almost // l.s

seven

camping in the middle of nowhere usually became boring very quickly for harry. he couldn't stand the cold and the tents were uncomfortable. yet, this time, he was dreading the end. that was because the quality time he'd spent with louis was much more appetising than going home, his home where he was judged for everything and anything he did.

so when harry was sitting in the passenger seat of louis' car, his boyfriend driving far, far away from their place of happiness, he realised just how badly he needed that vehicle to turn around. he looked to the back seat. liam and zayn had one headphone in each and were fully engrossed in whatever they were playing on the switch, harry thought they looked cute together. typically, niall was sleeping. 

now finding that no one would be paying attention to him, harry decided to confide in louis, "lou?"

"mmm?" he hummed.

"what happens when we get home? i'm scared."

"don't be scared, babe," louis said, placing a hand on harry's thigh, "everything will work out just fine."

"hope so," the curly-haired boy said quietly.

"hey." they met eyes for a second, before the older boy trained his back onto the road, "it will be fine, i promise you."

they five boys sat in silence for a little while before a loud snore was heard from the behind harry. he expected it to have been niall, chief sleeper, but the noise apparently came from zayn, who's head was resting on liam's shoulder, the other boy asleep also. harry looked at niall, who had woken up and was eyeing the two suspiciously.

"what did i tell you?" he chuckled, "knew they had a thing."

harry giggled, "i like it."

niall sat in thought for a moment, "z- l- z- ziam? yeah ziam. ziam sounds good."

"is that like, their names combined?"

"it's called a ship name, harold, where you ship two people together," niall said as if it were a basic thing every human should know.

"ok," harry smiled, "so what are lou and i then?"

"already had that one planned- larry."

"no," louis chipped in.

"why not?" niall laughed as harry looked at his boyfriend, confused.

"i won't have that, it's rubbish," he continued, "harry gets a whole a-r-r-y and all i contribute is an l? no way."

harry burst into a fit of laughter, causing liam to stir. niall looked at louis, his expression plain, "would you prefer houis?"

louis rolled his eyes, something he did often which harry absolutely loved, "fine. i'll spend the rest of my life being a useless l."

"drama queen," niall muttered.

"king." louis corrected, "harry is the only queen here. princess, perhaps. yeah, princess suits him more."

harry blushed furiously while niall raised his eyebrows suggestively, "don't say things like that, lou."

"sorry, princess."

-

niall was dropped off first, his mother thanked louis profusely for driving them to and from the campground. the brunette threw on his usual charm, harry trying not to be too obvious about his obsession with the boy. liam and zayn threw themselves out of the car when it pulled up outside of the older boy's house. they stayed with each other after every camping trip as liam's parents went away as well. the pair waved viciously before bounding into zayn's mum's arms.

that left just louis and harry to find their way home. harry didn't know why, but he suddenly felt the urge to tell the world about his newfound love. well, his mum at least.

"louis?" 

"yes, h?"

"i wanna tell her, my mum i mean. i wanna tell her about us," he whispered.

"does she know... yknow?" harry turned to look at louis as he was puzzled, the older boy rephrased, "have you told her you're gay?"

harry took a deep breath and spoke on the exhale, "no."

"oh," louis furrowed his tense brow and contemplated, "i think you should."

"really?"

"yeah. anne's lovely, she isn't going to mind is she?"

"no, i guess you're right," harry focused on the scenery outside his window, "i know she's not homophobic, i just don't know if it'd be weird, like, her own son-"

"it won't be weird," the older boy confirmed, "i promise."

"you promise a lot of things."

"i do, and i know what i'm getting myself into, haz. i'm not a breaker."

harry smiled, "i know you aren't."

-

"harry!" anne exclaimed when she saw her son waiting at the door. she took him in a tight embrace, which harry returned happily, "and louis!" the woman hugged him too.

"hi mum," harry said shyly, nervous about the coming conversation.

"come in, come in. tell me everything that's happened."

anne showed the two lads to the living room and sat them down, "so," she began, "any big news?"

harry grinned sheepishly, looking at louis with anxiousness crossing his face, "kinda."

his mother seemed concerned, "niall didn't set anything on fire again did he?"

louis chuckled and harry shook his head, "no, no, not quite."

"well then!" anne insisted, "what is it? you both look rather nervous."

"me and louis- we uh- we-" harry stuttered, embarrassed, "we sorta... kissed?"

multiple emotions covered the woman's face in a very fast sequence, "i don't know what to say."

"we actually did more than just kiss, didn't we haz?" louis smiled, "by some magical twist of fate we became boyfriends."

"i had no idea you were- you like boys?"

"i do," harry giggled, "that's ok, right?"

"oh, baby," she jumped forwards and embraced both boys at once, "it doesn't change a thing."

harry sighed, "good."

-

they sat around and discussed what had happened in more detail, before louis had to get going.

"so, louis, are you going to tell your family?" anne asked. harry was curious to find out, too as louis hadn't said anything.

"unfortunately not," louis said sadly.

"why not?" harry asked.

"let's just say, they're not quite as accepting as you've been anne."

"are you sure?" harry's mum inquired, "i've always seen jay as such an inclusive woman."

"it's not mum," he explained, "my dad has drilled me all my life about how i have to be a 'perfect son.' straight, kids after marriage, all that rubbish. it's horrible and cruel but i can't do anything about it. he'd kill me if he knew."

harry began to cry, he was worried and confused. anne gave louis another firm hug before wishing him well and sending him off. louis kissed his boyfriend on the lips tenderly before waving goodbye.

the young boy had been so close. he thought louis was perfect. well, louis was perfect, his situation wasn't. there was always a catch.

♡♡♡

i'm nervous for what's coming next and i'm the one writing the story. hopefully you're enjoying reading it as much as i am writing. vote and comment if you liked this chapter (or the story in general)!

thank you. treat people with kindness.

alyssa xxx