Mean to Me ♡ Larry

2.5

Chapter 25: Soccer and Kisses

Past

The whole school had been called for an assembly, which was quite normal for a Friday afternoon, especially when a football game was being played. However, tonight was the grand final of it and their school had made it.

"I'd like to start off by bringing Lewis and Stan up here. The co-captains of the soccer team this year," the principal speaks, a proud smile on her face as she looks at the pupils and teachers of the high school before her.

Harry hears Louis audibly groan at the request, but he gets shut up quickly by one of the teachers scolding him quietly- well so they thought. Harry most definitely had to hold back a chuckle at that.

The two walk up to the stage where the principal stands. They both seem awkward and Louis is very red and flushed and Harry can't help but wonder if he was embarrassed... Or? He doesn't know. But Louis definitely doesn't seem comfortable standing up there in front of everyone.

"I except all of you to be at the game tonight, supporting them. It is compulsory. We take pride in this school and this team and want to show that to the competitors." Harry watches as Stan leans to whisper something into Louis' ear, and when the taller looks away, Harry can see Louis visibly roll his eyes with a frown.

He sometimes just wishes he knew what went through Louis' mind.

-*-

"Need a lift there?" Leslie asks as Harry walks down the stairs, attired in jeans, a tee and a hoodie. He didn't feel like dressing up too fancy, it was a stupid soccer game after all. He had no interest in it, or anyone on the team, for that matter... Well, almost everyone.

"I'm okay, thank you..." Harry whispers and gives Leslie the best fake-smile he could muster up. "But I should get going..." Harry motions to the door and looks over at his mum who gives him a smile and nod. "Bye then," he says half-heartedly, before walking out of the house, a frown etched on his face.

The walk is quite long, but not too bad, to the football field. The area is already surrounded by cheering crowds, and over-excited parents. Harry bites his lip and walks to a spare spot on the bleachers with his head down, curls covering his face.

He looks up to see Louis, who is already looking at him. They're training right now, just before the game starts in around half an hour and Louis would be lying if he said his heart rate didn't pick up when spotting the curly-haired boy. This was the first time Harry had ever come to a game, so if Louis was already extremely nervous about smashing his face to the ground like last time, nobody had to know.

"Oi, girly, we are starting in a minute." Louis looks to where Stan is yelling at him and nods his head with a pursed-lip smile.

"Let's smash it!"

-*-

It took around fifteen minutes for Harry to become extremely bored. He didn't understand the entertainment of watching a bunch a guys kick a ball around, especially when most of them are assholes.

He pulls his phone out from his pocket and checks the message had had received. A large smile blossoms to his face when he sees it is from Arthur.

'Are you busy, H?'

'Kind of, but not really. What's up?'

Harry bounces his leg nervously and looks up at the game, just in time to see Louis faceplant into the ground. His stomach drops and eyes widen, nervously glancing around to see if anyone would help.

Stan walks over and kicks his ribs a bit, telling him to get up, Harry assumes. And Louis does, shakily pushing his frail body up. He looks sick and pale, and his face is full of dirt. But before Harry can continue to worry himself about it (even though, he really shouldn't), another text dings through.

'Wanna go for a drive?'

Harry looks up to see Louis back running around and then goes onto text Arthur a yes and tells him where he is. He stands up just as Louis' team score another goal and he sneaks through the crowd to get out of the bleachers.

Harry doesn't notice Louis' eyes fill with disappointment as he watches him leave.

-*-

"Jump in, Haz," Arthur winks as Harry quickly gets into the car. The younger glances at him nervously, still so confused as to why he looks so similar to Louis. "How are you?" He smiles and watches Harry put his seatbelt on, before he starts the engine.

"Okay," Harry whispers glancing at Arthur's face that is pulled in pure concentration. "How about you?"

"I'm great!" Arthur turns to him with a charming smile that puts his perfect teeth on show. "So, I was thinking, we should go to the lookout. We can see the whole town from up there, would that be cool?"

Harry nods quickly, ignoring the aching feeling of wonder if Louis is really okay after that fall.

-*-

They had sat on the bonnet of the car for about an hour now, looking over the town as the sun set. Quiet whispers and giggles filled the silence as the two conversed over the most random things, from books to
shoes and lots of things in between.

"I probably need to go home soon," Harry frowns and glances at Arthur. He takes in the look on the boy's face, his bright, blue eyes shining in the little light left, his perfectly swept fringe now slowly deflating. He was just so gorgeous.

So, when he leaned forward, Harry didn't stop him. When their lips connected, Harry didn't stop him. And when Arthur was on top of him, tenderly kissing Harry with so much care, Harry didn't stop him.

But, the word that fell from his mouth did.

"Lewis."

Hearing the whimper, Arthur pulled away. He throws Harry a confused look as he tries to catch his breath. Harry flushes and tries to explain why he did that, but he doesn't even know himself. Sure, he had a crush on Louis, but, he was kissing Arthur.

"I'm sorry," Harry blurts. He grabs at Arthurs shirt, worried he would run away. "Please don't leave."

"H, it's okay," Arthur awkwardly moves on the car to press his hand through Harry's curls. He moves to press a kiss to his forehead and then slowly begins to climb off, motioning for Harry to do so as well. Arthur was a little hurt, but he really liked Harry and wasn't going to force the boy to kiss him when it's obvious he has someone else on his mind. "I'm not going to leave... But I do want to hear about this Lewis," Arthur smirks, nudging against Harry a little.

"Well, he is an asshole..."

A/N: Thoughts? Let me know what you think!

How do you think Louis' truth self will be revealed to Harry?

Why do you think Louis wanted to be called Lewis during high school?