Pretty in Plastic (l.s)

xxi

"Ready, Lou?" The doll skips down the hall, and to the front door. He smiles, and nods. "Alright, let's go, then."

"I just need to text Harry." Louis says as he takes his phone out. Texting was his favorite thing now. He'd leave dozen of messages to Harry while the man was working, telling him random things with happy faces following, and Harry would respond during breaks or when he got off. They always told each other where they were, if Harry was going to be late or Louis was going out while Harry was at work, and Louis loved seeing Harry's text.

"You sure are close." Louis looks up at sending his text, and smiles. "Are you sure you aren't more than friends?"

"Absolutely." Louis nods as he gets in the car. Liam shrugs, and starts it up. "He has feelings for Kala, not me."

"I'd beg to differ." Liam mumbles in annoyance, and Louis looks out the window. Liam grabs his hand, and Louis doesn't pull away. Harry stayed at the shop later today for extra holiday pay, and Louis was starving. Since he can't cook a full meal, the doll asked Liam to take him out. Liam agreed, and said he knew the perfect place to go. Louis hopes it's McDonalds.

"I don't have money." Louis mumbles.

"That's alright, I can pay for our food." Louis nibbles on his lip, and nods. It stays quiet the whole ride, and Louis feels a small amount of sweat forming in the hand holding Liam's. He wants to pull away because he doesn't feel comfortable holding Liam's hand, but he doesn't want to hurt his friend's feelings. He likes Liam, and doesn't want anyone mad with him.

He keeps his hand in Liam's, even when they get out of the car and Liam grabs it again as they walk. Louis clears his throat, and looks around. He frowns when he realizes that the place Liam took isn't what he wanted: it's busy, smells like beer, and isn't McDonalds.

"Liam, where are we?" The doll asks as they wait. Liam chuckles, and looks at him.

"This place isn't the best with presentation, but it's food and alcohol make up for it."

"I don't want to drink tonight." Louis says firmly.

"You don't have to." Liam reassures, and they move up. "No pressure on anything, Louis. Eat till you're full, okay?"

"Alright." They're seated, and given menus. Louis looks at the items, and his feeling of disappointment only grows. None of these meals are things he usually eats, and he wishes he would have waited for Harry because Harry knows what he likes. "Liam, I-I'm not sure I like this place."

"You don't like any of the food choices?" Liam asks, and places his menu down. "I can pick for you. I promise it will be delicious."

Louis twists, and purses his lips in thought. He finally nods in agreement because he knows he'll take awhile to choose if he does it himself. "I don't like a lot of vegetables."

"Note taken." Liam nods, and looks again. "No alcohol?"

"None. Water, please." Liam nods again. The dinner goes by smoothly, small talk here and there, but Louis's mostly distant. He eats his food, mumbles to Liam that is good, and quietly sips his water. He keeps feeling Liam's eyes on him, and the same expression Harry wears is on his face. It shows fond, adoration, and something a little more serious than friendship. Louis wants to ask why, but he bites his tongue and decides it'd be too personal to.

Nonetheless, he feels awkward and tense. Liam no longer feels like a safe place, but not like a dangerous storm either. It's somewhere in between, and it's confusing Louis. He doesn't know how to handle it, he doesn't want to honestly, and it's giving him anxiety.

"Check, please." Liam says to the waiter, and they leave once he pays. Louis' mind is no longer focused on Liam, but on Harry. Finally, he gets to go home, see his favorite person in the world, and cuddle.

Louis smiles as he thinks about it, and he doesn't notice Liam smiling at him. He doesn't care to notice anything about Liam anymore. When they reach the apartment, Louis goes to unlock the door but finds it locked. He frowns, and jiggles the handle. "Uh, Liam. The door."

"Lou," he looks over at Liam and tenses because they're way too close, "can we talk?"

"I— Uhm, okay." Louis mumbles, and pokes Liam's shoulder. "Space, please."

"Oh." Liam moves back a little, but not enough. "This okay?"

"Yeah," Louis nods, "what's there to talk about? Is there something wrong?"

"I was just wondering," Liam looks at his hands and plays with them, "if you really enjoy yourself when you're around me."

Louis relaxes a little. "Yeah, of course."

"Tonight you seemed distant. Did I do something wrong?" Liam looks up, and he seems genuinely confused. Louis shakes his head, and completely turns himself towards Liam.

"Nope. I'm just tired." The doll smiles, and Liam doesn't answer. Louis reaches for the handle again. "Good night, Liam."

"Wait," Liam takes his hand, "Louis, I like you."

"Oh," Louis mumbles and uses his other hand to pat Liam's, "I like you, too."

"No, like— more than friends." Louis tenses a little. "I want take you out on a date. A real one."

There's a look of determination, and Louis feels his pulse pick up. What does he do? How does he say no? Will Liam be mad?

Louis's slow to respond, and every second visibly chips away at Liam's confidence. His hand is loosening, and Louis feels his heart sink. Fast. "I've never been asked before. I—I need a day or two to think it through. Please don't be mad."

It's the truth: Louis hasn't dated, and he does need time to think. He knows the answer is no, but he'll stall until he can think of a gentle way to say it. Liam smiles, and Louis knows he's disappointed the doll didn't say yes immediately.

"Okay, no problem. Text me when you have your answer." Liam unlocks the door. "Hopefully it's a yes."

He kisses Louis' hand, and lets it go. The doll holds it close to his chest, rubbing the spot with a blush, and leaves the car. "Good night, Liam."

"Good night, Lou." With that, Liam drives off. Louis walks up to the door, finds the spare key Harry told him about, and unlocks the door. His eyes wander around, searching for his comfort buddy, but the man isn't anywhere to be seen. Louis frowns, and checks his phone. No text from Harry.

"What...?"

Keep in mind: I dont know how this ends (sad or happy), I dont know whats going to happen to Lilo, and I definitely dont plan things out like I should when writing.
Thank you xx