i sleep naked ➸ larry stylinson

thirty four

all i'm saying, before you read this is.... beware.

***

louis mouth kind of just opened, as he stood back and stared at harry.

he looked kind of perfect, standing there with his sweater and harry could see his hands shaking.

"you wrapped it," he stuttered, running a trembling hand across harry's jawline, "you wrapped it your, yourself."

harry blushed and nodded, biting his lip and feeling his heart jump at the thought of what he was implying.

"cake!" somebody, probably jay, called from the kitchen. louis didn't move his eyes, just yelled "okay!" and continued to stare at the curly-headed boy who was squirming under louis' heavy gaze.

"we should probably go get some cake," he said softly, shaking his head before grabbing harry's hand. "it's my favorite. red velvet." then he smiled, squeezing harry's hand as they walked into the large kitchen. niall was already sitting next to zayn, a fork in hand and a smile on his face as he watched jay push the candles into the big cake that was covered in cream cheese icing.

"louis!" liam exclaimed, and harry noticed that he was eyeing their hands.

"hey li, you gonna sing me an impressive happy birthday?" louis joked, leading harry to sit down at the table in front of his cake. "or am i gonna have to sing it to myself?"

while liam laughed, harry shook his head quickly. "no, no you don't have to sing it to yourself," he said quietly, smiling shyly when louis poked his cheek and let out a little noise.

"you're so cute, angel," he murmured in harry's ear.

"hey!" bobby clapped his hands in front of everyone, standing up out of his chair. "let's start the song!"

harry looked at the now-lit candles, watching the way they flickered around and cast a glow around the dim lighting of the room. he couldn't help but smile as he watched the excited look on louis' face as they started the song. harry sang it quietly, gazing at louis' face the whole time.

"happy birthday dear louis, happy birthday to you," he finished, his voice ending in a fond whisper. he couldn't help but admire louis' lips as he blew out the candles, his eyes squeezed shut and his hands grasping the edges of the table as he leaned over the cake.

"what'd you wish for?" niall asked loudly, looking expectantly at louis.

"i wished for this to be the best birthday ever, which i'm sure it will."

harry pretended not to notice the way louis' eyes lingered on his face as he looked around the table.

"now, time for cake!" jay smiled, before slicing the cake up into pieces and placing them on plates. "louis gets to pick the first piece, because it's his nineteenth birthday today."

there was silence for a few moments, and they all watched as jay gave louis a watery smile and handed him the cake he pointed at.

"mum, don't cry!" louis laughed, smiling widely at her as he wiped away her tears. "'m not even twenty yet, it's okay!"

harry giggled, gently cutting a small bite sized piece off of his cake and stabbing it with his fork. he went over what could happen tonight in his head, feeling butterflies in his stomach at just the thought.

and then he just listened carefully as jay talked and talked about stories from louis' childhood.

harry's favorite one was the one about the time he fell asleep reading and his glasses left an imprint on his face.