Misadventure

4

Louis' POV

My fingers flew over the keys of the grand piano, pounding out a Christmas tune. It was six-thirty in the morning.

I loved waking up early. I had since I was little. I lived for that small gap of time between when I woke up and the rest of the house woke up. It was when I felt most free.

"What're you playing?"

I startled. I hadn't even noticed Mum come into the living room. "Jingle Bells."

"I recognized the song. I guess what I should have asked, is why aren't you practicing your piece for the winter recital?"

My shoulders slumped a little. "I was just messing around."

"You're not going to get a scholarship to London University of Music by messing around." She sat down beside me and put her hand on my shoulder. "There's going to be a scout in the audience. You need to rise to the occasion."

"I know. I will."

She smiled. "That's my boy."

****

It was a half day at school. We watched festival films and had homeroom parties with cupcakes and cocoa. At bus dismissal I went to Mrs. Jamison's room. Niall and Harry were in there too, and they were all hyped up from eating sugary Holiday treats. I played Jingle Bell Rock on the grand piano and Niall decided to get up and perform the dance from Mean Girl's.

I'd never seen Harry laugh so hard, and the sound was sweeter than any piano melody.

"Maybe if I do that dance for Selena she'll finally notice me," Niall said longingly, "she's so fit it hurts to look at her."

"Please just ask her out already." I was practically begging him at this point. "You obviously really like her. I don't understand why you won't just make a move."

"Touché, Tommo." He grinned. "Admit it. You're gone for him."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I'm talking about Harry."

"Shh!" I panicked and clamped my hand over his mouth. He licked it and I pulled it away, wiping it on the leg of my trousers. "You can't say that! He's gonna hear you!"

"And that's a bad thing because..?"

I was exasperated. "I don't want him to think I have a bloody crush on him."

"But you do, right?"

"Niall!" I whispered-yelled. Was he daft? Why couldn't he understand that I didn't want to talk about this right now?

"Why are we whispering?" Harry came over from the other side of the room, whispering himself, eyes wide with curiosity. He was all bundled up to go home, wearing snow boots and the mittens I gave him, and his curls looked extra bouncy today.

His cuteness was distracting. I forgot what we were even talking about. "Are you excited for winter break, my darling?"

He shrugged. His shoulders dropped a little. "I guess."

"You can spend as much time as you want at my house, Harry."

"I don't think your mum likes me very much," he said, staring at the floor.

"She does," I lied. Maybe it was wrong of me, but I couldn't stand there watching him wilt like that. I wanted him to feel comfortable in my home. "She likes you, Harry. She just gets grouchy sometimes."

"You're sure?"

"Positive."

It took a minute, but slowly his face lit back up. "Pick me up tomorrow then?" he asked shyly.