Strings (Book 2 in the CCHR Series)

Chapter 10

6 months later*

Louis POV

I opened my eyes and looked over at my alarm clock.

5:45am.

I groaned internally, knowing that it was nearly time to get up.

I hated morning interviews with a passion. We had to be at the nearby studio for 7:00. Too fucking early.

I rolled over and looked at Harry's sleeping form. His mouth was slightly agape, I could hear his steady breathing.

His eyelashes were fluttering slightly, and I knew he was dreaming. I wasn't sure what about, but I didn't want to interrupt him.

I stood and crept quietly to the other side of the bed where Harry's clock was. I clicked off the alarm he set for both of us, and walked to our dresser.

Opening the drawer, it was blatantly obvious which man had claimed which side. All of Harry's shirts were folded pristinely and stacked in piles by style, while mine were simply thrown in a huge mess. I dug through my side for a few minutes, but gave up when I couldn't establish which shirts were clean.

I reached over to one of Harry's piles and pulled out a gray shirt. I threw it on without looking, but it didn't fit right. Most of Harry's shirts were huge on me, he was so much bigger.

I walked silently to the mirror on the wall and looked at my reflection. I smiled.

I had accidentally grabbed Harry's Harry and Louis shirt. He wore it during the X-Factor days, back when we were simply a bromance and nothing more. Now, it meant a lot more. I adored that he still kept it.

I went back to the drawer and exchanged the shirt for another of Harry's, refolding the gray one so Harry wouldn't know I had seen it. He probably would have been a little embarassed, because it meant that he had it when I was with Eleanor. I shuddered at the thought of that.

I pulled on a pair of tan shorts and closed the drawers, making as little noise as possible. As I was leaving our room, I paused and listened to the steady sound of Harry's breathing for a few seconds, just to make sure he was still sleeping. When I was positive, I made my way to the kitchen.

I spent the next fifteen minutes running around the room attempting to throw breakfast together. I finally decided on eggs and bacon. Harry and I had both lost too much weight during the entire issue with management and Eleanor. We had been trying to eat a little more, and force down heavier foods. I was improving a lot more than Harry, but Harry had also lost a lot more than me.

I transferred the bacon and eggs to a plate, just one, I had made enough to share, and walked back into the bedroom. I made my way over to Harry, who was still fast asleep.

I knelt down so my face was level with his, and gently rested my hand on his shoulder. After a few seconds he stirred, and slowly opened his eyes. When he saw me, he closed them again and brought his hand up to lay it on top of mine.

"Goodmorning love," I whispered, flipping my hand around and slipping my fingers through his. "I brought breakfast. We have to leave in half an hour."

He groaned, reluctantly opening his eyes. When he saw the eggs and bacon, he grinned.

"How did you manage to not burn the house down?" He smirked.

I slapped his arm.

"I'm not totally incapable in the kitchen!" I said, defending myself. He grinned.

"I know Lou, I was teasing," he said.

"You better have been, or there will be an absence of goodmorning kisses for a certain someone..." I said, playfully. I got to my feet and grabbed the plate, slinking around the bed and laying down next to Harry.