"He did what?!" Zayn squealed.
Louis looked at him, eyebrows raised, a smirk on his face. "I was just as shocked as you are! Trust me."
"It looks like we both got some last night," Zayn said with a wink.
"All I got was a kiss, but how did your night go? I assume you at least got to third base." Louis asked.
Zayn chuckled. "Yes, I did indeed. I believe I hit a home-run…twice."
"You sly fox. So, tell me about it! Was it with 'mystery lover' from the library?" Louis pried.
Zayn smiled, flashbacks from last night flooding his mind as he spoke. "It was with 'mystery lover' from the library. You and I both know I have quite the experience in the boudoir." Louis nodded, agreeing with Zayn. "But-Louis, he's the best I've ever had—but don't tell him that!" Zayn raised his pointer finger at Louis as a warning.
Louis smiled at him and laughed. "I can't—you have been so secretive about who your new lover is, I don't even have a name. And wait! Did you just say HE!?"
Zayn paused and realized that he did in fact say 'he.' His eyes started to go wide. "Did I? I don't think I did. You may have just misheard." Zayn tried to backpedal.
Louis wasn't buying it.
"Zayn, is your 'mystery lover' a guy?" Louis asked.
Zayn sighed, feeling defeated. His charade was finally up. "Yes, yes he is. But before you say anything-"
"Z. It's fine! I don't care. Really! I mean-I do care. You're my best friend, and I want you to feel like you can tell me anything. I don't want you to feel like you have to hide who you are or who you spend your time with behind closed doors. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters. I love you, Z." Louis said, lovingly.
Zayn smiled back at Louis with tears in his eyes. "Thanks Lou. I love you too, bruv. Do you really want to know about him?"
Louis nodded.
"Okay. Well, to start off, his name is Liam, and we met about three weeks ago at one of our parties. We were both super drunk when we first kissed, so it wasn't anything more than a drunken makeout session. That was the week before my party. Then the party I hosted was when we slept together for the first time." Zayn explained.
"In the library." Louis finished.
"Yes. In the library. I am still sorry about that, but it kind of just happened, and we had to go somewhere no one would walk in on us. People have been known to wander up to our chambers before, and I didn't want to take that risk." Zayn explained.
"Well, I'm glad you finally felt like you could confide in me. When do I get to meet him?" Said Louis.
"Slow down there, Tommo! We are keeping things very casual. Besides, neither he nor I are looking to settle down right now. But this isn't about me right now…So do you think he likes you?" Zayn turned the conversation back to Louis.
"I don't know. I mean, I did kiss him first, but when I pulled away, he literally grabbed me by the collar and smashed his lips into mine! Either way, this changes things in the plan!" Louis huffed.
Zayn gave Louis a confused look. "Changed how?"
"Well, after we execute this plan, we're never going to see each other again. Now that he might have feelings for me, that creates an issue!" Louis explains.
"Hmm. I see." Replied Zayn. "Well, did you make it clear to him that you weren't interested?" He asked.
"No. I couldn't! He ran out before I could even say anything! Besides, I don't think I could've told him even if he stayed." Louis said the last part a little under his breath.
"What do you mean?" Zayn questioned.
"Well it would be a lie…" Louis' voice drifted off.
"What?! Since when do you like Harry? You just met him a week ago!" Zayn questions.
"I know! And I had no feelings towards him last week! I swear! I didn't—I mean, I thought he was an attractive lad, but that's it!" Louis defended himself. "And then…he kissed me." Louis said that last part in a whisper.
"And now you have feelings for him." Zayn answered for him.
"Yes…" Louis admits.
"So now what? Do we pull back on the plan?" Zayn asks.
"No. We will continue, but now we can't let Harry know about it." Louis answered.
"Okay. But why? Wouldn't it be better if we told him? That way, he doesn't think we're lying to him." Zayn asks.
"No. It'll be better this way. If he knows, then absolutely nothing will happen between us. I may not have known him for long, but Harry is the type to put others happiness before his own. And if he knew of the plan, he would sabotage his happiness for my own. I haven't seen him let loose in the 19 years he's been alive. I may have only met him a week ago, but my father always kept tabs on his family, rivalries, and all that. But last night, when he kissed me, I saw something light up in his eyes—a spark of happiness. It was there for only a split second before he realized what had happened. It faded just as quickly as he fled the party. I want to see that spark again, and I want to help ignite it. I don't want to be the one who lights it only to extinguish it before it could become something." By this point, Louis had tears in his eyes.
After Louis' big speech, Zayn has a fond look on his face, smiling at Louis. "You really like him, don't you?"
"I do. And I can't let this chance of happiness for both of us slip away." Louis sighed.
"Okay. So when do we tell him? I mean, he will find out when his kingdom doubles in size overnight." Zayn made a point. They can't keep Harry in the dark forever. They will need to tell him eventually.
"I'll tell him when I think he's ready. But for now, we move on to Phase 3: I gain Harry's trust and have him tell me the details of the safe in his castle, then I'll tell you and make sure the castle is empty while you break into the safe and retrieve the land deeds." Louis explained.
"I feel like we could have come up with a shorter title for Phase 3. But let us get started!" Zayn chuckles.
"We definitely could have," Louis agrees with a laugh. "Okay, so I will have Luther deliver this letter I wrote up last night after Harry left, asking him to meet me at the little beach down by the bay later this afternoon. He can't refuse because the beach is nice and secluded, and we won't be seen by anyone within a 5 mile radius. So his parents won't see him 'fraternizing with the enemy'."
"Ah, clever!" Zayn smiled. "Nice and private, hmm?"
"Zayn! We only kissed last night. And it didn't exactly have the most magical ending." Louis defended. "But I wouldn't be opposed to him letting me squeeze that perky little arse of his a little." Louis winks.
Zayn chuckled. "Go get your boy, Tommo."
So he did; Louis gave his letter to Luther and made his way down to the beach.