemed a little shocked. Others looked embarrassed.
"Alright, time for the big reveal." Mr. Graham shouted and pulled out a doll that looked just like a baby.

"Parenthood. For the next month, you will care for this baby. Feed it, burp it, change it, comfort it, name it if you want. You will do this in pairs." Mr. Graham said.

The students looked around and started to pair up. Harry sunk lower in his chair. No one would ask him. Maybe he could be a single parent?
"Hush! Did I say you could choose your partner? That's too easy. I have paired you. See it as an opportunity to get to know someone new and learn how to communicate and get along while you battle the hardships of teen pregnancies." Mr. Graham said loudly.

The students let out complaints of disappointment. Mr. Graham ignored it and started to read from a list. Harry was nervous. Who would be his partner?
"Zayn and Eliza. Here's your love child." Mr. Graham said.

Zayn scrambled to his feet and fetched the doll while his friends cheered.
"Niall and Ellie, Matthew and Rosa, Liam and Maria."

Harry's nervousness increased for each set of names Mr. Graham read out loud. I wished he could just hear his own name soon and get it over with. Student after student got up to get their doll.
"Louis and Harry."

"What? We're both guys." Louis protested.

"For your information, Tomlinson, a lot of kids have two dads." Mr. Graham said, sounding amused.

Louis' face was red.
"I know that! But..."

"It's just an exercise, and it happens to be more guys than girls in this class. That's all." Mr. Graham said and smiled friendly.

"Fine." Louis muttered and looked around before he made eye contact with Harry, who immediately looked away. He was mortified. He couldn't co-parent a doll with Louis Tomlinson!

Louis fetched the doll.
"Alright, pair up. Discuss your parenting strategy for the following month. I'm not suggesting that you have to move in together because then I will have a bunch of angry parents chasing me down. But you both have to take responsibility, so share the doll, make a schedule. This is 25 percent of your grade." Mr. Graham said.

Crap! He had to co-parent the doll with Louis Tomlinson!