Perhaps, Maybe, I Dunno (boyxboy)

Chapter 11

Sorry for the delay, I've been really busy this past week. I'm making Wednesdays my update day, just so you know. I hope everyone had a great holiday and a Happy New Year! Cheers to 2015! Thank you so much for voting and commenting on my story, it means the world to me. Read away!

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"I've got your drink, Horan," Zayn says, grinning at Niall. Harry wants Zayn to stay like that, so he can stare at his grin for as long as he wants to. Is that weird? Harry doesn't really care anymore. Harry stays stock still, trying to enjoy the fleeting moments before Zayn notices him. The moments are abruptly stopped when Liam claps a hand over Harry's back and looks to Zayn.

"This is my friend, Harry Styles," he says, "Harry, this is Zayn." Now, Harry looks everywhere except for Zayn's face. Whatever reaction Zayn is having to seeing Harry, Harry doesn't want to know what it is. He's about to tell Liam that he and Zayn already know each other, but then Zayn holds out a hand.

"Nice to meet you, Harry," Zayn says. His smile is wide and inviting, but his eyes heed a warning that Harry understands right away. Don't say anything, Zayn says, without saying anything at all. Harry gulps and holds out his own hand.

"Yeah, pleasure to meet you, too, Zayn." He's trying desperately to keep his voice from faltering. Zayn lets go of his hand, and Harry feels sick. He feels like he's making a mistake, being at this party. Harry wants nothing more than to be in his grandmother's kitchen, away from Zayn's dark eyes. He tries to look at Zayn again, but he's already turned his back on Harry, talking enthusiastically to Niall. Harry should be angry, but he's not--not really. He can't stop looking at Zayn. Just watching him talk has got Harry's heart beating faster and faster and...

"I think this scene where I get you a drink," Liam says, smirking at Harry. Harry turns to face Liam, and he knows that Liam saw the way he was looking at Zayn. Harry can do nothing but nod and follow Liam through the crowd.

Liam stops at what Harry assumes is a bar table. There are people scattered about, some drunk already, the rest halfway there. The bar chairs are high up, so Liam hops up onto one by boosting himself with his arms, like a little kid climbing a high chair. He waves to Harry to do the same, but Harry just shakes his head and steps up to the chair. He's smiling a little bit, though. He looks down from his spot and realizes that he can see the whole room from his chair. When he's fully situated next to Liam, Liam is already chattering away.

"Harry, you're a killjoy, you know that?" he says, smiling widely. Harry wonders if maybe he should kill off a bit more of Liam's joy, just to get him to calm down. "But I'll buy you a drink anyway," Liam continues, signaling to the bartender. The bartender is young--around his mid-twenties--and has a swoop of brown hair across his forehead. He looks mischievous and cheeky, as if he has a secret that everyone is dying to know. He kind of makes Harry nervous. Liam, however, is unfazed by the look on the lad's face and welcomes him excitedly.

"What's your name, mate?" Liam asks him.

"Louis," the bartender says, but Liam shakes his head.

"No, your full name." Louis rolls his eyes at Harry in a way that says, "Can you believe this guy?" Harry just shakes his head and laughs to himself, pointing at Liam and winding his forefinger around his ear as if to say, "This one is a nutcase." Harry can see Louis trying not to laugh as he turns back to Liam to give him his answer.

"Louis William Tomlinson, sir," he says, standing up straight and saluting Liam. Liam looks at him reproachfully. Then he looks around the table and signals for Louis to lean in closer.

"My friend Harry over there," he pauses to look dramatically over at Harry, "doesn't know how to have any fun. In fact, if you were to put him in a room filled with the most fun things in the world..."

"Like what?" Louis interrupts. Liam just glares at him.

"If you were to put him in a room filled with the most fun things in the world," Liam continues, "he would still have no fun. I need you to give him a drink that will make him less boring." Louis laughs loudly and nods at Liam before disappearing into the back of the bar. Harry is left sitting in his chair, trying to fight the blush that threatens to creep up on him. Liam, on the other hand, looks proud of himself.

"So, what's up with you and Zaynie boy?" Liam says, raising his eyebrows suggestively. Harry sighs.

"Nothing. I just thought I knew him from somewhere. Besides," Harry says this part with a little more force, "I'm not gay." Liam raises his hands up in surrender.

"Hey, don't get worked up about it" he says, "I was just asking." Louis reappears at this moment, setting a round of shots between the both of them.

"I know you don't need it, Liam," Louis says, "but it might get Harry to loosen up a bit." The liquid is a dark, threatening red, and it reminds Harry of blood. He wants to say no to it, but both Louis and Liam are looking at him expectantly, so he grabs a glass and knocks it back. The drink tastes good, despite it's weird appearance, and Harry finds himself drinking more and more. All of a sudden, the bar is spinning, and everything looks fused together. Harry is so disoriented that he doesn't see Louis lean closer to him.

"My shift is over in ten minutes," Louis says, his breath warm on Harry's ear, "When I'm done, do you want to dance?" Harry nods without hesitation, and Louis winks at him before going back to the other side of the bar. Harry's a little out of it, but not enough to miss Zayn glaring at him from the other side of the room.