shuffle | l.s

iii

"i lost my bestfriend. she passed away two months ago. staying would probably just make me go nuts."

"i'm really sorry."

"it's funny how some days the pain and the guilt and the grief are worse than the day you lost that person."

he could only hope that he would learn more about this boy before time runs out.

"so what's your plan?"

louis bites his bottom lip.
he felt bad for reminding harry about his loss.

"plans are overrated. i'm just gonna do my own thing and see where it takes me, i guess."

"trust me, i'm not doing any better than you. new york is definitely busier than donny, s'gonna take a while before i get used to it. gonna miss my mum and the lads back home though."

"don't you have siblings?"

"i actually have six."

"you're not gonna miss them?"

"i need a break from working all the shifts as an underpayed big brother."

"one of the reasons why i love being the youngest."

time flew by way too fast
and by the time the sun began
to set they had eachother's useless facts memorized like the back of their hands.

from annoying habits,
and weird fetishes to
how much sugar do
they like on their tea.

they found out that they went to the same concert once,
but never managed to stumble upon one another as well.

harry was in a band,
louis wasn't surprised.
louis told him that he used to work at a toy store and playing with the inflatable guitars during his twenty minute break was the closest he could get to being in a band.

harry was starting to like louis.
his story was beyond fascinating,
leaving him to wonder why didn't he meet him sooner.

"did you bring your laptop with you?"

"uh yeah?"

louis fumbles with his suitcase.

"here."

their hands touched again and louis was fighting the urge to squeal like a teenage girl with every fiber of his body.

"give me a minute." harry reassuringly smiles. louis knew he already gained his trust anyway, so he agreed right away. it's not like he has nudes on one of the bloody folders. he just happened to use the same computer to write scripts for his future drama class and he was scared harry would find it funny.
it brought him back to the day when his friends made fun of him for choosing drama and music, instead of his lifelong dream of being a football player.

harry navigated through the keyboard with ease,
his eyes never leaving the screen.
louis tried to sneak a peek,
harry defensively covers the screen as he scrunched his nose up in a manner louis found endearing.

"why can't i see it, you little-"

louis grabs his tattooed wrist,
trying to get rid of the iron grip harry had on the laptop as he groaned in disapproval.

"not until i finish it."

"but i wanna see it!"

the sides of their bodies were pressed together as louis triggers a play fight between the two.

"i can beat the shit out of you in a heartbeat, you know."

"course you can." harry sheepishly stuck his tongue out. louis gives up once he realized that harry was stronger than him and he doesn't stand a chance. he didn't even budge when louis punched his defined biceps. harry returned to what he was previously doing, louis sneaking glances at the screen every once in a while.

after a lengthy hour of louis whining like a child and harry refusing to show what he was doing with his laptop the intercom interrupted their comical exchange.

"flight 301 bound for lax, your aircraft has arrived."

louis was stuck in a daze.
harry had to poke his side before he realized that his plane has finally arrived.

"time to go, lou."

"lou?"

"don't you like it?"

"not really, no." louis teases as harry released an offended scoff.

"i'm still gonna call you lou."

as much as louis wanted to stay,
he knew that it was time to go.

"don't listen to that playlist until you're on the plane, okay?"

"you made a playlist?" louis deadpans.

"promise me." harry sighs.

louis found himself doing the same before nodding.

"i promise."

none of them knew
what to say next,
louis was trying to play
it cool and harry refused to
say a word but deep down they
both knew that they were leaving eachother too soon.

"until we meet again, styles."
he stretched his hand out for
the typical shake, but harry had something else in mind when he wrapped his arms around him and pulled him into a hug.

their bodies were so close,
they could hear eachother as they breathe. harry's curls tickled louis' temple as he buried his head on his neck, muffling "goodbye lou." before pulling away.

"we should keep in touch, you know?" harry had to tilt his head downwards to be able to stare at the older boy that already had his eyes fixated on him.

"i'm up for that." louis nonchalantly tries to hide the overhelming emotions building up inside him.

the intercom began to page the remaining passengers that still are still yet to board the aircraft.

louis felt his heart sink when his name was announced for everyone to hear.

"i should get probably go now, i don't wanna miss this flight."

harry doesn't say anything,
he just smiles so widely that louis found himself doing the same.

the younger boy grabs his hand,
giving it a light squeeze before the fact that he whispered in his ear caught him offguard.

"you made a promise."

"that i did."

for some reason,
harry made him forget about the agonizing pain he has been dealing with for a while.
he felt lucky,
and so did harry.

"bye lou."

"bye harry."

who would have known leaving a stranger could be this hard?

with a half smile,
a backpack and a suitcase,
full of junk louis can't wait to get rid of. he left, fighting his subconcious that was begging for him to stay.

harry rose from his seat as he watches louis make his way towards the gates.

the older boy had his head down,
before he turned back to harry and gave him one last wave.

harry's chest tightened, the feeling of emptiness surging through him when louis vanished into the massive crowd.