A Thousand City Lights ➳ l.s

Chapter ➳ 6

Song for this chapter: I'd Rather Be - Clean Bandit.

"This can not be Amsterdam!" Louis says and the pure shock and enjoyment on his face makes Harry smile and feel giddy inside like a little school girl. "I can't believe it, Harold!"

Harry collects the cards and puts them back in the box. "I was thinking. . .maybe we could go see the Anne Frank house?"

And just from that little suggestion, Louis goes off on a rant about the history of Anne Frank and how The Fault In Our Stars, a book written by John Green, was filmed in that same building. Harry sat smiling the whole time.

➳

When they get off the train, they collected their suitcases and strolled along the walkway.

Louis stopped to take pictures of the sweet aroma of Amsterdam, capturing every living and non-living thing he could.

"You're quiet the photographer, eh?" Harry teases.

Louis rolls his eyes. "Nothing but ordinary." he says, and leans down to take a picture of a bouquet of flowers in front of a coffee shop.

"I think your pretty unique." Harry whispers and Louis may not know whether Harry wanted to hear him or not, so he keeps his back bent and begins to take more pictures of flowers.

After a long awkward silence, Louis stands up and grabs his bags. "On with the walking now, yeah?" Harry nods and follows him.

They don't call a cab or get on a train or a bus to a near by hotel. The walking seems more of an experience to them instead.

They do however, grab a map from a stand outside a library and find their way to a nice hotel to stay at. Louis checks them in and makes a deal with Harry that he will pay for the hotel and Harry will pay for tonight's dinner.

Up in their room, it's nothing as fancy as the one in London, but it's certainly gives the same view results.

"I still can't believe we're actually here in Amsterdam. I just--my mind is blown beyond belief." Louis admires the view and sits on the bed on his side. (Both boys found it a lot easier to get a single room and share the bed).

Harry comes to sit beside him and he sits so close that Louis could feel the hairs on Harry's arm prickle at his own. It makes Louis' breath get caught in his throat, so he attempts to cover it up with a swallow. "Beautiful." Harry mumbles. "Absolutely stunning. Wouldn't you think, Lou?"

Louis is so caught up with the surroundings (inside and outside of the window) that Harry's words are so quiet and all he can do is nod, refusing to make any eye contact.

Harry chuckles and pats Louis' knee. "Well, the Anne Frank house isn't going to come to us," Harry stands and extends his hand, "shall we?"

Louis smiles at him and nods, still searching for his voice that has somehow escaped between arriving to Amsterdam and now. He laces his hand with Harry's and stands up as well.

"Let's go see some history!"

➳

". . .We went into hiding. . ." The sound of Anne's voice filled the enormous building. People crowded some rooms and just like Louis predicted, there were indeed a lot of stairs.

"Wow." Louis says. Harry nods with wide eyes.

"You get this. . .feeling like you were actually there, you know?" Harry confesses. He looks at some of the pictures on the walls, amazed by each and every one.

"Exactly. I mean, look. I got goosebumps." Louis points to his forearm at the small bumps that's formed on his arm. Harry brings up his arm to compare, bringing it close enough that there's skin on skin contact.