(Photo of Mia in the media. I picture her as Hailey Williams.)

~L~

Lunch had been... interesting, to put it lightly.

Louis had noticed the flare of jealousy in Harry's eyes as the man sat across from him and Mia, saw how he was practically glaring daggers at his best friend. Call him mean, but he rejoiced in witnessing that reaction.

He was never the one to play games though, so instead of carrying on with making Harry jealous, he opted to be honest. The amount of honesty had even shocked him. No one besides him and Mia had known about his sexuality, not even his parents. So, it came as a surprise when he confessed to Harry that he had no interest in women.

Even though he knew Harry wouldn't judge him, a part of him expected the man to be disgusted, to stomp on his heart. But when that reaction didn't come, Louis went on to tell him that he liked someone. He just hoped that Harry understood the unspoken.

And maybe he would have said something more if they hadn't been rudely interrupted by others.

Throughout the lunch, he couldn't take his eyes off of Harry, kept staring at the man and blushed each time upon getting caught. He was positive he hadn't blushed that much in his entire life.

He sighed and let his head fall back on the pillow, draping an arm over his face to shield his eyes from the onslaught of sun shining through his window.

He heard the door to his room open and close quietly before a weight dropped down on his legs.

"Louis!" Mia shrieked beside his ear, he was sure he would go deaf if he carried on hanging out with her. He needed new friends.

"What?" He asked, still not uncovering his eyes.

"So... tell me more about that handsome English-man, I definitely saw some stares being exchanged." He could hear the smirk in her voice, but more than that, he was grateful that Mia didn't judge him.

"He is not English. Well he is by birth, but he has spent more than half of his life in America."

"Mhm, you would know better," she teased and he finally removed his arm to confirm that she was smirking.

"He mentioned once, that's why I know," he mumbled in defence.

"And you remembered from just that one time," she egged on.

"Shut up," he groaned and rolled over to make her fall on the floor.

"Hey!"

"What?" He asked innocently, suppressing his smile.

She rolled her eyes and pushed him to lay down beside him.

"Well, his accent doesn't seem to be American," she mused.

"It was when he first came here, and I might have said that it sounded awful," Louis spoke with a sheepish look, "Although, trust me it was far from awful, his voice is so damn... sexy."

Mia smirked before schooling her expression and turning serious, "Does he know you like guys?"

"I told him before you guys came barging through," he admitted and raised his eyebrow when Mia's mouth fell open.

"What was his reaction?"

"Positive, I am guessing. Didn't really get the time to analyse much. Oh, and... I might have hinted that I like him."

"Do you think he feels the same?" She asked softly, carefully.

Louis hesitated before nodding, "I have gut feeling that he does, and you know it never fails me."

"You utter knob!" Mia shouted out of nowhere, sitting up and pulling him to stand. "What are you doing here then? You almost told him you like him and now you are laying here uselessly. Go talk to him, you idiot!" She spoke while throwing a nice t-shirt at him, rolling her eyes in exasperation when he didn't start changing into it.

"What am I supposed to say?"

"Well, how often do you talk to him?"

"Daily," he admitted, feeling a bit overwhelmed as Mia rushed around, taking a comb to style his hair. He grabbed her hand to stop her, "He sees me everyday, I don't think it matters how I look."

"But it does-"

"No. He is a simple man, I know him. It doesn't matter to him whether I am waking up from sleep, or I am dressed up to go into town, he always looks at me with... adoration."

Mia smiled softly and hugged him, "I know it may seem exaggerated, but if he ever hurts you, I'll kill him."

"I will help you hide the body," he chuckled. "You don't seem put off that he is much older than me," he said with uncertainty lacing his voice.

"Lou, you both are consenting adults, I know you will always choose what's best for you. And honestly, I have never seen you so relaxed and carefree, you used to be so uptight before, so I am guessing he is good for you."

"Hey! I was never uptight!" He complained.

"Yes, you were."

He was about to argue when his mother's voice called from downstairs.

"Lou! We are heading out! You can stay at either Mia or at Harry's place for tonight!"

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow!" He called back.

"Where are your parents going?"

"Date night."

Mia grinned at him like a maniac and declared, "You are going over at Harry's."

He rolled his eyes and nodded. He would have gone anyway. Last night, he hadn't been able to go as Mia had came over and talked his ear off about her vacation, it was rather late when his head hit the pillow and he didn't want to wake Harry up.

Once Mia was on her way, he locked the door to his house and walked towards Harry's. He saw the man sitting on the front porch, reading through a book and scribbling something down, although from the look on his face, Louis could tell that Harry was thinking something.

"Hey," he spoke after sitting next to the man. Harry seemed to be pulled out of his deep thoughts as he turned to face him while Louis craned his neck to read the page that was opened on Harry's lap.

"Hey," Harry whispered back, seeming breathless.

"Why are you sitting outside?" He asked, peeking through under his fringe.

"I felt too lonely inside," Harry's voice was raw, his answer too honest. It made Louis' heart ache that Harry felt alone.

"You just have to say," he replied and shifted closer to the man, laying his head on Harry's shoulder. There were only a few people around Harry's age and Louis wasn't too eager to introduce the man to them as he didn't want him falling for someone else. "Is this your novel?" He asked after a while, peeking again at the page.

"No, I am editing this one," Harry answered and shifted to face him, "I'll let you read one of my novels, not today, but soon."

"Really?" Louis looked up at him with excitement radiating off of him. It took him by surprise when he hugged Harry and kissed his cheek once the man nodded in confirmation. Instead of cowering back or running away, he rested his head again on Harry's shoulder and continued looking around, sometimes peeking at the book as Harry worked.

They sat in silence, and Louis loved how comfortable it was, how he just enjoyed the moment with Harry. He was neither anxious nor worried, simply hopeful that what was between them would soon turn into something beautiful.

"You wanna have dinner with me tonight?" Harry asked, pulling him away from his thoughts.

He nodded with a smile, "Yes, of course, and I hope you don't mind if I sleep here? Mum and Dad are out for the night."

Harry rolled his eyes and stood up, offering his hand to help Louis on his feet. "When have I ever denied you to sleep here. Also, I missed you last night."

He was shocked with Harry's bold confession, but it also spurred him to admitting that he felt no different.

"I missed you too," he whispered lowly, "That's why I came here rather than going to Mia's."

"I am glad," Harry pulled him in, not letting go of his hand until they reached the kitchen.

He squeaked in surprise as the man lifted him with no effort and made him sit on the counter.

"I know you don't cook so, you can just watch and keep me company while I do," Harry instructed. Louis nodded and grabbed a cherry from the fruit bowl. "What do you want to eat?"

He shrugged and pondered over the question before speaking, "Tacos!"

"Tacos it is then," Harry agreed and patted his thigh twice before setting to work.

Louis was quite happy with where he was, he could easily admire Harry bending over and rummaging through the refrigerator. Harry turned back around while Louis was sucking on a strawberry, he noticed how green eyes lingered at his mouth before snapping up.

"I have chicken, salmon, shrimp and pork. What kind of meat do you like?"

"Chicken," he answered after popping the fruit away from his lips.

Harry cleared his throat and looked away, indulging himself in preparing the filling. Louis watched the muscles of his back and arms flex under the t-shirt as he handled the stove.

He jumped down the counter and sauntered his way over to the cooktop. Pressing himself to Harry's side, he peeked at the skillet in which the chicken was searing. "You are quite a cook," he commented as he saw all the spices and the beautiful colour the meat was turning into.

"My grandfather taught me," Harry spoke with a soft smile, and to brag his skills tossed the filling in the pan.

"Show off," Louis muttered with a roll of his eyes, but a smile broke its way at his lips.

"You wanna go put on a movie? This might take a while. I have some latest ones in the cabinet below the t.v."

"Nah, I am good," Louis shrugged with a dismissive flick of his wrist, "Besides the food would keep calling me back here."

"Is that so?"

"Mhm, my love for food is great enough to tolerate your boring presence."

"Ahh, and here I thought that you enjoyed my company, silly me," Harry chuckled and Louis joined in.

"Silly you, indeed."

Harry shook his head, amusement lingering in his eyes as he turned to Louis after turning the stove off. He watched the man spoon some filling and blow over it cool it down.

"Open up," Harry spoke lowly while stepping closer to him, holding the spoon near his lips.

He parted his lips and wrapped them around the silverware, eyes fluttering close the taste on his tongue, a sudden moan leaving his mouth, "It tastes so good," he spoke after swallowing, noticing how Harry's dark gaze lingered at his lips before the man turned away with a quiet thanks. "I wanna help, too," he offered when Harry moved on to chop the vegetables.

"Alright, here," Harry slid the board over to him, "Cut them neatly. I will start with rice and corn."

"Ooh, nice. Tacos and side dishes; are you trying to impress me?" He teased and expected Harry to fumble over his words but was shocked as the man stepped closer to him, backing him against the counter and trapping him between his arms.

No words were spoken between their intense staring as minutes passed. It was Harry whose eyes first dropped to his lips, mouth parting in a shaky exhale.

Disappointment hit his chest when Harry pulled away with a hard expression, going back to handling the stove and he too started chopping the vegetables.

The silence was tense and he hated it but no one attempted to rectify it. They worked silently and he left the kitchen when he was done. He did select a random movie to cover what was going to be an awkward dinner.

Harry came out about half an hour later with two plates and sodas, placing them on the table before sitting beside Louis.

"You started without me?" Harry asked, gesturing to the screen.

"Well, seeing as you refused to even look at me, I didn't get a chance to ask," he picked up a plate and turned his attention back to the screen.

As assumed, the dinner was silent and tense. He despised this awkwardness between them. He couldn't even compliment Harry for the amazing food. The man took his seat after clearing the dishes and Louis still refused to acknowledge him.

Harry sighed and took the remote to turn off the television.

"Maybe I am not getting it all correct, but if I am, then this," Harry gestured between the two of them, "is wrong, Louis. So, so wrong."

He looked up to see the conflict on Harry's face, saw how difficult it was for him to go against his heart. Taking matters into his own hands, he shifted to straddle Harry's legs, holding his face delicately and resting his forehead against the man's.

"Then why does it feel so right?" He asked in a whisper. Harry's eyes fluttered close as if trying to shield himself from the pain.

"You are so much younger than me," Harry argued.

"But I am of legal age and I am capable of making my own decisions."

Harry wrapped him in his arms, pulling him close to bury his face in Louis' neck. They stayed like that for a long while, Harry breathing shakily against his skin and Louis let him take his time. When Harry finally pulled back, his eyes were filled with pain and his next words shocked Louis.

"I can't lose you as well. It will destroy me."

~

This was the first chapter that I had planned when I thought of writing this book. :)

I won't lie, I am a little upset with how it turned out. It is mostly dialogue and I am not sure I like it that much. But, oh well.

Tell me what you think of Mia? Of Louis and Harry becoming bold with their actions? What Harry said at the end?

Should I let them have their first kiss in the next chapter? Well, technically I should, but I love to tease you guys so we'll see. :P

Does anyone else love Tacos? I love Tacos! :D

Vote and comment of you liked the chapter.