We're throwing a bit more of Jake into the mix now. Don't really know much about him yet apart from him pissing Louis off.

Tell me what you think in the comments. I hope you're okay with these short chapters and are not disappointed that you don't get huge drama in every single chapter. It's a process and the fake dating thing is only the trigger for everything else. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > 

During the next two days, Niall and Sean have done everything in their power to help Harry with his plan while Harry was being constantly touchy with Louis to prove a point. He was always clinging to him and made sure Jake was seeing every piece of it or one of his friends. Harry was acting all over the top in love right into Jake's face and Louis just let him do his thing. He never initiated anything but he also never pushed Harry away. Both boys were on the same page and Harry only thought about finally getting what he wanted for so long.

"Why do we even have an art course? We're not Zayn" groaned Niall next to him.

"It's not like it's going to kill you to draw a bird" replied Louis mockingly.

"Does this mean your weird drawing is supposed to be a bird?" Niall didn't back down.

"No, it's you" countered Louis skilfully.

"I look weird to you?" raised Niall an eyebrow at him.

"You didn't know that? Oops" shrugged Louis sheepishly.

"Nialler, everyone knows you're a weird guy" threw Sean in.

"You're my best friend. Stop siding with Tommo" huffed Niall fakely offended.

"I always side with those who are right and that's mostly Louis" bit Sean back a laugh.

"Why do I like you again?" questioned Niall with a huff.

"Because I'm fabulous" played Sean with his imaginary hair.

"But I'm fabulouis, so no one beats me" chuckled Louis.

"You're the only one who could make something this stupid work" laughed Niall at his friend.

"Because it's the truth" grinned Harry happily.

"You got that right, Haz" winked Louis at him.

"So fabulouis, you're ready for your first rehearsal with Liron?" changed Niall the subject.

"Definitely. It's gonna be interesting but I think it will work out good, in the end. Àmber and Aria are ecstatic and Zayn can't wait for it. Liron really impressed him" answered Louis and Harry should listen but he was already thinking about a new imaginary conversation with Jake. Hopefully, he would see him today.

"Hazza?" snapped Sean his fingers in front of his face.

"Huh?" blinked Harry confused.

"Louis asked you a question" told Sean him with a grin.

"Sorry. I was distracted. What did you ask?" faced Harry now his best friend.

"I just wanted to know if you'll be there today" repeated Louis his question.

"Of course, Lou. I have nothing else planned" assured Harry him.

"Great. Too bad Liam has his stupid dance lesson. This could have been a funny hour with just us" was Niall excited.

"And Liron and the girls" pointed Sean out.

"Meh, meh".

Arriving in the cafeteria, Harry directly spotted Jake and he was already looking at him. Suddenly, he felt someone grabbing his hand and a second later, Louis was walking right next to him, holding his hand tightly. Harry should be shocked by this act because it was the first time in days that it was coming from Louis but Jake's face had changed the second Louis appeared and Harry had seen it. His plan was working great.

"Look who is here. The power couple consisting of mature sexual Harry and Fabulouis. What an honour" joked Niall when they sat down.

"Can you be normal for once?" looked Aria pointedly at him.

"Not everyone is as boring as you, Ari Darling" threw Niall her a kiss.

"She is not boring, you mean Spanish devil" glared Àmber at him.

"And Niall is not mean" shot Maya back.

"Funny how your mere presence causes an argument" commented Zayn on the scene.

"Niall's or Halo's?" asked Liam amused.

"Doesn't matter" shrugged Zayn and started eating.

"Halo?" looked Harry confusedly at him.

"Your ship name, brainy. But I prefer Larry" explained Niall shortly.

"Because you're strange. Halo sounds better" tapped Liam Niall's forehead.

"What about Haylou?" munched Sean on his food.

"Also an option" mused Zayn carefreely.

"Nope. Only Larry. I'm the one giving ships their names" shook Niall his head.

"And why, my dear friend?" rested Liam his chin on his hands.

"Because I'm Spanish" huffed Niall as if that would make sense.

"Great reason" snorted Zayn.

"That should be our decision, don't ya think?" quipped Harry in now. It was his ship, so he should choose the name. Just like with Jake. He had decided against Hayke and for Jayden.

"Your ship is not even real. No rights for you" rolled Liam his eyes at him.

"Zouis is also not real" said Harry stubbornly.

"Realer than Halo" thought Liam out loud.

"What are you ...".

"Larry. It's still Larry!" exclaimed Niall offended.

"We should better go with it" chuckled Sean entertained.

"If you wanna survive this game phase you better should" remarked Àmber weirdly.

"Game phase?".

"She meant the Larry is real ship phase. As long as it's going on you should better give Niall what he wants. Won't be for long anyway" explained Aria a little bit.

"She's right. Just agree on it" faced Sean Harry now.

"But it sounds dumb" huffed Harry like a child.

"Fits then" muttered Zayn quietly.

"Lou" whined Harry and made big eyes at him.

"There's not much I can do, Haz. Niall is an evil and stubborn little bitch and you know that. But just so you know, I prefer whatever you would choose" flicked Louis Harry's nose and earned a smile in return.

"Haylou or Halo" told Harry him beamingly.

"Whatever you want, Haz" smiled Louis fondly at him.

"Maybe not so dumb" nudged Liam Zayn slightly.  

"Just not good. Well, we should get going. The boys need to make everything ready for the band rehearsal" clapped Àmber into her hands.

"Yeah, she is right. Let's go, Tommy" dragged Zayn Louis with him.

"Zayn, stop kidnapping Louis. He is Hazza's boyfriend" called Niall after him with a loud laugh.

"Let's catch up to them" rushed Aria them out of the cafeteria.

"Have fun, guys. See you after school" went Liam down a different hallway.

"Yes, Lima. Move that sexy ass down into the dancing room and shake your hips, Shakira" wolf-whistled Niall exaggeratedly, causing Liam to flip him off.

"Maya, how do you endure that?" questioned Aria her friend.

"You have to love it" shrugged Maya unbothered.

"You're the only one who loves that" mocked Aria her playfully.

"No, we all do and now, enough. Friends are not supposed to always make fun of each other. Not even jokingly" was Harry not having any of it. This whole bickering and playful mocking was getting on his nerves.

"Fine, Princess. We stop" patted Niall his back.

"C'mon. The rehearsal is starting" opened Àmber the door for them.

"Give me a second. I need to text Gem. I forgot to do that. I can't hear my thoughts in there" took Harry out his phone.

"Don't take too long" warned Sean him lightly.

"Just go" waved Harry him off with a laugh.

His friends walked into the room while Harry opened the chat with Gemma on his phone. His mum had asked him this morning to ask her about tonight but he had forgotten about it because he was so focused on Jake. Quickly, Harry tipped in the message, asking his sister if she would be there tonight with her boyfriend or without. Harry really hoped without. Gemma was so different when her boyfriend was around.

"Texting loverboy?" sounded this way too familiar voice close to him.

"No, my sister. Lou is rehearsing already" looked Harry up and directly into Jake's face.

"Sorry, I completely forgot about the band. You're going in now?" checked Jake in a voice Harry hasn't heard before.

"That was the plan" replied Harry curtly, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Too bad but then I won't stop you" stuffed Jake his hands into his trouser pockets.

"You're okay?" studied Harry his face. He looked almost sad.

"Will be. I just ... I don't know. I feel bad for what happened last week at the audition. I was pissing Louis off and caused problems between you two and that wasn't my intention. It's almost second nature to rile him up by now" admitted Jake guiltily.

"But why? What's that with you and Louis?" wondered Harry. He really didn't get it.

"The basketball and football team just never got along. Probably started when they were the ones mostly practising outside and we weren't allowed to. It was irrational at first but then a stupid rivalry started somewhere along the lines" let Jake him know informatively.

"That's kinda dumb" said Harry bluntly. Inside he was wondering why Louis never told him about this.

"It really is but it gets dumber" sighed Jake and Harry just looked confusedly at him. "You know I have a friend on the football team. Alec. He wanted to play basketball but was denied the place in the team because he was too short. I was worried it could ruin our friendship now because of this dumb rivalry but it didn't. Until he told me he has a crush on someone in the team. And not just someone unimportant. The co-captain back then".

"What happened then?" Harry wanted to know curiously.

"I tried to help him with his crush because he was my friend. I pushed every bit of stupid fight between the teams away and focused on Alec. But this guy rejected him without a real good reason, just saying it wouldn't be a good idea. I was furious because Alec was so broken afterwards. I felt like this stupid boy just confirmed that the football team was a bunch of jerks, what is really dumb but I wasn't objective back then" let Jake him in on the past.

"I'm sorry for your friend and I understand your point, Jake. When it comes to protecting our friends we're never really objective" smiled Harry understandingly at him.

"Thanks, Hazza" smiled Jake back.

"No problem. I'm just surprised that Louis never told me about any of this" thought Harry out loud.

"Maybe he felt bad or thought it wasn't important enough" guessed Jake with a weird look on his face.

"Why should he feel b ... Wait, when did all of this happen?" was Harry connecting the dots in his mind. Right now, Louis was the captain of the team but he hasn't been the captain the whole time.

"Last year shortly before the Christmas break".

"Louis rejected your friend?" realised Harry shocked. He has been the co-captain last year. Louis was the guy, who had rejected Alec without giving him a reason. That was the reason Jake and Louis never got along.

"Yeah, but it doesn't matter anymore. I think Alec is over it and I should let it rest. Louis probably never intended on hurting him" shrugged Jake but Harry could see it was still bothering him.

"I really wanna know why he never told me this" was Harry starting to walk in a circle.

"I guess he was already crushing on you and Alec had no chance against you. Can't blame Louis for this" stopped Jake his nervous walking by putting his hands on Harry's arms.

"I don't think so" said Harry more to himself, knowing that could not be the reason because they were obviously not really dating.

"But I do. Believe me, you're irresistible and as soon as one is hooked they don't stand a chance. Louis was presumably gone pretty fast. Can relate" looked Jake deep into his eyes.

"Hazza, why are you still out ... Oh, sorry. Did I interrupt something?" came Niall barking through the door outside into the hallway, causing Jake to drop his hands.

"No, we were just talking" cleared Jake his throat.

"Good. Um, Louis was asking for you" spoke Sean up.

"I'm gonna leave you with this. See you around" smiled Jake one last time at him and Harry felt his heart leaving with him.

"You're gonna come in now? Louis is waiting, wants you to hear the new song" tilted Sean his head aside.

"No, I'm leaving. I don't care about this new song like he doesn't really seem to care about me. I'm going home now" decided Harry because he was mad at Louis for never telling him anything.

"Then I'm coming with you. I really don't wanna see Zayn and Max any longer" shuddered Niall at the thought.

"Wait, why Max? I thought they broke up" was Harry confused.

"They did but Max is still in there watching the rehearsal. His band is not rehearsing today so he accompanies Zayn. And believe me when I tell you it's disturbing. Still so much sexual tension in the room" informed Niall him.

"Then I'm really not going in there. My room sounds more appalling" tried Harry not to show his disgust on his face.

The three of them directly made their way towards the main entrance. They left the school building and went home with Harry. Inside the house they were met with Anne reading on the sofa.

"Hi Darling, you're home early. No rehearsal today?" closed Anne her book.

"Not for me, no. Did Gem text you?" bypassed Harry the band topic.

"Yep. She and Jordan will eat with us tonight because he is gone over the weekend" let Anne him know.

"Wonderful" rolled Harry his eyes at the thought of watching his lovestruck sister and her boyfriend all night.

"And how was school? How is it going with Jake and your plan?" asked Anne curiously.

"Very good" grinned Niall evilly.

"Niall" hissed Sean quietly and punched him in the ribs.

"Oh yeah?" raised Anne an eyebrow at them.

"It's really going good. Louis is doing a good job at riling him up and making him jealous. He is definitely interested. I'm almost there" reported Harry shortly, not really wanting to talk about Louis right now.

"Good for you. I hope it goes like you want it to" smiled Anne at her son before turning back to her book.

Sean, Niall and Harry went upstairs into his room and sat down on Harry's bed. They put on some music and faced each other.

"Is there a reason you wanted to leave?" asked Sean obviously worried.

"Just a bit exhausted" lied Harry automatically.

"Because of Jake?" wiggled Niall his eyebrows at him.

"We just talked" clarified Harry, knowing his friend way too good.

"And you were very close to each other with him touching you. Got excited?" smirked Niall at him nastily.

"I hate you".

"I hate you, too".

"You think everything is going back to normal when this is over and you're dating Jake?" voiced Sean suddenly concerned.

"Back to normal? What's different now?" Harry didn't understand.

"I don't know. Just a feeling. Something is off at the moment" seemed Sean a bit unsure.

"Everything will be as it was before. We're gonna graduate together and then rock Uni" was Niall sure of it.

Harry agreed in his head with Niall but also with Sean. Something was off but unlike Sean, Harry knew what it was. Louis having secrets from them, especially with Zayn. Harry was sure Zayn knew about Alec. Louis was changing or maybe his true self was only coming through now. Harry didn't know but he knew for sure that he wanted answers.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Louis rejected Alec and Jake is mad at him for this. Is Jake telling the truth? 

Does Harry have a reason to be mad at Louis and just leave?

Let me know what you think and vote if you liked it, loves :)