Chapter Text
It started with a boy, but when doesn't it?
Harry was fifteen and home schooled.
Louis was seventeen and covered in tattoos.
Harry was home schooled because he was bullied when he was younger, to the point that he came home and told his parents he wanted to kill himself.
Louis was covered in tattoos because he thought it made him original and his way to say 'fuck the mainstream media culture.'
Harry came from a home with an over protective mother and a father who didn't stay when the flowers became an issue.
Louis' been through two fathers, the first he doesn't really remember and the second wasn't the friendliest. His mother was constantly working and left Louis to basically raise his sisters, the only problem was he had a bit too much of a temper leaving the oldest sister to care for them after Louis left.
At fifteen Harry rarely left his house and only went outside with his mother because of kids in the neighborhood.
At seventeen Louis has already been kicked out of his home and school for violence.
Harry has never had a job in his life.
Louis works at a tattoo parlor to keep up with rent.
Harry is eighteen and has decided he is tried of hiding and is spending his last year of schooling in public school.
Louis is twenty and has been arrested for fighting.
The first time Louis sees Harry they're in a grocery store and Harry has a crown of flowers in his hair. With his big eyes he is the epitome of innocence. Louis can barely keep his hands to himself wanting to reach out and tug on one of the boy's curls.
They don't speak that day.
The first time Harry sees Louis they're in a bakery. Harry is looking for a part time job (but the flower shop is more appealing). Louis is picking up a cake for his friend's birthday. Harry is a little intimidated by the tattoos and piercings and is terrified when he bumps into the shorter boy by accident.
"S-sorry," Harry stuttered out feeling even more intimidated under the boy's gaze.
It was clear the Harry was taller than Louis, but the way that he carried himself had him looking shorter than he really is.
"Who are you?" Louis asked ignoring the apology.
"Harry," he replied softly as he rocked on his heels nervously.
The action didn't go unnoticed by Louis who had a command on the tip of his tongue, but managed to reframe from saying anything. "So, what brings you here Harry?" He asked with a small smirk as he leaned against the counter.
Harry squirmed a bit, "looking for a part time job," he said shoving his hands into his pockets attempting to achieve a casual looking pose.
"Oh?" Louis' eyebrow rose a bit as he stared at Harry for a moment. "Wouldn't you prefer something more," his eyes moved to the flowers on his head before returning, "outdoorsy."
By this point Harry was blushing up a storm and his hands had moved to curl around the hem of his shirt, fidgeting. "I applied at the flower shop."
Harry has always been a people pleaser, at least that's what his mother has always told him, but it would explain the light swell in his chest when Louis smiled and nodded his head murmuring, "that's good."
He really didn't want the conversation to end, he found himself grasping for something to bring up. "So, um, what are you doing here?" Louis' smirk made Harry feel as if he knew exactly what he was thinking, which in itself was a bit unnerving.
"Getting cake for a friends birthday, he's having a party," there was a small pause, "come with me." It was clearly a demand versus a question, and it had Harry at a loss for words because he by no means was expecting that. "I don't know you though," there, he clearly couldn't argue with that sort of logic, right?
Louis' nose wrinkled up, "so? What's there to know? I'm Louis, I drive, I'm clearly responsible since I'm in charge of the cake." Harry wasn't given a chance to respond as an employee appeared from the back with a box for Louis. He grinned and thanked them immediately heading towards the door only pausing to look back at Harry, "I'll swing by 'round seven, so be ready, I don't like to be kept waiting." With that the boy disappeared out the door leaving Harry in a bit of a daze not entirely sure as to what just happened.
It wasn't until he was already half way home that he realized Louis didn't know where he lived.
At five till seven Harry was sitting in front of his closet as he had been for the last hour. He couldn't recall telling Louis where he lived, that seems like something someone would remember, which is what lead to his conflict.
The doorbell had Harry's head whipping towards his clock, it was before seven, but that didn't stop the feeling of his stomach dropping since he was nowhere near ready.
Harry let out a breath and shook his head, he didn't tell Louis where he lived, so he couldn't be at the door. In order to solve the crisis Harry got up and walked to the stairs leaning over the balcony to see who was at the door after hearing his mother's voice.
Seeing the familiar red hair Harry let out a squeak, one that was louder than he had realized since both people looked up at him with a frown. "Harry, I told you to be ready by seven, and you didn't explain what was going on to your mother?" Harry frowned clearly hearing the disappointment in Louis' words. "I-I didn't, I mean, I just. Sorry?"
"So you know him then?" Harry quickly nodded his head at his mother's question, even if it wasn't entirely true. He watched Louis walk into the house and up the stairs before grabbing his wrist and pulling him towards his room. "Which one?" Harry just pointed and was quickly tugged into the room letting the boy more or less treat him like a rag doll as he was pushed on to his bed.
"I told you to be ready by seven," Louis repeated with a bit of a scowl before turning and beginning to go through Harry's closet. "H-how did you know where I live though?" Louis threw a glance over his shoulder as if he was looking for something before returning his focus to the closet and shrugging. "Doesn't matter."
His tone was firm, and Harry didn't say another word. He shifted on the bed watching the back of Louis' shirt tighten and relax as he continued going through his closet eventually tugging things out and turning to the younger boy. "Hurry up and get dressed, we're already late now," Harry bit his lip and did as he was told disappearing into the bathroom to change.
Harry wasn't use to the type of music Louis listened to; he was use to acoustic, calm and quiet things. Louis was basically the exact opposite with loud, well loud everything. Harry wasn't quite sure how to describe any of it without using the word noise, but of course he did almost have a heart attack when the music first started causing Louis to laugh. No one spoke, Louis just hummed along with the music while Harry really just wanted to plug his ears, but reframed. He could only assume that Louis might be a little offended if he did that.
At the house Harry found himself wishing he were back in the car. The music was nowhere near as loud and people was staring him oddly, something that he had grown used to, but still was embarrassed by nevertheless. He jumped when he felt an arm wrap around his waist, and he didn't really relax when he realized that it was Louis.
A part of the boy did trust Louis, he wasn't sure why, but another part of him kept holding on to the fact that he didn't know this boy and this was ridiculously stupid. Then of course it didn't help that Harry was completely out of his comfort zone. He didn't know where he was or who any of these people were, they all looked similar to Louis, besides a few people that caught his eye as they walked through the house while Louis said hello to everyone.
It took a squeeze to his side to catch his attention, "Harry," Louis said shaking his head a bit, "this is Niall," he said nodding at the blonde with a large grin and spiky shirt. Once he noticed them, it was a bit of a fixation that neither of the other boy's seemed to notice as they spoke about whoever had just walked in, Harry honestly didn't care. They might not have noticed his lack of enthusiasm for the conversation, but what they did notice was the boy lightly touching the tips of the spikes. Niall let out a laugh causing Harry to jerk his hand back startled at the sudden booming sound before glancing over to Louis who was chuckling himself. "Looked like a little kid, it was hilarious and a bit adorable mate," it was clear the longer he spoke that he was already drunk.
Louis just tightened his grip, "the crown helps," he added on which Niall immediately agreed with.
The evening went by in a flash, a constant stream of faces and names that he would never remember. Neither of them drank, but it was clear that Louis would have liked to, if the way he continued to look over to the kitchen was anything to go by. When Louis leaned in Harry had been expecting him to ask, but was shocked when he asked to dance. Harry quickly shook his head in response, "I don't know how," was his response once again blushing bright red.
Louis smirked and lightly pushed him towards the dancing bodies ignoring Harry's pleas. "You'll be fine," he assured spinning the boy to face him. "Just relax, yeah? I've got ya," Louis said moving his hands to Harry's hips and pushing their bodies flush together before he started moving their hips grinning at how pliant Harry was. His kept his grip firm as he continued to rock their hips together as he leaned forward and connected his lips to Harry's neck feeling the other's Adams apple bob.
It took a few encouraging nips from Louis before Harry eased into the motions moving his hips and slowly letting one of his arms rest on Louis' shoulder; his hand clutching the fabric on his back as the other jumped around awkwardly until Louis grabbed it and placed it on his waist. As they continued to dance Harry could feel the temperature begin to ride drastically, Louis' fringe already plastered to his forehead.
With each passing beat the boy found he was growing more comfortable, and more brazen with his movements letting his head tip to the side slightly as he felt the return of Louis' lips on his skin letting out a low moan at the contact. It was momentary and had Harry whining in protest looking to see why it stopped. Louis pulled away just far enough so that Harry would release his shirt, but not actually move his arm before swiveling around to press his back to Harry's chest.
One of Louis' hands tangled with the one still slung over his shoulder while the other directed Harry's free hand where to rest as he kicked up his dancing once again managing to catch Harry off guard. The boy could only attempt to keep up as Louis danced, it was painfully obvious how Harry was reacting to this, and Louis could also tell without much effort really.
Louis head tilted back and rested on Harry's chest as the beat slowed and the hand on Louis' hip tightened when he felt the boy beginning to pull away. He kept one of their hands clasp together as he tugged on Harry and continued to do so until they were outside.
"What about the cake?"
"Niall probably already ate it, the boy eats like an elephant," Louis said with a shrug. Harry could only assume he was over exaggerating because that seemed a bit ridiculous.
"Come on, you've got school tomorrow," Louis said ending the silence as he tugged on Harry pulling him towards the car once again. Harry's nice wrinkled up as he tugged on his shirt trying to cool down. "How do you know that?"
"Your mom popped in while you were changing," Louis spoke casually as he released Harry's hand before walking to the driver’s side. Harry had the sudden feeling that if was going to keep hanging out with Louis that there would be a lot of these moments.
Harry's fingers reached up to graze over the wilted flowers sitting on his head, "how'd those stay on anyways?" Louis asked glancing over to the boy as he touched them. "Bobby pins," if Harry blushed anymore Louis was certain that it would become permanent, but it was still cute regardless. "Smart idea," Louis didn't mention noticing the way Harry attempted to bite back a smile and fiddle his fingers in his lap.
Walking up to the house Louis had one hand on Harry's lower back and looped an arm around the back of Harry's neck once they were at the door to tug him down so he could kiss the boy before leaving without a single word.
Once in his car Louis watched as Harry's face turned into a look of awe; a small smirk on his own. He watched as Harry's fingers brushed over his lips turning to look at the car before giving a small wave and ducking inside.
Harry had expected to be grilled when he got inside, but was pleasantly surprised when his mother only asked a few simple questions, questions that mostly revolved around Louis. For the most part he was able to answer them with ease, a few he felt as if he needed to shift his answers a bit, the questions that generally were directed around how long they had known one another and things of that nature. Nothing that Harry didn't expect of his mother, it was perfectly understandable.
"So did you forget something?" It was the only greeting Harry received the next day at school as he went through his locker.
Harry's eyes had widened remembering that he was suppose to have talked to his mother about hanging out with Liam after he had left the bakery, but he had completely forgotten. "Liam, I'm sorry, I forgot," from there Harry explained. The story continued through their homeroom class and by the time they saw each other again at lunch, Liam was caught up.
Liam wasn't completely supportive of the idea, especially after Harry admitted that he was certain he hadn't told Louis where he lived, but the boy, for the most p art, bit his tongue and just told Harry to be careful. "Just to make this clear I don't support this, but I know you want to, well I don't really know what your doing, but just be careful, yeah? I'd rather not see you on the news because some freak kidnapped you or something," Liam said with a small frown as the pair walked towards their next class. Harry could only sigh in exasperation; they have had this conversation plenty of times since becoming friends. "I am careful, there was no drinking and stuff. Just talking and dancing," Harry reassured once again.
Unlike when he was younger Harry had an easier time at school, people stuck to whispering behind his back and staring at the flowers that he always had on. There were only a few kids who still physically harassed him over the crown. It wasn't a daily abuse, mostly something to do when the boy's grew bored because when it came down to it, Harry kept to himself and if he didn't wear the flowers then a majority of the student body probably wouldn't even notice him.
Liam met Harry outside of his class as he always did. Liam had quickly grown rather protective over the other boy, and while he couldn't always protect him, Harry did have a feeling that things would be more difficult without him.
On the way out the two spoke casually about plans for the weekend coming up; however, Harry's face screwed up in confusion as he noticed a familiar car sitting in the parking lot clearly waiting for him.