The X Factor

Chapter 7-Week 4

Okay, so he was in love with his best friend. Nothing to do about that. He couldn't help how he felt but he couldn't tell him, especially not after today.

Louis' girlfriend Hannah had come to visit him. Harry knew that Louis had a girlfriend, of course he did! It was just something they never talked about. Louis never brought up his girlfriend in conversations so Harry had kind of pretended that she didn't exist.

Today made it crystal clear that Louis in fact was with someone else. Harry had watched them from afar for the whole day. They were currently making out in the living room in front of everyone. He could pretend like it didn't hurt but the truth was that he just felt like crying.
"Hi mate, what's up?" Niall asked and came to sit next to him.

"Nothing." Harry muttered and hung his head.

"Nothing huh? Come on, Let's go outside and play some football." Niall suggested.

"No thanks." Harry mumbled.

"So you just gonna sit here and stare at Louis and Hannah?" Niall questioned.

Harry blushed.
"I'm not staring at them."

"Ehm, yeah, you are. Give them some privacy. They haven't seen each other in a long time."

"If they wanted some fucking privacy they wouldn't make out in front of everyone to see." Harry muttered grumpily.

"Jealous much? He's still your best friend. Come on, Let's get out of here."

Harry sighed but followed Niall outside. He was right. He couldn't spend the whole day staring at Louis making out. That was just creepy.

He stayed away from Louis and Hannah for the rest of the day and hung out with the rest of the boys instead. It wasn't like Louis missed him anyway. He was too busy shoving his tongue down Hannah's throat.

They had rehearsal after dinner and Louis came strolling into the studio alone. He and Hannah had gone out to eat.
"Where's your girlfriend?" Harry snarled.

Louis looked surprised at Harry's snarky tone.
"She went home again. I followed her to the train station."

"Good." Harry huffed in annoyance.

Louis furrowed his eyebrows.
"Do you have a problem with me girlfriend?"

"No. Were her tonsils intact? You really seemed to examine them closely."

"What the hell mate?" Louis looked angry and hurt.

"I'm sorry, Lou. I shouldn't have said that." Harry apologized.

Louis just snorted and went to stand on the opposite side of the room, as far from Harry as he could. Their bandmates looked confused. They never argued.

Louis slept in his own bed that night and Harry didn't sleep much at all. He even shed a tear or five, muffling the sound with his mouth pressed to his pillow. He knew he had been totally unfair, letting his jealousy get the best of him.

When he woke up the next morning he and Louis were alone in the room. The boys must have snuck out early to give them some privacy. Louis was getting dressed quietly. Harry sat up in bed.
"I'm sorry, Lou."

Louis froze in his place before he let out a deep sigh and slowly turned around to face him but he stared behind him instead of looking directly at him.
"Okay."

"I mean it. I was a poophead."

Louis couldn't help but chuckle and he finally met Harry's eyes.
"You totally were."

"Yeah, and I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?"

Louis' features soften.
"I can't stay mad at you Hazza but I don't get it. Just because I spent a day with me girlfriend that I haven't seen in weeks doesn't mean that you're not still me best mate."

Ouch! Yeah, he didn't get it.
"I know and I like Hannah. She's sweet."

Louis came over and sat down on the bed.
"Yeah?"

"Of course."

Louis hugged him and Harry leaned his head on his shoulder. He at least had this, Louis friendship. This stupid crush would go away eventually.

When they went to their rehearsal things were back to normal between them. Harry almost had a heart attack when it looked like Louis was about to kiss him during their video diary that week. He could swear that Louis blushed after they gave each other a really slow high five. It was more like they pressed their palms together. It was hard to see. Louis had a scarf tied over his eyes and he turned his head away.

Louis was being even more affectionate towards him this week, running his fingers through his hair, hugging him, and kissing him on the cheek. Why? He still had a girlfriend but he was always so gentle with him. His voice went soft whenever he spoke to him and he looked at him in a special way and it just made Harry confused.

They went to a Halloween party and it was so much fun. The theme for the week was Halloween and they were performing Total eclipse of the heart. Harry could relate to the lyrics and it felt like he was singing it directly to Louis. Was this his life now? Secretly trying to express the way he felt through song lyrics? He couldn't wait for this stupid crush to go away.

They were all hanging out in the living room again, watching a movie. Louis sat next to him as always. He was so close that he basically was sitting in his lap, running his fingers through his hair. Harry needed some space and at the same time, he didn't want to move an inch.

He had an internal debate with himself. Stay or leave? Stay or leave? His need to be close to Louis won and he nuzzled closer. This would break his heart eventually but he couldn't stay away.
"Are you okay?" Louis whispered to him and he nodded his head. He was okay for now.

He was still nervous as hell on stage but it was getting easier. They did another great performance and got the votes they needed to get through another week. Maybe they could win this?