May 3rd
"That will be fifty pounds, please." A blond, apathetic, girl ordered, putting her hand out toward Harry.
"Seriously? For one ticket to prom?" He asked, incredulous.
The girl said nothing but her hand remained outstretched, so Harry knew she meant business.
"That's insane. What do we really get for that much money?" Niall complained as Harry fumbled with his wallet.
"Memories of a lifetime." The burnt out cheerleader said as if she were playing back an audio tape.
The response only made Niall scowl further. Zayn noticed this and put a supportive hand on his boyfriend's back.
"Don't worry, I'll pay for you. My treat." Zayn whispered and Niall broke out into a wide smile. He really felt like the luckiest bloke in the world.
"I feel like I'm being robbed." Harry muttered, passing the cash to the girl. She rolled her eyes and handed him back a flowery looking ticket.
Zayn bought the two tickets for Niall and he, the girl raised an eyebrow at the joint purchase, until Zayn muttered, "He left his money at home."
She seemed satisfied with the answer, but Niall looked a little bit upset by the exchange. Harry knew exactly how his blond friend was feeling; Harry loathed the constant need to hide their relationships because of other people's judgments. Although Harry determined that he really didn't care what the depressed looking girl thought of him.
"It's not fair." Niall said, as they walked down the hallway, away from the prom ticket table. This is how they usually spent their lunches, wandering through the school with no actual aim.
"I know, hun, but it's just the way people operate. They judge things they don't understand." Zayn explained, in a hushed tone. Niall blushed at the use of the pet name and Harry laughed at his best friend's adorable exchange.
"One month and we'll be out of here, boys!" Harry announced, fitting in between the two and wrapping his arms around their shoulders.
"I'm actually counting down the days. My calendar is marked up pretty good as I scratch down to the remaining days." Zayn shared, which made Niall and Harry burst out laughing.
Once they made it outside, Niall sat down on the top of a picnic table. Harry took a seat on the bench while Zayn chose to stand.
"So, how did your date the other night go?" Niall asked, cocking his head in interest.
Harry sighed at the memory, picturing the rose garden and how well it complimented Louis's handsome face. The whole evening had been utterly romantic and it was all thanks to Niall and Zayn.
"Amazing. The atmosphere up there is intoxicating." Harry responded, a distant smile on his face. He was still living in the memory.
"That's where Niall and I had our first official date. We thought it would out pretty good for you and your boy toy as well." Zayn teased, and Niall just smirked.
"Not my boy toy, if anything I'm his. Not that I would ever define our relationship in that way." Harry objected.
"He was just kidding, Harry." Niall defended his boyfriend.
"Oh, I know. It just got me thinking…" Harry muttered, suddenly distant.
Harry was plummeted into a shocking whirlwind of over analyzation at Louis and his relationship. He was the younger, more naive half of it and yet, Harry felt like Louis's equal. Was that wrong?
He proceeded to imagine what people would think when they did come out. Would people think that Louis had simply taken advantage of Harry? Did Louis coax him into something he wasn't ready for? Was Harry even old enough to know that what he was feeling wasn't just experimental instead of real love? All the questions throttling through his head were exhausting.
And then he noticed the word that had floated through his head: love.
Did he love Louis?
"Earth to Harry! Somebody's here to see you." Niall called him back down to earth, nodding toward Louis.
Harry's boyfriend was lingering just outside the double doors. He looked more nervous than usual which confused Harry. Especially because of the epiphany that had just wrecked havoc on his mind.
"Be back in a bit, mates." Harry greeted before walking toward Louis. With every step closer, his heart began to race even more.
"Hey, you." Louis said, wishing his could crash his lips into Harry's but because of where they were, he restrained himself.
Harry licked his lips, seeing that Louis's eyes were staring at them. He craved for Louis's kiss and yet, if they indulged now, it would ruin everything.
"Good afternoon, Lou." Harry responded, a controlled tone to his voice.
"Let's go for a walk?" Louis suggested and Harry nodded in agreement.
As the pair set off, Zayn and Niall watched them.
"I hate that they can't just be together. But I have a feeling that they have a complicated road ahead of them." Zayn commented, sitting down next to his boyfriend on the picnic table.
"Agreed. But, we just have to support them through every step of it. Love is love is love." Niall chanted and Zayn pinched his nose playfully.
"Why do you taunt me so?" Niall complained, rubbing his tender nose.
"Because you're so damn adorable when you're worked up." Zayn responded, poking Niall in the ribs.
"Zayn, stop it!" Niall whined, squirming under the touch.
"Make me!" Zayn protested, a wicked grin on his lips.
"THIS IS WAR!" Niall cried as he leapt off the table and the pair began to wrestle.
Louis and Harry looked back on the battle and laughed at their ridiculous friends. They turned around a corner of the school courtyard; they were walking in a peaceful silence until Louis stopped suddenly.
"I have something for you. It's kind of stupid but I thought you might like it…" Louis blurted out, producing a box from his blazer's pocket.
"Oh my god, Lou, you really didn't have to." Harry murmured.
"I know. But, I want you to have something for you to remember that whatever happens, I care about you." Louis explained, passing the box into Harry's now trembling hands.
Harry stared down at the gift, knowing that he had never received something so special. Louis was endlessly thoughtful and Harry had nothing to give in return.
He opened the box slowly and inside was a black braided leather bracelet.
"Lou…" Harry whispered, at a loss for words.
"Look on the inside." Louis prompted, turning the bracelet over for his boyfriend to the inscription: 'Always'.
Harry was almost brought to tears at the promise that Louis's gift instilled. He would never be alone again. He contained himself, noticing a few lingering stares at their exchange.
"Thank you so much." He managed to choke out. He slipped the bracelet on his left wrist, feeling it's comforting weight dangling there.
"I'm glad you like it, I thought maybe you would think it was too sappy." Louis said, relief in his eyes.
"Not at all. It's the best gift I've ever received." Harry retorted, wishing he could show how much he really appreciated it with a kiss.
"But I don't have anything for you…" He continued, a little embarrassed.
"I don't need anything, but you." Louis whispered, his eyes shining with intensity.
Harry's heart burst right then and there. Louis shattered every last shred of doubt Harry had ever had about the darkness of the world. There was one thing Harry Styles was sure of: he loved Louis Tomlinson.