I Remember You Laughing [Larry Stylinson]

Chapter 10- The Song

Heading downstairs, Louis found himself lagging behind with Harry. As they reached the staircase, both boys stopped at the same time.

Smiling stupidly, Louis politely gestured for a reluctant Harry to go first, and he watched as the boy's face turned a deep pink. Both stood there looking at each other, unable to move. 

"I'll only slow you down. Go on. . ." Louis tried holding back a smile that already spread to his eyes, making the corners curl up..

Harry smiled. "The stairs aren't that narrow. I can go with you so you don't fall."

Louis grinned at this and felt his cheeks go hot.

Peeling his eyes away from Harry, he made a step forward and noticed that Harry's feet started moving at the same time in identical steps. They both glanced at each other, and from the look on Harry's face, Louis knew they were both secretly marveling at this trivial thing. Louis fought to peel his gaze off Harry and only faintly heard Zayn ask from the bottom of the staircase if his knee was okay, as his mind was preoccupied with Harry's smile. But,coming to think about it, he was perplexed because his knee felt nothing, not even a tiny pinch. It was as if Harry had made the cut disappear.

Feeling suddenly light-headed, Louis found himself tipping forward in slow motion!  

Trapped in his slowed trance, he saw Harry's hand slowly reach out and try to hold him from falling. Then, eyes still locked on Harry, he saw him realize he wasn't strong enough to hold Louis' leaning weight; stretch the same hand onto the railing in front of Louis, gripping on to block Louis from going any further, their faces only inches apart. Harry then pushed Louis up  against the railing with both hands to steady him, and as he hit the hard wooden bars he gasped deeply finally taking in air that had escaped him when they started down the stairs.

 He was now aware of Harry's hands on his chest, pressing against his loudly beating heart, and his lips which were dangerously close to Louis' now. 

"Are you okay?" The boy asked in his deep voice, a voice Louis found captivating. All he could manage was a tiny nod in response as he boar into Harry's green eyes, unable to move.

Then Harry did something that took Louis completely by surprise.

Harry shoved his hand under Louis' armpit from behind and linked his arm into Louis', cracking an awkward smile. "Yeah, I'm not taking any chances with you. . ."

Feeling renewed heat flush across his face, Louis walked with Harry down the rest of the stairs in silence this time completely avoiding eye contact, with their arms connected in what felt to Louis like an intense grasp on his entire being.

The boys all squeezed through the many guests in the living room and bumped into Dan's mother, who relieved to see them, asked them to help serve refreshments. They all made their way to the kitchen where they found tuna sandwiches waiting to be shared out. Louis picked up the tray ready to go out with it but Harry, quick on the draw, reached out and gripped it, easing it away from him. 

"Uh Uh! I don't trust you with this yet," Harry laughed, handing the tray to Stan.

He took a sandwich and held it out to Louis. "You better at least have one before you go weak again and capsize the whole tray out there!"

"Ha ha ha." Louis mocked as he took the sandwich from Harry.

Liam dragged a chair out for Louis."He's right. You can't go on like this. . ."

"When was the last time you ate something, Louis?" Zayn piped, concerned. 

Louis looked at the sandwich. "Yesterday around lunch, I guess. . ."