Playing House

15

"Dolls and bags over there, the report on my desk." Mr. Graham said on Monday.

"Wanna say farewell to our love child?" Louis asked Harry with a smirk and held up the doll.

Harry giggled and patted the doll's head.
"Goodbye Darcy. You've been an excellent doll."

Louis returned the doll and Harry left their assignment on the desk. He was glad the experiment was over and he would always be thankful for it since it gave him a boyfriend. He looked at Mr. Graham. Wasn't it a little suspicious that he put the two gay kids together playing house? It was probably just a coincidence.

Mr. Graham talked about equality, women's liberation, domestic violence, the lgbtq+ community, and other heavy subject and he was as equally passionate about that as he had been about sexually transmitted diseases. Mr. Graham was an awesome teacher.

Harry got a great review of the photos he took of Louis and at lunch, he immediately told him.
"Congratulations, love." Louis smiled.

Liam, Zayn, and Niall just took a seat.
"Is it your birthday? Louis! You have to tell us stuff like that." Zayn said.

"No, I aced my photography assignment." Harry laughed.

"Oh, that's great. We should celebrate with milkshakes after school. Who's in?" Liam suggested.

Everyone shouted "Oy!" Harry guessed it was one of their things.
"Okay." He agreed.

Louis squeezed his knee underneath the table quickly.

When the school day was over they all approached Harry at his locker.
"Ready for milkshakes?" Louis asked.

"Absolutely." Harry smiled and shut his locker.

They headed into town and went to Miki's Paradise. After they ordered and paid for their milkshakes they found a booth and sat down.
"To Harry and his photos!" Liam toasted.

It was silly and Harry loved it. He drank his strawberry milkshake and just enjoyed the company. Then Louis leaned in and whispered to him.
"I wanna tell them about us. Are you okay with that?"

"Yeah, are you sure?" Harry whispered back.

"What are you two whispering about?" Zayn asked.

Louis looked at Harry and nodded his head. Harry took his hand under the table and squeezed it. Louis cleared his voice.
"I wanna tell you guys something."

"Alright, we're listening." Liam said and removed the straw from his mouth.

Harry could feel how nervous Louis was. He just wanted to hug him.
"Ehm, this might come as a total surprise and I really hope you're cool with it. Eh, right, Harry is me boyfriend. We're a couple." Louis rambled.

"Okay." Liam said and continued to drink his milkshake.

"We've figured." Zayn shrugged.

"Congratulations? Do you say congratulations or is that lame?" Niall asked.

Louis just stared at his friends.
"What kind of reaction is that? I'm fucking gay. Hello?"

"We know." Liam said.

"Always suspected it." Zayn shrugged.

"Kind of obvious when you think of it." Niall said.

Louis' mouth fell open.
"What the hell?"

"Oh, we don't care, Louis." Liam said.

"You're the same as always." Zayn shrugged.

"But we support you. Right, guys?" Niall said.

"Absolutely." Liam said.

"Of course." Zayn added.

"You're a cute couple. We're happy for you." Niall said.

"Absolutely." Liam said.

"Of course." Zayn added.

Harry started to giggle. Louis turned to look at him.
"I'm sorry. But that has to be the most chill response to a coming out I've ever heard of. You guys are awesome. I'm gay too."

"Cool." Niall said.

"What he said." Liam added.

"Second that." Zayn said.

Louis sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. He glared at them.
"I'm kind of disappointed, to be honest. I expected a little more enthusiasm, you know what I mean?"

Zayn, Liam, and Niall glanced at each other. Niall lifted his arms in the air and shouted "Woohoo!" while Zayn and Liam banged their fists on the table chanting "Tommo, Tommo, Tommo!"

Louis grinned.
"That's more like it."

"We listened to Mr. Graham. That's the only class I actually pay attention to. Today he said that you should act normal if someone comes out to you, and not be over-enthusiastic and shit, just show your support. I forgot that you're a drama queen, Louis." Niall explained with a smirk.

Harry burst out laughing and Louis followed. Soon they were all laughing. When they had managed to calm down Louis turned to his friends again.
"Wait, you knew that I'm gay?"

"Not 100 percent but kind of." Liam replied.

"How?" Louis wondered.

"We've been friends since middle school. You've never had a girlfriend, you never kissed a girl, and whenever we talk about girls you look like you want to puke." Zayn explained.

"Now, that doesn't necessarily mean your gay. Let's just say we've suspected it." Liam added.

"And you're very flamboyant." Niall smirked.

Louis rolled his eyes.
"Am not!"

"Whatever you say, big guy." Niall replied.

Louis giggled before he got serious.
"Well, I'm glad I have such good friends. Love you, guys!"

"Love you." Zayn, Niall, and Liam shouted at the same time.

Louis walked Harry home afterward.
"That went well. You have amazing friends."

"I know. They're your friends too now." Louis smiled and Harry's chest felt warm.

They stopped on his driveway.
"Wanna hang out for a while?"

"I think I should go home and have a talk with me mum." Louis said.

Harry hugged him.
"Good luck. Your mum is great. I'm sure it will go your way."

"I'm nervous. She's pretty religious. We don't go to church or anything but I know she has faith. What if she doesn't want me around me sisters anymore?" Louis said, voicing his fears.

"Your mum loves you." Harry replied softly. He didn't really know what to say. He couldn't promise Louis that his mum would be okay with it but he really hoped she would.

"Yeah." Louis breathed out. He gave Harry a goodbye kiss.

"Call me afterward? I need to know that you're okay." Harry said.

"I will." Louis smiled and walked away.

An hour later Louis called and told him that his mum had been really supportive and it went well. Harry let out a breath of relief.