The five senses (Larry Stylinson AU)

Hearing

Hearing

It’s Wednesday, a rather unremarkable, uneventful one too, when he meets him, and Louis is pretty sure that this is the first time Harry’s ever even set eyes on him.

He’s late. He had a free lesson this morning and decided to take advantage of it to go to his optician’s appointment, so he could get his new glasses and contacts. Unfortunately it ran a bit late, which brings him to hurriedly walking down the hallways and towards his locker. He is never late, absolutely dreads the idea. Being late means walking into the room when everybody’s already there. Being late means having a bunch of pair of eyes on him, it means pressure and attention he doesn’t want.

He yanks his locker open, clumsily pulling the books he needs out, before slamming it shut again and sprinting, his grip on them however is hazardous at best, so he’s not exactly surprised when one of the books slip and he ends up dropping the rest of them by trying to catch the first. It doesn’t stop him from thinking of every bad word he’s ever heard.

“You okay?” Louis stops his frantic movements momentarily, blinking.

He recognizes that voice, it’s slow, and grave and it drags and he definitely recognizes that voice, he thinks panicking.

Louis doesn’t think he’s ready for this. Like. Ever.

He looks up, but the boy is already crouching, head bent down as he picks up his papers. And then, he looks up, green eyes focusing on him.

Louis’s stares. He’s been watching this very boy for so long, but it was obviously not long enough for him to notice, just how green his eyes were, but then again he’s never been this close to him either.

Harry tilts his head to the side, probably at the lack at response, before smiling sweetly at him, which Louis wishes he wouldn’t because it’s making his face feel warmer, and he just knows he’s blushing.

“Hey are you new?” Harry asks curiously, and Louis blinks astonished, because wow, he really is that invisible.

“No – I. No.” He stutters, quickly taking his things from Harry.

“Oh” Surprisingly he falls into pace next to Louis.

Nervously Louis holds his books tight against his chest, chin down, though Harry merely looks at him, smiling brightly.

“What do you have now?” he asks.

“English” Louis mumbles, barely able to believe what’s happening. He’s having a conversation with someone who’s not Zayn or his family. More shockingly yet is: he’s talking to Harry.

Granted, he can barely make his one-worded answers loud enough to be heard, but still.

“English? With Ms Maloney?” Harry sounds surprised now, voice lilting up towards the end of his question.

Louis nods, looking down at his shoes which are making a squeaky noise as he walks, thanks to the outside grounds which are still wet from last night’s storm. The noise sounds very loud in midst of their uncomfortable silence and it makes Louis feel all the more awkward.