Soulmate Search // larry

Day 10

The three of them stand outside the hotel, their shoulders hunched against the chilly January air. Louis stands across from Harry, gazing at his feet, his bottom lip wobbling and his heart feeling as if it’s being torn apart ever so slowly. He doesn’t want to leave. What is he possibly going to do when he gets home and he can’t cuddle Harry, can’t receive his soft kisses, and can’t even feel his heart beat or watch the rhythmic rising and falling of his chest while he slumbers?

He wants to be Harry’s boyfriend. He wants to make it official in order to set aside worries of Harry hooking up with someone else, but after the last time, he’s too scared to ask. And something about that girl who he claims is his ‘cousin’ has Louis on edge. If she really is his cousin, then Eloise wouldn’t have responded the way she did.

He looks up then, admiring Harry. His brown curls that normally reach just above his shoulders are being tossed about in the wind, his cheeks pink and his hands stuffed deep into his hoodie pockets. Louis stares and stares until his eyesight blurs over.

He takes those two steps forward and hits Harry with such a force that he stumbles back in surprise. Louis’ cheek is pressed against Harry’s firm chest, his arms squeezing him so tight, knowing that he will be ripped away from Harry in only a matter of minutes.

Harry hugs him back just as fiercely, resting his chin on top of Louis’ head and shutting his eyes, trying to capture this moment and hold it forever in his memory. He wants to remember what it feels like to hold Louis before he no longer can.

For once, Eloise is silent, letting the two have their moment. Of course, letting them have their moment doesn’t stop her from taking at least a few pictures.

“Come back soon, okay?” Harry whispers, rubbing Louis’ back. “Before I have to go back home.”

“I’ll try my best to come back next weekend. It all depends on what my mom says,” Louis says.

And then it’s silent again until a minivan pulls up and honks rather loudly, startling the three. It’s Louis’ father, come to pick him up. Harry can feel Louis pout against him and they each step back, just looking at each other, Harry’s hand on Louis’ cheeks.

“Goodbye kiss?” Louis murmurs, a single tear leaving a trail down his face.

It’s a light kiss, their lips only gently touching for a moment. A fragile kiss, as fragile as they seem right now, both hoping that it will be enough to hold them until they see one another again.

And then Louis is in his car with a heavy heart and tear stained face, and Harry is on the sidewalk, watching as this beautiful boy who was his for a full two days drives away. Harry yearns for him already, misses Louis’ presence beside him and the feeling of him in arms. He longs for the butterfly kisses and giggles and teasing and the little touches. He wants to watch as Louis shyly pushes his glasses up his nose and feel their feet tangled up together while they cuddle on the couch.

He just wants Louis to come back. It’s only been about two minutes and he’s beginning to wonder how he’ll survive the rest of the week without him. What if Louis can’t come back next weekend? What will Harry do then?