Restricted

Chapter 8

Louis awoke early the next morning with an intense pressure on his sinuses. He went to take a deep breath through his nose to clear the sensation only to find his nose clogged. "Of-fucking-course" he grumbled.

He stumbled down the stairs into his kitchen, opening all the cupboards in hopes that his team was wise enough to stock him with at least some basic medication. After searching all the low shelves he could reach, he gave up; how stupid Louis was to assume they had the brain mass to consider his health. And height. Grabbing his keys and jacket, he set off for his car.

Once he reached what appeared to be the only pharmacy type building in town Louis turned the key off in the ignition and scrambled out, nearly tripping on the curb. What was with his lack of grace lately?

He searched the aisles half heartedly; his eyes drifted close on more than one occasion. He had almost fallen asleep leaning against a shelf when someone tapping his shoulder brought him back to the living.

Lazily, Louis turned around to look up at the person who greeted him with wide green eyes and a concerned tilt to his mouth.

"Harry!" Louis shouted, completely awake. Realizing his inappropriate outburst he quickly made to correct himself, "I mean uh- Harold. Yes... hello. Can I- uh... help you?" Harry smiled, the concern momentarily erased from his features.

"No, 'm fine. Just wondering why you're sleeping on a shelf."

Louis glanced at his surroundings, finally seeming to understand that he does, in fact, look strange. "Actually I um-" Louis straightened up. Where was his confidence?! "Actually, Harold" Harry's nose scrunched up at the use of his full name "I am deathly ill and in need of medical attention. Is there any Mucinex anywhere in the god forsaken town?"

"It's not god forsaken..." Harry's mood shifts and Louis tries to backtrack without destroying his dignity. The last thing he wants is to hurt Harry but he has a reputation to uphold. Or build, in this case.

"That's not what I meant Curly. I just feel awful and I'm whiny when I'm feeling awful." He smiles and adds, "Which is deserved, don't you think?" Louis looks up through his lashes at Harry, hoping to lift the mood. He seems to be successful as Harry sighs and turns his lips up in an affectionate smile. Louis loved that smile. Also when Harry was laughing, and when he was scolding Louis. Basically, Louis loved everything about Harry. And Louis had no idea what the fuck to do about it.

"Here, there should be some sinus medication two aisles over." Harry grabbed Louis wrist to lead him to the location, which was absolutely necessary due to the electricity that flowed through Louis's arm where Harry was latched on.

After Louis had checked out, (which, to his delight, Harry had stood and waited with him) he found himself on the curb with a nervous Harry and a pounding headache.

Louis was in a real fix here, on one hand he needed to lay down and try to sleep off this sickness. On the other, leaving Harry here looking bored and expectant was the last thing he wanted to do. Louis sighed in defeat, he had a feeling any decision involving Harry would end up similar to this one.

"Would you, maybe- and feel free to say no!! But would you like to- uh..." Harry's eyes widened causing Louis to trail off. He realized he couldn't do it. For all his confidence, Harry rendered him absolutely speechless.

"...come over?" Harry finishes Louis's thought for which he is eternally grateful. Louis nods eagerly, too relieved that his thought was completed to worry whether Harry would say yes or not. Harry chuckled at Louis's exuberance. "Well if you're going to be so cute about it!" Harry's mouth clamps shut as if he hadn't meant to say that. Louis went almost as red as Harry and hurried to end the awkward silence.

"Psh. I'm always cute. Now hurry up, I'm absolutely famished" Louis opened the door for Harry, smacking him square on the ass as he climbed in. "No need to be embarrassed around me Curly. I don't judge" Louis grinned a wide cheeky grin at Harry's now almost purple cheeks.

The ride home was full of Harry's happy chatter about bakery life as Louis was feeling rather drained from the mornings escapades coupled with his melting brain. He nodded and smiled at all the appropriate times which seemed to satisfy Harry because he made no indication of stopping his endless monologue.

When they finally pulled into Louis's driveway Harry had just finished explaining the extensive and "extremely complicated" process of mixing fresh dough every morning.

"Hate to interrupt you there, chatterbox, but we're here" Looking up, Harry seemed only slightly embarrassed.

"Oh... Sorry. I didn't mean to- to talk your ear off..." Louis sighed. This boy had a serious insecurity problem.

"Hey, hey." Louis gently nudged Harry's chin, encouraging him to meet his eyes. "It's nice, even I get tired of listening to myself sometimes." He smirked, trying to play it off lightly. Harry takes the bait and chuckles softly before climbing out of Louis's car.

Louis watches as Harry trots up the stairs to his cottage; the thought that plants itself in Louis's mind is so beautiful it's almost painful. Unable to think about it any further, Louis settles with one fact:

He could definitely get used to this view.