Just Silly Kids (Larry Stylinson)

10. Conversations

When Niall came back after drama class a few days later, the room was silent except for a few stifled sniffles from behind the closed curtain on the bottom bunk that used to be almost unoccupied just a few weeks ago. That the curtains of Harry's bunk were closed was not a rare occasion anymore. It seemed like it quickly got too much for Harry to handle the outer world so he closed himself off.

Niall was thankful that the room was empty except for Harry for once. He had meant to talk to the boy for a while now. Carefully, he opened the curtain an bit and slid behind Harry, spooning him. It was just how Niall had comforted him the last time after the younger boy had ran out after insulting Eleanor. That time, Harry had fallen asleep like this.

This time, Niall wanted to talk to the crying boy, though. "Harry?" He whispered into the silence. He waited a few seconds before repeating. "Harry... talk to me, love."

At that, Harry turned around and buried his face in Niall's chest. "Why does it hurt so much, Ni?"

Niall stroked his hair as he thought about an answer. "Well, he's your best friend, right?"

Harry was silent for a few seconds. "I don't know. It's like I'm not even... there."

"Haz." Niall whispered. "Louis is going through a rough time. I'm sure you're gonna be the same in a few weeks."

"Rough time?" Harry snapped, pushing Niall away a bit and turning away again. "He's having the time of his life with his girlfriend."

For a second, Niall wondered how this one word could drip with so much different negative emotions. Then he asked, even though he already knew the answer, "Harry... Why does it bother you so much that he has a girlfriend?"

Harry was silent for a few seconds before saying, "Can't you see how it's ruining our rela-... friendship? He's not even looking at me when she's there. And even when she's not there, it's like she's creating a barrier between us."

"But it's not only that, isn't it?" Niall said carefully.

There was a tense silence. "What else should there be?" Harry snapped, still not turning around to face Niall, who carefully cuddled him close again. If he learned one thing from being room mates with Louis and Harry for the past years, it was that Harry was a touchy person and trusted more easily when receiving physical comfort.

"You know there's nothing wrong with being gay, right?" He said carefully, but apparently not carefully enough, because Harry sat up straight in the bed, glaring down at Niall.

"How dare you to assume that. Of course it is wrong. Everyone said that. Zayn, Zayn's father, the football team, the basketball team, Liam-"

"When did Liam say that?" Niall asked.

"Well..." Harry hesitated, then threw his arms up in exasperation. "I don't know, but he finds it weird, I know that."

Niall sat up too, facing the other boy. "Harry, listen. I know what some people here said. I know Louis got some harsh treatment after he was rumoured to be gay. But I read all about it, okay? And I talked to Liam about it. And my mum. And my brother. There's nothing wrong with being gay. The people here just were never confronted with it. That's why they think it's weird."

Harry frowned. "But it's not normal. Gay people are weak."

"That," Niall said seriously, "Is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Sexuality has nothing to do with strength. Gay people are the same as all people, just with another preference who they love. They have another type, if you want to say so."

Harry's expression was completely perplexed. He had never heard someone speak of gay people this... neutrally.

"So..." Harry tried to understand, "So what if... if hypothetically, I mean, not that I want to but I mean hypothetically, if I wanted to kiss Lo- I mean, another boy...that would not be completely disgusting?"