Louis didn't know what he had been expecting but it surely wasn't this. When Harry had shown up at his door to work on the song they apparently really wanted to write together, he had asked Louis to follow him without telling him where they were going. He had found himself on a small roof terrace Louis didn't know existed. According to Harry, barely anyone knew about this because it was on top of the employee area of the building, more precisely above the kitchen. No one was officially allowed to be here but being the housekeeper's son's best friend had its perks. The terrace was magnificent. The beauty of it had taken Louis' breath away. This place was perfect to write a song in peace without the fear of anyone disturbing them up here.

"Do you have more tricks like these up your sleeve?" Louis raised an eyebrow at Harry with a crooked smile.

"Guess you have to find out" Harry shrugged with a grin.

Louis only rolled his eyes fondly and sat down on a big lounger, taking out his notebook. Harry sat down as well and put his guitar down next to them. Louis was weirdly excited to hear Harry play.

"Did you have a special idea in your mind when you came up with this plan of writing a song together?" Louis asked cheekily.

"Um ... actually ..." Harry suddenly turned bright red and fumbled with the hems of his trousers. "I ... err ... stumbled over an unfinished song of yours and thought we could try that one out? I really liked it but only if you're okay with that".

"Which song are we talking about, Haz?" Louis tried to cover up how surprised and touched he was.

"Something with the word Moments in the title. I think you weren't quite done with the title yet" Harry coughed awkwardly.

"Ah, that one" Louis knew exactly which song he was talking about. "I really don't have a set in stone title yet".

"Then we can come up with one as well" Harry still avoided looking at him and Louis wasn't having any of this.

Louis leaned over to him, took a hold of both of Harry's hands and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Haz, it's really okay. I promise".

With big shocked eyes, Harry was looking directly at him and Louis wasn't sure what he saw but there was definitely something going on in Harry's head at the moment. It looked like he was fighting with himself over something but then his eyes became suddenly so clear that it almost scared Louis because now Harry's eyes only reflected warmth, and maybe hesitation.

"Lou, there is something I really wanna tell you. I feel like I need to tell you but I don't expect you to say anything or react in any way, okay? I don't wanna put pressure on you or corner you or whatever might go through your head after you know. I really only want you to know because we're always honest with each other and I don't want there to be secrets that could lead to miscommunication or misunderstandings" Harry's voice was trembling slightly.

Louis gulped, irrationally feeling scared and fearing Harry could push him out of his life although that thought made no sense with what he had just said. "You can tell me everything, Haz".

"You're really important to me and I don't wanna lose you but I'm scared I might will in a minute. I just ... Don't hate me, please. But ... I really like you, Lou" Harry locked eyes with him bravely.

Louis frowned automatically. "Why should I hate you? I like you too, Haz. We're friends. Wouldn't it be weird if we ...".

"No, Louis" Harry cut him off, making Louis' face fall. "I mean, yes. Of course, we're friends but that's not what I meant. I like you, as in more than a friend. I have a crush on you, Louis".

That was a revelation Louis had to digest first. He had not seen this one coming but maybe he should have. People had told him that Harry might be into him but Louis had completely dismissed that matter because they were friends and liked spending time together and Louis just really needed him in his life.

"Oh".

"I don't want or expect you to say anything, Louis. And I don't expect you to come out and say you feel the same because I obviously know you've been through a lot and dating someone isn't on your mind for a long time but ... I just needed you to know. I wanted to be honest with you before it might get weird in a few months and ..." Harry trailed off unsurely.

"And what?" Louis hooked way too needy.

"I needed you to know you're gorgeous and deserve the world and there are people ready to give it to you. I would. Someday".

Louis wasn't sure what he was feeling right now but his chest felt like it was expanding and his heart was beating out of his chest. There were no words left in his brain and all he wanted was to let Harry know how much he appreciated his honesty and caring and understanding and just Harry being Harry. There was no one else like him, no better person in this world.

Still out of words, Louis lunged at Harry and threw himself into his arms, definitely taking Harry by surprise and startling him. They almost fell off the lounger but Harry caught them in time and then wrapped his arms around Louis, making him feel safe and secure. He could hear Harry letting out a shaky sigh, which made Louis hug him only tighter to get his message through. It seemed to work because Harry seemed to relax and fall completely into the hug and started caressing Louis' back.

They stayed wrapped up in each other for a few minutes and Louis never wanted to ever let go again but they had to eventually. Sharing a secret smile, they hopped on writing the rest of Louis' song and it almost was as if nothing had changed between them. Only that Louis now understood the way Harry looked at him. No one has ever looked at him like that and he wasn't sure how it made him feel but it wasn't bad or unwelcomed. It was nice.

Two hours later, the song was finished and Louis had heard Harry play his guitar and that did not make Louis picture how it would be to play together, Harry on guitar and Louis himself on the piano. No, of course not. That would be weird.

They walked back towards the bedrooms together and lingered at their parting point for a very long time, talking about unimportant nonsense but to Louis, it was everything. He loved talking to Harry, no matter what it was about. He just loved being in Harry's presence and spending time together. But did he like him as more than a friend as well? Louis had no idea.

When they reluctantly had to say goodbye for the day, Harry pecked Louis' cheek softly before heading to his room, leaving behind a stunned Louis, who didn't even understand himself. A kiss on the cheek was nothing special. He had done the same to Harry earlier. Why was his mind making such a big deal out of this? This wasn't a big deal!

"Fuck, maybe it was a big deal" Louis sat up straight, dropping his paintbrush and making a weird face at Jonah, who was still lying with his stomach on the floor but had his head turned up towards him. "Maybe not for me but for him. When I kissed his cheek it was in reassurance or whatever but with him, I don't know what it was about. Maybe it meant more to him".

"Or maybe you're overthinking this and it really only was what it was. A simple kiss to the cheek between friends. I did that to you and you didn't freak out on me" Jonah noted calmly.

"But you don't have a crush on me. It's different" Louis countered and knew he was being overdramatic.

"Why is it different? We're all friends. Would it make a difference if I had a crush on you? Would you overthink and analyse all of my steps and every single word as well?" Jonah questioned while still working on his huge painting on the floor.

"No, of course not! It wouldn't matter. We're best friends and always will be. You can't help who you're crushing on ... Oh, I see what you did there. Clever. I admit that much" Louis realised that he was making this a bigger deal than it had to be.

"If it wouldn't make a difference between us, why is it different with Harry? You said nothing has changed between you guys after his confession but you keep talking about that kiss" Jonah sat up now to look questioningly at him and Louis hated him right now.

"I don't know, okay? I don't know why it's different or why I keep thinking about this. It shouldn't matter and it really doesn't, in a way. Because it's true. Nothing has changed between us. We're still friends and he doesn't expect me to like him back and date him and be happily ever after or some bullshit ...".

"Then what's the big deal, Tommy?" Jonah asked softly.

"The big deal is that ..." Louis hesitated for a second because he wasn't quite sure where he was going with that. Deep down though, he knew and had to let it out. "I just don't know what I feel. I know it's different from what we have or how I feel about the other guys or even Luke. I didn't even tell him Luke apologised and we're good because I felt like Harry wouldn't like this but that thought alone is so wrong and I know that but I can't help it. It's a habit and aftermath of Kyle's mental abuse. He never told me he ... I'm not sure where I stand but I know I don't wanna lose Harry. He is important to me. And I don't wanna hurt him".

"Did you tell him how scared you are of hurting him and getting hurt again yourself?" Jonah understood what Louis meant.

"No, not really. We didn't talk about his feelings after that. We only worked on the song and went home. I wasn't sure what I'm feeling and I'm still not. The last thing I want is to give him false hope or lead him on without realising it. I don't know what to do. Why do feelings have to be so complicated?" Louis buried his head in his hands in pure despair.

"I wish I knew. Then I could stop myself from liking someone I can't have" Jonah sighed out but then looked like he just noticed or realised something. "Huh. Never thought Harry and I would be in a similar situation".

"Yeah, you really are and I wouldn't want you to get hurt by Niall. Just like I don't want Harry to get hurt by me. How would you want Niall to treat this situation if he knew?" Louis felt so helpless and out of options or solutions.

"I'm not sure. I would just hope he'd let me down gently and not hurt me more than necessary. It would also be nice if he took my feelings into account when he is with Sean but that's probably too much to ask, especially with him not knowing" Jonah pondered the situation over.

"Maybe you should tell him, so he could take that into account. He thinks you're a great person" Louis suggested dumbly.

"Thanks, but no. We're not like you and Harry. This would ruin our friendship. If you can even call that a friendship. We're in a band now for the time being but that's about it. I don't think he's gonna like me that much when I ruin our performance with my stage fright" Jonah sounded absolutely devastated.

"You won't ruin our performance, Joey. We will find a way to handle your panic attacks, okay? I'm here for you" Louis reassured him comfortingly.

"I hate this fucking anxiety but I never had to face it like this. I'm not sure what to do. I don't feel like ever leaving this room again" Jonah admitted downcast.

"You don't have to fight this battle alone, Joey. I will be with you every step of the way and we will find a solution to make the concert work somehow" Louis smiled encouragingly at him. "How would you like to finish that bombastic painting? I stripped down to my pants to help you with it. Let it be worth it".

"Oh, isn't it worth it yet? I thought you'd love to see me half naked and covered in paint together" Jonah took his paintbrush and smeared new paint all over Louis' naked chest.

"You did not just do that!" Louis exclaimed loudly. "Oh, it's on".

Somehow this harmless threat led them to end up in a wrestling fight all over the floor. The brushes had been tossed aside and their hands have been put to use instead. By now, Louis had paint almost everywhere just like Jonah. They were rolling around on the dirty floor, completely messing up the painting but laughing their asses off. In a moment of triumph, Louis tackled Jonah down and pinned him to the floor with his hands over his head, both heaving heavily. They were totally out of breath.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt anything ..." Harry's high-pitched voice startled them and made their heads snap in his direction. He was standing in the open door with his hand still on the door handle, almost crushing it as hard as he was gripping it.

The pale look on Harry's face made Louis snap back into reality and he looked down on Jonah himself, studying their position on the floor. Half naked, only in their jeans with Jonah being pinned down by Louis, who was sitting on his waist, both boys panting. This really looked so wrong and Louis could see that Harry was thinking the worst and it made Louis feel horrible.

"Harry, no. This is not what it looks like" Louis cringed at his own words, knowing when someone said that, almost every time it was exactly what it looked like.

"I um ... leave you to it" Harry turned away, his voice filled heavily with emotion, and walked away, door slamming shut.

"Fuck! Sorry, Joey. But I really need to fix this. He can't think ..." Louis scrambled to his feet, almost falling over his own limbs.

"Then go. Talk to him" Jonah patted Louis' bum to make him run after Harry faster.

Louis literally crashed out of the room and almost hit the floor of the hallway. Immediately, he spotted Harry's disappearing and hunched figure. He looked crestfallen, heartbroken. And it was Louis' fault. He really had to fix this.

"Harry, wait!" Louis ran up to him as fast as he could and almost crashed into him but Harry steadied him by the shoulders, which made Louis' head fuzzy. "Please, give me one minute to explain this. I promise you've got it all wrong. Please, Haz".

Maybe he looked as desperate as he felt because Harry actually smiled for one tiny second before he straightened his features and let go of Louis' shoulders. "I'll even give you five".

"Thanks. Um ... my room?" Louis didn't know what to do next.

"Sure. Lead the way".

In silence, the two boys walked into Louis' room and sat down on the edge of his bed with a bit of space between them. In pure fear and nerves, his hands were shaking. He simply couldn't lose Harry, not like this. He also could never forgive himself if he really hurt Harry and didn't set it straight. He never wanted to hurt him but maybe today he actually did. He needed to fix this.

"Harry, what you saw up there was not what you think. There is nothing going on ... I'm not messing around with Jonah or anything. We were painting at first and he had that weird idea to use our upper bodies for his new project. I don't know. When it comes to art I just don't ask. I would never understand it but it was fun, to be honest. Although it ended in a play fight, that I won, by the way. And you walked in on" Louis just came straight to the point.

"Oh. So, you two ... Oh god, I'm so sorry for assuming things and walking out on you like that" Harry apologised embarrassed.

"It's okay, Haz. I know it looked wrong. Wasn't the first time, actually. But we're just best friends. We love each other platonically. We are each other's support system and therapist" Louis assured him that it was fine. "We were talking about you before this paint war escalated".

"About me? But why? Because of my crush on you?" Harry feared the worst.

"Yes and no" Louis answered without actually answering.

"What?" Harry blinked at him in confusion.

"I told him about this, of course. I needed his opinion and his advice and just an open ear to rant to. In the end, I kept talking about that cheek kiss and he didn't understand why. Neither did I. Or maybe he did but wanted me to figure that out on my own but I can't seem to figure it out. I just ... All I really know is that I can't lose you. My biggest fear is to lose you, to hurt you and make you hate me. I couldn't handle that" Louis revealed to him because he felt like he had to be honest about this. He knew Harry would never laugh about his fears and doubts and inner struggles. He would understand, in some way.

"I could never hate you" Harry stated surely.

"You can't know that. Maybe you will. Maybe you do. Love and hate aren't so different. It's a fine line. Sometimes you think it's love but then it turns out to be only hate and disgust and contempt and pity and ...".

"Lou, hey. Sh. Listen to me" Harry moved closer to him, taking both of his hands gently. "My crush on you is not based on any of these emotions, okay? It's based on my affection towards you and this pull I feel towards you and this inexplicable feeling I get when I look at you or hear you laugh or when you're simply next to me".

"Fuck, Harry. You can't just say stuff like this" Louis felt his throat closing up.

"Why not, Lou?" Harry asked softly.

"Because no one has ever said something like that to me and meant it. Or even without meaning it. I don't know how to handle this. Any of this. You. All of you. I'm so lost" Louis felt himself starting to tremble but Harry was right there to ground him.

"It's okay, Lou. Please, don't stress yourself over this. That was never my intention. I never meant to confuse you".

"But you do, Haz. You confuse me" Louis locked eyes with him, deciding to put it all out on the line and see what happens. "You confuse the shit out of me with your whole being and your endless understanding and support although I do nothing in return. I'm not used to that and I don't know how to handle this. When you told me how you feel about me, I was shocked but not because you like me. I mean, that too but that's beside the point. It shocked me that you didn't ask me to like you back. That you didn't tell me to like you back. If you had forced me or ordered me to date you because you like me in some way I would have known how to react or what to do or to feel but ... that I'm actually free to decide what I want ... the fact that you would only want me to like you back if I was sure that I feel the same ... that you understand dating scares me ... I don't have words for this and I don't understand myself or my own feelings. I don't know what I feel. I haven't been allowed to express my feelings for so long that I don't know how to do that and how to understand what I feel ... It's driving me crazy because I know that you're different from the others. I feel different about you than I feel about Jonah or Niallor Sean or anyone else. I just can't fully pinpoint what this is and I'm freaking scared ... to find out".

"Oh, Louis" Harry breathed out and pulled Louis into the tightest hug Louis has ever had but he felt so seen and understood and just safe. "You don't have to do anything. Give yourself time to heal. Let your mind and your heart rest. Let me be there for you. Let me help you, Lou. Let me l ... Everything will be alright. I get it".

And Louis knew the rest of the sentence was there on the tip of Harry's tongue, knowingly or unknowingly. He also knew Harry wouldn't unload that heavy burden on him right now. He knew so much about Harry and the way he would react or act towards him that it scared Louis shitless and all he wanted to do sometimes was run away. But he also knew at the end of the day, he'd come running right back to Harry. He felt so safe with him.

"Can I ask you something, Haz?" Louis asked Harry when they were hanging out in his room, just chilling and lying around.

"Shoot," Harry turned his head around to him at an awkward angle that definitely had to hurt.

"I recently heard Niall call you Ed. What's that all about?" Louis changed his position. Now he was lying on his stomach with his elbows propped up and his head resting on his hands.

Harry copied his position and smiled at him, faces pretty close. "It's short for Edward. It's my middle name. Only Niall really knows that and he loves that fact. For some reason he thinks it's the funniest thing ever and always teases me with it".

"I don't think it's funny. It's a pretty sick name. With that name, you could be a villain or a vampire" Louis pointed out honestly. 

"That'd be pretty sick. This will be the first moment of my villain origin story and Niall is the reason I became a vampire" Harry giggled entertained.

"I feel honoured to witness this special moment" Louis snorted sarcastically.

"Ey, shut it or I will come after you as well and show no mercy" Harry pouted adorably but at the last bit, Louis felt himself react in the most-hated way he had come way too familiar with.

"Please, as if you could even hurt a fly" Louis rolled his eyes exaggeratedly to keep the light-hearted mood alive.

"I very much can" Harry claimed childlike.

"Whatever you say" Louis didn't believe him.

"I say you have to tell me your middle name in exchange now. It's only fair that I know this embarrassing fact about you as well, so we can both laugh about it instead of dying in shame" Harry tried to keep a straight face but burst into giggles after a second.

"You're horrible at keeping a poker face, Harry. I'm appalled!" Louis gasped dramatically. "And why do you think I even have a middle name?".

"Something tells me you have one" Harry stayed stubborn.

"And why would you think I hate it?" Louis hooked to rile him up. He just loved teasing Harry and he really hated his middle name.

"Lou, come on. Please" Harry whined beggingly without any kind of patience. It was very cute.

"Okay, fine. It's William " Louis gave in, directing his gaze to the duvet and waiting for a reaction.

"Seriously?" Harry sounded shocked. Louis only nodded. "This is so unfair. Your whole name sounds like royalty".

Okay, he did not see that reaction coming. Immediately, Louis' head snapped back up and he directly looked into Harry's face, searching for any sign that he was messing with him but he didn't find any. The only thing Louis could see was serenity, which made his cheeks feel warm and made him look away again.

"I always hated it but my mum loved it. It is similar to her middle name and she always said it made us even closer, connected us differently from the rest of the family. Well, not close enough to accept me but hey. At least, I can pretend to be royalty".

"And no one would question it, Lou" Harry gently touched his arm and gave him a crooked smile, showing so much comfort. "How was uni today? One more day where I didn't see you".

"And I don't think we ever will, Haz" Louis felt his mood becoming lighter again. "But today was good. Thursdays are weird without Àmbar because I'm so used to having her and Luke together and being stupid idiots but without her, Luke is pretty tame. It's weird. I've never really noticed that before today, which is strange".

"Oh, Luke was in your curse today? I didn't know that" Harry frowned at this new piece of information and yeah, Louis hadn't mentioned that they had made up. He wasn't sure why.

"It's our second literature course but without Àmbar and don't worry. It was fine" Louis assured him quickly.

"Are you sure? I haven't forgotten about ...".

"I'm sure, Haz" Louis cut him off harsher than planned but he really didn't want to be reminded of what had happened. "Luke apologised on Monday and we're good since then. He was really fucking sorry and just as I told you, he never meant for this to happen. He wasn't sane. So, we left that in the past. I really didn't want us to be all awkward during the lectures".

Harry didn't look convinced but Louis really couldn't care less. This was about him and Luke and Harry had nothing to do with this. If he forgave Luke and they were good that was Louis' decision and no one else's decision. Harry had no say in this, no matter how good his intentions or how big and great his worries and concern were. It didn't matter. Louis was the only one to decide what to do about Luke and no one could talk him into anything.

Before Harry could do anything to this matter there was a knock on the door. Needing a second to tear his eyes away from Louis, Harry told them to come and focused on the door. Maria showed up in the now open doorframe and looked kinda nervous and if Louis was right, there was someone with her.

"Sorry for bothering you but there is someone here to see you, Harry" Maria looked unsure if this was a good thing or not.

"It's okay, Maria. Whoever it is can come in and we'll take it from there" Harry reassured her but Louis was stuck on the we.

Harry had said that as if they were a unit. As if no matter who was there it mattered to him what Louis thought. That they would handle this situation together even though it was completely Harry's thing and Louis had no place in that. Well, apparently to Harry, Louis had a place in this without knowing what it was.

As soon as Maria had taken a step back, a young woman came into view and she looked exactly like Harry. The same emerald green sparkling eyes, the same chocolate brown hair, just less curly. But they had the same smile. That was one hundred per cent Harry's sister. It had to be or this would be weird.

"Abby?" Harry barely got the name out as shocked as he was, sitting up on the bed and Louis followed suit to put his hand on Harry's back in support. "What are you doing here?".

"I came home for my semester break and you weren't there again. The last time they told me you were with Niall and some friends for a week but this time, I didn't buy it" Abby let him know.

"Well, that wasn't exactly a lie but also not the truth" Harry noted tensely. This was the first time Louis has ever seen him tense.

"I'm really dying to know the whole truth, Harry. How about we go out somewhere to eat something and we talk about everything?" Abby suggested anxiously.

"Or we could stay here and talk about everything" Harry offered a different idea, side-eyeing Louis. That's when it hit Louis. Harry didn't want to dismiss him and tell him to leave.

"It's beautiful outside, Haz. Go with her. We talk when you're back" Louis moved to the edge of the bed to stand up.

"No, you're staying" Harry pulled him back, almost making him fall down onto his back. As soon as they locked eyes, Harry paled with big eyes. "I mean, if you want to, of course. Because I really would love for you to stay. I don't think I can do this alone".

"I really don't wanna intrude on your family reunion" Louis bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from cooing over Harry's adorable antics as soon as he had feared that he had done something wrong, like ordering him to do something. He never did and Louis knew that. Harry was definitely panicking too fast.

"You're not" Harry insisted stubbornly, looking as if he wanted to say more but was holding himself back. "If you wanna talk, Louis stays. I won't do this without him, okay Abby?".

"That's fine with me. I'm just happy to see you" Abby agreed immediately.

"Then come over here, so we can talk. I really don't feel like moving at all today" Harry scooted closer to Louis and patted the spot on his other side for his sister. In the end, they were sitting in a half circle in the middle of the bed with Harry in between them.

"Before you tell me how you ended up here I need to tell you that I love you just the way you are, Harry. I don't agree with them and can't believe it has come to this" Abby rushed out desperately.

"Really?" Harry teared up already.

"Of course. You're my little brother and it doesn't matter who or what you love. You're still you and I love you unconditionally" Abby hugged him suddenly and Louis watched them with a heavy heart.

"I love you, too" Harry hugged her back before letting go to get his story out. "The thing is, I know they love me as well, just in their very own way. Their religious beliefs make them blind to see so much. They never accepted me or acknowledged my boyfriends for being that. They only ever addressed them as my friends".

"That's so ignorant" Abby frowned indignantly.

"It really is but I tried to understand them because they're the only family members we have left. At one point, I just couldn't handle their ignorance and hatred anymore. With Mum and Dad out of the picture and you being at uni in Famumria, there was only one place I could go. Niall's and that's where we are. Here, I have people who accept me and went through similar scenarios, most of them way worse than mine. I was actually very lucky" Harry told her his story in a summed-up version but Louis could still see that it was hard for him. No matter how 'harmless' his story was in Harry's eyes, it was still hard to lose your last remaining family over social norms and lack of understanding and acceptance.

"I can tell you're a lot happier now than when I left or the last time I've seen you but ... Harry, you could have told me about this. You could have called me to let me know what was happening. I would have been there to support you" Abby sounded so broken.

"I know and I'm sorry but I was so scared you might push me away as well. So, I simply disappeared" Harry looked down in shame but Louis was quick to caress his knee soothingly.

"I get that. I really do. I just wish I would have known sooner" Abby sighed out shakily.

"And I'm really sorry but I kinda needed this time alone to really find myself and I did. I found great friends and some really special people" Harry grabbed Louis' hand, which was still caressing his knee. That motion caused them to lock eyes and share a tiny smile before Louis had to look away or he would be lost with no way back. "And I've got a job to stand on my own two feet"

"That's amazing, H" Abby smiled upon hearing that, definitely glancing at their touching hands. "Is it in a bakery?".

"How could you possibly know that?" Harry squeaked out.

"Seriously? It's most you thing ever" Abby looked at him as if he were dumb.

"She is right, Haz. When you told me about this it just made sense. A bakery just screams your name" Louis agreed with her.

"He gets it" Abby smirked smugly.

"It's just the most logical thing on this planet. The only other thing I could possibly think of would be a flower shop" Louis continued teasingly, making Abby laugh out loud.

"Or maybe a music teacher for little kids" Abby threw in.

"That's definitely more Louis' thing" Harry mumbled poutily.

"I can see you doing that as well" Louis nudged Harry's chin. "That's why I really don't get why you're studying biology".

"Biology? Really?" Abby cackled as if this was the funniest thing she had ever heard.

"Ey" Harry huffed insulted.

"Naw, Haz. Don't sulk now. We're only messing with you, Love. It's so easy to tease you and make you blush" Louis cooed at him this time, poking Harry's cheek until his dimples were back.

"You really like that, huh?" Harry full-on beamed at him.

"I do, yeah" Louis grinned shamelessly.

"Well, fine. Then do that as much as you want but could you stop poking my cheek? I'm smiling, okay? You can stop" Harry tried to contain his huge smile but was hopelessly failing. He took a hold of Louis' finger and guided it away from his cheek but didn't let go.

"Smiling suits you better than sulking. Your dimples are too cute to hide away" Louis blurted out before he could stop himself.

"Really? You've never told me that before" Harry's eyes seemed to sparkle or maybe this was only Louis' imagination.

"Don't get used to it" Louis replied with no edge to his voice, bumping their shoulders together to signal he was joking.

"Can't promise that" Harry was grinning again.

"Um ... I really don't wanna bother you two but um ... could we possibly get something to drink or even some food? I'm quite literally starving" Abby coughed to get their attention.

Both boys jumped at that sound and turned back around to face her. She had a smug expression on her face, that Louis chose to ignore but Harry seemed to walk right into that blunder. "Oh God, sorry. Yeah, of course. I'll get you something".

"We can just go somewhere ...".

"No, I get you something from Nina. Remember her?" Harry stood up from the bed, almost crashing to the floor.

"I do, yeah" Abby looked highly amused. "Her food is amazing".

"See? I'll get us something" Harry wobbled over to the door.

"I can help you with...".

"No, Lou. You really don't need to. Stay and relax. I know you had an exhausting day. I'm back in a moment" Harry declined his offer for help and left him all alone with his sister.

"Exhausting day, mh?" Abby hooked curiously.

"Yeah, I had work after uni. It was my first official day and it was something" Louis answered awkwardly, no clue on what to do.

"Where do you work?" Abby checked interested.

"At the Youth Centre. I give the kids piano lessons and help them with their homework if needed" Louis let her know proudly.

"Wow,  " Abby marvelled impressed. "So, you play piano? That's sick".

"I do. I study music" Louis said for lack of a better reply.

She somehow seemed to sense his discomfort. "Have you and Harry played together then? I mean, guitar and piano".

"Not yet but we wrote a song together for the concert. That was nice" Louis told her, still a bit tense.

"Which concert?" Abby wanted to know confusedly.

"The house is in danger. We need money, so the boys and I are organizing a benefit concert to raise some money and get attention to the house. Not many people know it exists. Harry and I will perform together with three of our friends. Five songs or so. We only have two ready so far but I know we will get everything ready in time. Harry and I are a good team. We got this" Louis let her in on their plan and relaxed more with every new word.

"This sounds like a brilliant idea. I'll help wherever I can. You can count on me" Abby offered her help to him. "So, you and Harry seem quite close".

"We are. He is amazing and we're good friends. He just gets me in a way almost no one else does. Only my best friend Jonah is close to that level but in a completely different way. Harry is just so ... I don't know. Different. Understanding, accepting, kind, supportive and just sees what's going on with people when they're unable to let someone in. He finds a way through a secret backdoor" Louis started rambling about Harry and realised it sounded more like raving.

"He looks comfortable around you and from what I saw so far, he really cares about you and how you feel and ... I just felt he wants to make you feel safe? Does that make sense?" Abby tried to find the right words.

"It does. He does make me feel safe, which is something only Jonah ever managed to do and it's different. It makes me wanna run away but I could never stay away from him. I'd be running right back to him" Louis shrugged, lost somewhere in his thoughts.

"I'd love to tease you because this was very cheesy but it's just beautiful to hear and see the way you look when you talk about my brother. I'm happy he has you in his life now. Someone who makes him happy and sees him the way he really is and appreciates that completely" Abby sounded very emotional.

"I really appreciate... What do you mean by the way I look when I talk about him? I don't look any different than when I talk about my other friends because that's what we are. Friends" Louis' voice was getting higher the more he talked.

"Are you sure about that? The way you talk about him, he is not just a friend to you. I can't even remember how many times you said he is different and your eyes just betray you. They ...".

"They what?" Louis shrieked almost panicked.

"Your eyes reflect the way you really feel, if you actively know that or not. Your eyes show nothing but affection when you talk about him. They glow and sparkle when you say his name, Louis. And when you're both next to each other you forget that the world around you exists. I saw that happening" Abby enlightened him.

Baffled, Louis openly stared at her and had no idea what to say. He kept repeating her words in his mind and really thought about them. He did appreciate Harry for who he was and loved being with him, no matter what they did. When Harry was near Louis felt safe and just happy and Harry always found a way to calm him down or comfort him. And today, Louis had been able to do the same for Harry. All he had wanted today was to make Harry feel safe and be there for him because he meant the world to him. Just thinking about not having him in his life made Louis panic and maybe that tiny look into a possible future made him realise something he should have noticed sooner. Maybe he had noticed it before. He definitely did but he has been so freaking scared of it. So freaking scared of saying it out loud and accepting the truth. He was still terrified but he couldn't deny this any longer.

When he could hear Harry and Niall stumbling up the stairs in the far distance and laughing their asses off, Louis felt his heart jump in his chest at the mere sound. That's when he knew.

He locked eyes with Abby, who had a knowing smile on her face. When his heart jumped another time after hearing Harry's voice, he only cursed under his breath. "Fuck, I do have a crush on Harry".    

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Harry admitted his feelings for Louis ... and Louis realised he has a crush on Harry. What is he gonna go next?