The 22nd had come and Harry was wrapping up his presents, setting it up under the little Christmas tree he got a few Christmas' ago. It was plastic, and a pain in the butt to set up. Speaking of which, his entire back killed from falling the day before. They'd all complained about having back pains and their legs hurting after they'd put their shoes back on and got into the car, all being dropped off, and when Niall's and Harry's destination came Louis said his goodbye's, smiling to Harry as they went up the stairs, into the apartment.
The radio stood on, playing some random radio station he'd come across that played Alternative music, and he listened to the radio speakers go on about their plans for the holiday. His phone buzzed on his table, finishing off Gemma's gift - which she'd begged for a Keurig coffee maker from someone all year - and reached over for his phone. He looked through the messages.
Lewis : Are you home?
He smiled, typing at his phone. Yeah, just finishing up some gift wrapping.
Lewis : I didn't ask what you were doing, I asked if you were home.
Harry scoffed, Rude.
Lewis : Never said I was nice. :P We're hanging out.
I'm busy though.
Lewis : Too late?
Harry lingered kneeling on the floor, before getting up and pushing the curtain aside. He looked down at the street side, watching as Louis was standing on the porch. Harry shook his head with a smile, going for the door and down the stairs. The moment he walked down the stairs, he realized - Louis wasn't alone.
Opening the door, Louis stood there with a smile on his face and two lingering figures behind him joined him. Liam and Zayn stood there, a scarf up to their noses. Louis cheered, "We brought food." He said, holding up Chinese food containers. "Where's Niall?" He said, stepping into the doorway even when Harry didn't move.
Harry stepped aside anyways letting them in and stomp off their snowy boots in the apartment foyer. "Niall lives above me."
Zayn and Liam shook off their hats, taking off their gloves. "On with it then." Louis smiled to him, "Show us the way."
Harry smiled.
. . .
They'd sprawled out along the living room, a container in each of their hands, laughing as they all talked. It was a little cold, but no one complained. No one even noticed it. They'd bunched up on the couch, all taking turns in sharing little stories they had or how they met each other, or even how they were going to spend their Christmas with family or friends. When every one had finished up their food and thrown their trash away, they lingered in the living room. None of them bothered to check the time, or ask to leave the room to find the bathroom.
By the time they did, it was late.
Niall was the first to head up stairs into his apartment where he actually didn't play music that night and, for the first time in forever, went to bed early. A little more time passed before the others seemed to have to head home as well, Louis, sadly, included. They all bunched around the doorway putting on their jackets, Louis using the bathroom.
"Thanks for letting us crash your apartment." Liam said with a smile.
Harry smiled, "You're welcome."
"And thanks for not kicking us out. It was either you or the neighbors for Niall's yelling." Zayn laughed, "He's a wild Irish."
"What can he say? It's an Irish thing. Loud and proud." Liam smiled, pulling his scarf around his neck.
Zayn buttoned up his jacket, "What're we going to do for Louis' birthday? We're going to my parent's house all day." He asked Liam.
Harry looked between them confused.
"We'll find time after, it's not like we're staying there long. Besides - your parents sort of don't like me around." Liam scoffed.
"I'm sorry, Louis' birthday?" Harry questioned.
"Christmas Eve. He didn't tell you?"
Harry shook his head, "I never knew."
Zayn smiled, "He's like that. He'll hide the important things until the end." He nudged Harry's arm, "Just get him a card or something. He wouldn't mind just that."
Liam pointed, "Or a sweater. He's decking out in sweater weather until the spring." He laughed, shaking his head as the bathroom door came open and Louis followed.
The others stood quiet.
"We're ready to go?" He asked, quickly throwing on his jacket.
"Yeah." The two said, standing beside the door next to each other.
Louis smiled to Harry putting on his hat, and looked to the two.
Liam picked up on the note, opening the door, and bringing Zayn along. "We'll be down by the car, hurry up." He quipped, and closed the door.
Louis looked back to Harry and scoffed. "Don't know what's pulling them." He smiled.
Harry nodded, "Zayn and Liam - are they, like -?" He gestured his fingers pointing to each other.
"Together? Yeah. Zayn's parents are very supportive of the idea, but Liam's family loves Zayn to death. I think they'd chose Zayn over Liam some times."
Harry laughed, glancing to the apartment. "Well, when you leave I'll just finish up some packing and get to bed." He smiled back to Louis, "Another day before death comes."
"It's not so bad."
Harry stared, "Now that I think about it. Maybe it isn't Christmas Eve that's so bad. Maybe it's just me and my family clashing so much that I don't like."
Louis nodded, "That's the spirit."
"After all," he shrugged, "The best things happened on that day that I didn't even know about."
He nodded slowly, furrowing his eyebrows at Harry. "What're you getting at Harold?"
Harry opened the door, pulling Louis along. "Nothing, just tired is all. When I get tired, I ramble a lot and talk about random things. Do strange things."
Louis laughed, "It's nice to know that." He stepped outside the door. "Thanks for allowing us to crash here unexpectedly. It was a good surprise though, right?"
"The best." Harry smiled.
Louis nodded, putting his hands behind his back as he swayed on his feet.
"Since I'm tired, I better get to that wrapping." Harry pointed behind him, almost enjoying the little silence they had.
Louis waved his hands back, "Get to it then." He reached into his pocket, "I'll text you if I can't sleep." He smiled.
"Alright." Harry smiled, pressing his dimples into his cheeks.
They lingered.
Harry rolled his eyes, leaning out of the door way, and smacking a kiss on Louis' cheek. With a quick smile, he waved and closed the door behind him. His heart hammering in his chest as he leaned against the door and pushed away, into the hall and jumping into bed.
Louis smirked, glancing to the door. "So much for being tired." He chuckled to himself, and started down the stairs.
