All the pretty girls can't measure to you

Chapter 8

Harry was in his happy place, curled up with his head on Louis' chest. They hadn't slept at all, just cuddled and talked all night. It was perfection. Harry's eyes kept closing, but he never quite fell asleep because he didn't want to miss a moment of this. He felt like a cat dozing in a sunbeam.

"Baby?" Louis trailed his fingertips across Harry's bare shoulder.

"Hmm?"

Louis tangled his fingers in Harry's curls and tugged lightly. "Wait, am I allowed to call you that? Or are you still mad at me?"

Harry dimpled and snuggled even closer. "I'm so far from mad right now," he chuckled.

"Good." Harry could hear the smile in Louis' voice. "I want to take you somewhere."

Harry tilted his face up to look at him. "Where?"

Louis' brow furrowed. "I'm not sure yet. Someplace where it's only me and you. Away from all the bullshit."

Harry thought for a moment. "There's only a week left in the tour. Then we can go wherever we want for a bit."

Louis' fingers traced curly patterns through Harry's hair. "Where do you want to go?"

Harry filtered through the options in his head. They could go to the beach somewhere, maybe somebody's private beach where they wouldn't be disturbed. Or to LA, LA was always nice. He had friends there they could stay with. Or maybe a ski resort. He and Louis always had great fun skiing together. None of that felt right though. No, there was really only one place he wanted to go.

"Home," Harry said softly. "I want to go home."

Louis tugged his face up and kissed him. "I'd like that," he said.

On stage that night, Harry was on fire. He sang his heart out and danced like crazy. When he did his "whale" move, the crowd screamed so loud he thought he'd go deaf. The water misted down over his face and he closed his eyes, the roar of the crowd vibrating his entire body. He felt like a proper rock star.

The next song started and Harry straightened, pumping his fist and tossing his hair to the beat. He felt Louis staring at him and danced even harder. If he was showing off a little, so what?

Zayn definitely knew what was up though. He kept looking between Louis and Harry and smirking. When Harry went toward the back of the stage to grab another water bottle, Zayn followed. He leaned over to whisper-shout in Harry's ear, "I'm glad you two are getting along again, but good God, Harry."

Harry laughed and shrugged. "What?"

Zayn leaned in again. "Louis' gonna kill someone."

Harry looked over at Louis. Louis was staring at him and Zayn with his jaw clenched and a definitely murderous glint in his eye. Zayn laughed and put his hands up. "I'm out, bro. You're on your own," he chuckled and backed away quickly.

Harry poured some water in his hands and splashed it over his face. Then he did it again, water dripping down and wetting his shirt. And then one more time. Stage lights got hot, so sue him. He skipped back out to the front of the stage, wet shirt sticking to his chest.

The show ended and there was the usual commotion backstage, people rushing here and there, packing things up and shouting back and forth. Harry didn't know where the rest of the lads had disappeared to until a hand grabbed him by the arm and pulled him roughly behind a stack of equipment, and he was staring into dangerously crackling blue eyes.

"Good show, yea?" Harry said breathlessly.

Louis looked Harry up and down. A muscle in his jaw twitched.