They were tied, two-two.
Nick’s team was on the defense. Niall had moved the ball down the field, and was passing to Louis for an angled shot from the right side of the field. Louis dribbled the ball, easily avoiding the defenders. He passed it back to Niall and ran left.
Out of the corner of Louis’ eye, he saw Harry running parallel to him. Harry ran between two players on Nick’s team.
Louis was set up for the goal kick. He signaled to Niall. Niall passed.
Louis drilled the ball toward the near post of the goal. In the split second as he turned his head, he saw Harry run into the ball, and the ball bounce from Harry’s body into someone’s legs.
The whistle blew.
Louis ran up to Harry. “How could you, Harry!”
“I didn't expect it, Louis,” Harry stammered. “I didn't see you run this way. I'm sorry.”
“It's the first thing you learn, after you learn which side your goal’s on. God!”
The rest of the team hung back.
“Harry, you were offside,” Mr. Moran said. “Did you know that?” Their teacher signaled for the penalty kick.
“You never put yourself in an offside position,” Louis said, “especially to interfere with you own goal. Ugh!”
Niall ran up to Louis and said something indistinguishable.
“Yeah, but I wish he didn't do this all the time,” Louis answered, looking Harry’s way. Niall talked some more. He put his hand on Louis’s shoulder, his head close to Louis’s. Louis nodded. “Yeah, all right. You're right.” He shook his head in disappointment.
The penalty kick went in. Three-two. They lost.
//
After three hours of work, Louis was almost done with the 2.75x scale-up. He glanced out of the corner of his eyes. Harry was bent over his drafting table, working on a drawing. He had his book open to one side, and referred to it from time to time, checking back and forth.
Louis was playing music from his phone. Otherwise the room was quietly peaceful.
“Harry,” Louis said.
“Hmm?”
“I think I'm done for the night.”
Harry looked up. “You sure?”
He walked over and checked on Louis’ work, looking unemotionally at the drawing rendered. Louis had chosen Picasso’s Bottle and Wine Glass on the Table, from his Cubist period. Harry thought this drawing, with its angular lines and flat perspective, could be manageable in a short period of time. Once Louis finished the scale-up, the scale-down should feel familiar, shouldn't take as long. He could work on it tomorrow.
“What’s this?” Harry pointed to the corner.
“My signature,” Louis beamed. “You like it?”
YOU ARE READING
Galileo - l.s
Fanfic"Dangerous? Not haute?" Harry mused. "Why not haute?" "'Course you're haute, babe," Louis smiled. He reached out to fix a stray curl that had dropped down onto Harry's forehead. Harry stared at him with a dimpled smile, and Louis reared his head bac...
