‘Stand not amazed’

An hour later Laila and I were sitting on the sofa reading in silence and listening to some music. I was still amazed about what she had done to me in the kitchen. It had been so risky. Gemma could have walked in at any moment. But she didn’t and I was feeling happy as I never felt before. I couldn’t concentrate on anything except to glimpse at Laila from above my book. She literally blew my mind off and it didn’t seem to return any time soon. I never expected for her to do something like that and she surprised as nobody has done before. I felt intoxicated by her. All I wanted was to take her to my bed and sleep with her between my arms.

“Oh, you were here, guys. Hello, Laila; how are you?–––Gemma said approaching us. I’m so glad to see you.” She kissed Laila and gave her a quick hug. Then she quickly brushed my cheeks. “I was having a nap. I had an awful day,” she explained sitting in front of us. I could tell Laila was blushing a bit.

“I’m sorry to hear that. Hope you are feeling better now,” I spoke.

“A bit better, thank you, little brother–––she said glancing at me. Are you staying for dinner, Laila?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t stay–––Laila finally spoke. I have to be home to make dinner for my family. It is sort of a pact…” She giggled looking at me.

“That is too bad. Well, any time soon, then?” Gemma said.

“I’m sure.”

“Great! Well, I’m heading back to my room for a bit. See you soon, darling.” She kissed Laila’s cheek and left the lounge. They seemed so close I smiled to myself.

“Can we speak a bit more about what you did to me?” I said turning towards Laila.

“Why?”

“Because I love when you frown your cute nose and those pink cheeks of yours when you blush just like that…” I leant to kiss her full lips, grabbing her by the nape of her neck.

“What is it that you want to know?” She asked smiling as she escaped from my kiss.

“Gemma was actually home. It was so daring of you…”

“You make me bold,” she simply said, surrendering to my kiss. I wished so badly that she could stay the night. Soon, she had promised and I took her at her word.

–.–.–

When we arrived, Laila greeted the boys and started to talk to Niall and Zayn. I discreetly approached Louis, who was already seated and fixing his drums with a drum stick between his teeth.

“May I tell you something, Lou?” I said.

“Of course, Harry–––he answered, removing the drum stick. Go ahead; speak.” He continued adjusting his cymbals.

“Yesterday Laila and I went home after college. And you won’t believe…” I interrupted myself.

“What?” He asked anxiously as if he knew the topic of the conversation.

“Maybe I have not the right to tell you this,” I confessed, shaking my head ‘no.’

“Harry, you are my best mate. You can trust me,” he claimed solemnly.

“Somehow I need to speak about it. Please, promise me you’ll never tell anybody…”

“You are a brother to me, you know it.”

“Well, we kissed by the door and we went to the kitchen for her to drink a glass of water. And then we started to kiss again. Her mouth was so cold. But she was so hot and then she brushed her hand on me and started to unzip my jeans, and she slipped her hand in. But then she started to make her way down…–––I gulped. And I couldn’t stop her even though Gemma was on her bedroom.”

“Wait–––he said, puzzled. Are you telling little Laila gave you a blow job right then and there, in your kitchen?” He snapped quietly.

“Yeah.” His eyes went wide.

“And was it good?” He chuckled.

“Good? It was the best I ever had. I don’t know if I can be objective about the whole thing. She caught me by surprise. And her lips. Have you seen her lips?” I asked in a rapture and immediately regretted it. Louis was glimpsing at her. “Well, don’t. Stop picturing her!”

“I’m sorry; you opened that door,” he laughed and I pushed his shoulder in annoyance. How could I forget I was talking to Louis? “OK, OK, banned from my mind. Well, mate, you sure have found a special one…”

“I’m so crazy about her, mate–––I mumbled. I don’t even want to think how I will feel when we finally make love.”

“Well, you have to promise you’ll tell me everything,” he said, wiggling his eyebrow, glancing from the side.

“No way, dude.”

“I had to give it a try–––he said, opening his hands, a drum stick on each thumb. Well, do you think love making is happening any time soon?”

“Everything is so spectacular with her that somewhat I want to take things slow…”

“Oh, man, listen to yourself–––he blurted. You are already in love with her.” He crashed his cymbals and I blinked, surprised. Everyone looked at us.

“I know it’s too soon but I feel I am.” There I was explaining something I’d only tell Gemma about. But Louis knew. It was useless to deny my feelings. “And I will let it flow,” I carried on. He crashed his cymbals again and chuckled. “Stop it.”

“Mate, go with it–––he said, finally getting serious. It may be a scary thing, but to love and be loved is what makes life meaningful…”

“You sound just like Gemma–––I muttered. What’s happening to you two?”

“What are you saying, mate? Me? Speaking like Gemma? Impossible!” He rolled his eyes.

“Well, you make plenty of sense so I don’t know why you feel so offended…”

“Oh, well, I tend to make a lot of sense–––he joked. I’m like Buddha in the mountain…”

“Speaking of mountains–––I changed the subject drastically. Laila and I are planning a trip to Spain this New Year.”

“That sounds fantastic. Where? Barcelona? Can I go too?”

“Haven’t you heard me? I said ‘mountains.’ And, no, you can’t come. I’ll be meeting her parents soon in order to get their consent…” I explained.

“Oh, well, I’m truly amazed now–––he mocked me. Harry Styles, the boyfriend…” He mimicked as if he was about to crash all his cymbals together but quitted it. I laughed.

“Well, you know. People do change.”

–.–.–

Laila’s POV

When I entered the studio where the boys use to rehearse in Dalston, near Harry’s flat, Louis gave me a tight hug and mouthed to me that we’d try to speak later. I stood against the wall on a corner after greeting everyone and chatting a bit with Zayn and Niall.

“So bad Bernie couldn’t make it today,” Zayn told me one more time. He seemed gutted.

“And Georgiana…” Niall claimed.

“You know she works in the afternoons,” I apologised for her.

“Well, tell her to call me.” Everyone laughed at him. “Yeah, you are right. I’m being given the brush off, but I’ll insist. I like you sister.”

“You and everyone else, so join into the queue,” Louis joked.

“Not me,” Harry declared.

“Neither do I,” Zayn said.

“Nor me, but not because she’s not beautiful, which she is…” Liam clumsily explained.

“OK, quit it, Romeo–––Niall interrupted. She’s mine even though she hasn’t realised it just yet.”

“Well, Laila, you are family so I’ll proceed as usual,” Louis said and he took his shirt off. I’d already seen his naked torso but that night I didn’t pay him too much attention. He was rather thin but fit, and he had a few tattoos on his chest and arms. As he sat at the drums again with his hair wildly pulled to the side I could see why Gemma was risking so much for him.

Louis started what apparently were some random base rhythms and Harry, who had already plugged his bass guitar in, played along with him. I observed they all had microphones and assumed Harry didn’t sing all the lyrics; at least everyone else seemed to sing some sort of chorus. It didn’t surprise me, though, after what I’d listened to at Niall and Zayn’s do. But what bases were those? They sounded familiar. Zayn laughed and started to play as well.

“What I’m dying to say it’s that I’m crazy for you, touch me once, say you know it’s true. I never wanted anyone like this, it’s all brand new. You feel it in my kiss, I’m crazy for you…” Louis sang with a grin on his face and Niall did the naïve chorus.

Harry smiled and laughed the entire time, and I was collapsing over my stomach in cackles. Everyone laughed and Louis stopped singing, acting offended.

“It was dedicated to you two!” He protested.

“You are such a Madonna, Louis,” Harry said and I almost cried laughing.

“I am. You know I am.”

“So, are we rehearsing or are we making fools of ourselves in front of Laila?–––Liam said. Because, Harry, you know. If you are feeling a bit shy I could start myself…”

“As you please, mate…” Harry said accompanying his words with a gentle movement of his arm.

“Can we try my cover?” Liam asked the boys. Harry slightly frowned his eyebrows to him. “Laila? Do you like The Police?” He spoke directly to me.

“I absolutely do.”

“Well, then you’ll enjoy this song…”

Every breath you take
And every move you make.
Every bond you break, every step you
take,
I’ll be watching you.

Every single day
And every word you say.
Every game you play, every night you
stay,
I’ll be watching you.

Oh, can’t you see?
You belong to me.
How my poor heart aches
With every step you take.

Every move you make
And every vow you break.
Every smile you fake, every claim you
stake,
I’ll be watching you.

Since you’ve gone I been lost without a trace.
I dream at night I can only see you face.
I look around but it’s you I can’t replace.
I feel so cold and long for you
embrace.

I keep crying ‘baby, baby, please.’

Oh, can’t you see?
You belong to me.
How my poor heart aches
With every step you take.

Every move you make
And every vow you break.
Every smile you fake, every claim you
stake,
I’ll be watching you.

I’ll be watching you.

Liam’s voice was beautiful, but as much as I tried to concentrate on him while he sang, I had eyes for Harry only. He was so astonishingly gorgeous playing his bass, standing straight but with his back slightly bended, as usual, feet together, slightly bending his knees to the rhythm, elbows close to his body, nodding his head, chin up while singing the chorus, eyes wide shut, his tongue moistening his lips. And his fingers. His fingers and his hands effortlessly moved amongst the strings and the neck of his instrument so fast, with such precision, so tightly… I was in Heaven just by looking at him. I wanted to be with those hands so badly.

I thought it was sort of logical that Liam stared at me the entire song. He wanted to make me feel welcomed. The dynamic amongst them must had been different with me there so I felt a bit guilty for intruding. When the song finished I applauded and Harry called me with his finger. I walked towards him. Zayn and Niall were chatting and Louis snickered at me. I approached Harry and he grabbed me by my elbows. His gesture gave me a flashback from the day before and I tried to contain a giggle, so frowned my nose and pouted. He smirked and kissed me intensely, cupping his hands around my face.

“What was that for?” I grinned.

“I know you were dying to do it…” He said with his cheeky lop-sided smile.

“You read my mind…” I joked.

“So, are you coming home with me later?” I smiled at his question. He did read my mind.

“Can we move on, lads?” Liam asked, sounding a little bit annoyed.

“Are you?” Harry insisted, showing one dimple, as I left his side.

“I don’t know…” I said, returning to my spot on the corner. I immediately started to text my mother.

–.–.–

When the rehearsal was over I couldn’t even move. I was staring at them, amazed. They were so talented. And Harry’s songs were so profound. I made him promise he’d give me a transcription of the lyrics soon, so I could analyse them. He felt so confident about his writing it made me want him a bit more than before, if that was possible. As Harry was putting back his bass guitar in its case and speaking with Zayn, I discreetly moved towards Louis. I knew I didn’t want to interfere, but we needed to talk.

“Louis, you need to tell him–––I said. Soon, or he’ll realise it by himself.” And then he surprised me.

“I’m afraid he’ll never believe I love her,” he muttered.

“And do you?”

“I do love her–––he mumbled. Ever since I met her… I can’t express how lucky I felt when she finally accepted me.” His facial expression and his tone were against all I believed to know about him.

“But I thought you were a player and a cynical…”

“Perhaps I’m a bit sarcastic and I’m remarkably known for my sassiness, but I’m a hopeless romantic,” he explained, smiling warmly.

“Yes, I see–––I smiled back. And I’m so glad. I adore Gemma.”

“And she adores you–––he said kindly. And after what you did for us yesterday… Well, we owe you. We are trying to clear the situation so you can stay out of trouble,” he told me.

“I’m glad to hear that–––I said. I know it would be hard on Harry first. But he’ll get back to his senses, he’ll understand. He loves you both so much,” I explained, lovingly glimpsing at Harry.

“We are doing it because of you–––Louis pointed out. Now that he has you we believe nothing can go wrong.” I giggled.

“Thank you. But I’m sure he’ll understand it under any circumstances.”

“But now that he feels the same there’s plenty more possibilities he empathises with us,” Louis said, startling me.

“Does he feel the same?” I mumbled.

“Sure,” Louis answered as if it was the most evident matter.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked, still perplexed.

“Harry is in love with you,” he declared and, at his words, everything turned upside down. My heart, my stomach, my world.

“But it’s not even a week we are together!” I blurted. Louis gestured at me to calm down.

“So?–––he said. Love at first sight happens… You know it. I’m pretty sure you felt it too.” He chuckled.

“Did Gemma feel it?” I asked trying to divert his attention from my awkwardness.

“Yes, but she didn’t realise it until a while later.”

“So you are quite serious,” I claimed.

“If everything turns out fine with Harry we’ll be going to tell Anne on Christmas,” he explained.

“Anne?”

“Gemma and Harry’s mother–––he said. You should meet her. She’s an exceptional person.”

“Not for now,” I declared, terrified by the idea. Everything was going so fast.

“Why not?–––Louis snapped, almost offended. He’s meeting your parents…”

“Did he told you that?” I laughed.

“Yeah, he did. He won’t admit it, tough, but he’s pretty excited about it,” he said. He knew he was being indiscreet and chuckled. “Are you two heading Harry’s flat later?” He snickered and I nodded at him, turning away. Harry was calling me. “Gemma and I are having dinner together. So you’ll be all alone, by yourselves…”

–.–.–

Notes

Liam Payne, what's going on with you? And, Louis... I absolutely picture him as a drummer.

Will next chapter bring more hot moments between Harry and Laila?

Check out my new Fan Fiction:

Dreaming Of You

Thank you so much for reading!