Just One Little Favour

Twenty Seven

The sky is a rich blue, clouds lazily drifting passed, overlaying each other in shades of white and charcoals from the storm that has been forecasted to hammer down in a few hours time. The wind blows a warm breeze, rustling the trees. A few rose petals from the rose bush flutter to the floor, getting whisked away over the fence, pink contrasting with the brownish green from the dry clipped grass. 

The birds tweet overhead, singing a sweet tune to one another in conversation. The splash of someone plopping into the pool, and shrieking laughter echoes around the summer skies.

Louis breaks from the surface of the water, gasping for air. He flips his hair away from his face, swivelling around to where Harry is stood at the side of the pool, his bare toes are polished pink. He wears a sheer top, his tattoos being visible through the cream fabric. Joseph beside him with a shit eating grin on his face, water gun poised in the air, wearing his swim trunks and flipflops. 

"I'll get you for that," Louis scowls lightly, looking up to Harry who has his bottom lip tucked between his teeth. "C'mere!" He swims over to the side where Harry is, and before Harry even realises to move away, Louis is pulling him in by the ankles.

He goes down with an almighty splash. Louis gets yanked from under the water, making him scream as he goes under. He opens his eyes, blurred vision from the chlorine that slightly stings his eyes, but he can just make out Harry's eyes staring back at him. He smiles, bunny teeth on show, tiny air bubbles escape from the surface of his teeth, rising up beyond them. Louis flips him off, pushing himself up to get some air.

"That was so rude of you, Lou," Harry comments beside him when he too, comes up for air. "I didn't even get a chance to take my top off! It's new!"

Louis knows it's new, he's the one that bloody gone and bought it for him. He shrugs lightly. 

"Your turn, Skimbleshanks," he singsongs, but Joey is too fast and has already stepped away from the edge with a squeal, shooting the water pistol at Louis in a  quick burst of water going up his nose. He splutters against it, rubbing his palms over his face. "Right! That's it!" he booms, but his voice is laced with mischief, humour, and laughter. "You're getting in this pool!"

His arms flex as he hops up off the side of the pool, stalking after Joe who screams loudly, dropping the water gun and running up to the open patio doors, stepping through into the kitchen. Louis grabs the abandoned water gun, looking back to Harry who lays on his back in the water, grinning over at Louis before dunking under the water.

"Oh, Skimbleshanks," Louis calls, voice taunting in song. "Come out, come out, wherever you are." He tiptoes into the house, creeping over toward the living room where he saw the blur of brown floppy hair sprinting into. 

He hears him before he sees him, the soft giggles coming from behind the sofa. He walks toward the sofa, looking around animatedly, putting his hands to his hips. 

"Huh. Guess he's not in here... I know! He'll be in his room!" Louis makes a show of leaving the room, ducking himself over toward the door that leads out toward the stairs. 

Joseph crawls out of hiding, pitter patter of feet creeping closer toward the door, his curiosity taking the better of him. Louis jumps out, spraying water at Joey with the gun, making the boy scream and laugh. He's about to run again but Louis picks him up before he can, throwing him over his shoulder.

"Gotcha!" he roars, jogging outside. "One..." He places Joseph in his arms, swinging him closer toward the pool. "Two..." 

"Stop!" Joseph pleads, his eyes bright and he cackles. "Harry, help me!"

"Three!" Louis calls, throwing Joseph into the pool where Harry is quick to grab him from sinking. 

Joseph gasps for breath. "That wasn't nice!" he yells, pouting.