Chapter Text
Book signings were one of Louis' favourite things. They gave him a real chance for some one-on-one time with the fans and an opportunity to thank them for getting him and his bandmates where they were.
This particular book signing was at the Waterstones near Trafalgar Square. Nice and close to home, so he wasn't already worn out from travel when they sat down at the table set up in the lower level.
Piles of their latest book, On the Way Up, sat down at Liam's end of the table, and each of them had several Sharpies in front of them, ready for autographing. Security was stationed around the room and at each end of the table, and their management rep for the day--Jasmine--was talking over last minute details with the store manager.
Finally, Jasmine came over to ask the boys if they were ready for them to start letting the fans in. After exchanging looks with the others, Liam told her they were.
The first hour went by quickly, and Louis lost count of how many books he'd signed. The fans--mostly young girls, as usual--were cute, boosting his ego by telling him how much they loved him and the band's music.
There was a little lull for Louis when the girl in front of him moved away and the one talking to Zayn kept talking to Zayn. Louis used the free moment to look around the floor.
The queue of fans who were still waiting was full of giggling teenagers and beleaguered parents. He risked a little wave at some of the girls looking his way, and they let out little squeals and waved back. The band's security detail was milling around, making sure everyone was safe. And in the section of the floor not cordoned off for the band, there were shoppers looking curiously at the spectacle of a famous boy band signing autographs for hordes of teens.
A movement caught his eye just to his left. One of the store employees--denoted by the name tag pinned to his shirt--was carrying out another box of their books to replenish the dwindling pile in front of Liam.
He was just about the cutest thing Louis had ever seen. He was tall, probably close to six feet, and he could not have been older than twenty, maybe twenty-one. He was lanky in his khaki pants and dark blue polo. He had a riot of chocolate brown curls and light-coloured eyes. He happened to look over at Louis while Louis was staring at him, and he smiled, causing dimples to pop in his cheeks, rendering him impossibly cuter.
Louis could stare no more, though, because the girl who had been chatting with Zayn had moved to stand in front of him, and he had to get right back to work.
It was well over an hour before Louis saw the handsome boy again. This time, the store employee was juggling bottles of water. He moved behind the band to place a water bottle first beside Liam, then beside Zayn, and finally in front of Louis himself. When the boy placed the bottle next to Louis' elbow, Louis looked up into his face and smiled his thanks. The boy smiled back, both with his mouth and his twinkling green eyes.
The next time Louis saw the boy was when he was, yet again, carrying a box of books. Louis had a fan in front of him at the time--a sweet little girl who could not have been older than twelve--but he tried nonetheless to meet the boy's gaze. When he succeeded, the boy offered a dimpled grin. Louis felt his heart clench with how attractive this boy was.
He didn't see the boy again for the rest of the signing. When the last fan had left the table, Louis stood and announced that he needed to find the loo. Which he would do. After he found the cute boy.
He didn't have to look far. As he wandered casually around the bottom level of the store--which had been cleared of customers for the length of time it would take to fold up the table they'd used and get the band out safely--he found the boy stocking some shelves with children's books.
Louis squared his shoulders and walked up to the boy. He cleared his throat and said, "Hi there."
The boy didn't look up right away, and Louis shuffled uncomfortably from foot to foot until the boy startled, as if he'd only just noticed Louis there and stopped what he was doing to gaze up at him.
Louis smiled, and the boy hesitantly stood up and appraised Louis warily.
Louis swallowed nervously, but ploughed on, "Thanks for helping out today."
The boy said nothing, but simply continued to eye Louis carefully, a look Louis couldn't quite decipher on his face.
"I'm sure these events aren't employee favourites," Louis persisted in carrying on the conversation, even while it appeared the boy was not remotely interested in contributing to it. "Have you had to work many of them?"
Not only did the boy not reply to the question, but he turned on his heels and bolted, although not before Louis caught a blush of embarrassment colouring the boy's cheeks. Utterly perplexed, Louis murmured, "How rude."
"He's deaf," a voice from behind him piped up, startling him.
Louis turned around to face the owner of the voice. It turned out to be a blonde girl about his own age, perhaps a little younger, whose name tag read "Perrie." Absently, he realised he hadn't focused on the boy's name tag at all during their brief encounter. As the words she'd spoken sunk in, he couldn't quite believe them. "Sorry?"
"Harry, the guy you were just trying to talk to…. He's deaf," she explained, not unkindly.
Louis sighed heavily. "Damn. I'm such an idiot."
Perrie shook her head. "You didn't know. It's not like he wears a sign announcing it."
"Does he read lips?" Louis asked her, inexplicably wanting to know more about this boy…Harry.
Perrie held up her right hand and shook it back and forth in a so-so gesture. "Kind of, sometimes. It can be really hard, especially with new people."
Louis could understand, then, why Harry had seemed to ignore him. He might not have understood a word Louis had said. "You're friends, you and Harry?" Louis inquired. "Not just co-workers?"
Perrie nodded and smiled. "We go to school together. I'm studying to be a sign language interpreter."
"You know sign language, then?"
Perrie nodded again.
"Harry, too?"
"Harry, too," she confirmed.
"Louis!" Liam suddenly came up behind him. "Where have you been? Jasmine says we need to leave. Radio interview."
Louis expelled an exasperated breath. "Okay," he told Liam. To Perrie, he said, "Please tell Harry I'm sorry for…for not making myself understood."
Perrie smiled and nodded one more time. "I will. Louis, right?"
It was his turn to nod. "Tomlinson." He held his hand out for her to shake, which she did. "It's good to meet you."
"You, too."
"C'mon, Tommo," Liam urged. "Time to go."
With great reluctance, Louis turned away from Perrie to follow Liam back to where Zayn waited with Jasmine so they could all leave together. Security guided them through a back storage area and up some stairs to their car, which waited for them in an alley.
There was not nearly enough time on the ride from Waterstones to the radio station for Louis to think properly about Harry. And there was nothing on Earth he wanted to do more than think properly about Harry.
* * *
Louis had tried out for The X-Factor when he was just eighteen years old. He had not made it through boot camp on his own, but was given the opportunity to join forces with two other lads--Zayn Malik and Liam Payne--to make a boy band and go to Judges' Houses.
Thus, Up All Night was born. The three boys made it through Judges' Houses and on to the live shows, where they became wildly popular, though they only finished in third place. Simon Cowell had signed them anyhow, and now, nearly four years later, they were the biggest boy band in the world.
They had recorded three albums, completed two world tours--and would soon be starting another--had books written about them, and were some of the most sought-after young men on Earth.
They had less than two months before they would be leaving on their third world tour. Time enough to put out a book and a new single. Their days were filled with interviews, fan events, and photo shoots. They barely had time to themselves in these weeks preceding their departure.
Despite his busy schedule, Louis spent every spare moment he had following the Waterstones book signing doing research. He Googled sign language and deaf people, trying to learn as much as he could about Harry, the boy from the bookstore. He could not get Harry out of his head, and he was determined to go back to Waterstones once he was properly prepared to try to talk to the young man again.
He taught himself how to sign his and Harry's names and some basic phrases--"Hi. How are you? I'm fine." He didn't know what else he might need to know, but hoped that Harry would be willing to give him a chance this time, and they'd figure out the rest as they went.
It had been six days since the book signing when Up All Night had a meeting with their management about their tour. While they waited in the conference room for their team to convene--the band had arrived early for once--Louis was practicing the signs he'd taught himself through the judicious use of YouTube in his head.
"What're you up to there, Tommo?" Liam wondered aloud.
That was when Louis realised he hadn't just been signing in his head. "Um, nothing," he tried to answer.
"No, it's not," Liam countered. "What was that? Was that sign language?"
Louis sighed with resignation and nodded.
"You’re teaching yourself sign language?" Liam asked with genuine interest.
"Kind of," Louis admitted.
"That's so cool," Liam commented with enthusiasm. "Why?"
Louis briefly debated with himself about whether or not he should lie, but then decided he didn't want to lie. "There's this guy," he said slowly.
"A guy?" Zayn joined the conversation, clearly interested in this new development. "What guy?"
"I saw him at the book signing last week, at Waterstones," Louis explained.
"He's a fan?" Liam questioned, surprised. It wasn't that any of them wouldn't date a fan, it was just that they rarely did.
Louis shook his head. "No. He works there. We had…I don't know…a moment. He was…is…gorgeous."
"And you found out he's into sign language?" Zayn inquired.
"Um, no," Louis answered slowly. "I found out he's deaf."
Liam and Zayn both looked at him with bugged out eyes.
"Don't look at me like that," Louis requested defensively.
"Sorry, Louis," Zayn was quick to apologise. "I think we're just surprised."
"Do you really think that's a good idea?" Liam spoke carefully, trying, Louis knew, to be helpful.
"I don't know," Louis responded honestly. "But I want to try."
They didn't have any time left to discuss whether or not Louis should be making any moves on the boy from the bookstore because their team arrived, and it was time to go over the parameters of their upcoming tour. Louis was sure, however, that this was not the last he would be hearing on the topic of Harry from his bandmates.
* * *
They had the next day off, and Louis decided it was time to make his move. He reasoned that since Harry had been at work the previous Tuesday, the day of the book signing at his store, there was a better-than-decent chance that he was working again this Tuesday.
Louis spent all morning practicing the sign language he'd taught himself, double-checking that it was correct. Then he dressed in tight blue jeans and a blue sweater he hoped complemented his eyes. He threw on a beanie and some aviators before heading out to his car.
He drove himself into the city and, as usual, it was a total rush to do so. He didn't often get to drive on his own--management usually arranged cars and limos to take them from place to place as it ensured they'd get there safely and on time. He found a car park not far from Trafalgar Square, and he walked without notice past the monument and up to the store. When he wasn't surrounded by his two bandmates and an entourage of security, he was usually able to walk around unnoticed--especially if he employed the judicious use of a some kind of hat and a pair of sunglasses.
Louis hauled in a deep breath, exhaled it slowly, then entered the store.
As casually as he could, he wandered around the ground floor, but there was no sign of Harry. He headed down the stairs to the lower level, where they had held the book signing. Louis wandered around slowly, eyes peeled for the boy with the beautiful brown curls, amazing green eyes, and adorable dimples.
In a back corner, in an alcove with floor to ceiling shelves, he found the object of his search stocking the shelves with what appeared to again be children's books.
Louis pulled in another steadying breath and took off his shades--hooking them on his collar so his hands would be free--then went for broke, tapping Harry on the shoulder.
Harry looked up and over his shoulder to see who was trying to gain his attention. When he saw it was Louis, his face registered surprise before he stood to offer Louis a hesitant smile.
Louis smiled back, then steeled himself to try out the signs he'd taught himself, speaking as he did so. "Hi, Harry. Remember me? I'm Louis."
Harry's features shifted into a look of disbelief. In signs Louis recognised, Harry asked, You sign?
"I taught myself just a little," Louis replied.
Why? Harry wanted to know, again thankfully using a sign Louis knew.
So far the conversation was going just about how Louis had guessed it would, and he had the signs to explain, "To talk to you."
Why? Harry repeated himself, a completely perplexed look on his face.
Louis had anticipated this question, too, and he had decided to give the direct answer. "I thought you were cute."
A blush coloured Harry's cheeks a deep pink as he made another inquiry.
Louis didn't get all of Harry's signs, but he got "know," "I," and "deaf" and figured he had the gist of it. He spelled out P-E-R-R-I-E.
Harry rolled his eyes as if he should have known, then he nodded.
"I hoped I could talk you into going out for coffee or tea with me." Louis used the last of the signs he knew to share his wish.
Harry signed something Louis didn't understand, and Louis shook his head to indicate he hadn't gotten it. Harry held up a finger and withdrew his mobile phone from his back pocket, calling up a screen and typing something. Finally, he handed Louis the phone. The text on the notepad read, Why are you asking me out?
Louis typed back, Because when you smiled at me a week ago, I decided that you were someone I wanted to know. He handed the phone back to Harry and waited anxiously.
Harry sighed as he read Louis' words. He paused for a moment, then typed before passing the mobile to Louis again. I'm not sure that's a great idea.
Louis knew he had to choose his next words very carefully. He took a few seconds to construct the best counterattack he could come up with in his head, then he typed it. Why not? Are you prejudiced against hearing people? That isn't very nice. It isn't my fault I can hear.
When Harry read what Louis wrote, he grinned widely, causing his dimples to appear in full force. He poked at the keyboard before giving the phone to Louis yet again. Okay. I'm still not sure it's the best idea, but I'll have coffee with you anyway. I get off at five. I should be ready by around five-ten or so.
Louis mimed a cheer, which made Harry's smile grow a little bit bigger. On the phone, Louis typed, I'll be back then.
After he took the mobile and read the last message, Harry nodded, then pointed to the books on the nearby hand truck he had yet to shelve.
Louis returned the nod, understanding that Harry needed to get back to work. He waved goodbye, and Harry did the same. When Harry turned to start shelving books once more, Louis headed toward the stairs and the ground level. He checked his watch as he climbed the stairs. He had three hours to kill.
He decided to spend them in the closest library Google could find for him. He pulled a sign language dictionary from the language section on the second floor, sat as inauspiciously as he could in a corner carrel, and set a vibrating alarm for 4:45. There were more signs to learn.
* * *
Harry tried really hard to focus on work, but it was incredibly difficult when he'd just gotten asked out on a date by Louis Tomlinson, one-third of the hottest boy band in the world. Even if he wasn't a fan himself, he knew this was a big deal.
First he kept shelving the wrong books in the wrong place, making that task take twice as long as it should have, then his manager put him in charge of changing out some of the out-of-date magazines, and a sizeable portion of them had Louis' face on the cover. Not great for trying to keep his mind off the impending outing.
He didn't quite know what had possessed him to say he'd go out with Louis. They had virtually nothing in common. Louis was famous, Harry was just ordinary. Louis was bold, Harry liked to observe before acting. Louis had oodles of money, Harry was lucky if he had enough to cover his part of the rent. Louis was a singer, Harry was deaf.
The litany of reasons why he should not have said he'd go ran through his mind continuously for the entire rest of his shift, which seemed both interminable and way too fast all at the same time.
When his shift finally ended, he retired to the break room to catch up with Perrie before heading up to the store's entry to wait for Louis.
Perrie showed up to the break room just a minute after Harry did. Harry looked up at her balefully from his seat on the couch, and Perrie immediately sat down next to him to ask, What's up? Are you unwell?
Harry shook his head. No. He paused briefly before going on, I have news.
What news?
Harry put off for just a second the moment where he had to tell Perrie the details by offering a challenge. Guess who came to the store this afternoon.
Perrie shook her head. Who?
Pulling in a deep breath, Harry revealed, Louis Tomlinson.
Perrie's eyes opened comically wide. Up All Night Louis Tomlinson?
Harry nodded.
How did I miss that? she contemplated.
Harry rolled his eyes. Not the point.
Perrie rolled her eyes back at him. Well, what is the point? Why was he here? Did he leave something behind after the book signing?
No. He could not keep a sheepish look off his face.
Perrie's eyes lit up with realisation. He was asking about you last week. He came back for you.
Pursing his lips, Harry nodded. He asked me out.
Perrie's eyes grew wide again. He did? That's…interesting.
What's that supposed to mean? Harry inquired haughtily.
I just can't imagine that you two have enough in common to go on a whole date.
Harry fixed her with a withering look. Thanks for the vote of confidence.
I'm sorry. Perrie apologised before returning to the topic at hand. When are you going out?
Harry gazed down at his watch. Now. In fact, I should get upstairs; he'll be here any minute. He rose off the couch.
Mirroring his action, Perrie stood up, too. I'm off, too. I'll come up to wait with you.
The two friends headed out of the break room, up the stairs, and out the store's entrance, taking up a position just outside the door.
Do you want me to come with you? Perrie wondered as they waited for Louis to get there.
Harry scrunched up his face in distaste. On my date?
Perrie nodded enthusiastically. I can be your interpreter.
No. You are not coming on my date with me. That would be…weird.
It's not weird to need an interpreter, Perrie scoffed. I do that for you all the time.
Yeah, with customers, Harry countered. This is not like that.
It is your first time going out with a hearing boy, she pointed out.
It was maddening that she knew him well enough to correctly make that assertion.
When he didn't argue with her, she went on, How are you going to talk with him?
He learned a little sign, Harry told her defensively.
What could he possibly have learned in a week? You'll be through what he knows in about two minutes.
He didn't tell her that he thought they'd already run through all Louis had taught himself. He simply said, We can use our mobiles. It's fine. I can make myself understood.
Are you sure? I really don't mind. I'll be subtle.
Harry regarded her sceptically. Seriously?
Perrie gazed past him at that moment, then pointed to something behind him. He turned his head to find Louis approaching them, recognisable even in sunglasses and a beanie. Harry smiled at him easily. It was the moment of truth. Either this date would be fabulous or they would go down in flames, and he was more than ready to find out which.
* * *
When Louis returned to the bookstore at the appointed time, he arrived right in the middle of what appeared to be a heated discussion going on between Harry and Perrie right beside the store entry.
Harry wore what Louis read as a determined look, green eyes flashing defensively. The look on Perrie's face was equally determined, as if she were trying desperately to convince Harry of something. They were signing furiously at each other, though Louis' self-directed, Google-based sign language course of one week was not nearly enough for him to catch even a single word.
Perrie caught Louis approaching out of the corner of her eye and stopped signing to point him out to Harry, who swiveled his head to look, a small smile touching his lips when he met Louis' gaze.
Louis cleared his throat nervously as he came to stand right next to the pair of friends. "Hi," he said hesitantly.
Harry waved hello while Perrie returned, "Hi."
"I don't think we've been properly introduced," Louis told her, holding his hand out for her to shake. "I'm Louis."
She chuckled as she gripped his hand warmly. "I think we covered that the other day. I'm Perrie."
He turned to Harry, then, and very carefully asked, "You ready?"
Harry looked from Louis back to Perrie, signing something Louis, again, didn't understand.
Perrie, however, did him the kindness of sharing what Harry was saying. "I had suggested to him that maybe I should come along to interpret, but he's turned my offer down. Flat."
While on the one hand, it would no doubt ease the communication gap to have an interpreter there, Louis was glad Harry had turned her down. This was going to be awkward enough without a third person on their coffee date.
Harry waved Perrie goodbye and subtly shifted himself so he was at Louis' side. He pointed down the street, and Louis took that to mean Harry already had a place in mind, so Louis nodded, waved a farewell of his own to Perrie, and followed where Harry led.
The walk was silent, but that was all right. With the bookstore so close to such an iconic monument, there were plenty of people around for Louis to watch as they made their way to whatever destination Harry had in mind. Harry walked with purpose, and Louis met him step for step, and in no time, they stood in front of a coffee shop that was not, surprisingly, a Starbucks, but rather a small place called, simply, Tea and Coffee.
Harry opened the door for Louis, a gesture which made Louis smile. It was a cosy little shop, the floor scattered with small tables and comfy chairs. The store smelled delicious, of sweet tea, bitter coffee, and warm cakes. There were plenty of tables available, the five o'clock hour situated perfectly between the hour when people were heading home and people were getting off work.
After Louis removed his aviators--tucking them into his shirt collar once again--he took a quick look around, then met Harry's gaze. Harry lifted his eyebrows in question and signed, slowly, Okay?
Louis smiled and nodded, then followed Harry to the counter, studying the menu on the wall while he walked.
The barista at the register greeted Harry warmly and by name, and she asked him, "Your usual?"
Harry nodded and then pointed between himself and Louis to indicate that their orders went together.
"What can I get you, friend of Harry's?" the barista asked brightly. She was side-eyeing him just enough that he thought she might recognise him, but she remained professional and said nothing to let on whether or not she did.
"A large Yorkshire tea, please," Louis requested, pulling his wallet from his back pocket.
"Of course."
Louis was just about to hand over his debit card when Harry beat him to paying, passing cash to the barista. When Louis opened his mouth to protest, Harry put his finger over his mouth to quiet Louis. Louis smiled and offered, "Thank you," a sign he'd taught himself just that afternoon.
Harry led the way to the end of the counter where they would fetch their beverages.
While they waited, Louis asked Harry, using gestures to augment his question, "This is your usual coffee place?"
Harry nodded with a smile.
It only took a moment more for the barista making the drinks to serve them, then Harry chose a table in the corner at which they could sit. Louis took a seat directly opposite Harry, placing his tea carefully on the table in front of him and setting his beanie next to it.
They sipped silently at their drinks for a few moments, then Louis pulled out his phone and opened his notepad app, the same one Harry had used on his phone earlier that day. Before handing the phone to Harry, he typed, I've only been studying sign language for a week, so I’m afraid I'm not very good at holding a conversation using it. Yet.
Harry smiled as he read what Louis had written, and he typed back underneath, That's okay. I appreciate the effort. Most hearing people don't bother. He passed the phone back to Louis and took his tea back in hand.
Louis typed, quickly, Perrie did.
Harry nodded after reading Louis' comment. Her family is deaf. Her parents and her brother. Sign language was her first language.
Oh, that makes sense. She seems nice. It was sweet she wanted to come help, Louis told him.
She wanted to come so she could tell me later what a bad idea this is, Harry countered, handing the phone off with a smirk.
Part of Louis wanted to pursue the topic of why Perrie and Harry both thought that he and Harry going on a date was such a bad idea. But another part of Louis didn't want to face that just yet. That was the part that won, and so, instead, Louis inquired, So what are you studying at school? Perrie said you and she were in school together.
I want to be a physiotherapist, so it's a lot of anatomy and physiology. Perrie's studying to be an interpreter. We both go to the University of Westminster.
So you don't want to be stocking books the rest of your life? Louis gave Harry a grin when he passed back the mobile this time.
Harry grinned back and shook his head. It's a great part-time job, though.
Are you from here? London, I mean.
Harry shook his head again as he read. No. I'm from Cheshire. A small town called Holmes Chapel.
Louis commented happily, A northern boy. Me, too. I'm from Doncaster. It was nice to have something in common.
Harry smiled in acknowledgment of Louis' statement, but he had nothing to say about it.
That was okay, because Louis had plenty more to ask, and he tugged the phone away from Harry to do just that. Is your family deaf, too? Like Perrie's?
It took Harry a moment to type out his response. Some of them. My dad and grandparents on his side are all deaf. My mum and sister aren't. Everyone signs, though, even my stepfather.
That's cool. Is your sister older or younger? Louis wanted to know.
Three years older. She lives here in London, too. She just finished with school and is working at her first job.
I have five sisters and one brother, all younger, Louis revealed, sipping at his tea after giving up the mobile.
Six brothers and sisters? That's so many! Harry exclaimed, raising his eyebrows in horror.
Louis nodded. It's a little crazy at home, but I love them all, even though I don't get to see them as often as I'd like.
You live here in London, then? Harry asked with interest.
Louis nodded again. For almost four years now.
You like it? Harry inquired. After he handed the phone back, he sipped at his own drink.
I do. There's always something interesting to do. Doncaster can be pretty boring. Do you like London? It's pretty different from Cheshire.
Harry pursed his lips in a most adorable fashion as he considered Louis' question. It is. I like it, but it took a lot of getting used to. So many people.
Do you live in campus housing?
Shaking his head, Harry elaborated, I share a flat with my best mate.
That must be fun, Louis observed. The only time I've had a roommate was in the X-Factor house.
Harry raised his eyebrows quizzically, then shook his head minutely, clearly not getting Louis' reference.
Louis still had the mobile, so he asked, Have you ever seen The X-Factor?
Harry shook his head. I know what it is, but I've never seen it.
Well, we shared a room in the contestants' house, my bandmates and I.
Three guys in one room? Must have been messy.
Louis nodded vigorously. He did not add that he'd been the worst of the lot. Now I have my own place.
But you travel a lot? For work?
Louis nodded yet again.
Do you like traveling?
With one more nod, Louis said, It can be tiring, and I don't always get to see much of the places I'm going, but I love performing, so that part's great.
You must really like singing a lot, to put up with the rest, Harry presumed.
I do, Louis answered simply.
What's the best place you've been? Harry wondered.
Louis sipped at his tea and contemplated Harry's inquiry. After some thought, he replied, We've been a lot of interesting places, but I guess if I had to pick just one, I'd say New York City.
I've never been, Harry said, pouting just a little.
You should go. It's amazing.
Harry smiled and nodded his agreement, draining the last of his drink.
When Louis realised that Harry was done, he worried that the other boy would want to go. He thought quickly about what might keep Harry there. It didn't take long before he had an idea. He took the phone from Harry to write, I've been studying sign language on the computer and from books. I'll bet it would be more fun to learn from you. Teach me some? When he handed the mobile to Harry, he smiled hopefully.
Sure. Where do you want to start?
Feeling sure he could make himself understood, Louis pocketed his phone and made sure to follow the suggestions he'd read online about how best to speak to someone who was lip reading: speak clearly, but not slowly, be sure to enunciate. "How about my band's name? Up All Night?"
Okay, Harry again used a sign Louis already knew. Then he walked Louis through each sign in his band's moniker, mouthing the word before showing Louis how to say it with his hands. When Louis had all three words, Harry motioned to him to put them all together. When Louis did--and correctly--Harry grinned and held his hands up and shook them. Louis read that as a small celebration of Louis' success.
Harry raised his eyebrows then and held his hands palms up, clearly indicating that he wanted to know what Louis wished to learn next. Louis pondered about it for a moment, then shrugged, not coming up with an idea.
Harry furrowed his brow for just a moment, then slowly used the sign language alphabet to spell out S-O-N-G.
Louis brightened at the suggestion, but wondered aloud, "Which song?"
Harry pointed at Louis, and Louis got it. He pointed to himself and confirmed, "One of my songs?"
Harry nodded.
"Hm. Our biggest song is 'What Makes You Beautiful,'" Louis told him.
Harry shook his head to indicate he hadn't quite gotten it, so Louis quickly retrieved his phone from his pocket and typed the title into the notepad.
Harry smiled and gestured that Louis should put away his mobile--which Louis did. Then Harry set about teaching him how to sign the title of their first and biggest hit.
So engrossed was Louis in what he and Harry were doing that he didn't notice a fan approaching until she was standing right there, clearing her throat nervously. Louis looked up at her, Harry's gaze tracking Louis'.
"You're Louis Tomlinson, aren't you?" she checked, although it was obvious she knew exactly who he was. She was young, but not very young, maybe fifteen. She had long blonde hair and a look on her face like she'd just won the lottery. Louis smiled at her, and she beamed right back.
"Hi, love. What's your name, then?" Louis asked kindly, even if inwardly he was raging that she'd interrupted them. Their fans had done everything for them, though, and he had long ago made it a personal policy not to brush off a fan if he could help it.
"Emily," she replied. "I really, really love your music. You guys are the best."
"Aw, thanks. You're the reason we make the music, so I'm glad you like it," he said sincerely.
Young Emily looked from Louis to Harry, then back before innocently inquiring, "Is he deaf?"
Louis glanced at Harry to see if he seemed to be catching any of this. The look on his face was unreadable, though, so it was hard to tell. Though he was wildly uncomfortable with her question, he went ahead and answered it. "Yes, he is."
"I thought so, since you guys were using sign language," she said, clearly pleased with herself. "Is he giving you lessons?"
"He is, I guess, more or less," Louis told her, willing her to change the subject or--even better--go away.
Emily did not get the memo and went on to remark, "It's sad, though, isn't it? He can't hear your songs. I can't even imagine. It must be horrible to not have music."
Louis didn't even know how to respond to that. He looked over at Harry, who was looking from Louis to Emily, then back. The look on his face now was not so much unreadable as it was stormy. That could not be good.
When Louis didn't say anything, she said, "I think it's really sweet you're letting him teach you to use sign language."
Louis got no real warning. He knew Harry was not happy with the conversation going on around him; he did not expect Harry to just get up from his seat to push past Emily and out the door of the coffee shop.
Emily was in the midst of saying something, but Louis paid her no mind. He simply got up from his own seat, grabbed his beanie, and sidled as politely as he could past the young fan to race out of the coffee shop after Harry.
Harry hadn't made it too far, but his legs were longer than Louis', and Louis was panting by the time he caught up, grabbing at Harry's bicep to stop his forward motion.
When Harry turned to look at him, it was with pain in his eyes. Louis wished he knew which part of the fan encounter had hurt Harry the most so he could address it, make it better. All he could do was say, "I'm so sorry. She didn't mean anything."
Harry just stared at him unnervingly. He tried to pull his arm from Louis' grasp, but Louis held on fast.
"Please come back with me," Louis begged. "We were having such a good time."
Harry shook his head and again tried to free his arm.
Louis kept holding on tight as he pleaded one more time, "Stay."
As Harry finally yanked his arm from Louis' hand, he uttered the first word Louis had heard him say aloud, a ferocious "No!"
So stunned was Louis that Harry had actually spoken that it gave the other boy the opportunity to dart away into the nearby Tube station, the rush hour crowd swallowing him up. Louis didn't try to give chase this time.
Louis was left alone to wonder what he could have done differently and if he would be lucky enough to get a second chance. It was all he found he wanted.