From Everything That Was (Till Everything That Will Be)

Before (Past)

Funny how it seems like yesterday
As I recall, you were lookin' out of place
Gathered up your things and slipped away
No time at all, I followed you into the hall
Cigarette daydream
You were only seventeen
- Cage The Elepthant

That following month was probably the best time in Louis' life. He finally had Harry. He had always had him, but now he had them in the way they couldn't stop kissing each other at any given moment.

They hadn't told anyone yet. They just wanted to just be them without the judgemental eyes of their peers. And Louis loved that. Every day after school, they would go home to any of them, sit in bed, talk, kiss, and life was as Louis had always wished for it to be.

Harry's lips tasted like heaven. They always tasted a bit differently depending on what Harry had eaten that day, but there was always that underlying taste of Harry that Louis just didn't seem capable of getting enough of.

They weren't boyfriends. Not yet.

"I wanna be proper romantic when I ask you," Harry said. "Give me some time, I'll figure it out."

Louis didn't mind waiting. Because now Harry was his. His to cuddle, his to kiss, his to mark up.

The first time he gave Harry a hickey was between Christmas and New Year's Eve of that year. Louis had turned seventeen only a few days prior, and they were in his attic, celebrating in their own way.

No shirts. Lips wandering.

Louis ran his hands over Harry's chest, shoulders, back, lips trailing over his neck.

Harry panted, exposing more of his neck for Louis. Louis sucked on the skin, biting lightly, and when he pulled away, a small mark was forming.

"Fuck," he cursed, his eyes searching for Harry's. "Sorry, I got a bit carried away there."

Harry grinned, his chest rising and falling rapidly. "I don't mind. I can just wear a turtleneck." He wet his lips. "But, um, I'm not ready to take the step further yet—"

"No, no," Louis rushed out, dipping down to kiss Harry's cheek. "I didn't expect you to. Me neither. At all. We have all the time in the world."

Harry smiled softly. "We so do. Now kiss me."

Louis didn't need to be told twice, once again connecting their lips.

* * *

Their families celebrated New Year's together that year. Patrick was there as well, and so was Gemma—surprisingly. She had moved out a few years prior, and she also brought her boyfriend, Martin.

Just before midnight, Louis and Harry disappeared to the attic with the excuse they wanted to see the fireworks from the window there. In reality it was just to get a New Year's kiss.

* * *

"I'm thinking about coming out to my family," Louis said on January second. "I think it's time."

They were in Harry's bedroom, Harry's head in Louis' lap. Louis was carding his finger through Harry's curls, every now and then tugging on them. Harry's eyes were closed, but he opened them wide at Louis' words.

"What?"

Louis chuckled softly. "Yeah," he spoke.

"Why? Are you sure? You know you don't have to—"