Just Silly Kids (Larry Stylinson)

13. Topic

Harry did not know how they ended up like this, legs entangled and shoulders pressed together while they were laying on their stomachs and looked at the laptop, but Harry did not dare to question it. It was just like old times. Harry was Louis' central focus again.

Even if it was just for the project. If nothing else, they were scientifically proven perfect project partners.

Harry had already asked his dad what he would think was a good topic, and even though he was reluctant to help out since he did not want to give his son extra treatment, he gave him a few suggestions. He knew that his son was going through a hard time.

So currently, Louis and Harry were looking up these suggestions, trying to decide which one was the most interesting. "What about body language?" Louis asked. "That could be interesting."

"You know, body language is not very specific." Harry voiced his thoughts without thinking. He had never hesitated to do that with Louis. "Whose body language? You could also do a dogs body language. Like, when he's waggling his tail and stuff."

Louis snorted. "I think there will be some people who will do topics like that. Like, ridiculous ones that only have so little to do with social interaction."

"You know what also could be interesting?" Harry said. "Body languages but in different cultures. I bet there could be a hell of miscommunication."

Louis nodded. "That is really interesting."

"And we could also do a play. You love acting." Harry said.

Louis looked at him, furrowing his eyebrows. "You would do a play with me? But you hate acting and stuff."

Harry shrugged. "I don't hate acting. I'm just bad at it and I'll embarrass myself. But it's okay if you're happy with it."

Louis looked at him for a beat of silence, a rush of different emotions flashing through his eyes. Wonder, guilt, longing, helplessness, perplexity, cluelessness...

Before Harry could figure out what all these emotions meant, though, Louis looked down, back on the list. "Homosexuality?" Louis read out loud incredulously.

Harry looked down on the list, seeing his dad's last suggestion which he strangely underlined with a red pen. "Oh yeah." Harry said. To be honest, he would love to take this topic, especially together with Louis. Maybe it could change his mind, and Harry had an official reason to research about it, not only his own questionable sexuality. But he knew how wary Louis was about this topic.

"What does that have to do with social interaction?" Louis wondered. To Harry's surprise, he did not seem completely repulsed by it.

"You know, the topic is social interaction and partners." Harry said carefully.

"Hm." Louis just said. "Why did he highlight it?"

"Maybe... he really wanted us to... think about taking this topic." Harry said, still carefully watching Louis. The boy looked thoughtful for a few seconds, then he seemed to remember something and his features hardened.

"Bullshit." He muttered, making Harry's shoulders sink in disappointment.

"It's not bullshit."

"Ahh!" Louis and Harry screamed, looking up to the top bunk where Niall's head was poking out of the closed curtains.

"Niall!" Harry said, surprised.

"We didn't know you were here." Louis said.

"I know." Niall rolled his eyes. "You don't notice anything that's going on around you when you're like this." He waved his hand around vaguely.