A Shot in the Dark: Chapter ten

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: Queued while I’m in London! I apologize for a short, terrible, suckish chapter. I hate it, and tried rewriting, and then I hated it more… but it’s just building up for some other moments… so, I hope you’ll like it though I’ll doubt that

Chapter nine|Chapter ten|Chapter eleven

“Come on, Charlie. We’re going to be late,” Harry said and picked him up from the ground to place him on his neck.

“But it’s cold!” he cried.

“That’s why you’ve got a thick jacket, a hat and gloves on,” Harry said and started walking, “And the faster we are, the earlier we will be at school where it is warm.”

It was quiet for a few minutes when Charlie started talking again, “Can’t I stay with you today? I won’t tell Mommy!”

“No, you can’t. Louis is expecting to see you!”

“Are you and mister Louis friends?” Charlie then asked.

“Why do you ask?” Harry asked him. Has Louis been talking about him?

“He told me you and him are friends, he really likes you,” Charlie said.

“He did? He does?” Harry asked.

“Uhuh, he also says I look like you,” Charlie smiled proudly.

“Well, that you do!” Harry said and could already see the school from far. “Are you still cold?”

“Yes,” Charlie said and pouted.

“Well, we’re almost there, so then you can warm up,” Harry said.

“But I want to be warm now!” Charlie pouted.

“Then I’ll just have to run,” Harry said and started running to the school. Charlie giggled as he bounced on Harry’s neck and in no time they were at the nursery. Harry put Charlie down and they entered the nursery. Harry helped Charlie take his gloves and jacket off. He shook a bit of the cold and Harry crouched down and hugged him.

“You are warm,” Charlie giggled.

“Yes, I am,” Harry smiled and his hands rubbed Charlie’s back to create extra warmth.

“I’m warm now!” Charlie said and Harry let go of him. Charlie then ran into the classroom. Harry stood up straight again and followed him to watch him from the doorway. He noticed the room was really empty. He checked the clock and saw they were actually early. He must have walked really fast through the cold.

“Harry!” he heard. He looked to his right and saw Louis coming his way.

“Hey,” Harry smiled and gave Louis a quick hug. Louis flushed at that which caused Harry to grin.

“So, you’re free tonight right?” Harry asked.

“Yeah, I am,” Louis smiled.

“Cool, we’re going to hang out.”

“I don’t get a say in this?” Louis asked.

“No, you don’t. Just be at my place around 7. And it’s your turn to bring something to drink and something to eat! Hint, I like double chocolate chip cookies. Hint, I also like ice cream. Hint, please bring both,” Harry said.

“Sure, I’ll bring cookies and ice cream,” Louis smiled.

“Awesome,” Harry smiled and then looked at Charlie, “Buddy, I’m going!”

Charlie stood up and ran to Harry. He hugged him and gave him a cute, wet kiss on Harry’s cheek.

“Okay, bye Charlie,” Harry said and Charlie waved as he went back to his seat.

“And I’ll see you tonight,” Harry smiled at Louis and left the nursery.

Louis swallowed and sat down on his chair. It felt like his heart stopped for a second, that smile would definitely be the death of him.

***

Louis and Harry were both on a beanbag, each snuggled under a thick blanket.

“So you made up with your sister?” Louis asked.

“Yeah, I actually did. I didn’t expect it, but it feels great, you know. It feels like things are finally starting to work out,” Harry said and looked at the table for his drink. He saw his beer bottle was empty so he started to stand up.

“Harry,” Louis said, “I just want to be a caring friend, okay. But is it really good idea to drink another beer?”

“Um…” Harry said and grabbed the empty bottle, “I only had two beers.”

“Yeah, and that really is enough, right?”

Harry looked at Louis and saw him looking him with a pleading gaze.

“I guess that… two beers are enough,” Harry said and went to the kitchen to grab something else to drink. Did Louis just convince him not to drink? He didn’t convince him really. Just that look in his eyes… he couldn’t deny him when Louis was looking at him like that.

***

“I had fun tonight,” Louis said as he put on his coat.

“Yeah, me too,” Harry smiled, “So I guess I’ll see you tomorrow again?”

“Um… normally Friday night me and Liam hang out… but we can both come here, I don’t think he would mind.”

“Okay, cool, we can play pool again or something?”

“Sounds good,” Louis smiled. It was quiet and the both looked at each other. “Um, I want to say that I feel kind of proud that you didn’t drink more tonight. And I hope that you won’t drink anything after I leave.”

“I won’t,” Harry said.

“Good,” Louis smiled and looked in Harry’s eyes. “Then I’ll go now. It’s late and I have to get up early tomorrow.”

“Yeah, me too. I’m going to bring Charlie to school again tomorrow.”

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” Louis said and wasn’t sure to hug Harry or not. Then he did something he regretted instantly. He kissed Harry’s cheek and immediately turned around to avoid Harry’s reaction. He got into his car and drove off without one glance back. But if he had looked at Harry, he would have noticed the way Harry’s breath caught in his throat and how Harry blushed. Harry closed the door and let his fingers wander over his cheek where Louis kissed him and a small smile formed on his face.

***

Louis was nervously waiting for Harry and Charlie to arrive. He felt so stupid. He couldn’t believe he actually kissed Harry. Well, it wasn’t a real kiss… but still. You don’t kiss your friends on the cheek. What if Harry hated him now? But why would Harry hate him for it? Louis thoughts were conflicting; it felt like his head could explode. He sat down on his chair and looked through some papers to distract himself. The door then opened and a laughing and screaming sound reached Louis’ ears. He looked up and saw that Charlie ran in the classroom to sit at his table. He then saw Harry in the doorway.

“You left quickly last night, didn’t even get the chance to wave you goodbye,” Harry said. Louis stood up and took a deep breath and hoped it would help him get rid of the nerves. It didn’t help.

Harry walked to him and Louis started talking, “Yeah um… sorry… Also for the kiss, I mean. Well, kiss on the cheek. I don’t know what I really did… and it was stupid…”

“Chill Louis, breath. Please breath,” Harry said, “And it’s cool. I always have that effect on people. I’m just kissable. Glad to hear I haven’t lost my touch after all these months,” he grinned.

Louis slapped his arm playfully, “You’re an ass, you know that.”

“From what I’ve seen you’re the one with the ass here,” Harry grinned.

Louis’ eyes grew wide and he gasped. Was Harry just openly flirting with him? Or was it just playful banter?

“Okay, um… I’ll see you tonight, right?” Harry asked.

“Yeah,” Louis said.

“Cool,” Harry said and then waved at Charlie who waved happily back. He walked out of the room, but looked back for a split second to see Louis staring after him. He grinned and then walked through the hallway out of the school. He then let the past minutes sink in. He couldn’t believe he was actually flirting with Louis. He went back to his old ways, he felt like Harry Styles again. Louis made him feel like Harry Styles again. A guilty, panging feeling hit him right in his chest and he knew what it was. A sad smile formed as he thought about Kacey. Flirting isn’t cheating though. It’s just… having fun. And… that’s cool. He tried to convince himself, but it wasn’t working. He went back home with his head hanging low.