Undone, Undress (Larry Stylinson)

fifty-nine

After their shower together, they wrap up in towels and debate slipping back into bed for a quick nap but decide against it due to how messy the sheets are.

As they leave the hotel after gathering their things, Louis vaguely wonders if they'll be billed for ruining the sheets. He leaves the cleaning crew a generous tip with a note on the bed using hotel stationary that says Sorry! (: x

The roads are pretty clear today despite how much it snowed yesterday, and they drive through Ohio, passing corn fields and forests and not much else. Harry drives the first leg and they both scream along to the radio, listening to a shit ton of holiday music that has them excited for Christmas even though they won't really be celebrating it this year.

They switch off after three hours, parked at a rest stop when Louis rounds the car outside and Harry climbs over the center console to get himself to the passenger's seat. The open door brings in a lot of freezing cold air and Louis closes it quickly, restarting the car and turning the heat on full blast.

"So, um, Lou..."

"Yes, pet? Spit it out."

"It's about me moving out."

"Right."

"Well, I don't really know what to do."

"Why not?"

"What?"

Louis turns the radio down but keeps his gaze straight ahead on the highway in front of him, lined with trees covered in snow. "I need to know what you're thinking, H. What you want to do and everything so then we can discuss and come up with a plan. I have some ideas but I need to know what you want, first."

"Oh, okay."

"Go ahead, then."

"Well, I don't really... I mean, what if I don't know what I want? Or what if it's not possible?"

"Tell me what you would do if nothing was holding you back, then."

"I would stay with you."

"Really?"

"What do you mean 'really'? I like living with you."

Louis smiles a little, feeling relieved but still he presses, "Why?"

Harry's quiet for a long moment. "Because we're friends, and you're very nice to me. You take care of me. I can't even remember what I did when I lived alone, without you."

See, the thing is, Louis could totally make a joke right now about finally reaching friend status with Harry after living with him for months, or something to that effect. But he doesn't. What he said is really genuine and it doesn't seem right to make light of it.

"Me too, H. I don't know what I did without you."

"I don't want to move," Harry says, very quietly. "But I have to. They'll stop paying for school if I don't, and there's no way... I just can't do that."

"I get it, Harry, I really do. It's alright."

"So I have to find a new place and move out. But I'm worried- I'm worried I won't see you very often. I don't want that to happen."

He's looking for reassurance, then. Louis can give him that. No problem. "Whatever place you pick, it can't be that far from where we're living now, you know? Like you'll still be near campus, I'm assuming. Whenever you want me to come over just call me and I'll be there."

"Really?"

"What do you mean, 'really'?" Louis jokes, repeating what Harry said earlier. "No but seriously, if that's something you want, we can make it happen."

"Are you sure? I mean, I know how busy you get-"

"We'll both be busy, H, but like, of course. We'll find the time somehow. Even if it's just you coming over to take a nap on the couch with Cliff or something."

"You'd want that?"

"Of course. You're always welcome to come over, stay over, whatever. Honestly, you can keep the extra key, I don't mind." He thinks about it for a moment, eyes still on the road, but in his peripheral vision he can tell Harry is smiling. He just knows. "Which, now that I think about it," he adds, "if you decide to do that, it'll pretty much just be like you still live with me, so. That's not a bad thing. You'll just have a new place to sleep at night, if that's what you want."

"But what am I going to do without you to wake me up from my nightmares?" His tone is jovial and there's laughter in his voice, despite the heavy, serious topic. It makes Louis smile a little too.

"What will you do? What will I do?"

"Without all of my glorious culinary skills? Starve, probably."

"Wow, okay, rude."

They're both laughing though, and for once everything feels alright.