Effervescence (Larry Stylinson)

Chapter 2

[ Harry.]

I hardly got any sleep that night. I TALKED TO LOUIS! IN PRIVATE! I replayed our conversation in my head over and over. He complimented my tattoo, the rose tattoo! I ran my fingers over my tattoo. He likes my tattoo! I glanced at the glowing red numbers on the alarm clock. It was one in the morning. Typically, you would expect us lads to be out at a club in the city, but it was cold, dark, and raining, so we all had decided it was better to get some rest. Butterflies invaded my tummy when I thought of Louis' voice saying my name. His high, delicate, velvety voice was much in contrast to mine, which was deep and raspy. I couldn't get over the fact that he talked to me after so long.

Most everyone has had an primary-school crush, you know the type - when you're ten years old and the only person in the world who matters to you is that one person. Every time you talked to them, you replayed that conversation in your head for the rest of the day, memorizing what they said to you, reading into their words, and that conversation has a special place in your heart. That's how I feel when I talk to Louis. Even if he only says one word to me the whole day, I cherish that word, hold that word close to my heart because Louis said that word to me, and it's something special we share.

Another thing I thought about was when I was going to tell louis that I had feelings for him. Just wait, I told myself. Just give yourself a little more time. No, I pushed the thought out of my head. I've been waiting for three years. Three whole years. Would I tell him tomorrow? Today? I decided to tell him whenever we were alone, and the time felt right. It's going to be so hard, I realized. It's hard enough to tell a girl that you have feelings for her. But a boy, who happened to be your bandmate and one of your best friends? That brought it to a whole new level. But I had to tell him someday. I couldn't wait forever. No. I had to let him know, and soon.

The next morning, we all went down for breakfast in the hotel. Louis and I sat at separate tables, but I stole glances at him throughout breakfast. Damn he looks good while eating french toast sticks. His hair was messy and he had put it in a beanie, making him even more cuter.

We didn't have any plans that day. Liam and Zayn wanted to go shopping, and Niall wanted to go to some famous bar he had been raving about. Louis had agreed to go with Niall to this bar thing. Fun. I didn't really have anything planned for the day. I'd probably stay in to avoid being mobbed instead of going outside.

After breakfast was over, we all went upstairs to tidy up and, you know, get ready for the day. I gelled my hair in the mirror as I listened to Zayn and Liam's conversation.

"Your shoes are absolutely sick, mate, where'd you get 'em?" Liam inquired.

"Aw hell, I don't even remember. They might have been a present for all I know," Zayn replied. 

I heard a tapping on the door.

"Let me in," a voice demanded. I'd recognize that voice anywhere. Liam turned the doorknob and Louis came in. My heart fluttered, and I tried to fix my hair as quickly as I could. Louis jumped on Zayn's bed and threw a pillow across the room.

"Bro, don't do that, ya coulda knocked over the telly!" Zayn said, grabbing the pillow and throwing it at Louis. I was just standing at the mirror, unsure of how to join the conversation.

"I love raisins," I blurted, turning around from the mirror. for a second, everyone was silent, but then the other boys erupted in laughter, including Louis.

"What the hell, Harry," said Zayn between gasps of laughter. I grinned. It wasn't even that funny, but it made Louis laugh! I blushed and smiled. Then the rest of the boys went back to their conversation. I looked in the mirror again. I looked...okay. Curly brown hair swept up high, pale skin, green eyes. I noticed some acne spots on my forehead, the last remainder of my teen years. 

I wasn't sure how to enter the boys' conversation. They were talking about football. I had always been bad at football.

"I'm so fucking excited for the World Cup next year," Louis said. I smiled to myself. Louis cursing always turned me on.

"Me too, man, me too," said Liam. "They got the best players on the English team..." 

I turned around from the mirror. At that moment, Zayn said, "Wanna head out now, while it's still early? I mean, we have a lower chance of gettin' mobbed."

"Right," said Liam. He swiped up his room key. "We'll be back later."

"Bye," said Louis, stretching back on the bed. "Come home soon." He put on a pouty face, making him look ten times cuter.

[ Louis. ]

Zayn and Liam left, and Harry and I were alone. It was a bit awkward at first, why? We were best mates, right? Harry finally sat down next to me. He rubbed his hands together.

"We're alone," I said, breaking the silence. I laughed a little. "For the first time in forever, you and i are...alone."

"Well, for the first time since yesterday," Harry said with a chuckle.

"Damn, we haven't had a proper chat in a while," I said, shifting my body so I could face Harry.

"Yeah, and I've been meaning to talk to you Louis..."

"Sure, what about?"

He took a deep breath. "I miss...us."

"As in...?"

"I miss our friendship, Louis. I miss the twitcams, the cute little tweets, the hugs, everything. I miss the way we used to be."

After a long time, I responded, "Me too." There was more silence. then I said, "Larry ruined our friendship."

"Mmm hmm," Harry mumbled, but he was frowning a little bit.

"Why would anybody even believe that you and I were...dating? It's complete bullshit." I expected Harry to respond right away, agreeing with me, but he didn't.

Instead he muttered, "It's not complete bullshit."

"What do you mean? We were never dating, we were never in love, we were just friends! Why can't anybody accept that? I don't have any feelings for you, Harry! We're just friends!" The words came out louder than I had expected. Ouch. And then, I added, "I'M NOT FUCKING GAY!"

The words reverberated around the room. What have I done, I thought. Harry looked at his hands. His eyes were getting cloudy. Then he said, in a very soft voice,

"Yeah, but I am."