Pretty in Plastic (l.s)

ix

"Louis?" He calls into the house when he doesn't see the doll on the couch. He closes the door, and hears feet barreling down the stairs. "Oof."

He grunts when Louis slams him into the door, hugging him tightly. He feels tears soak his shirt, and closes his eyes. Please, no more crying.

"I know," Harry says before Louis can speak, "I broke my promise, I'm sorry."

"You said 11." Louis sniffles. "Thought you left me."

"I'd never leave you." He pats Louis' hair, and frowns when he feels how damp it is. He pulls Louis back, and sees the pink hue on his face. It's familiar, he's seen it on himself. "Are you sick? You're flushed."

"No." Louis swallows, and avoids eye contact. Harry hums, but says nothing else.

"Are you hungry?"

Louis now sneaks a peak at him like a child being tempted with candy. "Yes."

"Would you like me to make you some breakfast?" Louis nods, and Harry walks with him to the kitchen. "Okay."

As Harry cleans his hands, and prepares to cook, Louis sits at the table and watches. Harry has his back to Louis, but that doesn't stop the doll from trying to examine him.

"Harry," he says, "how was your night?"

"It was okay. I had a good dinner." He turns the stove on. "I slept at Kala's."

Louis figures that much. He looks at the eggs Harry places on the counter along with a mixing bowl. "Did you— uhm..."

Harry stops, and looks at him. Not once has Louis stuttered like that.

"Uh— with Kala, did you.." Louis huffs, and sits straighter. "What's gay?"

Harry's mouth opens and closes, and his eyes are wide. "What?"

"Gay. Kala called me gay," Louis doesn't mention the video as he blushes, "and I don't know what that is."

"Gay is," Harry swallows and leans against the counter, "gay is when a man is attracted to other men. He doesn't want a woman to be his... lover. Only a man."

"He loves men?" Harry nods at his question. Louis hums, and looks around. "Do you love men, Harry?"

"I do." Harry clears his throat. "I love women, too."

"What's that called?"

"Some call it bisexual. I don't label it." Harry explains, and Louis nods this time.

"Do you love Kala?"

"Uhm," Harry scratches his jaw and shakes his head, "I don't know."

"Do you—" Louis bites his lip, and says nothing further. Harry raises an eyebrow, silently urging him.

"Do I what, Louis?"

Louis says nothing, and Harry takes that the conversation is over. He turns back to cooking. "I think I love men."

"That's nice, Louis." Harry smiles at him. "You can love who ever you want to."

"I can?"

"Yeah." Harry nods, and he sees Louis relax.

—————

Harry goes to work a few hours later, and he sees Liam and Niall stocking shelves. He waves and takes his spot behind the register.

"Harry!" Niall walks over after finishing the candles, and leans on the counter. "Liam, and I were talking about you."

"What about me?" He asks as he puts his name tag on, and he looks up at Niall.

"We haven't hung out in so long, mate. It's long over due." Harry hums. That's true. Before Anne passed, Harry would hang out with them every other week. Now, Harry's been avoiding everyone. He does owe his two friends a hang out. "We were wondering when you were free."

Harry thinks. "I'm free tonight. You two can bring some alcohol over to mine."

"Are we just going to watch chick flicks again?" Liam asks from the isle of hair products, and Niall laughs.

"I have good movies." Harry defends as he smiles. Liam scoffs. "I don't want to go clubbing right now. I just want to be at home, honestly."

"We understand, mate." Niall pats his shoulder, and smiles. "We'll be by around eight. That enough time to get food?"

"Food?"

"We bring beer, you buy food." Liam looks at him with a teasing look. "We are guest, Harry."

"Yeah, yeah." Harry laughs, and nods. "Alright. Pizza?"

"Pepperoni!" Niall smiles, and goes back to his pile of boxes. Harry hums, and starts his work.

—————

Louis pours the chips into the bowl, nibbling on a few and humming at the cheesy taste. Harry laughs behind him, and takes the bowl.

"You sure love Doritos." Louis blushes at his words, and sucks the powder off his finger. Harry's eyes fall to his lips, but he moves away within seconds.

"Who's coming over?"

"Niall, and Liam." Harry says as he puts the third and final chip bowl on the living room table. The large space in the middle is meant for the pizza. "They're friends of mine."

"Okay." Louis stares at the packs of soda on the counter, and the water bottles next to them. "So many drinks."

"That's to keep me sober."

"Sober?" Louis blinks in confusion, and Harry walks back in. He holds Louis' waist, and leans against the counter. Louis lays into his chest, and hums at the warmth.

"Liam, and Niall are bringing alcohol. It's something that makes me really sad or happy."

"Will you be happy tonight?"

"Probably not." Harry mumbles as he thinks about his mother. He'll cry like a baby tonight. "That's why I have water, and soda. So I won't drink so much."

"Can I drink?"

Harry looks at him, and shrugs. "It won't taste good, but you can try it."

"If it doesn't taste good, why do you drink it?" Louis looks back at him, and Harry fixes his fringe.

"Because it erases memories for a few hours." He says honestly, and Louis hums. "They'll be here soon."

Louis pulls away, and claps. "I'm ready!"