Winter's Peril

Chapter 7

The next morning, Harry woke up at around seven. The house felt eerily quiet especially with someone else staying with him.

The acute feeling of tiredness in his body lingered as he rose from his bed. He rubbed over one of his eyes and soon they came into focus on his bed covers. He slept with only a pair of boxers on considering how warm his house had become.

He stretched his muscles out, groaning at the release of built-up tension. Grabbing the nearest top, he slipped it over his bare chest and paired it with some sweatpants.

As he entered the corridor, his head turned to look at Louis' door. He wanted to go and check on him. Harry bit his lip, trying to come to a decision but ended up leaving it.

He spent some time getting ready. His shower only lasted five minutes and he changed into some low hanging denim jeans and a grey tank top. He walked barefoot down the stairs and headed for the kitchen.

After grabbing an apple, he walked into the living room. However, he bumped into Louis' smaller body and he stumbled back a bit. One of his hands went out to stop Louis from falling.

"Sorry, I didn't realise you were up," he said, watching Louis collect himself.

Louis' eyes widened once he looked up to Harry's muscular chest then to his face. Harry didn't miss the small blush on his face.

"I-I was gonna go to the church," he mumbled, staring down at the floor.

He almost asked why before he understood.

"Did you need a lift?" Harry impassively asked.

Louis shook his head, twirling his fingers nervously around themselves. "N-No, Verlee said she would drive me there."

"Alright." He wasn't too sure on how to carry on the conversation so they stood in awkward silence.

"Bye," he rushed out before ducking under Harry's arm and heading for the stairs.

Harry only shook his head as he watched Louis run away.

~~~

Harry stood by the fridge, looking for something to eat for breakfast. The cold air brushed over his face as he picked out the eggs which he wanted to eat.

Once he closed the door, he heard someone clear their throat. His head quickly whipped around to look at them. Louis timidly stood by the door as he looked down at the suddenly interesting wooden floor.

"Um...Harry, I'm going. I'll see you later."

"What time are you coming back?" Harry asked just as he placed the eggs on the table.

Louis' eyes glanced over at the wall to the right of him and he stared at a calendar on the wall. "I-I don't know maybe by 4pm."

Harry nodded. "Okay, I might have some food done by then."

"Thank you. I got to go."

Harry sighed once Louis quickly scurried off again. He always seemed so afraid around him. He just wanted him to feel comfortable. The last thing he needed was extra stress.

~~~

Louis closed the front door behind him as he stepped out into the snow. He wrapped his scarf tighter around his neck while heading for Verlee's car. He paid attention to the crunching of the snow against his feet.

He met eyes with Verlee through the front window and she smiled at him. Once he opened the car door, he sat inside and brushed some of the snow off of him. He didn't say anything, just stared out of the window and watched as the snow fell to the ground. "You alright, Lou?"