Adore You [Larry AU]

Eight.

Louis had done his hair different today, his fringe was swirled round at the front while the sides seemed shorter than they were. Lots of people were commenting on it, and for a second I felt jealous of him. I knew it was wrong, he was becoming my closest friend, and every time I saw him, even from a distance, my heart would skip a beat then dance erratically in my chest. I just wondered what it was like for people to pay you that much positive attention. To be someone so admired, something as simple as changing your hair was big news in the corridors.

Then I realised, someone that sought after chose me to be friends with. And my heart started to dance again.

We were in English so I reached for my journal and started scribbling. I felt my desk shift so I slowly brought my hand up to cover the words I had written, before looking up at Louis.

"You know what you said last week, about helping me out with studying and stuff?" His voice was low so only I could hear it. I nodded. "Are you free tonight?" My mouth went dry. I hadn't had time to prepare myself, mentally, for being alone with him. I wasn't sure if it would be awkward, or just like it was when we were in a group.

"Erm yeah, I think so." He grinned at me then, his eyes getting the little creases at the edges I so enjoyed seeing. It made my own lips curve into a small smile.

"Great, meet me at my car at final bell, we can go to mine. I should have a free house."

I didn't know a lot about Louis' home life yet, other than he had a bunch of sisters and it was just his mum. I hadn't learned any of their names yet, or if his siblings were older or younger than him. I also didn't know what kind of house I would be walking into, or if maybe it was too soon for Louis to know what kind of flat I lived in. Judging from the car he drove, it could be fancy and expensive. It made me pull my jumper tighter over my fists with nerves.

*

The final bell rang and I took my time making my way out to the car park. Part of me was hoping Louis would have forgotten, or made other plans. But another part of me was giddy with excitement at the prospect of spending time with the boy whose blue eyes sparkled.

He was already at his car, leaning against the red door with his head thrown back, squinting towards the sky. He didn't see me coming so I jogged up and poked him in the side. He yelped and gently swatted at me as I chuckled, realising I hadn't actually done something like that before. Especially with him.

"Oi! Thin ice styles, I'm tempted to leave you here now... but hop in." He climbed in the car and I copied him, breathing in a hint of cherries from his air freshener. His radio was on full blast and Oasis sounded out around the car.

"You like indie music then?" I looked over to him and he kept his eyes on the road as he smiled. "Love it, just chilled out tunes with strong lyrics. I love most kinds of music to be honest. That's why I'm doing it at A level but now I hate it."

"Is that the one you're always late to or bunk?" He chuckled and rested his elbow out the window, steering with just a touch of his fingers. "Yeah, Ms Watson hates me. I've just lost all motivation with it to be honest. Josh said he'd help me with my final piece 'cause he's a drummer but honestly I don't care if I fail. I just need English and I'm in at Lancaster since they want me on their Football team but I want to actually do an English degree."

"I didn't know you were thinking of going to uni...before now I mean." I glanced at him and he caught my eye as he briefly looked at me too. "Partying and fit uni girls, of course I want to go." We laughed in unison before going quiet. I hummed along to the tune of his song and I could tell he was grinning at the fact I knew it.

"So what about you, what do you want to do at Uni?"

"Oh I'm not sure. I haven't applied." 

He gasped. "Why not?" I shrugged and struggled to come up with a response. "Dunno, just haven't thought that far ahead I guess. Moving and stuff, I never really got the chance to apply."

He chewed his bottom lip in thought for a moment before asking, "Okay, dream world where you can get in to any uni tomorrow, what would you study, and where would you go?"

"Hmmm... English literature or Creative Writing. I like books and the hidden meanings behind words. I would like to create my own world like that one day. I'm not sure where I'd go. I've never really looked into it, but I have always wanted to live in London."

"You are always writing away in that little black book of yours." My heart stuttered that he noticed things like that about me. I turned to him and smiled, "Yeah so dream world I'd study English too." He took his eyes off the road for just a second and they connected with mine. He smiled at me before turning back to driving. "It's a good job we bumped into each other on your first day then Haz." 

*

We pulled up to Louis' house and it was a standard normal house. Nothing as big or expensive as Zayn's. It had an empty driveway that Louis parked on and a little stone pathway that led up to the cute white door. It was surrounded by hanging baskets with pink flowers. It was obvious this was a girl's house and Louis' presence didn't change that fact. 

He opened the door onto a wooden floored hallway with white wicker baskets full of shoes. Louis pulled his shoes off so I did the same, feeling a little embarrassed with my purple fluffy socks. He led me into a kitchen with white cupboards and wooden counters and a wooden rustic table in the middle. Around it was multi coloured pastel chairs, pinks, greens, blues and yellows. He chucked his bag onto the table and pulled a blue chair out signalling for me to join him. I sat opposite him on a pink chair and pulled my notebooks out. 

We didn't talk much. Louis was concentrating on re-writing his failed essay and I was concentrating on the new one. Every so often he grabbed my attention by asking a question about what to put next or asking if certain words were spelled with 'one s or two'. It carried on like that for a good hour, before the click of the front door lock signaled we weren't alone. 

A blonde haired girl, younger than Louis, walked into the kitchen in school uniform. She stared at me as she greeted us. "Hey Lou, who's your friend." He barely looked up from his scribbling pen, "Hey, this is Harry. Haz this is Lottie." She nodded her head at me and flicked the switch of the kettle on. "Anyone want a cuppa." 

"Yes please and shush." Louis was stern and Lottie rolled her eyes at him. I didn't say anything as she prepared two teas. She set one down in front of Louis and then rested with her elbow on his shoulder. "I've not seen you before." She was looking at me, her blue eyes were big and it felt like she was seeing right through me. "Er no, I'm new...ish."

"Harry just started at St. Peter's Lotts. He's from Cheshire. And we're trying to work so...could you disappear?" She finally lifted her eyes away from me and looked down at her brother. "I could, but Mum's nearly home and she's got the twins so I don't think you'll get any peace." At that Louis let out an exasperated sigh and flung his book closed. He tossed everything back into his bag. "Fine, Haz I'm sorry but I don't think we're going to get anymore done. Wanna play Fifa instead?" I shut my work too and nodded. 

There was another click of the front door and within seconds two small girls, possibly around 8 years old appeared, with an older woman who looked so much like Louis. She smiled warmly at me. "Hi."

"Hi." I repeated back at her. 

"Mum this is Harry, we were studying but now we won't be." 

She chuckled at his annoyed tone and moved to the kettle to prepare herself a cup of tea. "Oh well, what a hardship for you that you will now have to play x box all night." Louis shot her a glance while Lottie laughed. 

"Harry, would you like to stay for dinner?" the brunette lady was ignoring Louis and I nodded. "That would be lovely if it's no trouble."