photograph ↛ larry au

[7]

you won't ever be alone, wait for me to come home

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harry has done hundreds and hundreds of shows, he wasn't shy around a crowd; but there was something about tonight that made him feel the electricity in his veins; as if he were still the same dorky 17 year old. sure harry got nervous before shows, but never palms sweating and deep breaths nervous.

he knew the weight of this night. how this could change harry and louis' relationship. zayn had everything covered back in london and all harry had to do was go out there and sing his heart out. 

when he walked towards the lift platform with niall and liam, they reassured him they would handle tonight. talk more, distract, make it easier on him. 

harry realized he had the support of everyone he cared about. this will be easy with them by his side. everything would go smoothly

that was his last thought before they were lifted on stage, and the deafening screams took over.

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 "no, this is definitely the best record by far!" louis lifted up the vinyl that had the killers written on it. 

the guy, ian,  laughed, shaking his head and continuing to hold up augustana: boston.

"okay yeah, augustana is great, but eagles are legends."

 "i guess, but this remains unresolved. besides what you've got playing is great, too."

louis lit up, "their my favorite, the fray. loved them since i can remember."

"me too," ian smiled, leaning closer to louis; trying to be subtle. 

they've been talking about their favorite records for a little more than an hour. laughing over ridiculous ones, arguing over who beats who, and stupidly dancing.

it was all fun. louis need fun.

"oh, how about this one?" he said, a smile that reached his kind, brown eyes. a smile that made louis smile back. it was free, true and honest. he loved it. 

but it was the vinyl he was holding up that made louis remember.

he remembered the reason why his heart had a small constant hum of sadness, even behind all the freedom, truth and honesty. 

he remembered the light ache that was still behind his eyes from all the crying.

he remembered how harry would come to work with louis sometimes and play that record as soon as he walked in. 

he remembered them dancing in the middle of the aisles. 

"c'mon put a little boogie in your step, lou."

"i can't."

and harry would grab him, pull him close, and guide him. even when the kooks didn't fit slow dancing, they would do just that. 

louis would laugh and harry would smile down at him. 

they would dance, and dance, and dance. customers would stop, stare, grin and leave them be. sure harry was awful and louis was nervous. but they were in love. it was redamancy.

"im guessing you don't like it?"

louis snapped his head up towards ian. "oh no, i love it, the kooks just have a lot of baggage with them."

"oh, i assumed you were sad. kinda blanked out for a little while."

louis looked away, embarrassed. his hand fiddling with his shirt collar.

"you look like you could use a distraction, wanna head out. no ones here anyways." ian laughed. 

louis didn't find anything he just said funny. 

"i dont know, i was supposed to wait for my friend to pick me up after work."

"louis, c'mon. please."

he thought for a second before nodding."fine, but only because you begged."

louis laughed grabbing his coat.