me, him, and the moon (larry au)

chapter one: harry

A/N heeeey squad! i am really excited to be writing this honestly. i am working with my friend @coffeewithsugarbits who is a very talented larry writer and good friend of mine. she writes the harry chapters and i write the louis ones! enjoy :)

Summer was defined as a break from school, plenty of sleeping in, and the overwhelming possibility that one night, Harry might finally get laid. Josh and Harry talked about it enough, just barely enough, that he was convinced after a few parties, he'd get a girl into bed. But that's the thing, Harry wasn't into partying, nor was he into girls. Josh used to tell Harry that it was a phase, and he'd grow out of it soon enough. Which he never did.

It was a summer of good friends and a job he loved. He worked at an old music store right down the road from his house. It was small, and the only customers he did see were his friend Josh, and an older man who came in every week to check out the new stock. It paid well, and it gave him some time to himself around music, which was also a plus. The manager, Max, was a friend of Harry's mum, so he got the job fairly quickly.

That summer was one he would remember. And not because he got laid, or partied too much.

No, that summer was full of anger, heat, and pain.

Harry found himself closing the store alone, Max going home for the weekend to tend to his very pregnant wife. Josh came to say a quick hello before he went out to the lake where another bonfire was being held.

"Harry!" Josh called as he entered the store. Harry stood from his chair behind the counter and sauntered out to meet his friend.

"Come to kidnap me?" He teased, bumping his fist with Josh's.

Josh began fumbling through old records while he thought. "It crossed my mind at one point," he laughed. Harry giggled and shoved his shoulder. "No, but I just wanted to tell you that a kid stopped by the diner earlier asking about you," Josh explained.

"For me?" Harry asked. Josh nodded and picked up a Stones album. "What the hell would anyone want me for?"

"You'd be surprised," Josh muttered under his breath. "He asked if I knew of the boy who worked in the record store. To which I so graciously said, 'Why no, whatever do you mean?'" Josh placed a hand against his chest and mocked the interest.

"Jesus," Harry mumbled. "You're a shit," he added, taking the record from Josh's hands and putting it back on the shelf. "So, he asked about the boy in the record shop."

"Yes, he asked. I told him I knew of the boy in the record store. He seemed pretty interested, but wouldn't say anything else about it," Josh finished, making sure to sigh heavily once he finished talking.

"Was he handsome?" Harry asked. Josh glared at him through hooded eyes.

"Yes, Harry, he was the definition of a god," Josh said sarcastically, the action dripping through his words. "He wasn't handsome to me, idiot. He was just some guy asking for a milkshake."

"Don't be rude," Harry teased. The two laughed for a moment before he began for the door. "I wonder why, though. No one ever shows any interest in me."

Josh shrugged and shook his head. "Have you seen anyone new in this place?"

"Not that I can remember, no," Harry replied.

Josh ruffled his hair and flipped through a few more old albums, never taking them from their place on the shelves. He and Harry shared more small talk as the time went on. When he was ready to leave, Josh made his way to the front of the store. "I'll catch you this weekend?" Josh asked from the front door.

Harry sat back down in his seat and nodded towards his friend, sending him on his way, the bell on the top of the door ringing. Once Josh was gone, Harry began his normal cleaning. He swept the tile flooring, vacuumed the carpet, wiped down the glass cabinets, and doused the store in a generous spritz of air freshener. Harry stood back from his work, chuffed with his progress. He shut the lights down, locked the doors in the store, and retired to the back room, before grabbing his bag and slinging it over his shoulder. He then turned the alarm system on and quickly walked out the very back door, before locking that one as well.

The good thing about closing by himself, was the fact that he could take his time cleaning, leave when he was ready, and he could play music the entire time. I mean, working in a record store, you're surrounded by music at all times.

The walk home was quiet, as per usual when he closed. It was around eleven o'clock when he finally left the shop, so walking home was easy. The streets were empty all but for a few stragglers who were making their way home, or work, after a long day. Harry liked walking alone at night. The air wasn't heavy like it was during the day, and his hair didn't frizz out in the humidity.

Harry finally reached his street and slowed his pace only slightly. He didn't really want to be home yet, so he wanted to spend just a little while longer outside in the safety of the world around him. His phone began to buzz in his back pocket as he walked. He pulled it out slowly, seeing Josh had texted him. He dialed his number and waited for him to answer.

"Harold! Just the man I was waiting to hear from," Josh told him.

"It's been an hour since you spoke to me," Harry deadpanned. Josh giggled from the other end of the line.

"Why, yes it has. Look, I found out why that boy was asking about you," Josh said loudly, alcohol dripping from his words.

"Do go on," Harry said reluctantly as he walked along his street.

"The boy's name is Zayn. He's friends with that boy in Uni. God, what was his name? Starts with an 'L' I think," Josh rambled. Harry adjusted his phone against his ear and tried to listen, music blaring in the background.

"Josh, out with it, then. What's going on?" Harry asked. Josh laughed through the phone.

"He's here at the party, Harreh!" Josh yelled. "And he's handsome. For you, I mean. He has black hair and he's handsome."

Harry chuckled along with his friend. There was a crunch of leaves behind Harry that made him take the phone away from his ear. The atmosphere was silent, but there was another crunch. Harry turned quickly on his heels to see behind him. "Josh, I have to go," Harry spoke into the phone. His pulse quickened.

Before Josh could respond, Harry ended the call, shoving his phone into his pocket quickly. He turned in circles, looking all around him. He looked into the darkness expecting to see a pair of eyes staring at him.

What he didn't expect, however, was turning under the street lamp and seeing a pair of red eyes running straight at him, and the pain in his shoulder following quickly after.