checkout (l.s)[Boyxboy]

nine

Louis scrolled through his phone whilst the adverts were on. Niall had gone back to Manchester and promised to be back soon (preferably with more food). Liam was upstairs doing who knows what on his laptop. And Harry was sitting on the sofa with Louis.

Louis invited him over to show him the X-men series once he heard that he had never seen any of them before. It wasn't as much of a big deal, however, considering Louis had never watched Titanic.

"I just don't have the time, the patience, or the heart for that kind of commitment," he attempted to justify himself. "It's not my kind of film."

Harry tried his absolute best to focus on the screen, he really did, but he just found Louis more interesting. Especially when he was explaining the plot line.

"Ok, so you won't understand this now, but in, like, two films from now, you'll get it." Louis encouraged a very dumbfounded Harry. And sometimes Harry would pretend not to know what was going on just to have Louis talk to him again.

"Who's Wolverine again?" he asked a little too innocently. Louis blinked.

"The guy with blades coming out of his knuckles, Harry." He didn't say this in irritation, to Harry's luck, but in fondness.

But Louis noticed that Harry was acting strange around him today. Usually they would be closer, Harry would have made a few terrible jokes by now. However, he seemed more reserved today. Harry was watching the film, but Louis was also very aware that he too was being watched.

This reminded Louis of what Harry was like the very first time they met. Harry was too shy for his own damn good and Louis had to go the extra mile to get a response. As cute as this was, Louis didn't want to feel like he'd fallen straight back to square one, because he very much prefered being in the squares which Harry was more open and fun.

Louis paused the film suddenly and turned his head to look at Harry, not even surprised to see him already looking (Harry darted his eyes away faster than Quicksilver).

"Hey," he begun hesistantly. "Is, uh, is everything okay with you? You seem kind of distant."

"Yeah, 'm fine." Harry didn't take his eyes off of his shoes.

"'Fine' like 'piss of Louis', or 'fine' like 'I'll survive-"

"Are you embarrassed of me?" Harry finally looked at Louis, who was definitely not expecting that question. Because what?

"Am I embarrassed by you?" Louis smiled in disbelief, hoping that Harry would loosen up a bit. He didn't, though. "What made you even think about that, what... what brought this up?"

"I'd really like it if you'd answer my question." Harry stated firmly, closing his eyes as if afraid of the answer. Louis frowned.

"No, Harry. I'm not embarrassed of you."

"Are you sure?" He opened his eyes again. "You can tell me if you are."

And Louis had never seen him like this. It was almost as if Louis had to break the news to a child that Christmas was cancelled. There was an element of regret in Harry's tone, too. Louis could practically hear the boy's doubts swirling around in his head.

"Harry," he shuffled closer to the boy. "I am not ashamed of you. Period."

"Then why did you completely ignore me the other day?" Harry was fully aware of how petty he was sounding but he needed to know. He didn't want Louis to hide his shame only to go off and tell his other 'friends' about the annoying boy who won't leave him alone. Louis sighed and rested his head on the back of the sofa.