friend zoned // larry ✔️

three

monday night
july 14th, 2017

"so, uh, when did you guys move here?" harry asks zayn and liam.

"about a year and a half ago, i think. liam opened a tattoo shop in london and it started getting big so we decided to open one here in new york too. we have to go back to london a couple of times a year to make sure everything is good." zayn says, "where do you live now?"

"i'm traveling most of the time. but i have a house in california that i stay at when i can; niall lives with me." harry says, "it's right on the beach sometimes i feed the seagulls in the morning."

louis laughs a little and says, "i can imagine you just waking up, getting a cup of coffee, and throwing bread out to the birds."

harry smiles a little but doesn't say anything.

"how's your mom?" louis asks, "and gemma?"

harry shrugs, "good. gemma is writing a book and mom is being mom. she hangs out with your mom a lot now that both gemma and i are out of town. i'm sure you know that though."

louis nods.

"so do you have a a boyfriend? or girlfriend?" liam asks.

harry shakes his head, "not currently. i mean i had a couple small flings but nothing important."

"yeah," liam says, "well, louis here is the same way. you've been in, like, four relationships in the last three years, right louis?"

louis groans a little, "i don't think we should talk about this, li."

niall shifts uncomfortably, "i agree. this can't lead t-"

"actually, i think i'm quite interested in louis escapades." harry interrupts, because apparently he wants to create a shit show while also tearing his heart out of his chest.

"so i uh dated, uhm, hannah for a couple months and it just didn't go anywhere so we broke it off. then i dated kristen but that was mostly sex rather than an actual relationship. and, i, uh, dated josh. he was nice but he-"

"you dated a man." harry says, he mentally tells himself not to be upset. he asked to be friends with louis. he asked for all of this. harry thinks to himself, but louis was straight. louis left me because he couldn't love him. because i'm a man. so if that isn't true and louis was willing to date a man then why didn't he date me? it must be because i wasn't good enough for him. i must not have been what he was looking for. that hurts more than rejection because of sexuality.

louis nods, but the table is suddenly silent and tense.

harry clears his throat and stands up, "i, uh, actually think coming here was a mistake. so, uhm, it was good seeing you guys again." harry says to liam and zayn, "your son is amazing. i wish you all the best life possible."

"haz." niall says standing up, "haz don't do this."

tears well up in harry's eyes and he shakes his head, he says tightly, "i'll be in the car, ni."

harry doesn't wait for niall's reply, as selfish as it sounds harry already knows that niall is saying goodbye to everyone. harry is niall's best friend just as much as niall is harry's best friend and niall wouldn't stay if he knew harry was upset.

harry doesn't even get into the car before he starts full blown sobbing; it's been four fucking years and harry has a good life but he still doesn't have louis. all harry ever wanted was louis and now he realizes that he might have had a chance with him. maybe, harry thinks, maybe i wasn't pretty enough for him? was i too uptight?