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Hello, it's Harry x

Harry who?

Styles?

Again, who?

Never mind.

Kidding, fam. Hey!

Hello...

Heyyy wassup . You good?

I think so?

Alright, well, what's up?

I was wondering when you would be free to study?

Well, I work after 9 pm Monday thru Thursday, so Friday, Saturday or Sunday? I have an exam in one week, and honestly stats can smd

Oh! Why? Stats is so much fun! Here, how about Sundays? Say, the library on Main Street?

Lame. Can't I just come over? Or you come over.

I guess...if you're okay with that. I can go over?

Yeah yeah. Don't get your hopes up fam, it's just studying okay.

Of course. I'll see you tomorrow then?

Alright I'll send the address. Any time. After 12 pm.

____

Louis saved Harry's phone under Dimples🌟, and Harry saved Louis' phone under Lou.

___

Louis sighed impatiently and smoothed out his hair to the best of his ability. Zayn walked into his room and leaned against Louis' doorframe.

"Damn, date?" Zayn asked.

Louis scoffed, "What else?" He fixed his tight jeans so that they just perfectly accentuated his bum.

"Where?"

"Urasawa? I think?"

Zayn whistled, "You're fucking with me, they serve like 10 people every night, and checks are easily 1k?"

"yeah, he's loaded. Trust fund kid,"

"Sometimes, you're really ridiculous. Also, what the fuck- you're gonna have to put out. Also, one of these days you're gonna get called out and I am just going to laugh," Zayn grinned.

"You know I don't put out on the first date Zayn! I'm not that crappy. Oh, Harry is coming by tomorrow,"

"Oh really? Thought he wasn't your type,"

"He isn't, but I can't fail Stats again, so yeah," Louis did a final hair sweep and turned towards Zayn. "So?"

"Bitchy, and rude most of the time but 10/10 otherwise."

Louis rolled his eyes, his phone vibrated and it was Greyson, the guy he was supposed to be meeting, texting to say he was outside.

"Well, wish me luck yeah," Louis smiled mischievously and waved a dismissive Zayn goodbye.

The Next Day

Louis awoke to loud knocking on the door. He turned in his bed and his face hit another warm body.

"Please be Zayn," Louis muttered, his eyes fluttered open but what he saw was a mop of golden hair and toned arms. "Shoot." Louis groaned.

The knocking downstairs continued. Louis slowly got up and put on an oversized t shirt, a quick glance at the clock established that it was 12:35 pm. Louis' eyes widened, "Double shoot," he murmured to himself. 

Golden hair, Grayson? Maybe! His eyes snapped open, and he gave Louis a small smile. Louis didn't return it.

"You gotta go," Louis exclaimed as he slipped on an oversized shirt and black sweat pants. He grabbed his phone and saw a text from Harry saying he was here. Just as Louis sent a "just a minute CURLS," Grayson spoke up.

"Okay, want to hang out next Friday?" Grayson asked as he stood up.

Louis tilted his head to the side, his blue eyes looking Grayson over. He smiled and nodded, "when and where babe?" He asked slyly. Grayson finished putting on clothes and they both walked downstairs.

"I'll text you yeah? Thanks for last night," Grayson leaned down and kissed Louis, Louis blushed and pulled back, all the air having left his system. Grayson pulled open the front door to reveal Harry, hand poised up in a fist ready to knock once more.

Grayson ignored Harry and simply gave Louis' hip one final squeeze before walking over to his expensive car.

Harry only glanced at him once before turning his full attention to Louis who was looking at him apprehensively.

The happiness that had been on Harry's face had all but disappeared. A small polite smile was the only thing left.

"Hi," Louis said softly.

"I'm sorry, am I too early?" Harry asked.

"Oh, no. Everything's fine. Come in, I'll go get my course packet and laptop and we can get this over with," Louis let Harry pass him and he lead him to the couch. "Sorry for the mess, I think Zayn is at work, so, yeah, give me a minute." And Louis walked away, his movements purposeful.

Harry sat down on the couch, he was careful not to touch anything. He didn't know the limits yet. He was just here to help Louis with math. That's it.

Louis came back with his arms full of stuff. He looked at Harry, then at the spot beside Harry and just dumped everything there. Harry's eyes flickered to where Louis' shirt rode up, and to his neck, where he saw all the little bruises that painted his skin.

Harry's heart slightly broke, no more so than usual, but it still hurt. Louis sat down with his casual smile and side eyed Harry. "So, where do we begin?"

Harry mustered up a small smile, he turned to Louis and said, "So, do you know the significance of the p-value and what it means?"

"No, should I?" Louis asked.

Harry's smile quirked up, "Yeah, yeah you should."

"Oh, well. Shit. Looks like we are gonna be spending quite some time together curls." Louis laughed. "Sorry,"

Harry's heart perked up at the sight of Louis laughing, it warmed at the way Louis' eyes twinkled and the fact that he laughed so big the sides of his eyes crinkled up. It was so real. It was beautiful.

"Oh, don't worry, it's okay," Harry moved closer to Louis as Louis opened his laptop, their arms brushed against each other, and both made a grab for Louis' Stats book, as their hands brushed for the briefest moment Harry's heart leaped whereas Louis just leafed through the pages.

Oh, this was going to hurt a lot.

But as they studied, and Harry made Louis laugh with corny math jokes.

("where do you come up with this stuff Harold?")

Harry wouldn't have it any other way.
___

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