Misadventure

1

Harry's POV

When the music teacher from school, Mrs. Jamison, said she would set me up with free lessons after school for an hour every Wednesday, I could hardly believe it. She told me there was a boy in my grade who needed community service hours, and he happened to be an incredible pianist.

A part of me was excited to learn.

A greater part of me was terrified.

I was 16 years old, but the idea of socializing with other students at the school still scared my socks off. My house had never exactly been the hot spot for sleepovers or anything like that.

My home life was a bit different than a lot of other kids, and I found it hard to relate to them more often than not. It didn't help that I was painfully shy.

I met Louis Tomlinson on a crisp, bright Wednesday in September. The kind of day that always started chilly but warmed up once the sun had been shining long enough.

I was in the basement cafeteria when Mrs. Jamison introduced him to me as my piano teacher; a boy with clear blue eyes and messy, light-brown hair.

The color reminded me of the way sand looked all soaked in water after the waves had crashed against it.

This was the first time I was formally introduced to him, but I'd seen him before.

He played piano from time to time during school assemblies. He was a prodigy. An undeniable star. I enjoyed watching the way his delicate hands moved with the instrument as if I was an inseparable part of him.

I'd also seen him sometimes at lunch, although we never talked. He sat with a large, ever changing group of friends. He was bright and attractive, like the sun itself. Everyone around him seemed to get caught up in his orbit, craving the warmth and light he seemed to put off, and I was no exception.

"You're late," Mrs. Jamison told Louis as he sauntered into the cafeteria at quarter past three.

"I might have had detention," he explained.

Mrs. Jamison looked annoyed. "And what for?"

"I may or may not have poured chocolate milk down the front of Will Mcginny's trousers."

"Louis!" Mrs. Jamison looked absolutely mortified. "Why would you do such a thing!"

"He was being a dick to Niall! I had to defend his honor!"

"You're lucky young Harry needs you as a piano tutor, otherwise I'd write you up for being late."

Louis turned to me, beaming. "Thanks young Harry!"

I blushed like a tomato.

We started the lesson by wheeling the ancient, light wood piano out of the supply closet and into the center of the cafeteria by a cluster of round tables. He turned to me. "Do you know any songs yet?"

"Like, on piano?" The second the words left my mouth I was mortified.

Stupid Harry! What else would he have meant? On kazoo?

Maybe I was right to be nervous. The lesson hadn't even started and I was already making a fool of myself.

Louis Tomlinson actually seemed amused by my response. "Yes, on piano."

There was a glint in his eyes as he took a seat next to me at the instrument's bench.

I faltered, sitting there silently for a moment as I tried to remember how to speak. I was far too aware of the close proximity between his body and mine, our hips almost touching.