Sculptures - Larry Stylinson

Three

Harry woke early the next morning, still groggy from his hangout with Niall the night before. He blinked, slowly piecing together his surroundings, only to realize that Niall had crashed on the sofa beside him, his legs tangled with Harry's.

Niall's steady snores filled the quiet room, a strangely reassuring sound that made Harry smile.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Harry murmured, giving Niall a gentle shake.

Niall groaned, scrunching his face in resistance before finally cracking one eye open. "What time is it?" he mumbled, voice thick with sleep.

"Early," Harry chuckled. "But you were snoring so loud, I think the neighbors are awake too."

Niall huffed, pushing himself up. "Please, you love my snoring. It's practically a lullaby." He flashed Harry a lopsided grin before ruffling his already messy hair.

Harry just rolled his eyes, standing from the couch.

The boys made their way to the kitchen, where Niall immediately began rummaging through Harry's parents' cupboards in search of something to eat.

"Do they ever keep anything snack-worthy in here?" Niall grumbled, shifting boxes and jars around with a dramatic sigh. "You'd think a household could at least keep a stash of crisps."

Harry leaned against the counter, watching with amusement. "You ate half the restaurant last night, and you're still hungry?"

"Hey, I'm a growing boy," Niall shot back, pulling out a box of cereal and inspecting it skeptically. "Plus, it's like... breakfast. The most important meal of the day, and all that."

Harry chuckled, shaking his head as Niall poured a mountainous bowl of cereal.

"You know, Harry... I'm heading back to Ireland today. Family thing," Niall said between bites, his voice a bit softer than usual. "Won't be able to come by until next week."

Harry's expression fell slightly, but he nodded. "The cousin wedding, right?"

"Yep. Whole family's making a thing of it. My mum would have my head if I missed it," Niall said, attempting a lighthearted grin. He looked up, as if trying to gauge Harry's reaction.

Harry forced a small smile. "Well, try not to cause too much trouble over there. We know how Irish weddings can get."

Niall laughed. "Hey, I'm not the reckless one here." He nudged Harry's arm, attempting to lift the mood. But they both knew it wouldn't be the same without him around; it hadn't been for a while. Niall's visits felt like the one steady thing in an increasingly uncertain world, and Harry clung to that.

"Don't go having too much fun without me," Niall said with a grin, reaching over to ruffle Harry's hair.

"I'll try," Harry replied, smirking. But he knew that next week would feel like an eternity away.

"You might even be done with your little Louis sculpture by the time I'm back, ay?" Niall teased, a playful glint in his eyes. His tone was light, and Harry couldn't help but smile.

"Yeah!" Harry said, his face brightening with excitement. "I can't wait. It's gonna be absolutely sick. I'm only a few details away... I could probably finish it by tonight if I really push!"

Niall chuckled, nodding as he leaned back against the counter. "Well, don't forget to sleep too, yeah? Wouldn't want to come back to find you've worked yourself into the ground over some marble masterpiece."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Please, I'm basically superhuman. What's a couple more hours?"

They both laughed, but under the humor, they felt the weight of the week ahead without each other's company.