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Harry hated awkward encounters. He hated that he couldn't predict whenever they'd come so he could prepare for them and be ready to make the necessary adjustments in that very moment. And he hated how they always made him feel like he was being denied something that was in reach. Like he was locked in a room with the exit just a few steps away but his shoes were glued to the floor. That feeling was terrible.

Then again if he could prepare for those awkward encounters, they wouldn't be awkward enounters. They'd just be... encounters. And since people could never escape having awkward encounters, Harry had to take what he was given and just be glad that it wasn't worse than sitting right next to a guy whose hickies he'd just stared at last week as if a painter had stroked a swatch of imperial red near his Adam's apple and created a masterpiece.

Ever since that day, Louis wasn't engaging in conversation with him. He was rather quiet. Harry hadn't seen anymore hickies either. But maybe that was just because Louis was hiding them more carefully now that someone had seen them.

This particular day, Louis and Harry both happened to be in class early. So Harry turned to him.

"Louis." He said.

Like last time when they first spoke, he didn't turn to face him. "What?"

"Um... I just wanted to say I'm sorry. The way I looked at you last week was really rude. But I promise you I wasn't judging you or anything. It just happened to catch my eye and I looked at it. But I don't judge for something that happens to most people."

Louis folded his arms but said nothing.

"Also, I'd really like for us to maybe put that day behind us and be normal. If we're working together as partners for the rest of this semester, we might as well be friends, right? So let's be friends."

He stuck his hand out and when Louis saw it in his vision, he looked down at it but didn't move to shake it.

"We can be friends. But I'm not shaking on it."

"Okay..." Harry drew his hand away, then quieted down again. Did that go really well? Well, not exactly.

"I accept your apology by the way." Louis finally said out of nowhere and Harry smiled softly.

"Thanks. I really did mean it."

"I know."

"So... does that mean things won't be awkward? Like, we'll get along and speak to each other and actually work together like Mr. Dugan wants us to?"

"Sure."

"Good. Because I still meant what I said about helping you get a B."

Louis smiled shyly.

"So anyway... I always see you with that football player. Zayn."

Harry couldn't help but grin at the mention of him. "Oh. Yeah. My boyfriend."

"I know. It's kinda cool how he was on the news earlier this year. Must be nice now that he's the number one recruit out of high school. College scouts really think he can go pro and do big things."

Harry had to pause a bit when he heard that. He'd known Zayn for a little while and befriended him before he even really knew Zayn was serious about going pro. But there were many times when he forgot this was really where Zayn was headed. The professional football player paycheck and lifestyle was what Zayn was playing towards now. And he promised Harry that if he ever got it, then he'd take him and his sister with him.

Because they were already close friends before Harry knew football wasn't just for fun for Zayn, Harry didn't think about Zayn's pro aspirations the same. While others marveled at his talents, fawned over his play and relished in the possibility of getting to say they went to school with a pro player before he was famous, every day was just another day for Harry. He didn't see Zayn, the future pro player. He only saw Zayn, the boy. And times like these when someone brought up the potential future, he was reminded that yes, that's exactly what Zayn was. And yes he was in love with him.