Illusion

Chapter 4: Soft Touches, Lilac Sweaters And Inuendos

He looked at Louis with a kind and slightly sympathetic expression. Louis was shaking and breathless and was convinced that the other man was trying his hardest not to laugh in his face.

Louis was angry at himself. He promised himself that if he ever had the chance to meet him he wouldn't become a sobbing, breathless 15 year old girl. Right now though he felt like a deer in headlights.

He was a song writer and a damn good one, who'd worked with some of the biggest names in the business. If people knew the songs he'd written he'd be almost as famous as the people he'd written them for and yet this man had the power to make him weak at the knees.

"Hi, I'm Harry. I'm really sorry for walking into you like that. I didn't realise anyone would be out here. Are you ok?", Harry said reaching up a hand and placing it on Louis' shoulder.

Louis felt all of the breath he'd been holding leave his body at once as Harry's hand came to rest on his shoulder. The place where Harry had touched him felt like he'd been electrocuted. His stomach was suddenly in knots and his breathing almost non existent. He could feel the warmth of his hand and was vaguely aware of Harry's thumb rubbing small, calming circles through the material.

He had to get it together. He was being stupid. Harry Styles was known for being a genuine, down to earth person. Someone who enjoyed meaningful conversations and getting to know his fans. It would be highly unlikely that he would be anything other than kind and Louis was over thinking the entire situation.

He knew the reason he'd reacted this way was nothing to do with Harry himself and everything to do with his silly crush. He'd been like this around other men he'd had crushes on but the fact that Harry was a mega star seemed to amplify that feeling somehow. He'd clearly been imagining the jolts of electricity coursing through him every time Harry's thumb moved. He was being an idiot and he had to get it together.

Louis knew he had to take a deep breath and play it cool. No one wanted the person they admired most to think them a fool. Harry was scanning his face with his eyes. His expression changing to concern when Louis hadnt replied to his question. Louis took a deep breath, cleared his throat and spoke.

"It's nice to meet you Harry. I'm Louis, Louis Tomlinson. And there's no need to apologise. I shouldn't be back here to be fair. And to answer your question yes, I'm fine thank you. I was just startled is all." Louis lied. He was impressed by the level of calm he'd managed.

He smiled at Harry attempting to convey to him that he was in fact fine, trying hard to remove the worry lines and frown covering Harry's beautiful face. There shouldn't be a single thing in the world that ever made this man sad or worried and Louis certainly didn't want to be the reason.

Harry's lips slowly curved up in a bright, genuine smile. His green eyes lighting up at Louis' words.
"It's very nice to meet you Louis Tomlinson. Did you come all the way from home to be here? Are you seeing the show tonight?" Harry asked. He took a sip from a cup Louis hadn't realised he was holding and peered at him over the rim.

"Define home?" Louis said with a smile.

Play it cool Tommo. Play it cool Tommo. Play it cool Tommo....

The mantra played on a constant loop in his head as he spoke.
"And yes, most definitely. I'm here as a plus one for my sister. I bought her 2 tickets for her birthday and she invited me to come with." He waited then for Harry to answer.

Louis took the opportunity to completely take in the sight before him, hoping to convey he was simply paying attention to Harry and not unabashedly checking him out.

He wasn't as tall as Louis had imagined he would be. Taller than Louis of course, it wasn't difficult for anyone to be taller than him but not overly so. Louis came up to just above his shoulder. Perfect cuddling height.