Burning Skies » larry

Chapter 5

By the time Louis finished with his last class, he and Harry had already agreed to meet for their project.

Louis was quite proud of how long their thread of text messages had become, and he found that while Harry was still awkward and hesitant even through text, it was obvious that the younger boy was at least trying to respond to his messages. His responses might've been quick and short which others would've thought he was rude, but Louis came to realize that it was just how Harry was. Shy, timid Harry.

They were going to meet at a café a few blocks down from Abbington in about half an hour. Louis had even offered to just wait for Harry's classes to end so they could meet up and drive to the café together since they'd both be coming from campus anyway, but Harry had declined.

Currently, Louis was leaning against the school's brick wall in the parking lot. Zayn was right beside him, scratching his jaw thoughtfully as he looked ahead at the students pouring out of the school. Louis took a drag from his cigarette, letting the smoke warm his chest. Louis was trying to cut down on smoking, but at times when he felt a bit restless and nervous, he couldn't fight the urge to smoke at least one stick.

"You're meeting with your boy today?" Zayn said casually, eyes still stuck on the throng of students who'd just come out of the building.

"I have a study date, yes." Louis said, blowing out smoke. "And please don't call him my boy."

Zayn chuckled. He stole a cigarette from Louis' pack and quickly lit it up before putting it between his lips. "I think I know who your assignment is."

Louis raised an eyebrow, curious. "Do you now?"

Zayn shrugged. "Just a hunch. I feel him too, you know. Probably passed him once or twice in the hallways. Might even share a few classes with him. But you're right, his aura really is...loud."

There was both comfort and risk in knowing that other mutants could sense your presence if they just knew how. Louis didn't even want to think about what might happen to Harry if it was some rogue, ill-intentioned mutant who'd found him first.

Which was why no one could blame him that he kept a close eye on Harry in the few days they'd known each other. He was always attentive and cautious about those around them—about others who might have also caught wind of what Harry truly was.

Just then, Louis' eye caught Harry's figure amongst the crowd, walking close to his friend Niall as they walked to the parking lot. Harry had his head bowed, as usual, hands at his back, looking far too submissive with the power he held. Niall seemed to be talking animatedly about something, his laughter bright, bursting through the air. Harry lifted his head when they reached the car, his lips quirking upward a bit as he looked at Niall before getting in the passenger seat. As soon as they drove off, Louis was pushing himself off the wall and stomping on his cigarette.

"Gotta go." Louis told Zayn, walking off.

"You need to work on your expressions. You look like you want to eat him alive." Zayn said. Louis flipped him off before finding his car and driving to the café, turning up the radio because he really didn't know why he was feeling antsy. Or excited. Whatever.

He arrived at the café and was looking for a parking spot when he received a text from Harry.

Harry: We're already at the café, in a booth near the door

Louis put his phone away and pulled over on an empty spot. He walked to the café while trying to come up with some witty, flirty greeting once he saw Harry. He pushed through the door setting off a gentle bell to sound. The place wasn't that crowded but it wasn't exactly empty, either. Couches and tables littered the wooden floor, the lights overhead casting a bright glow over everything. He turned toward the booths, and sure enough, Harry was already seated there. Except he wasn't alone.