complicated. [n.s]

3. preparations

"so... just like that?"

harry had called louis a few hours after his phone call with niall because he was the person he turned to for first date advice.

"just like that."

"and he asked you... over the phone?"

"we were playing twenty questions."

"for how long?"

"like... five minutes maybe."

"that's a short game of twenty questions."

"we narrowed it down to five."

"but he just asked you, right?"

"first he asked me what my favorite place to eat was. then he asked if i could drive. and then he asked me if i was free tomorrow. wait... technically he meant today, but it was already tomorrow. oh my gosh, he asked 6 questions too!"

"harry."

"what?"

"shut up."

"okay."

"listen, harry. this is all really confusing to me."

"what's there to be confused about? he asked me out."

"niall horan doesn't just 'ask people out.' and he's known you for, what, a month?"

"w-what do you mean? i don't understand."

"i mean niall horan is the last person to ask someone out. first of all, he's the one who waits for people to ask him out. and second of all, he likes to play games before he gets in a relationship."

"who says we're in a relationship?"

"please, harry, you've wanted to be with him ever since the day you met him!"

"i don't like him!"

"then why'd you call me for 'date advice?'"

"i... i don't know."

"niall typically plays hard to get."

"he does?"

"he makes boys chase after him. he likes the attention, and he likes what they do to get him. so i don't understand why he just asks you to take him to an ice cream place today."

"i don't either. but we have like ten minutes before he gets here, so please help me!"

"okay... didn't ashton leave his red bandana here last week?"

"yeah, why?"

"put on that red and black striped shirt with the bandana."

"i need to gel up my hair."

"no gel today. niall doesn't like gel."

"okay... can you tie it?"

"sure."

"what do i wear as pants?"

"just your normal skinny jeans. show off those legs."

"and as shoes?"

"your black doc martins should be fine."

"i have a pimple on my chin, louis."

"i brought concealer."

"should i chew gum?"

"i told you niall plays hard to get. do you think he'd kiss on the first date?"

"so no?"

"no. just brush your teeth."

"should i give him flowers?"

"absolutely not."

"should i give him anything?"

"absolutely not."

"okay, i think i'm all set."

"you're welcome."

"oh, yeah. thanks lou, you're a life-saver!"

harry gave his smaller and older friend a hug before getting ready for the date, or whatever it was, with niall.

"i'll put that on my resume!"