A Shot in the Dark: Chapter eight

Harry Styles became famous at quite a young age. At sixteen he was the front man of his band, A Shot In The Dark, and was called a musical prodigy shortly after that. His life was perfect, he had everything; a perfect career, perfect friends and a perfect girlfriend. It all changed when his girlfriend died in a car accident. He lost the love of his life, but he also lost the child he was yet to have. Completely broken he gave up on everything. Alcohol and drugs became his new best friends and his career now existed of getting snapped when leaving clubs. Could his number one fan change his life?

A/N: Last update before I leave for LONDON :D I’m going to queue an update for Tuesday and an update for Thursday and I hope my queue will work :) Also, I got a question when something will happen between Louis and Harry, and I can tell you that it will take a couple more chapters! I promise that soon there will be some romance! Feedback is welcome and I hope you’ll enjoy! :)

Chapter seven|Chapter eight|Chapter nine

Louis walked into the café after work and saw Liam sitting at their regular table. When he approached he saw someone sitting next to him. All he wanted was to sit with Liam, relax and drink some coffee. He wasn’t in the mood for other company. He was completely exhausted. The kids were somehow really energetic that day, so they had been playing all kinds of games and they had been dancing and singing and Louis just couldn’t keep up with the children. He walked closer and recognized the head of curly hair.

“Hey,” he said surprised to see Harry sitting at their table.

“Hello,” Liam smiled and pushed Louis’ coffee to where he sat down.

“Hi,” Harry then said taking a sip of his own coffee.

Louis’ eyes went to Harry’s eye. Not because they were beautifully green, but because around his right eye it was painfully green. “How’s the eye?”

“Um,” Harry said and his fingers went lightly over the bruise, “Okay. I’m on medication, because of the pain, but it’s okay. It’s the least I deserved.”

“You didn’t deserve it,” Louis said and took a sip of his coffee, letting the caffeine flow through his throat to the rest of his body.

“Long day?” Liam asked, noticing Louis’ reaction to the coffee and breaking the slightly awkward silence.

“The kids were extremely hyperactive,” Louis said, “I feel really old right now, because I’m totally exhausted. I don’t have a clue where their energy comes from! And,” Louis said and looked at Harry, “Charlie can be a handful! He threw clay at a classmate!”

“I think that that is the Styles gene he has,” Harry grinned, “We Styles can be charming and cheeky.”

“Charlie is definitely cheeky,” Louis said, “but he’s a good kid. Most of the time.”

“Yeah,” Harry said and stared at his coffee.

“Oh, hey Liam, how was your day?” Liam asked himself when silence took over, “Well thank you Liam, I had a great day,” and Liam squinted his eyes looking at Louis.

“Oh, right,” Louis said, like he had forgotten all about Liam’s presence for a minute, “so what did you do today?”

“Um, slept till 11, watched Friends, played some FIFA,” Liam said.

“Interesting,” Louis said, “It’s probably a weight of your shoulder to share that fascinating and exciting news with me,” he said and took a sip of his coffee.

“Oh, Louis. You are hilarious,” Liam said and glared at him.

“Right,” Harry said and looked between the two guys, “Well, I cleaned the house today. It wasn’t that hard since there wasn’t a lot to clean… And I bought the new Foster the People record,” he smiled.

“I absolutely love Foster the People,” Louis smiled.

“I’m going to listen to the album tonight for the first time with some hot coco, you can come if you want?” Harry asked.

“Hot coco? Is that code for beer?” Louis asked.

“No, it’s code for hot chocolate. Certain music is better to enjoy without alcohol,” Harry said, “Plus drinking in combination with my meds right now isn’t the best idea.”

“Count me in,” Louis smiled. Harry then looked at Liam.

“Late shift, so I can’t come,” Liam answered.

“You never work the late shift,” Louis said confused.

“I got tricked by Macy,” Liam said frustrated, “She was talking all girly, so I just nodded and then she said: ‘So you’ll work for me tomorrow night? Great!’ And I couldn’t say anything else because she already left!”

“You fell for that already six times…” Louis said.

“When she starts talking I can’t help to stare of in space. She’s just so boring…” Liam said and finished his coffee.

“Sometimes you’re really stupid,” Louis said.

“Thank you, mister carrots-grow-on-bushes,” Liam said to Louis.

“When are you going to stop saying that! It was an honest mistake!”

“Whenever you stop saying I’m stupid,” Liam pouted.

“You guys are weird friends,” Harry brought in. The two guys looked at him and then at each other.

“Yeah… we are,” Louis said and shrugged.

It was quiet again and Liam looked at the clock. “I’ve got to go to work,” he said and grabbed his jacket.

“Louis, I’ll see you tomorrow?” Liam asked.

“You know it,” Louis answered.

“And um… I’ll see you soon, I guess,” Liam said and looked at Harry.

“I think you’ll see me in a couple hours again. Need to get some hot chocolate and marshmallows,” Harry said.

“Well, see you in a couple hours then,” Liam smiled and left the café.

Harry and Louis were left alone and a deadly silence took over.

“So um… you teach,” Harry said, trying to break the silence.

“Yeah. Well… it’s not really teaching what I do. I think it’s in some ways more like childcare, but I like what I do,” Louis smiled.

“How did you… why um… ” Harry said, trying to find the right question.

“Why do I do what I do?” Louis asked.

Harry nodded and took a sip of his coffee.

“Why were you in a band?” Louis asked him back.

“Um… because I loved it,” Harry said.

“That’s why I do what I do. I like it, I love it. I’m young at heart, so it seemed like a good decision. And it was, because for me it’s the best job in the world. And I’m actually able to teach them something, which is also a good plus.”

“Teaching is cool. I think people underestimate teachers. It’s hard work,” Harry said.

“It is. It’s tiring, extremely tiring,” Louis said, “But you know, it’s worth it. And I don’t care what people really think of teaching. It makes me happy, and that’s enough.”

“That’s cool,” Harry half-smiled and it was silent again.

“I think I’m going to head home to take a nap,” Louis said.

“Oh, okay,” Harry said, “So I’ll see you at 7?”

“Um… make it 8, okay?”

“Yeah, 8 is fine,” Harry said.

“Cool,” Louis said and got all his stuff, “See you tonight!”

***

Louis rang the doorbell and waited for Harry to open. He was really nervous. It would be the first time he and Harry, his idol, would hang out alone. He was scared that he was going to make a total fool of himself. He tried to relax himself by thinking they would just be listening to music and just drink some hot chocolate. But what if they actually started talking? He didn’t know what to say to him. He’s his fucking idol! He adores the guy. He could never have a normal conversation with him, because all he could think about were the topless picture he saw of him on his holiday in California! Which he just happened to find, he wasn’t looking for them, really! Okay, he was… but that’s really not the point of conversation here. He hoped it wouldn’t be awkward like that afternoon. Last time they properly hung out, Liam was there to keep the conversation going. Now, there is no Liam. So if it became painfully quiet… he’d just have to deal with it.

The door opened and Harry stood in the doorway with sweatpants, a t-shirt and a beanie on.

“Hey,” Harry said and opened the door, “I’m almost done with the coco!” he said as he went back to the kitchen.

Louis took off his jacket and shoes and followed him into the kitchen.

He saw that Harry also baked a cake. “I was in the mood to bake something,” he explained, “So you want some cake?”

“Sure,” Louis smiled. Harry cut the cake and placed the slice on a plate. He gave it to Louis and then gave him the hot chocolate. “Marshmallows?” Harry then asked and held out a bag to him. Louis grabbed a couple of marshmallows and Harry then grabbed some himself. They went to the living room with all the stuff and put it all down on the small table.

“I’ve already got it all set up,” Harry said and Louis looked at the record player and the beanbag and cushions on the floor.

“We’re going to sit like hippies?” Louis asked.

“It’s really the best way to enjoy music. Just lazily lying on the floor,” Harry said and then started the record. The first song started playing and music filled the room. Harry relaxed in the cushions and sipped from his hot chocolate.

“I didn’t figure you for such a relaxed person,” Louis said.

“I’m not. I just… need to relax sometimes,” Harry shrugged.

“Yeah, everyone needs to sometimes,” Louis said.

They sat in silence again, but this time Louis found it a nice silence. They didn’t need to talk, they just needed to listen to the music and relax with some food and drinks. Louis couldn’t help but let his eyes wander over Harry. He lay with his eyes closed, slumped into the beanbag and cushions. Louis couldn’t believe he was actually there, with Harry, just hanging. He also couldn’t believe how beautiful Harry was. He then shook his head, not wanting to think about that. Yes, he was gay, and yes, he had a teeny tiny crush on Harry. But he was here as Harry’s friend. Though Harry looked really good in a beanie. Harry opened his eyes slightly and half-smiled when he saw Louis looking at him.

“You probably feel cool now, hanging out with your idol,” Harry said.

“Um… yeah, kind of,” Louis said embarrassed, which caused Harry to smile a full smile.

Louis could watch him smile like that all day.

“I’m glad you don’t fangirl, though. I always found it so awkward when people started screaming and crying when they saw me,” Harry said, “I’m human, you know. I’m nothing special.”

“You are. You are special. You are extremely talented, not many people are that,” Louis said.

Harry blushed at that and grabbed his hot chocolate to take a sip so he didn’t have to say anything. He never was good with accepting compliments.

“I’m sorry… I just… I don’t get why people think I’m so talented. They tell me all the time and I just don’t get it. I just sing… it’s, you know… everyone can sing,” Harry said after a short silence.

“But you have an amazing, unique voice. And you’re the one who wrote or co-wrote all of the bands songs,” Louis said.

Harry buried his head in the cushions. “Let’s just talk about something else, okay?” he mumbled.

It was quiet again, expect for the music playing.

“Um…” Louis said, “I know that Liam already talked with you about this,” Louis started, “But um… you’re really okay with me being gay, right?” Louis couldn’t help but bring him up. Liam told him that Harry said he was okay with it, but Louis still had a nagging feeling.

Harry kept his head still and it looked like he wasn’t even breathing. He then lifted his head and looked at Louis.

“Yeah, I’m really okay. It doesn’t matter,” he said. “I don’t care with whom you fall in love. We’re all human, gender doesn’t really matter.”

“You think that?” Louis asked surprised.

“Yeah. Like… if I fall in love with a girl that’s cool, but if I fall in love with a guy, that’s cool too,” Harry said. “But at this point, I have only loved one girl. And I plan on keeping it like that for a long time.”

“So… you’re bisexual?” Louis asked.

“If I have to label it, I think, yeah. But I don’t like labeling it…” Harry said.

“Okay, that’s cool,” Louis said. He didn’t expect to hear that. He always thought Harry was straight. Somewhere in the back of his mind a voice told him he actually had a chance.

“So um… you like the record?” Harry said.

Louis eyebrows scrunched together, and then he realized Harry was talking about the Foster the People record they were listening to, “Oh, yeah, I actually already listened to it before, but it’s awesome,” and he smiled at Harry.

“Good,” Harry smiled and closed his eyes again, letting the music relax him completely.