Pretty n' Pastel [l.s.]

❁ two ❁

He's been doing the same thing everyday for the past few months and Harry's decided that he's tired of being scared. He's tired of only knowing Louis in his head and not in real life. That's why he's going to do it today. He's going to say hi to Louis.

Now, in his head, Harry felt super  confident with his plan but now that it's actually time for him to go and do it, he's getting a little more nervous. He won't back down though. It's been far too long and he just can't stand not being at least acquainted with Louis anymore. If it doesn't go as planned, well then fuck it, Harry would much rather be safe than sorry.

He takes a deep breath and starts to get up with the rest of his class once the professor ends the lecture. As per usual, he goes through his normal routine of walking to Louis' studio, or rather the school's, and then stopping a few feet from the door.

He tries to think of a way to make it less awkward, because he doesn't want to just walk in and scare Louis or something. After a bit of thought, an idea comes to mind and Harry decides that it's an okay plan so he just goes for it, not letting himself overthink it.

Harry walks to the doorway and kind of just pauses, looping his thumb behind his backpack straps, holding a text book in the other arm. He watches as Louis, who's of course dressed in an outfit that consists of an array of pastel colours, finishes painting the piece that Harry's seen him working on for awhile now.

Once Louis is done, he sets the brushes in a cup that Harry assumes has water in it, then wipes his hands on the apron that's tied around his waist and is soon being untied and taken off as well.

Before Harry has anytime to prepare himself, Louis' turning around to set the apron on the counter.

"Oh, hi," the small-ish one says in a soft and light voice that melts Harry's heart. He's never heard Louis speak before but he definitely is not disappointed.

"...Hi, sorry for interrupting you but I just um, I see you painting sometimes and I think you're really good," Harry says somewhat shyly.

Louis gives a small but warm smile. "Oh, well thank you. I didn't know anyone actually saw my paintings," he says a bit shyly.

"Yeah I, well I walk past this room everyday and you usually have the door open so..."

"Ah I see," Louis says casually but still in a quiet tone. "What's your name?"

"Um, Harry."

"Harry...okay," Louis says as if he's making a note of it to remember for later.

Harry almost says that he already knows that, but thankfully he catches himself before that can happen.

"What's yours?" He asks instead.

"Louis," he pauses and then looks at Harry. Harry notices that he hesitates a little bit but apparently decides to say what he was thinking. "Hey so," Louis starts, shifting from one foot to the other and playing with the end of his sleeve, "if you're not busy, I have this pretty heavy box of paints that I need to move into that storage closet," Louis points to the closet on the other side of the room. "You look like you'd have a much easier time trying to move it than I did. You think you could maybe help me?"

Harry, maybe a little too eagerly, nods his head. "Yeah, sure."

Harry walks into the room and goes over to where Louis is. He sets his book down on the counter and looks to Louis who points to a box that's not too big but after walking over and picking it up, Harry understands why Louis had trouble. Harry however, is able to move it with not too much of an effort. To make things more efficient, Louis goes over and opens the closet door so Harry can easily set the box down.

"Thank you, I've been meaning to move that for days now," Louis says with a soft chuckle once Harry turns back around.

Harry just smiles and nods his head. "No problem."

Harry catches himself thinking about how he'd be willing to help Louis with just about anything. He didn't really expect Louis to make him feel this way. It's actually a little scary how much Harry already likes him.

Maybe Louis' just one of those people who are naturally liked by everyone. He's very sweet and even though Harry just barely knows him, he can tell that he would like Louis if they were to become friends. Harry's sure that it wouldn't be very hard at all for Louis to change the simple crush Harry has on him to something much more.

"Do you need help with anything else?" Harry asks, not wanting Louis to have struggle with anything more.

"No, but even if I did I wouldn't make you do it," Louis says, kindly.

"I have the time, really. Are you sure?"

Louis gives a gentle laugh, looking down to the ground and playing with his sleeve again. "I'm sure. Thank you though, I'm glad you happened to come by."

Harry's notices how timid Louis seems to be. It's actually really cute and for some reason the urge to hug him and cuddle him just as one would with a puppy, washes over Harry.

"Yeah, me too. I've been wanting to tell you that I like your work for awhile now but, uh," Harry pauses and looks to Louis who glances up and meets his gaze. "I was kinda scared."

Louis' eyebrows furrow together. "Why? I doubt that someone like me could be all that intimidating," he says, fully aware of his persona.

"Well no I just, I guess I was afraid you'd think I was weird or something. That a total stranger randomly telling you you're really talented would be just a little off putting," Harry says, somewhat rambling.

Louis' small and delicate, he's overall just very gentle and someone who's very light in spirit, so no Harry wasn't intimidated by Louis himself, just by what Louis might've thought about him.

He was worried that Louis wouldn't like him and that any shot he had at having Louis, he's not exactly sure what he means by 'having Louis' quite yet,  but he was afraid it would be blown and there would be no hope.

Louis gives a small smile. "Oh," he says, seemingly flattered and a little surprised by Harry's answer. "No, I don't mind. I don't really talk to many people here so it's kind of nice actually...that probably sounds so lame, huh?"

Harry shakes his head, subconsciously wishing that Louis was looking at him so that he could see. "No, not at all. I only talk to a few people too. It's not lame, some people just have a smaller circle of friends."

When Louis looks up, Harry notices that there's a frown on his face. It's very faint, almost as if it's being caused by something Louis doesn't know he's sad about.

"Yeah, I guess," Louis says.

"Well, I'd better go now, my next class is starting soon," Harry tells Louis.

"Oh, okay yeah," Louis says, snapping out of whatever emotions he was previously feeling just a minute ago. "Thanks again."

"Yeah of course," Harry says as he walks to the door. "Bye.."

Louis gives a tiny wave that Harry returns before walking out of the art studio. Harry doesn't really feel it but the whole way to his next class there's a noticeable smile on his face and his eyes are just a little brighter than before.

After Harry leaves Louis also feels some sort of way. He's not used to people being so willing to help him out. He's used to having to do things on his own, so Harry doing what he did today was a really nice change to his usual routine of things.

Louis would actually quite enjoy getting to see Harry again, and maybe that's why when he notices that Harry left his book on the counter, he isn't in all that much of a rush to get it back to him.

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✏︎ A/N:  Any good song recommendations?