(Harry’s POV)
Another week later and it’s time to go home. We’ve missed it so much. Don’t get me wrong. I adore being on tour. I love experiencing new things with my Louis, and singing to sold out arenas and doing crazy interviews. I love late nights on tour buses and even later nights in hotel rooms. But I miss our flat, and the way we can relax there. And I miss my family and Louis misses his. And most of all? I miss sleeping in my own goddamn bed.
And that’s what Lou and I do first. We fall onto my mattress together, not saying anything, and pass out right there and then. We slept all through that day and the night. When we woke up in the morning it was all smiles, heart shaped toast, kisses and cuddling. Perfect, perfect morning.
Right now I’m snuggled up with him on the couch, watching crap telly. His head is at home in the crook of my neck and his fingers are drawing circles on my arm, occasionally reaching up to my star tattoo and tracing it lightly.
“The last time we were here, we were just friends.” I comment, the realization hitting me hard. Wow, we’d come a long way.
“God, don’t say that. I never want to go back to just friends.” Louis moans into my skin.
“Me neither.” I mutter into his hair.
We fall into another silence, my hands running through his perfectly soft hair, closing my eyes at the way he touches my arm. I listen to whatever commercials are playing as my head lolls back onto the arm of the couch, still impossibly tired. Well, more like relaxed.
“I want to tell our families.” Louis says of nowhere, and my head snaps up.
I lock eyes with him and he bites his lip.
“Are you sure?” I ask, knowing he’s been worrying over it lately.
“Yeah. I mean, that’s not to say I’m not worried. But I want to. I was thinking maybe asking management to set up something? We could have your girls and my girls go out to dinner with us? They deserve a treat after us only calling them once a week.” Louis explains, starting to ramble by the end.
“You text your mother every day.” I point out, and he smiles with a blush.
“I know. But still. Does that sound okay to you?” He questions, obviously nervous.
“That sounds perfect, LouLou.” I say, nuzzling our noses together in an eskimo kiss.
***************************************
(Louis’ POV)
I’m nervous. Really fucking nervous. We invited our moms and sisters to dinner at a fancy restaurant, treating them to a ‘girl’s night out, on us’. We’re in the car on the ride over, and I’m bouncing anxiously next to Hazza, who keeps sending me worried glances.
"Are you sure you want to do this? You seem freaked out." He mumbles, pulling me in for a kiss.
"So do you." I comment frankly when we pull away.
"Yeah…I just, I dunno. I want to. I do. I just…you had this whole revelation of ‘oh, I’m gay’ and I didn’t. I don’t even know what I am. All I know is that I’m in love with you and I’m about to tell my mum and sister and that’s freaky." Harry unloads, and I know it took a lot for him to admit it.
"Love, they’ll be fine with it. And you don’t need to have a huge life changing realization. So you fell in love with a boy. It happens. It doesn’t change anything about you. Gemma will have a right fit, she’ll be so happy." I laugh and he pulls me closer in the back of the limo, grinning.
"That’s true. But I thought I was supposed to be comforting you, Nervous Nelly." Harry teases, but there’s genuine caring behind it.
"I’m terrified, to be honest. What if my sisters think it’s weird, Hazza? What if they don’t like me the same anymore, or…just, what if?" I mumble, curling into his chest.
Harry wraps his arms around me, kissing my perfectly styled hair.
"I’m in love with you Louis Tomlinson, but you sir, are being an idiot. Those girls love you so much. They worship you. This won’t change anything. I mean really, what’s the difference between best friends and boyfriends? To them, I mean. It won’t change a thing, Boo." He assures me, and I force myself to believe it.
"Right…no difference…okay." I tell myself.
"I love you." Harry smiles as we pull up to the restaurant.
"I love you too." I say honestly, entangling my fingers with his.
"Let’s do this, hun." Harry says and I nod.
We hop out of the car and hurry into the lovely place, thanking our bodyguards who stay at the door.
I see our families near the back and I get lost in my excitement, breaking away from Harry to run towards them. “Louis!” The girls cry out and I beam, falling to my knees and scooping up the twins in my arms with a grin. I grab Fizz and Lottie as well and they laugh and hug me back. God, I’ve missed this. Georgia’s here too and I stand up to hug her as well. And then I turn to mum and envelope her in a tight embrace, inhaling her flowery perfume that smells like home.
"I’ve missed you so much baby!" She coos and I chuckle.
"I missed you too." I grin.
I pull away and see Harry laughing and trying to pick up Gemma who looks less than amused, and his eyes are bright when they make contact with mine. Not that Haz isn’t always happy, but this is just beautiful. He hugs his mum then, murmuring something in her ear that I don’t quite catch and I smile at him fondly.
"…and Daisy got a lead in the school play and then the mean girl in our class named Jasmine cried and I felt bad for laughing but she totally deserved it Louis, she pushed me yesterday!" Phoebe’s saying and I snap back to reality, giggling.
"I’m sure she deserved it, and so did you Daisy! Congrats!" I say, but I’m sharing a look with Haz, that clearly saysCome say ‘hi’ you idiot.
"Hey Ms Cox, hey Gemma." I greet but Harry’s mum pulls me into a tight hug.
"Call me Anne, dear, I tell you every time." She says sweetly and I turn to Gemma who fist bumps me.
And then the girls race over to Harry, hugging him with shouts of “Harry, we missed you!” “And your curly hair!” “And your low pants!” as they try to pull them down. I laugh hysterically as he tries to keep them up and hug them at the same time, attempting to greet my mum with a “Hello Jay!” as well. That’s my idiot.
Eventually we sit down and order some food in the otherwise empty place, Harry sitting beside me giddily. Our conversations all jumble together, ranging from school activities, to describing America, to grades and even the fact that Phoebe now has a boyfriend, to which I shake my head and laugh because that is so her.
And then the food comes and we dig in eagerly, Haz and I occasionally feeding each other bites which I suppose isn’t really out of the norm, but lovey dovey nonetheless.
Conversation goes to bigger things like the success of One Direction, Gemma’s new relationship, my mum’s new love of soap operas and the fact that Lottie is desperate for a puppy.
I look to Hazza after awhile, nudging him. My look says it all. It’s time. He takes a scared breath and nods, sending me a small smile. Fear stirs coldly in my stomach.
"Erm, guys? Guys!" Harry says, getting everyone’s attention. "Louis and I have an…announcement."
"So you didn’t just take us out for a girls’ night? We’re not that special?" Anne teases and Harry snorts, wrapping an arm around me and muttering something rude.
"Well?" My mum asks and I pause.
I’m silent for a moment, knowing Harry has given me the chance to say it myself, a big step for me. And I’m secretly freaking out and forgetting how to breathe.
But Harry’s hand finds mine under the table and I relax instantly.
"Oh god, you’re not moving out are you?" Fizz asks and I laugh, shaking my head.
"Never. Especially not now." I answer, giving my boyfriend a loving look.
I can see mum and Anne exchange a glance, almost as if daring the other to guess what they both think. And they’re right, they are, but I need to say it.
"Um…Harry and I are…" I take a deep, shaky breath. "Dating."
"YES!" Gemma shouts loudly, making me jump as I flush a deep red.
"Really!?" Lottie cries and I nod, burying my face in Harry’s shoulder in embarrassment of the fuss they’re making.
"No way!" Georgia exclaims and Harry laughs, red himself, saying "Yes way."
"Boyfriends?" Daisy asks in awe and I look at her and nod happily.
"Awesome!" Fizz says, and Phoebe bounces animatedly with her.
I finally look up to see my mum smiling at me, literal tears in her eyes. Anne is just as happy, clapping lightly.
"Ehm, you guys are okay with that right? Like…mum? Anne?" I ask timidly.
"Of course we’re bloody okay with it, are you crazy?" My mum says and I laugh, wiping away tears I didn’t know I’d shed.
"It’s a matter of time, boys! Jay and I have been waiting for this a long while." Anne says approvingly.
"So have we!" Gemma says, gesturing to the girls. "I have a bet with my best friend!"
"You…god, you’re just as bad as Niall and Zayn!" Harry says, hiding behind my hair. I giggle and shake my head.
"So how long, boys?" My mum asks and I’m overwhelmed with the normality of it.
"A month now, I think." I answer, Harry nodding in agreement.
I allow myself to lean back against him, head falling to its usual place.
"A month? God, could have told us sooner!" Anne laughs and I flush again.
"You’re seriously okay with this?" I ask, insecurities peeking through. "All of you?"
"Why wouldn’t we be? You’re destined to be together." Georgia comments and I smile at her.
"Are you in love?" Phoebe questions, very seriously.
"Yes." Harry says very quickly, and I flush scarlet all over again. He’s fucking declaring his love for me. Ugh, he’s perfect.
"Are you going to get married?" Daisy questions and my heart jumps.
Married? Harry? It had never crossed my mind. But I can see it. I can see our whole life in that moment. I can see us engaged and getting married, going on vacations, having kids and growing old. Waking up next to Harry every day of my life. I can see it.
"Bit early for that, babes." I say. "But…eventually. Sure."
Harry moves out from under me to stare at me, eyes wide. I’ve never seen them so full of shocked emotion.
"You…you’d marry me?" He asks, voice stripped from any front he usually puts up. He’s surprised. Why?
"Of course." I answer, trying to make sure he can feel my honesty.
It’s like we’re magnets and while it’s initiated by him, I don’t hold back as our lips collide in a soft, fierce kiss. I hear the girls both ‘aww’ and ‘eww’ and I hear my mum go all ‘my baby and his boyfriend’ in happiness.
We pull away and rest our foreheads together, fingers intertwining as we look in each other’s eyes, blue meeting green, sky meeting ocean. Like always.
"I love you so much." Harry breathes, it coming out as a half-laugh-half-sob.
"I love you more." I whisper, nuzzling our noses together.
"Don’t get me started on how impossible that is, Boo." He teases and I giggle, fucking giggle, pecking him on the lips.
"Shut up, Hazza." I grin and we turn back to our families.
"You’re sickeningly sweet. Like, seriously. My boyfriend isn’t that sweet." Gemma complains and I try and fail to hold back a snicker, along with Harry.
"Who else knows?" Anne asks us.
"The boys and Paul. Please keep this a secret, if management finds out, we’ll be so screwed." Harry explains and I nod along with him.
"No worries, our lips are sealed, right girls?" Daisy says happily, and the others nod, including our mums.
I let myself breathe a huge sigh of relief, sinking into Harry’s chest. He notices and his fingers fiddle with my hip under the edge of my jumper. I reach up and play with his curls gratefully.
So they know. And the world didn’t explode. Huh.
****************************
(Harry’s POV)
Just as we’re leaving, stomachs full of food and the air full of happy chatter, Jay pulls me aside, Louis being distracted by Fizz. It’s lightly raining out as we wait for our car but nobody cares, we’re just happy.
"You know I love you like one of my own, right?" She says and I smile, nodding.
"I really do, Harry. But that said, even though I know pigs will fly before it happens, if you hurt my boy I will murder you myself." Jay says, but the tone isn’t serious at all.
"I could never hurt him. I’m in love with him, Jay. He’s saved me just as much as I’ve saved him. It’s like…I can’t breathe without him. He’ll go out and buy milk and he’ll only be gone an hour but I feel like I’m going to die without him there. My whole life revolves around making him happy. I could never, ever hurt him. Ever." I explain, voice cracking with honesty.
Jay tilts her head as she gushes softly. “You two really are perfect for each other.” She says.
It’s true. All the fans say it and the boys will tease us but it’s true. There’s no one else I’ll ever want to be with. I want to be with Louis forever, and never let go of him.
"He’s the one." I say, mostly to myself, because good god he is.
"I know. He feels the same about you, Harry. Now go sweep him off his feet." She jokes, ruffling my hair motherly and I nod, grinning.
I catch Lou by surprise, him being in the middle of telling a story. I just grab his hand, spin him around and kiss him sweetly. He’s surprised at first, but his arms wrap around my damp shoulders, hands connecting behind my neck to pull at my curls. My own find his waist and pull him flush to me, the rain pitter-pattering around us like a movie.
"What was that for?" He pants when I pull away.
"X Factor, first week. We talked about bucket lists at 2 in the morning and you said you wanted a kiss in the rain. Well, there you go." I say and ignore the giant ‘awww!’ that comes from Gemma.
"You…remember that?" He asks, surprised. His blue eyes are open and warm.
"I remember everything you say." I grin. And it’s true.
"You are the best, idiotically, crazily, stupidly romantic weirdo I have ever met." He states, eyes twinkling.
"You love it." I sing-song, chuckling as rain hits his nose.
"That I do."
*******************************
(Louis’ POV)
That night, I’m lying panting beside Harry who has collapsed beside me after riding out his high. I lie with him in my arms, a rare occurrence as often it’s the other way around, and rub his bare skin as my heartbeat begins to normalize.
We’re silent for a while, and then Harry shifts like he always does to pull out and lay beside me, making his chest available for cuddles. I take that opportunity and curl up with him legs tangling in the bed sheets.
“Louis?” He asks, and I’m caught off guard. Not once has he used my full name after sex. Never.
“Yeah?” I say timidly.
“What…what do you think would have happened if we never met? What If you’d chickened out and never went to audition? Or what if I got a no right away and we never talked? I…I’m getting scared thinking about it. Where would we be in our lives right now? It doesn’t even feel like I’d be alive.” Harry mutters.
The words make my heart stutter, and not in a good way. Dread and sadness washes over me. Where would I be without him? What would my life be like without the constant light, energy and happiness that makes up Harry Styles? My life would fucking suck. It would be dark, and gloomy and utterly terrible.
“I…I don’t want to think about it. We’re not gonna think about it. I can’t, I’ll break.” I admit, voice cracking. “We’re together. We’re here, I love you and you love me. So none of that bullshit.”
I say it firmly, kissing his collarbone. He sighs under me.
“Yeah. You’re right. We’re lucky as hell. Do you remember when we met in the bathroom? After my audition and before yours?” He asks, and I smile.
“Course I do. First time I saw your face. First time I saw your dimples. And your curls, and your stupidly pretty eyes.” I trail off.
“First time I saw you blush. And the first time I saw your infectious smile. And your stupidly pretty eyes.” Harry chuckles, running his fingers through my messy hair.
I sigh, letting myself revel in the memory as I drift off to sleep.
X
I wash my hands again, running water over my heated cheeks. God, I’m so nervous. This is a make or break moment for me. A yes and my life could change. A no and it’s back to college. I need this. I need to feel like I’m worth something. Like I can sing. Like I can do something right.
The door opens and in comes the boy I’d just seen audition. His name is Harry, I remember, and his voice was stunning. Wasn’t the best song choice but he’d overcome it, voice sending tingles through me.
He’s humming, his curly hair bouncing to whatever tune it is. I try to place it, desperately hard, but I can’t. Before I can think about it more his eyes flash to mine and he smirks. I realize I’m kind of staring.
“Harry, right?” I say, drying my hands. “I saw you audition.”
He’s smiling now, beaming actually, adorable dimples showing again. It makes me smile too. I realize his eyes are green, a gorgeous green, and I suddenly don’t want to lose sight of them.
“Yeah. You think I did okay?” He asks, flicking on the tap and running his hands under the cold water.
“Well you got through, didn’t you?” I tease, and he smirks.
“Yeah, but…” He shrugs. So he’s insecure. Makes me want to hug him.
“You were really good, I thought you did amazing.” I say honestly, and he shuts off the water, grabbing at paper towels.
“Thanks! Have you gone yet….?” He trails off, in search of a name.
“Louis. And no. I’m up soon. And I’m kind of scared shitless.” I say, flushing red.
“Don’t be. You’ll be great, I can tell.” He says happily, and the feeling spreads through me as well.
“You can’t know that.” I say. It’s true.
“Yes I can. I’ll stick around and watch you sing, yeah? That way I can say ‘I told you so’ when you inevitably get in.” Harry says cockily and I roll my eyes, giving in.
“Alright, alright. But if I don’t get in, you totally owe me for getting my hopes up.” I tease.
It’s weird. I’ve known him two minutes and I’m already comfortable teasing and laughing and acting like best friends. Freaking weird. But not awkward.
Harry snorts and he flashes another 1000 watt grin, dimples flashing cutely as he raises an eyebrow.
“Fine, fine.” He laughs.
I go to leave, but he stops me with a hand on my arm. “You’ll get in Louis. I promise.”
I nod, smiling as I blush, and leave the bathroom, feeling better about my situation. So much so that when my number is called and I’m singing on the fucking stage I search the audience and find my mum, but go right past her to see Harry, nodding encouragingly.
I get in.