To Louis, it felt like this was it. Today would make them or break them. It was all or nothing. His friends had the chance to find a new passion or path for their future today. Louis was willing to do everything to help them find out what they wanted in life because Liam and Niall had voiced their struggles to him before. That's why Aurelio and Pablo had offered to let them look into everything they were doing here at their music school and integrated record label. Louis really hoped they would find something.

Right now, Liam and Niall were watching James and Derek work. James and Derek both worked as producers here at Vásquez Records and Louis had worked many times with them. They were absolutely amazing and great people. They loved their job and did everything with passion. This seemed to didn't go unnoticed by his friends, fortunately. Together with Zayn, Louis was simply watching them with a smile. He had no idea where Harry was.

"I never knew there were so many different options and choices to create the sound of a single song. I mean, of course, I knew ... It's just ... This is all so overwhelming. I feel like I've walked into heaven" Liam stumbled over his words excitedly.

"I know what you mean. Don't sweat it. We feel exactly the same" Derek reassured him understandingly.

"You seem to enjoy this. Have you ever worked on a song yourself?" James asked interested.

"Sadly not. I was never given the chance but I also never questioned it until now because I'm not good with words. Random melodies have also been more my thing but I never really thought about what I could do with them" Liam answered honestly.

"I can show you what you can do with them if you want" James offered him enthusiastically.

"I'd love that" Liam beamed happily.

"What about you? You don't seem as excited as your friend" Derek eyed Niall curiously.

"This is all very interesting but I'm not sure producing a song is really my thing" Niall looked really unsure.

"You have all the time in the world to find out if it is" Derek smiled encouragingly at him.

"I don't" Niall mumbled more to himself.

"Why don't you come with us, Niall? We're having a writing session right now. Maybe you're more of a songwriter like Louis" Delfi from Dolphin's Curve appeared in the room.

"If that's really okay" Niall gnawed on his bottom lip insecurely.

"Otherwise I wouldn't have offered it" Delfi snorted exhilarated.

"Go with her. It's a lot of fun to work with them" Louis encouraged him. "If you can endure all four of them long enough".

"Funny" Delfi dead-panned dryly.

"I'm always very funny" Louis shot back sassily.

"How about you move your sassy ass into the music room down the hall? I saw Harry going in there. He looked torn and deep in thoughts" Delfi threw him a certain look that he understood. "Now c'mon, Niall. We have some work to do".

"Is she always this bossy?" Niall wondered laughingly while he followed her.

"Always. Get used to it" Louis called after him.

"Come with me, Tommy" Zayn grabbed his wrist and pulled him out of the room into an empty classroom. "What's wrong?".

"What do you mean?" Louis blinked perplexedly.

"What's going on with Harry? He is kinda everywhere and nowhere and you look worried. Did something happen already? What did he do? Should I be worried?" Zayn inspected his face closely to see every tiny reaction.

Louis let out a long sigh. He really couldn't hide anything from Zayn. "It's nothing that happened really. It's ... There has been more than one moment that has shown me that Harry is thinking about signing with Jackson again even with everything he knows and that worries me. What could make him think this is a good idea? If he signs with him again what does that mean for us? He won't be able to come out and get rid of the stunts. Are we gonna break up when he leaves? Does he really want me or only the experience as long as he can? Is he only reliving his lost past before he goes back to his normal life? I really don't know, Joey".

"I wish I could give you the answers but I can't, Tommy. From the outside, it looks like Harry really likes you, is positively gone for you but ..." Zayn trailed off fidgety.

"What is it, Joey?" Louis needed to know.

"I'm not sure. He always looks tense and uncomfortable, glancing at everyone. I mean, I get that. He is not used to any of this. He isn't fully out and is worried someone might snitch but my gut feeling tells me there is more to it. He doesn't look convincing being with a guy in a normal way, apart from a bit of kissing here and there. I really hope it's just all the new and overwhelming feelings and not more. I wanna be wrong so badly. Maybe he is just overthinking everything and is scared he'll lose his whole career if he comes out as whatever he is ... with you" Zayn blurted his thoughts out to him honestly and Louis really appreciated that.

"One of the things I love about you is your honesty, Joey. Thank you for always telling me what's going through your head, even if you think I don't wanna hear it" Louis thanked him genuinely. "But I have to admit I have a weird feeling too. Yesterday he completely avoided the topic of Jackson after his sister had brought it up and he hasn't touched me one single time in public. While we were skating all alone he did and at my car but after that, it was like we were back to being weird friends. I'm really trying to be understanding and patient but he isn't talking to me about his fears and struggles or ... I'm worried he is already regretting giving us a chance and will drop me any minute now".

"Come here" Zayn opened his arms for him and he immediately hugged his best friend tightly. "You should talk to him about all of this. He is the only one who can answer these questions".

"I know but I'm scared that he will get angry or I'll scare him off with my ... I don't wanna put pressure on him" Louis buried his face in Zayn's chest.

"You're not and you won't, Tommy. But talking about fears and doubts is important. Communication is the key to every working relationship, not just the romantic ones. That's why we work so perfectly. We talk about everything" Zayn rubbed his back gently.

"But lately we only talk about me and never about you. I wouldn't even know if you're struggling with anything because you try to comfort and support me the whole time" Louis pointed out.

"Because you need it. And don't worry. I'm good. There isn't really anything going on in my life right now apart from the boys being back and us spending much time together. I would have told you if there was anything" Zayn assured him calmly.

"You sure? No love drama I missed?" Louis looked up at him.

"The only person I love is you, Tommy. There is no drama here" Zayn nudged Louis' chin tenderly.

"I love you too, Joey. You are my very best friend and I would be nothing without you. I can't live without you" Louis nuzzled his face into the crook of Zayn's neck and breathed in his scent.

"You're my very best friend too, Tommy. And I don't wanna live without you" Zayn tightened his grip on him.

"You won't ever get rid of me, no matter what you do" Louis mumbled into his neck contently.

"What if I murdered someone?" Zayn checked jokingly.

"I'd help you bury the body" Louis answered simply.

"What if I fell in love with you?" Zayn hooked hesitantly.

Louis let go of him a tiny bit to look at his face. Zayn was trying really hard to keep his laugh in. "Well, you really couldn't help that, could ya? It wouldn't matter anyway. You would still be my best friend and I wouldn't leave you because of your feelings".

"Really? What if I sabotage every one of your possible relationships until your last option is me?" Zayn cocked an eyebrow at him.

"You wouldn't do that, Joey. I know you too good. You deserve better than to be the last option anyway and you wouldn't be my last option. You know that" Louis slapped his shoulder lightly.

"This just turned pretty strange" Zayn laughed carefreely.

"You started it but I can't blame you. Who wouldn't fall in love with me?" Louis laughed along with him wholeheartedly.

"You're so full of yourself" Zayn pushed him away. "Now go and find Harry. Wasn't there a conversation you should have?".

"You're only trying to distract me because you're hopelessly in love with me, am I right?" Louis propped his hands up on his hips.

"Innit" Zayn shook his head with a huge grin. "Go now".

"Love you too, Joey" Louis flicked Zayn's chin gently and made his way to the door, glancing back at Zayn, who weirdly enough really didn't look convincingly happy right now. "Are you sure you're good?".

For a second, Zayn only looked at him silently before a reassuring smile made its way onto his face and this time, it kinda reached his eyes. "Don't worry about me. I'm good, Tommy. Go and find Harry. Talk to him. Get your man".

"I will. Thank you, Joey".

Trying to remember what Delfi had told him about Harry's whereabouts, Louis walked down the hallway and stopped in front of the small music room. He could hear soft music coming out of the room and some quiet humming. He could recognise Harry's voice through the door and was intrigued. Carefully, he knocked on the door and waited a few seconds before opening it. He was met with the sight of Harry surrounded by different instruments and some papers flying around. It reminded him of himself whenever he had worked on a song non-stop.

"I was looking for you, Haz. What are you doing here?" Louis walked fully into the room when Harry stayed silent.

"I needed a quiet and abandoned place for myself for a bit. I had a few lyrics in my head for a while and wanted to finally finish the whole song, which turned out to be a lot more complicated than I expected it to be. Sorry, I didn't mean to disappear and worry you" Harry rambled out anxiously.

"Oh God, no. You don't have to be sorry, Haz" Louis rushed over to him, touching his arm briefly. "I already figured you wanted to be alone but I also wanted to make sure you're okay. Today is probably a lot to take in".

"It really is. Liam and Niall look so happy and relaxed here. I haven't seen them this passionate about anything for years, which is kinda shocking to witness. It looks like they found a new passion or a new way to rekindle their old passion. To channel their love for music differently now. It's ... I can't seem to do the same thing. I still only want to play my music and sing my heart out. I can't seem to find something new" Harry opened up to him surprisingly easy and Louis was shocked by that alone.

"Don't be so hard on yourself. Maybe you don't have to find a new thing. Singing and being on stage is your thing. You are a star. I've always told you that and I always knew. Maybe you only need to find new access to your passion. So much has changed and you matured and grew up. You're different now" Louis wanted to take all of his worries away.

"I'm really different now" Harry exhaled deeply, causing Louis to feel sick to the stomach at the implication. "I've never really wanted to write my own songs because yours were perfect for me but now it's different. I wrote my first song ... It's about you".

"Me?" Louis pointed at himself in awe.

"Yes. You wanna hear it?" Harry bit the inside of his cheek.

"I'd love to but only if you really feel comfortable with sharing this with me right now and don't feel like you have to prove a ...".

"You're the only person I know that overthinks everything more than me" Harry cut him off amusedly. "I wanna show you".

"Okay. Whatever you want".

Overeager, Harry grabbed a guitar and braced himself. "I'm not fully done yet but yeah ... this is for you".

Are you really lying here right next to me?

Did I really get that lucky?

Watching you sleep makes me feel like a desperate puppy

But you're the only one I wanna see

Studying your face makes me wanna kiss your lips

But I'm afraid to make a move cause I'm bad at relationships

Still can't believe you even spared me a single glance

And I really got a chance at romance

Your voice is drawing me in

Meeting your eyes, my feet stop walking

There was no sign or warning ... from you

Baby, I'm falling for you

I feel fireworks every time you say my name

And I pray to the gods that you feel the same

I'm willing to give you my heart

But if you don't want it I'm gonna fall apart

Your voice is drawing me in

Meeting your eyes my feet stop walking

There was no sign or warning ... from you

Baby, I'm falling for you

I'm sorry for sounding clingy

But please, never leave me

I wanna treat you like a king

Cause for me, your love is everything

Your voice is drawing me in

Meeting your eyes my feet stop walking

There was no sign or warning ... from you

Baby, I'm falling for you

Baby, I'm falling for you, falling for you, Blue

"Fuck, I love you so much" Louis blurted out as soon as Harry was done with his song.

"What?" Harry stared at him totally pale, dropping the guitar.

"Shit" Louis cursed loudly and sat down next to Harry, taking both of his hands into his own. "I didn't mean to say that out loud. Your song is just so good. Absolutely fantastic. It warmed my heart because obviously, I'm falling for you, too. I mean, I'm already all the way there at the point of no return but I didn't plan on saying that any time soon. Please, don't freak out on me now and don't feel pressured to say it back. I know you're not there yet and that's okay with me. I just ... forget I said that, okay?".

"I won't be able to forget that, Lou" Harry blinked at him with big eyes. "But don't worry. Yeah, it shocked me but I'm also happy you said it. It was an instinct, how you really feel and I feel honoured".

"You do?" Louis was now the one staring like an idiot.

"Yes, of course. You love me. That's something that I never thought was possible. And I ... I know I'm falling in love with you, I already am in love with you but I don't really know what it feels like to really love someone. I don't wanna say something without being completely sure. I don't wanna play with your heart" Harry reasoned his reaction reasonably.

"Another reason why I love you" Louis sighed out. "I'm sorry if I can't stop saying this now".

"It's completely okay, Lou. Never stop if you don't want to but I don't want you to feel bad if I don't say it back yet. I really care ...".

Louis just shut him up with a passionate kiss. Words would only ruin this now. "It's okay, Haz. I love you".

Instead of coming up with a weird response, Harry simply kissed him and Louis immediately fell into the kiss and forgot about every single worry in his mind. It really wasn't a big deal that Harry couldn't say it. Maybe the feelings between them have been there for over seven years but they haven't been a couple for long and haven't even called each other boyfriends. It was totally fine with Louis. They were going at Harry's pace.

"How about we write a song together?" Louis suddenly had a random idea but as soon as it was out in the open he couldn't help but think about how a song between the two of them would sound.

"Now?" Harry asked against Louis' lips.

"Yes, now" Louis rolled his eyes at his boyfriend. "C'mon. We could write about ...".

"Us" Harry beamed adorably.

"Yes, us" Louis sighed fondly. He was so in love.

"I like the sound of that. Let's do this. Where is my ... Ah, there you are" Harry looked around for the guitar and found it on the floor, where had dropped it after Louis' sudden confession.

"This will be fun" Louis cackled when he walked over to the piano.

"Shouldn't it be rather romantic than fun?" Harry looked at him a little bit lost.

"Sometimes you are such a little baby" Louis cooed over him.

"I am not a baby!" Harry huffed childishly.

"Yes, you are. My baby. My princess" Louis winked at him, knowing this would affect Harry.

"Fine" Harry grumbled with red cheeks.

"Now get your ass over here, Princess. I'd love to have you next to me while writing our love anthem" Louis couldn't help himself.

"You are impossible. Insufferable" Harry rolled his eyes but came over to him anyway.

"Don't tell me you don't like that" Louis teased him lovingly.

"Not right now" Harry pouted cutely.

"You're so cute when you're trying to be mad at me for nothing" Louis flicked his nose.

"Are you sure we will be able to focus on writing a song together?" Harry wondered cheekily.

"If you keep it in your pants and your mind, this could be the experience of a lifetime".

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Louis dropped the L-word but Harry can't say it back. Thoughts? Are Zayn's doubts justified?