Restricted

Chapter 14

And that's how they spent their 8 months together. Enjoying their time and learning all there was to learn of the other. Everything except that Louis was a millionaire pop star with commitment issues, of course. Because Louis didn't feel like that person when he was with Harry. When they were together it was like he'd never went to the audition, or struggled through bootcamp, or gotten the phone call that his debut album had gone triple platinum.

He tried to think about his life now as a second chance. As the life he'd have been gifted with had he never gotten out of bed that morning, or Simon had told him he simply wasn't any good. But he knew he couldn't do it forever. Knew there were so many people who relied on him for their job and how hard so many had worked for him to be in the place he was success wise. No, he wouldn't give up his career. But he wasn't giving up Harry either.

Louis pondered this as he watched his boyfriend of the past seven months do what he loved most in the world. He measured and mixed with such precision and care that louis couldn't see him doing anything else in the world if he tried. He thought about the phone call he'd received the night before informing him that his time in Holmes Chapel was soon to expire and that he'd have a car in four days to bring him back to the limelight; what would Harry think when he found out? Would he leave him? Could Louis handle that? He remembered back to when Harry had been so cold to him and smiled as he thought about Harry's response when Louis had finally plucked up the courage to ask him why.

"You were so beautiful, I really don't think you understand how perfect you are." He'd said, "I- I guess I just felt like you'd never be into someone like me and that made me bitter? If that makes any sense..."

Louis had felt his heart melt as he watched his boyfriends eyes fall; full of insecurity Louis wasn't sure he'd ever be able to erase.

He remembered kissing Harry hard on the mouth, trying to convince him with his lips that Harry was more than enough for him.

Just as Louis was finishing his little reminiscence he was greeted with warm hands over his eyes and warmer lips on his neck.

"Guess who..." The lower voice mumbled.

"Mmmm... David your mouth is heavenly..."

Harry snapped up at that, "David??"

"Oh, Harry. I had no idea" Louis feigned shock. "Your mouth is quite like Mr. Beckham's, sorry I mistook you."

Harry scowled down at his boyfriend, throwing a look over his shoulder to make sure no one was working up front - they'd closed the shop for lunch - and spread his legs, straddling louis in the chair he was sat in and wrapping his arms behind his neck.

"I was going to snog your face off for my lunch break, but seeing as you've been expecting another-"

"Shut up you cad" Louis silenced him with his own lips and Harry chuckled against him.

Just as the kiss was becoming a bit too heated for a public setting, Louis broke it off, panting lightly.

"Harry I- I need to tell you something" Louis looked down, ashamed he'd put it off for so long.

Harry's face screamed that he thought it was bad news and Louis was quick to correct him, "I don't mean I want to break up or anything!! It's just- it's about my... My job."

"Your job." Harry repeated, not understanding how Louis's job could possibly be an issue. Louis didn't blame him, Harry knew so little of the mainstream world Louis couldn't imagine him understanding why Louis's life in it would come with complications. Hell, he had no idea Louis was even remotely famous.

"Yes. You see I- well the work I do it's... Quite... Public? Yes it's quite public... And I- well I have to be careful about... Well, about decisions? No, um activities? Okay yeah activities I... engage in. Because well... I don't want there to be bad... Publicity. As it's a very.... Public job."

Louis let out a sharp breath after finishing and looked up at Harry's face. Harry was anything but impatient but it was clear he wasn't quite understanding. He questioned,

"Like, being gay? People don't know you're gay where you're from?"

"Yes exactly, like being gay. And my mum knows and my bosses but... There are others who don't. lots of others and my bosses are afraid of their reaction if they find out."

Harry scratched behind his ear as he tried to understand.

"Then don't tell them?"

Louis sighed. "If only it were that easy..."

"How could it not be that easy? You haven't told them yet... Don't tell them later? Just stay here with me and no one will know." Harry seemed to be getting flustered but not in an obvious way. He'd never want Louis to know he was upset.

Louis frowned, "I can't stay here forever... I have to go back to my job. People are relying on me."

Harry realized he wasn't getting anywhere and sighed in defeat.

"Well, you could at least tell me what you do that's making your life so difficult..."

Louis searched Harry's face and realized he was right. Harry deserved to know.

He pulled his laptop out of his bag and set it in front of Harry. Harry didn't own any electronics beside his flimsy flip phone. His face conveyed serious confusion as Louis opened google for him and scooted the screen right in front of Harry's face.

"Type in my name."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Yeah but... Why?"

"Don't make smack you Harry just do it"

"But... I don't know how?"

Louis shook his head fondly and placed Harry's wrists at the base of the keyboard.

"Just type in the letters like this" Louis typed in Harry's name slowly and hit search. A few random websites popped up but none with anything actually related to Harry in the short descriptions below the titles. "You see? Now you type my name."

Harry looked at Louis for a long moment before finally looking at the screen then down at the keyboard. Slowly, he punched in each letter of Louis's name.

Louis could hear his heartbeat in his ears as he predicted Harry's reaction when he discovered the truth.

After what seemed an eternity, Harry's index hovered over the enter button as he'd seen Louis's do. He looked over at Louis one last time, awaiting approval. Louis gave one slow, shaky nod and Harry tapped the key.