Roadtrip

Los Angeles

Three days in Las Vegas went by really fast and soon they were taking the five-hour drive to Los Angeles. Harry had informed him that he owned a house in L.A. and suggested Louis would live there with him until he had to fly back to England.

They hadn't talked about what would happen after this road trip. Louis of course understood that Harry's occupation would complicate things but he hoped they could work it out somehow. They had to! He figured they would talk about it in L.A. So he didn't bring it up now. He just wanted to enjoy their last days of this amazing trip that had become so much more than he could ever have dreamed about because he found love along the way.

Harry's house was gigantic! He gave Louis a tour of the place and Louis turned to him with big eyes.
"Oh my fucking God Haz. This place is huge!"

Harry shrugged his shoulders in response.
"It can get kind of lonely."

Louis's face softens and he pulled Harry in for a hug. Harry relaxed and put his head on Louis's shoulder and they just held each other for a while. Louis pressed a soft kiss on Harry's cheek before he pulled away.
"What do you say about ordering some take-out and watch a movie?" he asked with a soft smile.

"I say that sounds perfect." Harry replied with a grin.

He took Louis's hand and they walked over to the living room. They ordered sushi and bickered playfully about what movie to watch before they decided on a classic; Notting Hill. They both found the theme of the movie suitable.

They ate and after they laid on the couch cuddling. Harry's phone rang and he checked the caller ID and his brows furrowed.
"I have to take this. It's my management."

"Yeah, of course." Louis answered and sat up.

Harry pressed the green button and stepped away to talk. He seemed to have a heated discussion and Louis heard the word damage control being uttered several times. Harry hung up and let out a string of curse words and dragged a hand through his hair. He turned to face Louis.
"So apparently there are a lot of pictures of us floating around on the Internet taken by fans but also by paparazzi."

Louis gulped.
"Okay?"

"It doesn't seem to be any photos of us kissing, thank God. My management is gonna do some damage control immediately." Harry sighed, pacing back and forth in the living room.

Louis wrinkled his eyebrows. He didn't like anything of what Harry just had said to him.
"Wait, damage control? Why? Are you ashamed of me?"

"No, don't be ridiculous." Harry answered sounding annoyed.

"Okay? What kind of damage control then? I don't get it." Louis continued.

"Come on! Every fucking newspaper is gonna speculate if I'm bi or gay." Harry growled angrily.

"Well, you are bi!" Louis shouted.

"They don't need to know that!" Harry shouted back.

Wow! That hit hard. Louis took a deep breath.
"So this, you and me? What is this? You said you're in love with me!"

Harrys features soften.
"I am, but it's not that simple."

Louis wouldn't have it.
"So what? You were gonna hide me away? I know it's not simple but if you love someone it's supposed to be worth the fight."

Harry just stared at him in silence and Louis could feel tears starting to prick behind his eyes.
"I guess that's my answer. Goodbye Harry."

He stood up and headed for the door. Harry came running up to him.
"Wait! You still don't get it. We would get so much hate from my fans or others who just can't stand two men in a relationship."

Louis turned around, eyes glistening from tears.
"I get it but I don't care Harry. I love you. I can handle that but apparently you can't."

Harry looked really emotional as well.
"You're not famous."

"Yeah? I'm really glad I'm not. I don't have to hide. Go to hell Harry." He grabbed his suitcase by the door and walked out.

He slammed the door behind him and waited for Harry to come running after him but he didn't. Why would he? Louis had just told him to go to hell. More importantly, he had told him that he loved him and he hadn't said it back. Guess that was his answer. He walked down the long driveway and managed to wave for a cab. He asked the driver to take him to the airport. He just wanted to go home so he could deal with his broken heart, shattered into tiny pieces in one second. Everything was perfect until it suddenly wasn't. Had he been too naive? Had Harry never had any intentions to carry on with him after their trip?

He arrived at the airport and paid the driver. He was lucky. There was a flight leaving for London in an hour and he managed to change his ticket. He checked in his luggage and found the right gate. His eyes never left the entrance. He was waiting for Harry to come running towards him like in a cheesy romantic comedy but of course, that didn't happen. He checked his phone as well. No missed calls or messages. They announced that it was time to board the plane and Louis threw one last sweeping look against the entrance before he boarded with a deep sigh. He had lost Harry.

He changed flight in New York and his heart ached from the memories the town gave him. He spent eight hours on a plane to London crying or sleeping. The other passengers stared at him but he couldn't care less.

When he finally touched ground in London he felt relieved. He just had to get back to Doncaster and everything would feel better. Like a strange dream or something.