🎧-Seeing Blind, Niall Horan

"I see you from a different point of view

I feel it's too good to be true

I found my missing piece."

February 2014

"So, what is your favourite song of mine?" Harry asks Louis leaning against the counter as Louis pours some red wine into glasses.

It's almost eleven and Louis is surprised at how much they have talked and how comfortable they are with each other. Mostly the fact that he hasn't said anything stupid in front of him yet. The whole 'nervous-around-Harry freaking Styles' thing has started to wear off and changed into a good and well, better, 'nervous-around-Harry' thing.

"There is a balcony on the first floor. We can go there and talk?" Louis suggests and Harry agrees, the idea of night air sounding refreshing. Louis slides open the door leads them up the stairs and Harry follows with his glass in his hands.

The cake tasted amazing, unsurprisingly because of their culinary skills-well, Harry's culinary skills. Louis decided to save some for Niall who would be more than grateful while at the same time being baffled as Louis would tell him what had happened on Harry's birthday and he would shove the fact that in his he actually managed to call Harry and he didn't have a 'Crazy Fangirl Meltdown'.(Niall's words.)

Louis opens the door to the balcony and a smile comes on their faces as it is the perfect weather with a slight breeze. The city lights scatter around the neighbourhood but the sky seems to be dark without any stars. Both of them lean against the railing and Louis speaks, rotating his glass of wine, "Well, I have too many to count. I really like 'Happily' and 'Kiwi' is just my jam. However, 'Sign of the Times' always makes me a bit teary eyed."

Harry nods, smiling attentively. "It was a bit difficult to write. As it was my first single, so the nervousness was totally there."

"You did great, though. It was beautiful." Louis says with all sincerity, shuddering a bit as a cold breeze hits him out of nowhere.

"Did you ever come to a show?"

Louis shakes his head. "Naah. Couldn't afford and frankly, never got the chance."

Harry simply nods, not knowing what to say. He looks up at the night sky and sighs. "I wish we could see more stars in London. Holmes Chapel was so much better."

Louis agrees. "So was Doncaster."

"You are from Doncaster?"

"Yeah. Moved to London when I was twelve as Dad found a new job. Though, I visit annually to meet my Granny and some friends."

Harry hesitates for a moment, fiddling with his sleeves and says, "Do you miss your Dad?"

Louis parts his lips in surprise and glances at Harry, setting still for a moment and thinking for an appropriate answer.

"Hey, Mum?" A nine-year-old Louis asked his Mum who was busy working on some papers.

"Honey, I am a bit busy, can we talk later?" She said without looking at him, running her hand over her tired face.

Louis said quietly, "There is just this footie game for third grade in my school after two days. Can you and dad come?"

She sent him a quick apologetic look. "Sorry, love. Your dad is really busy with work and I am on duty that day in the hospital. Next time, maybe?"

An eleven-year-old annoyed Louis called his Dad, grumpily sitting over the couch. When his Dad picked up, he said,"What, Louis? I told you not to call in work hours."

Louis bit his lip, trying not to burst into tears, then said, "You were supposed to pick me up for Ajay's birthday party today. You said you will as Mum is at Granny's with Lottie."

His Dad sighed and made no effort to hide his blatant frustration. "Next time, alright?"

"But I promised him I will show up and I already made him a Spiderman birthday card-"

"Next time, Louis." His dad hung up.

"Louis, why are you cycling back home? Your house is really far and you must be tired after the play." The eleven-year-old boy asked Louis, who was the new boy and a grade above him.

"My parents are busy tonight. Don't worry, I know my way around here." Louis said avoiding the eyes of his new friend.

Niall frowned, confusion clear in his big innocent blue eyes. "They didn't come to watch the play? But you got the lead."

Louis shrugs. "Next time, maybe."

Louis snaps himself out of his trance and looks at Harry before gulping and speaking quietly. "I always wanted my Dad to be proud of me. I still do, I guess. That's the only thing I can remember when I think of him. The longing is definitely there. But I don't miss him. You can't miss someone who wasn't there in the first place."

And as Harry stares at Louis while he speaks he can't help but think about why do bad things happen to good people. He presses his lips in a thin line and says,"I am sorry if I made you uncomfortable in any way. I just get overly curious sometimes and cross a line without noticing."

"Don't think like that. I wouldn't have said that if I didn't want to. " Louis nudges Harry with his elbow and grins. "Plus, you can tell me anything you want to. I can assure you it won't be on the cover of a magazine tomorrow morning."

Harry chuckles. "Well, if it does, I am in a great load of trouble with management."

"If that's what we are talking about then quick advice: don't give your number to strangers. Everyone is not generous and thoughtful like me, you know?" He smiles teasingly at Harry.

"Believe me, I do know. I used to get in trouble with management all the time for doing such stupid things when I was new in the industry. Took me a lot of time to learn to what to say or do."

Louis scrunches his nose cutely. "Do do stupid things sometimes. Let go a little. Nobody is gonna blame you for messing up a little."

Harry shakes his head with a smile. "That's not what my manager said when some fans almost caught me smoking one day."

Louis' eyes widen. "You smoke?! No way!" Harry nods while giggling. "We all thought you were these two goody shoes." Louis shakes his head with a smile as if it is permanently plastered to his face.

Harry shrugs his shoulders cutely. "I do it rarely. Just under stress. I also drink really rarely. I don't...handle it well." Harry shakes his head, wincing at the troublesome memories.

Louis is almost jumping on his feet with excitement. Harry shared something with him. Something that the world doesn't about him but Louis does. "Tell me another thing that the world doesn't know about Harry Styles."

Harry laughs and turns to him. "Well, let me think... I actually read a lot?"

Louis raises his eyebrows in surprise. "I would have never guessed...On second thought, you do seem like that guy."

"Like what guy?"

"The one who would rather stay in and read the book rather than watching the movie based on it."

Harry smiles. "Well, I can't say that it's wrong. Watching the movie after reading the book is always disappointing."

"Who's your favourite author?"

"Well, let's see..." He turns towards Louis and says, "I am a deep admirer of Shakespeare."

Louis lets out a disgruntled sound and says, "Of course you do, you royal ass."

"What's the problem with Shakespeare?" Harry whines.

"His stories are way too dramatic and sad." He shakes his head, having never understood his plays. "Romeo and Juliet? They were thirteen. They shouldn't even have sex!"

Harry winces, slightly agreeing with him. "Yeah, well, you are not wrong. But let's remember here, Shakespeare's strength lied more in his words than his stories." Louis rolls his eyes to which Harry says, "Oh, come on. If love be rough with you, be rough with love. Prick love for pricking and you beat love down. If that's not art, then I don't know what is."

Louis shrugs, still not agreeing. "Alright but he wasn't that good."

"Another thing we don't agree on, beside the fact that F.R.I.E.N.D.S is the best show of all time." Louis opens his mouth to interject but Harry beats him to it, not bothering with another arguement. "Rumor has it that he might have been gay, you know. Shakespeare."

"Really?" Louis asks with raised eyebrows, not having that information before.

"Uh-huh," Harry nods. "Although he was married to a woman, in many of his sonnets, which are definitely love poems, he mentioned a man. However, the sad thing is that we might never know. There was no meaning of what being gay or straight meant. Also, in those days, the definition of love was a very wide spectrum. For Shakespeare, the word 'love' could mean all sorts of things. It could mean a very dry, business relationship, and some people interpret the sonnets that way, as simply flattering poetry written towards a patron." Louis decides he really likes the way Harry's hands move while talking and-- oh-kay, his mind is getting side tracked.

Louis nods, resting his face on his hand. "Interesting. Well," He clears his throat, "If it is any comfort to your shakespeare-love-struck heart, then I did act in a Romeo and Juliet play in High School."

"Really? Did you get Romeo?"

"Don't kid yourself, Styles," Louis says in fake posh accent, joking, "I got Juliet, of course."

Harry lets out a loud laugh, throwing his head back. "I would love to see that someday."

Louis retorts back. "I would love to see you sing in front of me."

Harry smiles, taking a sip of his wine, with a calm expression on his face. "I am sure we can arrange that some time soon."

Sometime soon. Louis can't help but think that the statement means that Harry actually wants to meet Louis again. Though, Louis doesn't want to overlook into it so he decides to focus on his empty wine glass instead of Harry beside him whose elbows are touching his and Louis can hear his breathing --and how in the heaven does he smell like flowers and vanilla?

Louis gulps and moves slightly to his side, just enough so he is not touching Harry. Harry, thankfully, doesn't notice.

Harry breaks the comfortable silence. "I wish I could go back to Holmes Chapel sometimes."

"How long has it been since you have gone back?"

Harry shrugs unsurely. "I don't know. Maybe three years. Our house is still there but nobody lives there anymore."

"You can always go back."

Harry just shakes his head with a smile and looks up at the sky. "I don't know but I think stars would be brighter there."

Louis doesn't know what to say. He can clearly sense some underlying meaning among those lines and for some reason Harry suddenly seems sad to him and he doesn't like that at all. He wants to say something but what if he is wrong? Also, it isn't his place to say something.

Harry suddenly turns to him with a smile on his face, the previous statement forgotten and says, "Wanna hear a joke?"

Louis laughs. "If you are as bad as I have seen you on stage, our new friendship is gonna be in question."

Harry nods excitedly like a child and Louis' heart almost melts at the sight.

"Alright. Knock Knock?"

"Who's there?"

"Nobel."

"Nobel who?"

"Nobel...that's why I knocked."

Louis blinks. It takes him a moment to understand the joke then he bursts out laughing and wondering how can Harry be so ridiculous, cute and ridiculously cute.

Harry, laughing along, says, "You are one of the rare ones who actually laughed. Most of them just give me an awkward smile and run away in the opposite direction."

Louis shakes his head. "It was so bad that it was actually funny."

"Heyyy... don't say that. I can actually have a stand-up comedian career if I want."

Louis replies sassily, "And who told you that? Your mom?"

"It was actually my grandma but whatever." Both of them are quiet for a moment before glancing at each other and bursting out laughing. The only sound in the neighbourhood is of their laughing and Harry is surprised no one has called them out on it.

Both of them eventually quieten down after a lot of effort because for some reason whenever they look at each other they start laughing again like schoolboys. Louis says, "Alright, alright. That's enough."

"See? You like my jokes." Harry points at Louis.

I like you, actually.

Louis takes a sharp breath and just pushes the thought out of his mind because it's nothing. It's just the wine and the night air and Har-no, not Harry.

Louis puts a smile on his face. "Sure, Harold. Whatever floats your boat."

"I made a cake for you. Be a bit more gentle." Harry says putting a hand on his chest.

"And I didn't burn down the kitchen. Believe me, both are big achievements."

Harry shakes his head. "You can't be that bad of a cook."

"You would be surprised. It's surprising how I somehow manage to feed myself every day."

Harry just shakes his head again in dismal. "One of these days, I am gonna teach you how to cook a proper meal."

Louis smiles. "I look forward to it... Hey, remember the girl we met at the bar? I found her on Instagram. She wrote such a great post about meeting you and said that you followed her on her account?"

"Yeah." Harry shrugs. "I thought why not. Plus, she was one of the really sweet ones I meet."

Louis raises his eyebrows. "Oh,really? Which one am I cause now when I think about it despite me being such a dedicated fan, I have never actually taken a selfie with you or an autograph which earlier I so would have."

Harry smiles. "We can take one now."

"Really?" Louis feels his fan self come back to him as he starts to feel all giddy.

Harry sets his glass down behind him and turns to him. "Why not? It's been an amazing night, Mr Tomlinson."

Louis takes out his phone and gives it to Harry. He moves slightly close to him, putting an arm around him and-- Jesus Christ, he is so tall. Then, he gives back to him and Louis checks out the photo. "It looks great. Can I post it on Instagram?"

Harry seems to struggle for a moment to answer then smiles and nods. Louis grins as opens the app and posts the picture.

louist91: Birthdays and wines

When he puts his phone away in the pocket, he looks up to see Harry staring at him. It's like Louis had forgotten how green his eyes were until he stared into them. Louis suddenly feels very exposed as Harry continues staring at him.

Harry suddenly breaks away the contact and says, "Tonight has been amazing, Louis. One of the best birthdays I have ever had."

Louis disagrees. "I doubt-"

"It has, believe me.

Louis replies, thankful of the fact that Harry can't see his flaming cheeks,"It's nothing, really."

Harry shakes his head. "No, you are a really good friend. I don't- I don't have many real friends." Harry winces towards the end, looking like he feels he said the wrong thing.

Louis furrows his eyebrows and moves a step closer. "I am sorry but I find that pretty hard to believe."

Harry shrugs weakly. "It's just this thing about this industry. You can't expect people to be trustworthy."

Louis simply nods, knowing Harry was really nervous for some reason and decides not to press on the matter. Harry shakes his head and looks into Louis' eyes again and says, "I am a bit awkward at these things. My point is that I hope this isn't the last time we meet and that you call me a bit earlier next time. I just wanted to say that I am really grateful for a friend like you."

And it is this moment when Louis realizes that Louis likes Harry.

He really really really likes him. Not Harry Styles because well, everybody loves Harry Styles. But right now, at this moment he just really likes Harry. Just Harry. He likes the way he moves his hands while talking or the way he can't tell a stupid joke without laughing the whole way through. The way his eyes speak more words than Louis ever could. Or the fact that Louis can see himself falling in love with Harry.

And that scares him.

Because when Louis falls, he falls hard and fast. What he needs right now is probably therapy for all those unresolved issues, not another cheap story of one-sided love.

Louis is a deeply insecure person.

He might appear to you as one of the most confident people ever but he is not. Maybe it's the fault of his Dad or his second grade best friend who left him for a new pack of colours or that stupid crush or the guy he used to like or his two ex-boyfriends but whoever's fault is it, Louis just can't see how any relationship for him would ever work. He gets possessive, jealous and clingy. Maybe that's why Eric cheated on him and didn't even bother to apologize as he realized Louis just wasn't worth it. And besides the fact that Harry has a girlfriend and might be straight, Louis just can't imagine why would he be stupid enough to have his heart broken just because he couldn't get someone like Harry when he doesn't have a single chance with him to begin with.

Maybe that's why when Harry gets ready to leave, Louis doesn't ask him to come over to his flat so maybe they could watch a movie together as he planned to do earlier. Or maybe that's why he doesn't ask him to come to the next Special Friday night with his friends. And maybe that's why Louis goes to a restless sleep that night with thoughts of everything that was wrong with him and how Harry had managed to make him forget those for a moment.

But the heart wants what it wants, right?

So, when Louis gets a simple text -just a Hi- from Harry, two days later, he can't help but smile and reply almost immediately.

___________________________________________________________________________

I apologize for the late update but I got a bit stuck writing this chapter so I am not confident about this chapter at all but miaamigo helped a lot. So,I am so happy to dedicate this chapter to her.

Keep giving feedback, guys. I appreciate all the views and votes. Thank you so much. :))