It's Complicated || Larry & Ziam [COMPLETED]

thirty-six

The last game of the season. Of Louis's high school career. Possibly of Louis's entire football career.

Harry was somewhere in the stands. He'd shown up at the last couple games, ever since right before they'd gone to see Gemma and called themselves boyfriends. At first, Louis worried that Harry's presence would distract him, but he ended up being his good luck charm. He played even better when Harry was there, cheering him on from the stands, even louder than the cheerleaders.

As Louis stepped onto the field from the locker rooms, he searched the stands for Harry's familiar face. This was his last game. It was the homecoming game, and there would be a dance the coming Saturday, only two days away. Part of Louis wished he'd asked Harry beforehand if he wanted to "go with him," but it hadn't seemed too important before. Now, Louis never wanted Harry to leave his side.

They hadn't told Liam and Zayn yet, but it hadn't been that long since they'd formally gotten together. They'd agreed that they wanted to see if they'd hate each other after a few days, and so far, they hadn't. They'd tell their best friends within a couple of days.

"You ready?" Zayn asked him as he jogged up to him.

"As ready as I'll ever be. Did you happen to see Harry yet?"

"Not yet. I checked my phone in the locker room and Li had texted me to tell me that he and Harry would be a little late to the game."

"Oh, okay," Louis said. He wanted to see his boy before the game started, even for a second, but he'd be fine. "D'ya think scouts are out there?"

It was said that scouts would be there to see the skill of potential athletes for next year. Louis didn't know if people were there or not.

"Yeah. Someone said they really were here."

"Do you think I have a shot?"

"You're the captain. If anyone has a shot at this, it's you, mate. You nervous?"

"A little," Louis admitted. He was nervous for his future. While his parents could easily afford Louis's college tuition, part of him wanted to prove to no one in particular that he could find a way to make it work on his own. Maybe, just maybe, if his college tuition was paid by a scholarship, he wouldn't have to follow his parents' predetermined life for himself. He could choose what he wanted to do instead of going into the mindless world of what his parents did.

"Me, too. Good luck. We've had a great season, and a great four years of football."

"Yeah, we have. Good luck, Z."

Zayn smiled at him and went to join the rest of the team in more warm-ups. Louis sighed and wished he had his phone with him so he could text Harry, or even better, call him. He hadn't realized how attached he'd get to Harry with the whole boyfriend label thing. All he wanted was to see him. Right now would be best.

Finally, right as the coaches called the players in to signal that the game was about to start, Harry's face appeared in front of his.

"I'm here," he said breathlessly, like he had been hurrying to get over to where Louis was. "I'm here, Lou. You're going to do great."

"You're here," Louis said dumbly but happily, because Harry was there and he loved that.

"I'm here," Harry said again. "I'll be cheering you on from the stands. Don't fail, babe, or I might just have to disown you and act like I never knew you."

Louis laughed. Harry always had a way of making him laugh. "Thanks for the support. Could you, um, wait for me, after the game? Coach talks to us in the locker rooms after games and I—"

"I'll wait on you," Harry told him sweetly. "Now go win us another game."

"I'll do my best," Louis replied, feeling the urge to kiss him, just a little peck on the lips, but chose just to wave instead as he walked toward his team. Harry grinned at him, then took a seat in the stands.

"Alright, Tomlinson, time for a speech."

"Um... alright. Okay, so, for most of us on this team, it's our last game, and that's terrifying. And there are probably scouts in the crowd, but don't play for them. Play for yourselves, and the people in the stands who came to see you. Don't let the possible scouts who may or may not be here scare you into not playing well, because this is one of the most important games in the season and it's our last one together, as a team, so let's make this count. Alright?"

"Couldn't have said it better myself," Coach said. "Go out there and fight for your win!"

"Yeah!" They all shouted as they disbanded. Louis let his eyes go over to the crowd on the side of their school and look for Harry's seat.

He saw Liam next to Harry, and they were talking. He saw Harry look at him and smile, and he smiled back.

And that was all it took for Louis to play well enough to let his team win the game.