True Lies (Larry Stylinson)

Chapter 6

HARRY:

     I sat on the couch I our apartment while Louis cooked dinner. He wanted ‘something special’, as he called it. Knowing Louis though, it would indeed be special. I flipped absently through the channels on the TV, occasionally hearing the clank of pans and streams of curses from Louis, followed by an ‘Its fine!’ or an ‘I’m okay! Don’t come in it’s not done yet!’ to which I would roll my eyes and throw my head back in laughter. 

     Louis came in a few minutes later and covered my eyes when I stood from my place. “It’s a surprise! No peeking!” he said. I chuckled.

“Okay, I’m not peeking.” I said as he led me to the kitchen.

“Okay, you can look now.” He said, uncovering my eyes. When I opened them, I was met with a candle-lit table with two plates of bread on them. I stepped closer and upon further examination I discovered they were peanut butter and jelly. I looked at him in confusion.

“Sorry.” He said. “I burnt the chicken… and the potatoes, and the bread.”

“Aww, it’s okay. I love peanut butter and jelly.” I said, giving him a tight hug.

“I’m glad.” He said and pulled my chair out for me.

     We sat at the table for at least an hour after we finished the sandwiches, talking. I smiled, it reminded me of the old Louis and the old us. My heart quickly sped up though, when I thought again, of how it was all because of a lie. I swallowed and pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind when he reached across the table to take my hand in his. I gave him a weak smile in return and continued talking.

     “So, Zayn wants to know if we want to go with him and Niall to eat on Friday.” I said. “Something about a double date.” I added.

“Oh, yeah that sounds fun.” He said. I nodded, thankful that I wouldn’t have to go on our first date alone. “I love you.” Louis whispered, looking at our hands on the table. My eyes popped open and I was questioning if I had heard him right.

“What?” I asked, not even making an effort to hide my shock.

“I said I love you. I wasn’t sure if I should say so soon, but I guess it isn’t too soon if you mean it, right?”

“Y-yeah.” I stuttered. He looked at me expectantly and I had the words in my mouth, though I couldn’t bring myself to say them. “Right back at ‘cha” I said and felt my stomach clench with guilt at the disappointed look that spread across his face at my word choice.

“Yeah.” He said, and got up to start clearing the dishes from the table.

     Louis was quiet for the rest of the night. “Do you want to watch a movie?” I asked. He shrugged.

“I guess.” He whispered and sat on the other end of the couch from me. I sighed, but thought it was best to just leave it.

***

 “Lou, what’s wrong?” I asked as we layed in bed that night after the painfully long movie had ended.

“Nothing. I’m fine. Just go to bed Harry.” He said.

“You know I don’t believe that now tell me. Is it about dinner?” I asked.

“It’s fine, just drop it. I’m just tired.” He said and rolled over to face the wall, tugging the blankets over his head.

“Fine.” I sighed and picked up my pillow, going back to the living room and making my bed on the couch.

  

     It was at least two a.m. before I even got close to sleep, thanks to the dust that had gathered in the cushions and made me sneeze until my throat was sore. I groaned and rolled over on my back, staring at the black in front of me. I wondered if Louis would forgive me when he found out. I was smart enough to know that this couldn’t continue forever. It wasn’t a matter of if Louis found out, it was more lie when, I prayed he would forgive me.

     I woke up to the smell of food and rubbed my eyes, popping the tight muscles in my back as I sat up. I stumbled to the kitchen where Louis sat at the table, drinking coffee with a brown paper bag in front of him. He looked at me with sad eyes before speaking.

“I got you some breakfast. I would’ve made some myself but I ruined all our eggs.” I smiled softly.

“It’s okay, I don’t mind greasy fast food for breakfast.” I said.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered.

“What?” I asked with a mouth full of biscuit.

“I’m sorry… about last night. I shouldn’t have gotten mad at you for not saying it back to me. I know you’ll say it on your own time. I just need to be patient.” He said.

“No, I was just surprised. I didn’t mean for it to come off the way it did. I, I guess I’m just not used to taking care of someone else like you’re supposed to in a relationship.”

“It’s okay though. I love you, and even if can’t say it yet, I know you do because you show me and that’s way more important than telling me.” he came around the table and planted a small kiss on my right cheek before disappearing down the hall to the bathroom where I heard the shower running minutes later. I reached my hand to touch the place that he has kissed. It felt tingly and I could almost still feel his lips on my skin. It gave me goose bumps.