Roses

Chapter Four

Louis POV

***

"So, you play any football?" Liam asked.

It was the next week, and we had all grown quite close. They all knew exactly what to say and when to say it. They were all amazing, and very weird. Every once and a while they would start acting weird, but they'd quickly snap out of it. We were currently all at Niall's house, where we spent most of our time together.

"Yeah, I played quite a bit when I was younger. I enjoy it, yeah." I responded, looking at Liam.

"Wanna join our team?" Niall offered, out of no where.

"I don't know, I have to meet the deadlines for the book."

"It won't take up much of your time, just practices a few times a week and it's not very competitive or anything, it's just for fun. It's a charity league too." Harry said, batting his eyes, causing me to roll my own and laugh at the boy's cuteness.

"I mean, it couldn't hurt. I'm pretty much a couch potato now a days any way." I agreed, making the three lads smile brightly.

"This is gonna be so much fun! It's just us four and a few other lads from around town. Ed, he works at the grocery store, and Shawn works at the pizza place. I love Shawn. He always smells like pizza." Niall said, causing the rest of us to start laughing.

"He has a bit of a crush on Shawn, so to say." Liam chuckled, which resulted in Niall attempting to tackle the taller man into the pool.

"Well, since they're gone, let's get to know each other on a deeper level, if you know what I mean." Harry said, winking, causing me to blush. "So, what's your favorite color?"

"Really, that's your type of deep question?" I joked, rolling my eyes.

"I'm serious. It's a very important question. A favorite color can reveal a lot about a person and their motives."

"If it's really that important to you, then red."

"Any specific shade?"

"Um, dark I suppose." I shrugged. "What's yours?"

"I really like ocean blue. There's something so peaceful yet bold about the shade." Harry said, his eyes fixed on mine.

"Yeah it's a cool color. What's the next question?"

"What's your preferred pet, and ideal name for said pet? Besides Dusty. Dusty doesn't count in this."

I laughed, before answering "Probably a dog, a big dog. But not now, I want to have settled down before I get a dog. And I'd probably name it Clifford."

"First off, don't tell Liam. Secondly, what a horrible taste in names. Why not something like Molly, or Hamster?"

"You'd name a dog Hamster?" I laughed.

"No, I had a hamster named Hamster when I was younger." He explained, though it maid me even more confused.

"That's absolutely insane, are you mad?" I exclaimed.

"No, I'm perfectly sane for your information."

"Whatever, Harold." I said, rolling my eyes. "I should get to ask a question too."

"Go ahead." He nodded.

"I always wanted to be a teacher." Harry said quietly, and I could tell he was sent into one of his weird moods.

I debated remaining silent, which would probably be the best option, but I instead kept talking. "Why aren't you?"

"It just didn't work out that way. Life had different plans I suppose." He said solemnly, but then, like always, quickly snapped out of whatever had him in a trance. Next thing I knew, he was laughing and pointing over to the pool, where Liam and Niall were trying to drown each other.

"We should probably go break them up before one of them dies." I chuckled, looking towards Harry.

He shook his head, seemingly entertained. "Nah, they're alright. This is normal."

***

The next day, after going to get some proper equipment with Harry the day before, I somehow found myself on my way to football practice. It was strange, considering I moved here to escape from humanity- in a sense- and yet here I was with my three best mates joining a football team. I should be at home working on the book, I had deadlines coming up in the next few months. Won't be young forever, I thought, shaking off the worries.

I pulled up at the small park where practice was held, and parked my car in the lot, rolling down the windows, as it was strangely sunny today. While I was tying my shoes, I heard a familiar voice talk to me.

"Hey Tomlinson." Harry smirked.

"Styles." I chuckled, leaning back to grab my bag as Harry opened the door for me. "Thanks" I said.

"Of course." He smiled, closing the door swiftly. "Those shorts look great on you, by the way." Harry said with a wink, causing me to blush.

"I'd say the same, but yours just make you look even more like a giraffe." I sassed, causing Harry to chuckle.

"Always so feisty." He commented, swinging his arm around my shoulder, causing me to blush yet again, as we walked towards the others, who were currently running laps. "Shawn! Ed! Come meet Louis!" Harry yelled towards a redhead and brunette.

"Nice to meet you Louis, I'm Shawn." The brunette said happily, a lot like Niall, but more calm- and Canadian. 

"And I'm Ed." The redhead added.

"Nice to meet you guys too." I said with a small smile. Why am I so socially awkward? I asked myself.

"Harry sure talks about you a lot, more than Niall ever has." Shawn smirked and I blushed, looking up towards Harry.

"Is this true Harold?" I teased.

"Don't trust a single word any of these boys say." Harry defended.

"Oh trust me, it's true." Ed laughed. "Oh, and Styles, keep your thoughts to yourself for once please." He said to Harry, slightly confusing me.

"It's a bit of an inside joke," Harry explained, as if reading my thoughts.

"OI! Get your sorry arses over here, we have a game this weekend!" Niall yelled to the four of us.

***

We were currently running laps, how was everyone but me and Shawn so fast?  Liam was by far the fastest, but Harry wasn't far behind him. It seemed so easy for all of them.

"How are they so fast?" I asked Shawn, who was running with me.

"I honestly have no clue, they've always been this fast since I met them. They say they did a lot of running in high school, but this is just insane." I said, shaking his head with a chuckle.

"You're like, Canadian, right?" He nodded. "Why'd you move here?"

"Just wanted something new, you know? I love it here anyway." He explained. "Why'd you move here?"

"I was trying to isolate myself from human contact to work on my book- but look at how that turned out." I laughed as Liam called us back to the bench, saying that was enough running. 

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