almost // l.s

three

two days passed and harry wasn't finding it any easier around louis. in fact, with niall's constant pestering, life became slightly more painful. the blond boy had created a roster in which he followed a timetable of when he would visit harry's tent. so far, that was every night for three hours while louis was with the other boys. harry wasn't totally sure, but he suspected zayn had disobeyed the firm 'no technology' rule they'd put in place and brought his nintendo switch.

niall would leave his own, apparently lonely, tent and badger harry about his crush. it was annoying but mildly endearing. "so," he began the first night, "when did you know?"

"when did i know what?" harry said.

"when did you know you like liked him?"

"oh, uh," harry thought for a moment, "you know when we first went camping, oh, years ago. just me, you, lou and your parents-"

"yeah," niall cut in.

"well we didn't really know each other that well and, since your mum and dad wanted you to stay with them, we had to sleep in the same tent. same as now."

"and little eleven year old harry was very excited by the fact that little thirteen year old louis slept shirtless, i hear ya," niall finished sarcastically.

"shut up," harry mumbled, embarrassed that his friend wasn't entirely wrong. this caused an eruption of laughter to burst from the older boy, who clutched his stomach in apparent comedic agony.

when louis entered his own temporary place of residence he was very confused to find a suspiciously overjoyed niall, joined by an extremely unamused looking harry. "interrupt something, did i?"

"no, no," niall chuckled, giggling at harry's anxious expression, "i was just leaving." the blond boy stood, but before he exited he winked and stuck his tongue out suggestively in harry's direction.

"what was up with him?" louis smiled, "seemed to find something funny."

"niall finds everything funny," harry said. louis shrugged as if to say 'you're right.' he sat down opposite harry on his matching air bed and said nothing more. harry stared into his blue eyes as louis looked back at him.

"my secret," louis said. harry nodded. "it's big."

"does it have anything to do with eleanor?" harry prompted.

louis shook his head, "well actually," he stopped for a second, "kinda."

"how?" harry asked, curious. louis' expression changed and harry quickly backtracked, "you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, lou."

"i can't, curly," he looked apologetic, "i'm sorry."

"it's ok. some other time."

"almost," louis said once more and harry smiled. he decided to quickly change the subject so louis wouldn't be uncomfortable.

"did zayn bring his switch?"

louis grinned, "he thought you'd be mad."

harry smiled shyly and looked down, "you have a pretty smile." the curly boy's head shot up at the compliment. louis had surely said kind things to him before, but this kind of comment came as a surprise.

"thanks, you too," he had no idea why he was repaying louis' kindness, it was just in his nature. harry immediately felt anxious.

"actually," louis said, moving to sit next to the blushing brunette, "i like your eyes, too. and your dimples, and hair and hands." he took the aforementioned hands in his own and rubbed a thumb across harry's palm.

the affection was somewhat overwhelming and harry's heart was beating in a pattern far from steadily. it fastened even more when louis' face was suddenly only inches away from his own. before it started, however, the moment ended as louis drew away quick as lightening. his hands left the warmth that was harry's and he turned to his own bed.

louis lay down, and harry pretended he hadn't heard anything, but clear as day two words could be distinguished before he was swept off into sleep. a mere whisper.

"i'm straight."

-

harry found things awkward with louis the next day, every touch feeling like an electric shock - and not a good one as usual. niall seemed to realise something was up and he, typically, decided to confront his friend.

"styles," he said in a mock stern tone, "what's happened between you and tommo?"

"nothing," harry replied simply.

"tell me," niall pestered.

"fine. we were talking and suddenly he started to compliment me."

"that's nice, maybe he likes you ba-"

"no you dont understand," harry sighed, "he grabbed my hands and i think he was gonna kiss me. don't," he had to add when niall started jumping up and down in excitement.

"how is this bad harry? i-"

"then he got into bed and all he said was 'i'm straight.' i dont think i was supposed to hear but i did."

"oh," was all niall could reply with. harry sped up his pace slightly, catching up with zayn in no time. the five of them were going to play a three on two game of football. liam and zayn had found a field when exploring the campsite the day before. louis, being the football addict he is, couldn't resist. thinking of how excited he'd been yesterday, compared to how deflated he currently was, made harry sad. why'd he have to mess everything up?

the game was friendly. louis, the best player by far, and liam against the other three. harry and niall's superb lack of sports skills really did show at times like these, and zayn was getting beyond frustrated with his team members.

at what they decided to be half time, louis had scored eight points, liam two and zayn one. harry being in goal probably wasn't helping the scoring, as the ball went through his long legs nearly every time. however, he did stop one shot which resulted in a massive whoop from zayn and a piggy-back ride from niall. liam looked a strange mixture of surprised, proud and annoyed whilst louis showed no emotion at all, focusing on the game. harry was only the slightest bit offended.

when it was finally time for the five boys to return to their warm beds louis was in a much better mood, to harry's satisfaction. his and liam's team had ended up on twenty seven points, niall proving to be even worse than his curly-haired friend in the goalie position, the others on a strong score of two. at least they were consistent.

louis took harry's hand in his own when walking the short way back to the tents, "i'm sorry," he mumbled into the younger boy's ear.

"for?" harry asked, even though he knew where this was going.

"last night," he said, "what i did was very inappropriate and never should've happened."

harry was taken aback, "it's fine, lou, honestly-"

"no it's not," he rubbed a hand over his face, "i just get these feelings sometimes- ones i've been taught not to feel- i'm so, so sorry harry. i just can't help it sometimes."

he took louis' body in a tight embrace, leaving them with a wee way to catch up to the others, "i have no idea what you're talking about but it's endearing," harry laughed into his friend's soft hair.

"you'll know one day, hazza," he breathed, "soon."

"almost?" harry asked, the word almost overused by now.

"almost." he repeated before breaking the hug and leading harry to their shared tent.

♡♡♡

im really enjoying writing this, however, i know it won't do well. oh well...

thank you. treat people with kindness.

- alyssa xx