almost // l.s

fifteen

louis' feet were resting atop the kitchen table at his boyfriend's house, phone in hand and a peaceful expression on his face. his jumper was pulled up around his elbows and a beanie sat on the boy's  hair. harry was in awe, his own device laying lazily in his hand, dismissed, as he gazed at his man. despite his attraction to the blue eyed boy, harry couldn't help but feel anxious about the coming situation. for the first time in weeks the two would be hanging out with niall. it was odd that he was nervous about seeing the teen he'd known so well for years, but harry knew that niall's feelings towards him had probably changed over the break-up period.

it wasn't until the doorbell rang that it hit harry that oh my gosh this is actually happening.

"calm down babe," reassured louis, and hand on the younger boy's tense shoulder. harry took a deep breath in answer and turned the handle.

niall looked different. his usually bleach blond hair was nearly one hundred percent brunette, with only the tips still light. he had a slight scruff covering his cheeks and chin, but those blue eyes were still as bright as harry remembered.

the stared at each other for a few moments, each taking in the other's changes, before niall leapt forward and enclosed harry in a hug.

"i missed you so much, haz!"

harry smiled and breathed in his friend's scent, "missed you too." they embraced for what felt like an eternity, before louis cleared his throat and the once blond boy looked up. his forehead frowned harshly, anger didn't suit niall, "what the hell are you doing here?"

harry gasped, "no, ni, it's fine... we made up."

"the hell you did. he ruined you, harry. d'ya think this jumper covers up how skinny you are? you're all bone, mate."

"it wasn't totally lou," harry replied sheepishly, "i did it to myself."

niall softened a bit but didn't excuse louis' behaviour. instead, he waltzed on into harry's house like he owned the place.

"so," he sat down magestically on the couch, "what's happened?"

harry smiled, "remember eleanor?"

"louis' ex?"

"what other eleanor do we know?"

"it's just," niall snickered, "you used to always call her elevator cos you had this stupid rivalry or whatever. didn't immediately recognise the name."

harry flushed, embarrassed that his mate had brought that old nickname up. he looked at louis anxiously, wondering if he'd be worried or not. fortunately, the boy was laughing, "and what was the reason behind that name, h?"

"uhh..."

the three got on like old friends, which they were, and talked about everything from left to right. it felt good for harry to have someone to laugh with again, he missed the smile that used to be plastered on his face.  

-

nearly a month later harry was already back to his bubbly, happy self. his mum had hugged him and said that she was so glad he was grinning again... that was the effect louis had on him.

it was december twenty second, and harry was curled up under his boyfriend's arm by the fire. since november, the temperature had dropped furiously, finding the need for warm jackets and blankets up to their chins. louis was smoothing a hand through harry's hair, which was now longer than it'd ever been before, and frequently kissing his forehead.

"i missed this," harry whispered, the sound being the only disturbance of their silence for about half an hour.

"me too."

"what happens when eleanor decides to nark again?"

"i don't wanna worry about that, haz," louis replied, "for now, just us."

harry sighed contently and laid down on the older boy's chest, delight flooding through his bones knowing that he was loved and appreciated.  for some reason, despite breaking his heart multiple times, louis could make harry unconditionally happy, and that was all he needed.

"it's your birthday in a couple of days," harry said, "what do you want?"

louis smiled. harry couldn't see him, but he felt it against his curls, "i'm fine as i am harry. don't need a thing."

"but you're gonna be nineteen," the younger pouted, "i have to buy you something."

"you don't-"

"i do."

"ok then," the blue-eyed boy watched harry fondly, "i'm not fussy, though."

"hmm."

he had a few ideas, knowing louis so well was both a help and hindrance. it made it somewhat easier to find something that harry knew would be ideal, but if it wasn't perfect then there was always that possibility that lou would be sorely disappointed. he'd been stressing for a few days now and he wished his boyfriend could give him some options.

harry wondered whether he should do something extravagant, or if louis wouldn't feel comfortable with that. he'd thought about something more close kept and personal, maybe promise rings, but would that be too cheesy?

apparently louis noticed the strain in harry's mind and the tensing of his shoulders, so he placed his warm hands on the nape and sides of his neck and began to massage it. the green-eyed lad leaned into the touch greedily and closed his eyes in tranquillity. was there anything louis wasn't good at? 

after a while harry felt himself get a little sleepy, a yawn fixing his suspicions, he sat up and turned to face louis.

"can we go to bed?" he asked, eyes flitting between open and shut.

"yes darling," the eighteen year old replied, slipping a hand past harry's forehead to push a lock of his luscious hair behind his ear. the pair stood up together, the taller boy bending down slightly to rest his chin on louis' shoulder. when they arrived in harry's bedroom, the two boys removed one jacket each, but decided to sleep in the rest of their winter attire.

"you make this look cute," louis grinned, looking at the floral jumper that was hugging harry's perfect frame. yes, his body looked like his body again and louis was just as over the moon as harry.

"really?"

"yeah," he giggled, "it'd be darn ugly on some people."

"most people," harry whispered cheekily.

"what's this?" the older boy spoke loudly, his boyfriends head shooting up in a beaming smile, "a little self confidence from mr. styles?"

"oh shut up, you," he scrunched up his nose in a way that made louis grin just as wide, before collapsing onto the duvet.

"love you."

and the last words they shared that day weren't any different to the ususal, "i love you too."

♡♡♡

hiiii! sorry for late update, i've been kinda busy with school and all that nonsense. hope you enjoyed this wholesome chappy, and are looking forward to seeing what happens.

vote and comment if it was alright! thank you, treat people with kindness.

alyssa xxx :)