The Experiment

Date 2

Harry wakes up the next morning ready to speak to Louis. He really wants to get clarity on how he's feeling about their relationship. He wants to know where Louis stands with Perrie.

Harry takes a quick shower and makes himself some avocado toast. Everybody else seems to be moving much slower today so he's the only one in the kitchen at the moment.

After five minutes of eating in silence, Niall retreats into the kitchen. "Hey, Harry. Sleep alright?"

Harry finishes his bite of toast. "Yeah wasn't too bad. What about you?"

Niall opens the fridge. "I slept pretty shit, if I'm honest. I kept imagining what Julia's face looked like. It's still a mystery to me and it only made my head hurt. Have you tried imagining what the people in the pods look like?"

Just Louis. Harry doesn't really try to imagine anyone else because it doesn't feel the way he does about Louis with anyone else. "A bit, yeah."

"It's fucking crazy, mate. We're telling so many of our deep secrets to these people and we've never seen their faces."

"That's the experiment, though." Harry points out.

"I know but it still fucks with my mind." Niall makes himself a bowl of cereal. "How are you feeling going into the pods today?"

"Yeah, I feel good. I'm ready to talk to a few people." Harry answers cryptically.

"By a few people, you mean Louis?" Niall asks, smirking. He sees right through Harry's bullshit.

"Maybe, yeah."

"You're in love, mate!"

"Oh, shut up!" Harry replies, face turning red.

"You are! Look at you, mate! You're blushing."

"I'm not getting my hopes up, alright? He could like Perrie more than me."

Niall scoffs. "No way. You're a fucking catch. Louis would be daft not to choose you."

"If you say so." Harry answers, unsure.

"You've just gotta talk to him today. You've got to see where his head's at. You've gotta fight for your man."

"He's not my man yet." Harry responds callously.

"But you want him to be." Niall responds, sing-songy.

"You're the worst." Harry groans, getting up out of his seat and throwing his trash away.

"You love me. Don't kid yourself." Niall replies, giddy like a schoolboy.

Someone clears their throat from the other side of the room. Gail is there waiting by the door. "Morning, kiddo."

"Good morning, Gail."

"Ready to go? Busy day ahead of us."

"Yes, I'm ready." Harry turns back to Niall. "I'll see you later, mate. Good luck with Julia today!" Niall flashes him a big smile with a mouth full of cereal.

Gail leads Harry around the facility like she did the day prior. "So have you given any thought to the other dates you'd like to go on today... besides Louis."

Harry's cheeks warm just form the sound of Louis' name. He's got it bad. "Yeah, I think I want to go on dates with Leigh Anne, Lizzo, and Zayn. Please, Gail, whatever you do, don't make me go on another date with Nick. It was horrid."

Gail chuckles. "That bad, kiddo?"

"Yes." Harry's answer is short but tells Gail everything she needs to know.