Your Heart's Against My Chest (2/4)
Pairing: Louis Tomlinson/Harry Styles
Rating: PG-13 (for language)
Word Count: 6,441 (total)
Summary: Liam and Zayn throw Louis a birthday/Christmas party before they leave Uni for winter break. Zayn invites his friend Niall and his roommate Harry along, and Lou and Harry hit it off.
A/N: Title from Ed Sheeran's "Kiss Me." Based on this: "Imagine person A meeting person B at a christmas party for the first time, and after getting to know each other and saying goodbye they’re under the mistletoe."
This is a work of fiction and I do not own nor am I associated with One Direction or their affiliates.
[Tumblr | LJ | AO3 ]
On Friday morning, Louis wakes to a commotion in his kitchen.
"We can't just let him sleep all day!" Liam insists.
"Come on," Zayn urges. "It's nearly his birthday! Plus, he's going to be up all night anyway. Might as well let him get some rest."
Louis meanders in grumbling, "Well, he's not going to get any rest with you two bickering at the top of your lungs." He grabs some bread and pops it into the toaster. "I swear, you two argue more than a married couple."
"That's because we are an old married couple," Liam jokes. "All the bickering, none of the sex."
"And we've even got ourselves a grumpy teenage son," Zayn adds, smiling fondly at Louis.
"I'm not a teenager, you dolt."
"Aha! He's finally admitted it!" Liam cheers, laughing along with Zayn.
Lou just shakes his head at them both as he retrieves his toast. "So, when is everyone coming over tonight? Actually, what time is it anyway?"
Liam checks his watch. "It's nearly 2 and everyone should be here around 8."
"Nearly 2?" Louis gasps. "You let me sleep until nearly two in the afternoon!"
Liam shoots Zayn a look that clearly says, I told you so. "Yeah, well, some people seemed to think you would enjoy sleeping in on the day of your party."
"He sleeps in every day, why was today supposed to be different!" Zayn complains.
"Because today he's got people to impress. And it takes hours for him to sculpt that 'just rolled out of bed' style he goes for."
"Oi, shut it," Louis interrupts. "You love my hair."
"No, I love you, you twat. Your hair just comes with you," he says, giving his friend's fringe a tousle.
"Hands off the goods!" Louis says, swatting Liam's hand. "Now, let me go shower, so I can spend 'hours,'" he mocks, "on my hair." He walks toward the doorway and turns around to stick his tongue out for good measure before shoving the last of his toast in his mouth.
* * * * *
"Why aren't you getting ready?" Niall asks, gesturing to his roommate who is still laying in his bed.
Harry pulls one of his ear buds out. "What did you say?"
"I asked why you weren't getting ready yet." Harry shrugs. "Are you planning on showering then? Maybe changing your clothes? I'm almost certain you wore those pants yesterday."
"How the hell do you know what pants I was wearing yesterday? That's just fucking creepy, mate."
Niall throws his pillow at his roommate. "It's not creepy! I live with you and 90% of the time you're naked or in your underpants. So if anything it's your fault."
Harry just rolls his eyes mumbling, "Whatever."
Niall walks over to Harry's dresser and grabs a clean pair of pants, black jeans, and a white t-shirt. He throws the clothes at Harry, who is still sitting on his bed. "Here! Now shower and change so maybe we can get there on time?"
"Isn't it proper to arrive fashionably late to these things?" Harry muses, walking toward to the door so he can their hallway's bathroom.
"Not when you're bringing the beer."
* * * * *
Liam checks his watch for what must be the thousandth time when Louis finally says, "Would you relax! Shouldn't I be the anxious one if people don't show up to my party?"
"No, it's not that. People aren't supposed to be here for another half hour at least." Louis raises his eyebrows and waves his hand for him to continue.
Zayn laughs from beside Louis on the couch. "He's waiting on my mate Niall. He and Harry are bringing all the beer, so Liam's worried they're going to be late."
"Well, they said they'd be here at 8!" Liam insists. "It's already half-past and we invited everyone for 9, and if people get here and there are no drinks, they'll-" He's cut off by the buzzer. "Oh, thank God."
Liam rushes over to buzz them up. Zayn says, "See, Li? They were probably just running late."
A moment later, there's a rap at the door and Liam opens it wide to reveal a blonde-haired boy with his hair stylishly quiffed, wearing a light washed pair of jeans and a crisp blue polo which brings out the color in his eyes.
"Come on in," says Liam. "You must be Niall."
A thick Irish brogue replies, "I am. Sorry we're late. This one," he nods to the boy still hidden behind him, "took forever to get ready."
"Doesn't look like we're late," the boy who must have been Harry remarks in a low, gravelly voice. Louis has to bite on his lip to keep from gasping at the boy's appearance.
Harry is taller than Niall by a few inches and atop his head is a mess of brown curls. He shakes the snow out of it as he follows Liam and Niall inside. He glances around the flat, taking everything in, and Louis has to hold in a another gasp. He drinks in the rest of the boy's appearance: his pale green eyes, his long muscled legs accentuated by his skinny jeans, his lean torso barely concealed beneath his t-shirt that is revealed as the boy removed his coat.
Niall whacks his roommate in the stomach and Louis can't help but flinching for the boy. Zayn and Louis stand as Liam brings the boys' coats into his bedroom. "So, Lou, this is Niall," Zayn introduces the blonde boy. They shake hands as Zayn continues, "And this is his roommate, Harry."
Harry smiles as he shakes the older boy's hand. "Happy birthday. It's nice to finally meet Zayn's mates."
"Likewise," Louis replies, still gripping Harry's hand.
"And the nutjob who took your coats was Liam," Zayn begins again, causing Louis to drop Harry's hand suddenly and leaving a faint blush on each boy's cheeks.
Liam walks back in at the sound of his name. "Oi! Who are you calling . nutjob?" he complains.
"Certainly not you," Zayn says as the boys around him laugh. "Now let's get everything set up before everyone shows up, so you don't have a heart attack."
"What shall I do then?" Louis offers.
Liam shakes his head. "Nothing. It's your party, Tommo. Niall, can you help Zayn and me with the rest of the stuff in your car? Did you park where Zayn told you?"
"Sure did. It's just outside; we shouldn't need coats."
Liam claps once. "Lovely. Harry, you can stay here and make yourself at home since Lou is a shitty host."
"Hey!" Louis protests as the boys leave the flat. He sighs, turning. "I'm not a terrible host." He pauses, looking the boy up and down again. He swallows before asking, "Would you like to sit down?" Lou gestures to the couch.
"Yeah, sure." Harry perches himself at the edge of one side of the couch as Louis flops down on the other.
He tosses one of the small throw pillows at the younger boy. "C'mon, now. Make yourself comfortable. I don't bite." Harry laughs softly. "Unless you're into that sort of thing, of course." Harry looks over shocked and Louis winks at him.
"In that case," Harry starts. He turns himself so he's facing Louis, picks up his legs and drops them in Lou's lap. "How's this?" Louis places his hands on Harry's legs, but before he can respond, the boys barge in the door.
"We're back!" Liam announces. "I see you two have gotten cozy." He stares at Louis, who simply shrugs, flicks his eyes to Harry who is obliviously staring at the other boy, and back to Louis who is now grinning back at the boy in his lap. He shrugs and follows Zayn and Niall to the kitchen.
Louis giggles and buries his face in the couch. "Sorry for Liam. He's just assuming since I'm gay and you're," he gestures to Harry's legs.
"You're gay?"
Louis clears his throat. "Uh, yeah, is that a probl- ?"
"Oh God, no! No, no, no!" Harry cuts him off. "Sorry. I thought I was just wishfully reading into things."
"Wishful...? Are you gay, too?" Louis covers his mouth quickly. "Sorry, I've got this awful habit of speaking before I think. I barely know you, you don't have to explain yourself to me."
"Are you through?" he asks. Louis nods. "You're cute when you're flustered," he adds, earning him a chuckle from the older boy. "But gay? Eh, I dunno. I mean I like boys," he pointed looks at Louis, "but mostly I just like people. And sex." He laughs at himself, and Louis can't help but join him. "Sorry, that makes me sound like a bit of a slut. I'm not, really. I'm just open about sex and stuff."
"Open, yeah? Do tell me more."
* * * * *
"How long until they're sucking each other's faces off, d'ya reckon?" Niall asks the other boys, who are all now snooping on Louis and Harry from the kitchen.
Liam covers his mouth to muffle a laugh. "Sooner rather than later, I hope, or Tommo's going to pitch a fit tomorrow. He's smitten."
"I think Harry'll make a move once he's got a few in 'im. Flirty drunk, that boy. Actually, he's just a flirty boy, come to think of it. Drunk, he's damn near unstoppable."
"I hope for his sake that's true," Zayn adds. "Because I'm gonna make them kiss whether they like it or not before the end of the night. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
Part 3