~L~

Louis was shocked to his core, still clutching the thin white sheet to his chest. Harry just barged in and saw him in almost nude. If that wasn't embarrassing enough, the man had the audacity to judge Louis' taste in literature, to insult the book he was passionate about.

He was not going to let that go so easily, doing that would only make this man think even highly of himself and encourage him to treat Louis like a measly human.

He stood from the bed far too quickly, causing a little rush to pass through his head. Tugging on his t-shirt that was previously discarded on the floor, Louis made his way out of his room and over to the other one beside his. He knocked hard, unbothered whether Harry was sleeping or doing whatsoever.

As the door opened, Louis had to remind himself that this was the man who thought too highly of himself, as if he had a right to criticise Louis' choices. Harry stood there with a messy bun holding his hair, his torso mostly bare other than the exception of beautiful ink marking it, long lean legs covered by pyjamas.

"What do you want?" Harry asked and his tone was again dismissive, as if he would be anywhere rather than around him. And, to hell with him, Louis couldn't tolerate him either but he was loyal to things he loved and would not leave without defending his favourite piece of writing.

He let himself in without invite - after all it was his house - pushing past Harry and folding his arms across his chest once he was inside.

"There's a thing or two that I would like you to know," Louis started, "First, don't ever again try to enter into my room like that. Second, nothing gives you a right to criticise my choices, absolutely nothing. And third, what you just called a poor choice of literature is one of the best books to ever be published."

There was spark of something in Harry's eyes, a certain warmth that had Louis melting for a moment but it was shielded again by an icy wind.

"I don't care what you get out of trying to persuade me into thinking any different, but maybe we could have this talk some other time. I am tired and in dire need of some sleep, so it was nice of you to check on me, I will surely call you if I need something. Now, goodnight."

Louis was brimming with anger, well not anger but resent surely. Harry was too full of himself, or maybe he was a bonehead. Definitely bonehead, Louis decided.

He gritted his teeth and opted to drop the argument.

"I have never seen someone as arrogant as you," he commented and was about to leave when Harry's voice stopped him.

"You don't even know me and you judged me despite that. You call me arrogant when you have been nothing but a brat all day. I don't think I was wrong when I called you a kid, you act like one after all, throwing a tantrum for a book which got famous by some luck."

Louis was stunned to silence, not only this man called him a kid again but also said that he was a brat throwing a tantrum.

"Oh Styles, I think I should congratulate you. I have never despised a person as much as I do you. I was so right about you, you think too highly of yourself. Let me tell you what, the world doesn't revolve around you," his tone was calm as he spoke but Louis had thunder inside him.

He stormed off to his room and locked the door, flinging himself on the bed and burying his face in the pillow as unwanted tears rolled down his cheeks. He was not sad, no, he was angry and annoyed. He hated to be called a kid and for that to happen twice in one day by the same person was making his head hurt.

Harry was something else, no one had ever been successful in making Louis think of them for longer than a few minutes. He didn't like that Harry's words mattered to him, that what he said or thought made Louis unsettled.

Mostly he didn't care what people thought, everyone could have their own opinion, but it seemed as if what Harry thought of him or his tastes did in fact matter, and it was messing with his head. He could place no reason as to why this man bothered him so much.

He fell asleep sometime after midnight when the tears had dried on his cheeks and he was too exhausted. Though, as his eyes fell shut, Harry was still on his mind.

-

"Louis! Could you come here a second?" Harry's voice rang through the house.

Louis was reluctant in the morning to help him. It was pure torture to be in the man's company alone - to endure him without the barrier of his father - or so he thought at first.

His mother had made Harry stay over for breakfast as well and Louis simply could not understand why his parents seemed to like him. But, he could somewhat guess. Harry was nice and polite to his mother, and of course knew his father for a long time. What he couldn't understand was that why was the man so cold towards him?

Although, he was proved wrong when he came over. Harry was somewhat nicer to him, his dismissing hand flick had not made an appearance till then, he was not ordering Louis around or doing anything that could possibly make Louis snap.

He placed down the vase that he was dusting and followed the stairs up to the study. Louis had taken upon himself with cleaning and arranging- well if he had to help, he might as well do it the way he wanted to.

"What do you want?" He pretended to be bored, not giving any hint that he had noticed and was appreciating the change in the man's nature. After all, Harry had made him cry just the other night.

Harry gave him a small smile- a mere hint of it, and it was enough for Louis to notice the dimple on his cheek. "Would you help me arrange these books on the shelf? I know you hold a passion for them."

Louis eyed the cartons full of books, all kept neatly and sorted by genres. He was confused, they were already arranged and just had to be put up in the shelf. Couldn't Harry do that himself? He was very much enjoying not being in the same room with him.

"Alright..." he didn't hide his skepticism as he made his way over to the man, raising an eyebrow when Harry kept standing in his way.

"Thanks, I'll check whatever is left and then I'll make us some tea," he smiled again and this time it was a little more than before, causing a weird feeling in Louis' stomach.

Louis worked for about an hour, changing the sequence and putting them up with his preference. He had read some of those, but still there were a lot more that he hadn't. His mind had already decided what he would ask in return of the labour he had been forced to do.

Harry made nice tea, not that Louis would compliment him. They sat at the back porch, facing the pool which was empty for now as they sipped the warm liquid from their cups.

"You are gonna let me swim in your pool," Louis spoke nonchalantly, eyes fixed on a random tile.

"Why would I do that?"

"Because I helped you a lot today, and this won't be the only thing I ask for in return, and also you have been rude to me."

Harry was quiet before he sighed and Louis saw him nod through his peripheral vision.

"I- uhh, I wanted to apologise for my behaviour. I agree that I was rude, especially last night."

"I accept your apology, but that doesn't mean I hate you any less," he turned to face the man and smiled to show that he was joking. He didn't hate Harry, but he refused to like him either.

Harry nodded with a light chuckle, "I guess I could live with that."

"Good."

They sat there in silence even when their cups ran empty, it was odd that the silence was comfortable.

"Why did you call my choice in literature, poor?" Louis asked softly after a while, his insecurity of being judged slipping into his voice.

"I don't know, maybe because what you were reading is overrated," his tone was not mocking, it was genuine and it baffled Louis.

"It is not overrated. Not at all."

"Well the author could have written something much better if he had put his head in it. Alright, there was a storyline, but there was no side story to it, no subplot about the characters' personality or any life challenges. No one has a simple life--"

"Well, it was his first work. Although it might have been simple, but that was its beauty. It captures your attention, it makes you want to read it again. There was no life-changing or havoc wreaking drama, and that's- that's what normal is, that's what people can relate to."

"But people also do have drama in their lives."

"Not necessarily. They may or may not have issues. Okay, fine, everyone has some issues in their life, but maybe the author wanted to show that even a simple love can be so beautiful, where the protagonists don't have to face any ill-intended people, where there aren't families who don't love them," Louis stated his view, now completely facing Harry, their bodies closer than before.

"Why are you so passionate about this book?" Harry asked with a sigh, as if accepting his defeat and Louis grinned in triumph.

"Well, I love the whole series, but I am particularly passionate about this book because it was what made me fall in love with reading."

"Really?" Harry seemed shocked and a little pleased, which was weird.

"Also because it is set in Italy," Louis shrugged with a grin and Harry laughed at his expression.

"Of course. You Italians are crazy. How can someone be so short, yet be so fiery?" Harry smirked at him, gesturing at his small frame.

"Hey! I'll show you crazy!" Louis exclaimed before emptying the bottle beside him on top of Harry's head.

"Louis!" Harry shouted after him as he ran out the front door and towards his house, "Come back you little menace!"

"See you later, Harry!"

-

How was the chapter? I have this story planned out but any suggestions are welcome as I might include them.

Next chapter is in Harry's POV. :D

Vote and comments are always appreciated!