Chapter Text
It was a lazy Sunday afternoon. Jade was laying with her head on Perrie's lap, her eyes closed and her mouth releasing soft puffs of air. It was snowing outside, Christmas only a few days away, and they were supposed to go out for dinner but they were tired from moving Perrie back into her apartment and it was so cold outside, and it was easier to just burrow themselves in blankets and order in.
They were waiting for food to arrive and Jade had fallen asleep and Perrie had no intention of waking her up. She had a tough week in school, with midterms, and yet she still insisted on helping Perrie move back in. Perrie wanted to believe that was only because she was a sweet person but she knew Jade wanted to come and see her and Zayn together. She couldn't really blame her. She was trying to be honest with Jade about everything that was going on and maybe she overdid it with sharing information. It wasn't easy after that disastrous meeting in Bone, they did have some more screaming matches since both she and Zayn had a tendency to get defensive, but every fight made Perrie see how much of a disaster their relationship would be. She was pretty sure they would murder each other two months in.
It was different with Jade. It was simply nice. Jade made her laugh so much, her stomach was aching, she brought her homemade muffins and she smiled at her like Perrie was the sunshine. Most of the time Perrie couldn't really believe Jade wanted to be with her. Especially now, with Jade lying there, the sun hitting her face, making her skin look golden, Perrie didn't know whether it was Jade's body heat, two blankets they were buried under or a feeling of ease she had never experienced before but she felt warm, cozy and safe.
"Just so you know watching someone sleep for this long is usually considered creepy," Jade said her eyes still closed, laughter tinting her voice.
"You're clearly not asleep." Perrie shot back and her breath caught in her throat when Jade opened her eyes.
"No, but I enjoyed the attention," she joked, flipping her hair off her shoulder.
"You always have all of my attention," Perrie assured her sliding down the bed to grab Jade by her waist and kiss her neck.
"Oh do I now?" Jade laughed, her words muffled by Perrie's mouth. She looped her hands around Perrie's neck bringing her closer and tugged softly at her hair.
Perrie wanted to melt herself into Jade and never let go. It surprised her at first. The intensity of everything with Jade. It was easy to talk to her from the start, she never had this kind of easy connection with someone she picked up at the bar. Even with Zayn and Harry, it took them a little longer to get into the rhythm. Jade stayed the night, she teased Perrie about her music taste and left her with a dumb smile on her face for the rest of the day. It was crazy, how a person this small could hold so much power.
"You're really good at that." Perrie joked trying to cool them both off by nosing at Jade's cheek.
"Practice makes perfect." Jade sing-songed under her breath trying to angle Perrie's mouth back towards her. She kissed her lips one more time before continuing. "Did Steve send you that demo you guys recorded yet?"
"Nope. He's been swamped with work, but he said he will try to finish it during Christmas."
"Speaking of Christmas… " Jade said, her eyes suddenly looking anywhere but Perrie. "I don't know whether you are visiting a family or maybe have some tradition of your own with Zayn and Harry, but um… me, Louis and Niall, we always do a Christmas movie marathon on Christmas Day. I would love it if you could come." she ended her voice getting smaller like she was afraid of the answer, and that uncertainty broke Perrie's heart a little bit.
"I don't have family beside Zayn and Harry," Perrie said softly caressing Jade's cheek. "We do have dinner and presents on Christmas Eve, nothing really special on Christmas Day, I would love to come."
Jade lit up below her and strained her neck to kiss Perrie. "You can bring them. If you want." She said then looking to Perrie with a small wrinkle between her brows.
"Zayn?" Perrie asked skeptically.
"And Harry, yeah." Jade nodded seriously. "Look..." She said, pushing Perrie away softly and sitting up to face her. "I'm not gonna pretend like I'm not insecure about the two of you. That would be complete bullshit. I don't know whether I can ever be for you what he was, or is or whatever. But… he is your family. I am not going to stand in a way of that. And also, if you wanted to leave me for him, you would be able to do so regardless of whether I invite him to watch movies with us." She shrugged softly. "And I really like you, Perrie." She whispered sweetly, her cheeks turning pink, "I want to stick around. And if I plan to be a part of your life I have to be okay with him being one too."
Perrie felt her eyes water, overcome with emotion. She wasn't used to this. To sweet girls, with soft eyes, warm smiles, and rosy lips laying their hearts out in front of her. She wasn't used to people being this brave. She leaned in and burrowed her face in Jade's neck only to stop her from seeing her so emotional.
"I like you too." She admitted in her ear. "You're the best person I've ever met. " She added as an afterthought.
"You're full of shit." Jade laughed silently pleased with the compliment.
Their dinner arrived not so long after and they sat in the kitchen. Perrie took out some wine and acted like she didn't know how to use chopsticks just to see Jade laugh and then gently guide her hands into the correct position.
"Do you think we should like… have the guys meet officially before we bring them to your house on Christmas though?" Perrie asked after a while. Jade mulled over the question before nodding softly.
"Probably. But I'm not sure there will be much time. I mean. I kinda have to break the news to them first. Louis will probably flip. Ever the fucking drama queen." She rolled her eyes.
"Babe if it's gonna be an issue… " Perrie started.
"No fuck that." Jade shrugged. "Louis is dramatic but he can deal. You are not some random, I picked up from the street, you know, you're my girl…" She stopped suddenly aware of what she almost said. "Friend. Who is a girl" She corrected clumsily.
"A friend who is a girl." Perrie teased. "What's that called again?" Jade just looked at her angrily.
"I didn't mean to say that." Jade sighed "I know, we're not really girlfriends.'
"Babe… " Perrie started suddenly realizing what this looked like. She was the one who asked to take it slow and now she was teasing her for calling her "girlfriend", which well... She only teased her because she felt so carefree and happy. They've been taking it slow for over two months now, she has been calling Jade her girlfriend in her mind for a while now. It wasn't really a question. But well it wasn't so weird that Jade did question it with the way they started, and with everything, she heard about her and Zayn.
"No honestly, it's fine." Jade shook her head. "I didn't mean to push you." She added her mouth turning downwards like this was the worst thing she could imagine doing. "Just whenever you're ready." She added with a squeeze to Perrie's hand and went back to her food.
There was something that just didn't sit right with Perrie with this one. She thought about how this whole thing started. How they met in Bone. How right after meeting Jade she confronted Zayn. Like she already knew that Jade was meant to be something more. Like she needed to get closure from Zayn to be able to give Jade what she needed. How after she and Zayn had their falling out, she had been texting Jade to meet up because she was the only person in her life that had nothing to do with Zayn. So Perrie could go see her, have fun, and be this alternate universe version of herself that was happy and not heartbroken. And Jade was pretty much the best person Perrie has ever made. Her, Zayn, and Harry- they were all assholes. Like if you cared enough to dig deeper you would find some mushiness underneath but on the ground level- they were cynical fucking assholes. Granted, they had their reasons for always being on guard, always looking for the worst in people, but being with Jade who was the polar opposite of that was so refreshing.
She was like a breath of fresh air, and sometimes when Perrie looked at her for a long time she got teary-eyed thinking about how beautiful Jade was. It wasn't only her outside features but it was like her character shining through her skin, making her glow, making her impossible to look away from. Perrie just wanted to touch her, and hug her, and crawl inside her arms and never ever let go, and she felt so much for her she was barely able to contain it, and what didn't sit right with her at that moment was the fact that she has been taking Jade for granted.
She deserved so much more out of a relationship than those clinical conversations over dinner about rules and boundaries and taking it slow. She deserved romance and big gestures. She was a person that teared up every time while watching Notebook, who knew every Disney song by heart. She was a romantic through and through and Perrie has been doing her wrong. They've got so caught up in what Perrie needed and she was completely ignoring what Jade did. She felt her stomach turning with shame. She had to make this right.
Jade finished her food and kissed Perrie goodbye, before running out since she still had one last midterm tomorrow. She was long gone and Perrie was still deep in thought by the kitchen table when Zayn came back from the studio. She smiled in a greeting and offered him some leftovers which he gratefully accepted and sat by her.
"Where's Harry?" She asked, looking over her shoulder to see if he won't appear there.
"He's with James," Zayn said.
"On Sunday?"
"Well yeah, art never sleeps" Zayn winked. "What's up with you though?"
"What? Nothing." Perrie answered defensively.
"Sure." Zayn snorted.
"I mean there is one thing. Jade invited us to her house on Christmas Day. It's just gonna be her, Niall and Louis. And us, if you guys want to come."
"So it's gonna be you, me, your current girlfriend, her overprotective best friends, and my brother. Sounds great." Zayn cheered flatly.
"I mean, fuck, you don't have to go, you know." Perrie snapped back annoyed. "Like how the fuck you and Louis are gonna make the biggest deal out of it and not me or Jade, huh?"
"What did Louis say?" Zayn asked, a bit amused.
"Nothing yet, for all I know, we just thought about it today so she didn't ask him yet, but she's predicting some drama."
"If you're really okay with it, I'll go." Zayn shrugged "I mean. It would be weird spending Christmas without you." He added then in a rare occurrence of open display of affection.
"Hi, guys." They heard Harry yell out upon entering the house. "I'm fucking exhausted. Did someone make dinner?" He asked, walking into the kitchen and kissing Perrie's cheek and Zayn's head.
"No, but we did order in, there's still some left," Perrie said nudging a container with some rice and chicken towards Harry.
"Thank god. I barely have it in me to raise my hands to my mouth let alone cook anything." Harry sighed and sat down next to them.
"Jade invited us to her house on Christmas Day. " Zayn addressed Harry making the other one stop with his chicken halfway to his mouth.
"O... Okay." Harry said slowly looking between the two of them. "If you think that's a good idea." He shrugged.
Perrie exhaled softly, thankful that at least this one didn't end in an argument, and she texted Jade that Zayn and Harry were in. If the invitation still stood after a conversation with Louis and Niall.
They sat in silence for a while, while Harry inhaled the rest of the food. Zayn asked him something about his internship, but Perrie wasn't really paying attention too preoccupied with thinking of ways to ask Jade to be her girlfriend.
"Oi Pez, what's up with you?" Harry asked suddenly, his expression worried.
"Jesus, you sure you two aren't related?" She snapped, rolling her eyes and standing up to get away from the scrutinizing faces, clearing the table a bit.
"She's being weird right? " Zayn asked Harry. "All spacey and in her head."
"Did something happen? " Harry pressed on further.
"Is it about Jade?" Zayn asked.
"It's… I mean. Isn't this weird? Me talking to you about her?" Perrie sighed, sitting down a bit resigned. She needed to talk to someone, and usually, those were her two go-to people.
"You mean is it weird that you want to talk about your girlfriend with your two best friends?" Zayn teased. "No babe, this isn't weird. Whatever we've been doing before- that was weird. You're just so used to it being weird that you can't even tell when we're finally doing something right" Zayn smiled.
"Come on Pez, he's right. Talk to us." Harry smiled encouragingly.
"Fine." She huffed. "Do you guys want some coffee?" She asked, making a gesture like she was about to stand back up.
"Stop stalling and talk," Zayn ordered, pushing her gently back to her chair.
"She's not really my girlfriend." She sighed. "She… I think she would like to be though? She kind of called me her girlfriend today but she backtracked immediately afterward."
"Okay but… we've been calling her your girlfriend for weeks. What… did you not have this conversation?' Harry asked, looking a bit lost.
"We didn't and it's my fault. Like… " She said, looking quickly at Zayn. "I wanted to be honest with her about everything so she kind of had a front-row seat to all of me and Zayn drama, and like. I think she thinks I like her less than I actually like her. And she thinks that I don't want her to be my girlfriend." Perrie groaned putting her head on the table.
"Girlfriend huh?" Zayn teased "I don't think I've seen you with a girl or boy or any that type of friend since forever."
"Well, I was too busy being in love with you now was I?" Perrie snapped back.
"Not too busy for Jade though..." Zayn fired back smiling. "Don't shoot the messenger babe, I'm just saying. This is a big deal for you."
"Maybe." Perrie allowed. "It's just doesn't seem like that with her. " She said quietly like she was embarrassed about the sentiment.
Zayn and Harry shared a quick look over her head.
"Then just talk to her, you know? Ask her to be your girlfriend. I mean you did say that she would want that so what's the problem?" Harry asked.
"I don't think that's enough. She is… she likes fairy tales and Disney. And I think I've been a shitty girlfriend for the past few weeks. Fuck. Ever since this started. I don't want her to feel like a second choice or like I'm just going with it cause you didn't want to be with me. " Perrie rolled her eyes "Like I'm not this kind of a person, you know? I would sooner be alone than with her if there was someone I would want to be with more. So. I just want to do something to make her see that. "
"So what you want to do is a big romantic gesture." Zayn hummed thoughtfully looking at the table.
The silence spread over the three of them. Coming from the background they did- Harry and Zayn bouncing around foster families, Perrie leaving her house when she turned 18 and never looking back they weren't exactly in touch with their feelings most of the time. Harry was the only one that was even ever in a relationship, a serious one at least but even he never really did the romance part. It all just happened naturally.
"I mean you could like, take her to the top of the Empire State Building?" Harry suggested.
"Yeah, winter and wind will mix up nicely." Perrie shot back.
"Also it's kind of cliché." Zayn chipped.
"I mean or like um… candlelight dinner?" Harry suggested.
"Bro what did I just say about clichés. " Zayn laughed.
"Well you think of something if you're so smart" Harry retorted, and Zayn opened his mouth a few times only to close it defeated.
"It's fucking winter. In the city. It's not like I can take her to the park cause it will be less winter wonderland and more yellow snow and two thousand tourists." Perrie groaned.
"If you want a winter wonderland there's always the ice rink? The one near the Plaza? It looks fucking ace." Harry suggested.
"That would be great if not for two fucking thousand tourists," Perrie said.
"Not necessarily. " Zayn smiled "I might know a guy."
"You mean you're fucking a guy who works there." Perrie rolled her eyes.
"You may want to check that tone with me," Zayn warned, wiggling his finger playfully at Perrie. "He works nights mostly, there's no one there besides him, so he can just let you and Jade in."
"It can't be that easy," Harry argued. "How do you even know that's possible or even if it is, how do you know that he's gonna agree?"
"We might have… maybe... Had sex there once." Zayn said under his breath. "So, it's definitely possible. And whether he's gonna agree… " He added, taking his phone out presumably to text him. He typed the message and all of them were left staring at Zayn's phone in anticipation when it binged.
"I might have to do an unholy amount of sexual favors in exchange for this but he's in," Zayn announced grinning.
"Yeah must be such a hardship for you" Harry teased.
They quickly agreed on the date and time and Zayn's guy even agreed to play a song for them.
"Well, now that we averted that crisis I'm gonna go to sleep. Night guys." Harry smiled and left them alone in the kitchen.
"Thank you," Perrie said, looking at Zayn all serious.
"Don't mention it." Zayn waved her off.
"No, I will. Thank you. I know you don't like asking people for favors. So it means a lot that you did this." Perrie smiled.
"Have you realized that I have never seen you this happy?" Zayn asked, leaning in, his expression wistful. "And I think I have seen more of you than anyone else, yet still I never saw you this happy."
"I know." Perrie nodded her voice shaking a bit. "I don't think I've ever been this happy. It's fucking insane because I've known her for what? Barely four months? And it feels impossible that she wasn't here before"
"I'm so happy for you Pez." Zayn said touching her cheek softly "Even if there's a part of me that is sad that I couldn't be that for you". He added under his breath, and Perrie recoiled looking at him puzzled.
"Don't turn this into something it isn't." She murmured quietly and squeezed his hand while taking it off of her face. His touching her like that seemingly innocent made her feel guilty. "You weren't the one for me. And I wasn't the one for you" She shrugged. "You made that decision long before I did. Don't mix nostalgia up with whatever else."
"I'm sorry." Zayn moved back, his cheek tinting red.
"It's fine." Perrie smiled reassuringly. "I'm gonna turn in too." She added a bit louder standing up. "Thanks again for helping with this." She squeezed his shoulder one more time and disappeared down the hall.
It was easy to convince Jade to meet her two days later since she has already finished her exams. Perrie picked her up from her apartment and they drove the subway all the way to 5 Av station, with Jade happily chatting away.
"So Louis was a bit weary especially about Zayn coming too, but like surprisingly it did not take me long to convince him" She shrugged "He actually really likes you." She smiled, nudging Perrie's knee.
"Oh, my" Perrie teased fanning herself "What did I ever do to deserve that kind of stamp of approval?"
"You were honest with me," Jade said leaning into Perrie's side and looking up to her sweetly.
"Babe not that I mind in this particular case, but you do need to stop rewarding people for basic decency." Perrie laughed, kissing Jade's nose.
"Basic decency is harder to come by than you think" Jade murmured nosing at Perrie's neck. "Where are we going anyway?"
"I guess you're about to find out" Perrie smiled and looked up to see their station and she pulled Jade out of the train by her hand.
When they stepped onto the platform she turned Jade around and put a sleeping mask over her head, making her laugh giddily when the mask caught on her earmuffs.
It was a short walk from the station to the ice rink. She knocked on the door and a blonde head of David- Zayn's friend waved them in. She mouthed a thank you at him and saw him closing up behind them before she guided Jade towards the rink.
"It's so cold, where are we?" Jade whispered.
"Just a few more seconds" Perrie promised just as they rounded the corner.
The place was beautiful. Perrie came to check it out before but it was during its operating hours so there were so many people around. Right now the surface of the ice was dark but everything around was bathed in light. It looked perfect.
"Okay babe, sit, right behind you," Perrie said and Jade felt the bench with her hand, sitting down.
"What are we doing?" Jade asked.
"I have to change your shoes," Perrie said, already starting on taking off Jade's boots.
"What?" Jade laughed.
She thought about taking her blindfold off and then putting the skates on, but she felt it would ruin the moment. She actually has spent an ungodly amount of time the night before thinking of the pros and cons of taking the blindfold before putting on the ice skates. She knew there was a risk Jade will figure out what was going on, but it wasn't exactly the ice rink that was supposed to be a surprise. She made quick work with her own skates and helped Jade to her feet.
"Are we… Are we on skates?" Jade asked through a breathy laugh.
"Just a second, watch out," Perrie said, her skates hitting the ice, and pulling Jade in just as David put on their music.
Jade's mouth opened wide when Perrie took out her blindfold. She looked around with both hands clasped around her mouth.
"What is this?"
"It has occurred to me lately, that I have not been fair to you," Perrie said sliding around to face Jade, a light illuminating on her face.
"You?" Jade asked, looking puzzled.
"These last few months have been amazing for me. But I realized that they might have been worse for you."
"No! Babe! Are you insane? These last few months have been amazing for me too! I have so much fun with you." Jade denied vehemently holding Perrie's hands tightly.
"I know it was not easy to listen to everything I had going on with Zayn. And I hate that that is how we started this. I tried to be honest with you about everything and I killed the romance. I wanted to bring it back" Perrie smiled sliding away from Jade and making her skate over.
"Well consider it brought back." Jade laughed spinning around "This is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me."
"We also have wine." Perrie smiled pointing towards the other end of the ice rink where she left a couple of blankets and a basket with wine and some snacks.
"Oh my god," Jade whispered and slid over to Perrie, throwing her arms around her neck and kissing her enthusiastically.
"I wanted it to be really romantic when I ask you to be my girlfriend" Perrie whispered holding Jade's face in both of her hands.
"Ask me then! " Jade urged, laughing.
"Jade Amelia Thirlwall, will you be my girlfriend?"
"I would like nothing more." Jade nodded and Perrie picked her up and spun them around.
The next morning Louis and Niall were sitting in the kitchen, drinking coffee when the door to their apartment opened to reveal Jade with snow in her hair, blush, and sparkling eyes.
Louis looked her up and down, and a slow smirk slid across his face.
"Someone got laid," He said under his breath.
"Shut up. " Niall snapped, elbowing him in the gut. "Hi baby, how was your night?"
"I'm in love" Jade sing-songed taking off her jacket and sliding into the chair next to them.
"Oh do tell," Louis smirked, just as Niall stood up to get Jade coffee.
"Perrie asked me to be her girlfriend yesterday. And she got us into the ice rink on 5th? We were all alone there, and there was music and fairy lights and wine…. " She trailed off her head supported by her hands and a dreamy expression on her face.
"Congratulations doll" Niall smiled putting the coffee in front of her "I'm very happy for you."
"Well well," Louis said leaning back in his chair. "Maybe I was wrong about her after all."
"No! " Jade gasped mockingly "Louis willingly admitting to being wrong? Uncanny. But while you're at it, you may have to revisit your ideas on Zayn too. He was the one that convinced his hook up to let us into the ice rink."
"Well connected that one." Louis mocked.
"That was nice of him!" Niall exclaimed, ever the mediator. "They are still coming the day after tomorrow right?"
"Yeah, they confirmed. So please, everyone, " She said looking pointedly at Louis "be on your best behavior. "
"I have no idea what you mean," Louis said innocently and Jade leveled him with an unimpressed look.
"I really would like it if you would try to be friends with Harry and Zayn. They are important to her and I want her to stick around, so please, do that for me?"
Louis didn't have it in him to refuse her. Jade was one of his favorite people and she has been with him through a lot. She and Niall were his second family, so he would do anything in his power to make them happy, even if it meant hanging with Harry and Zayn. He wasn't really a fan. He thought Zayn was a conceited asshole who kept Perrie around for an ego boost, and even if he did look like an underwear ad came to life he was a pretentious twat. Harry on the other hand, even with all of his snapping and threatening was way hotter. So even if Louis couldn't see him forming any mental connection with him he always appreciated an eye candy.
He spent Christmas Eve with his mom and his sisters in Staten Island, dodged his mom's questions about his love life or rather lack thereof and teased her about her new boyfriend, the next morning he was on the ferry back just in time to help Jade with preparations.
Usually, Niall would just order them pizza and they would drink eggnog but seeing as it was the first time anyone has ever brought a date to this event Jade insisted on baking. By the time Perrie arrived with Harry and Zayn in tow, there have been two large homemade pizzas in the oven, cupcakes and gingerbread cookies waiting for them, and Niall was standing at the kitchen island mixing their drinks.
"Hi, babe." Jade greeted Perrie pecking her lips "Hi guys" She added looking sheepishly at Zayn and Harry.
They both said their hellos, took their coats and shoes off, and stood awkwardly in the doorway before Louis took pity on all of them.
"Welcome! " He exclaimed "Jade has been slaving away in the kitchen so we have plenty of food and Niall might not look it but he is a great bartender so please place your orders" He smiled "Perrie, Jade why don't you go pick up the movie."
The girls grabbed their glasses and moved towards the living room, and four guys were left in the kitchen by themselves.
"What are you drinking? " Niall asked timidly, as usual getting a bit closed off in front of people he didn't know. Louis couldn't wait until he gets to know them enough to release his inner diva. It was a beautiful sight.
"Whiskey," Both Harry and Zayn said at the same time, making Louis snort.
"You sure you aren't related?" He teased and saw Harry tense up "Down boy, I'm just joking" He added smirking.
"With coke? " Niall interjected, and when they nodded he poured two glasses. "Here you go" He pushed the drinks towards them "What would Perrie like?"
"You've got some beer?" Zayn asked, and Niall waved him over to a fridge presumably to show him what they had on stock.
"Help me with pizza?" Louis asked and gave Harry a stack of plates that he took with one hand, and he also grabbed a bottle of ketchup and his drink in his other hand, and Louis was left speechless gaping at his hands. That was fucking huge. How did he not notice how big his hands were before?
"You coming?" Harry looked over his shoulder on his way to the living room.
"Um yeah, yeah," Louis said snapping out of his haze and picking up a pizza to carry to the living room before coming back to get his drink.
It was a nice enough night. It was a good idea to have them spend time first during a movie night since they didn't have to talk that much. Still, it was fine. Zayn and Niall have been talking about some art exhibit at MOMA and even Jade shared few laughs with Zayn about Perrie being scared of horror movies.
"How is the play going?" Harry asked him out of the blue. They were already at their third film and as Louis looked around the room Jade and Perrie were both sound asleep cuddled into each other and Niall's head was lulled against Zayn's shoulder who was drooling onto his own sweatshirt. Huh, guess the greek god could do ugly. Who would have thought?
"Um, good. After the break we are staring at a more rigorous rehearsal schedule, so I will probably be sick of it in a few but for now, it's good" He nodded smiling at Harry who was sitting next to him and sharing his blanket. "how is the internship?' He asked because there was an awkward silence spreading over them and he could see that Harry tried to have a conversation with him without snapping at each other so he owed it to Jade to try to do the same.
"It's amazing. James is great. I'm learning a lot, and he lets me take a camera home so I can practice."
"Nick really loved the article about the play," Louis noted.
"Nick the director?" Harry smirked, "the one that's into you?"
"he's not into me" Louis rolled his eyes "Not seriously at least"
"I'm surprised you're objecting, you seem like the type to think everyone is in love with you" Harry quipped, making Louis laugh.
"You must be mistaking me for your brother" Louis deadpanned and Harry looked at him with narrow eyes.
"You love pissing me off, don't you?"
"To be fair, most of the time it's just you not being able to take a joke" Louis defended himself.
"He's my brother." Harry shrugged like that explained everything.
"Niall is also my brother but if you want to make fun of him, I'll probably join you" Louis smiled
"I wouldn't." Harry smirked "I actually like Niall"
"You wound me Styles" Louis gasped mockingly.
"Hey, do you want to go out for a smoke?" Harry asked when the movie they were definitely not watching for the last few minutes ended.
"I don't really smoke but I could use some air," Louis said and they moved quietly towards the fire escape.
They sat down on the wind seal, Louis draping a blanket over them both and Harry taking out a cigarette from the pack. They looked down and there was Norman gluing his match city on the floor below. Harry looked at Louis with a silent question pointing his head towards him, like he wanted to ask what was the deal.
"You don't even want to know' Louis murmured.
"You have quite a view here," Harry said quietly looking at the city skyline in front of them.
"Well living on the 10th floor has it's cons especially when the elevator breaks, but I wouldn't change it for the world when it comes to this view." Louis agreed easily.
"You want a puff?" Harry asked, offering him a cigarette.
"I dance and sing for a living Harry" Louis leveled him with an unimpressed look "My lungs are kind of my livelihood"
"I thought it was your gorgeous face" Harry teased.
"Oh, you think I'm gorgeous?' Louis teased back smiling like a Cheshire cat.
"Shut up, I ain't telling you anything you don't know, man" Harry shook his head.
"Do you reckon we should wake them up and make them go to bed? " Louis asked.
"Probably" Harry agreed not making any move to stand up and do so.
"Yeah, definitely" Louis added, tightening the blanket over his arm and scooting closer to Harry for warmth.
Five cigarettes later they were both shivering, and the sun slowly began to set. There was no excuse anymore to sit there as their glasses were empty and their fingers were at risk of falling off.
"We should probably go" Louis whispered sheepishly, looking out in the distance. "I still have work this afternoon I should get at least some sleep"
"Work?"
"Yeah Harry, this thing where you do your chores and people pay you money" Louis explained as he would to a small child, but without the usual bite to it.
"I know that," He rolled his eyes "I just didn't see you as someone who had to work.'
"Well…" Louis smiled while standing up and extending his hand to Harry, "Maybe you don't have me all figured out just yet."
Harry took his hand and let himself be pulled up standing eye to eye with Louis.
"Maybe I don't. " He allowed.
They went inside quietly and woke up Perrie and Jade, they stumbled sleepily to Jade's bedroom. It was a bit tougher with Niall but Louis managed to carry him to his bedroom. When he came back Zayn was still sound asleep with Harry poking him.
"There's no waking him," Harry said. "He could sleep through war, that's one of his biggest talents." he added laughing.
"Oh, so you do know how to tease your brother, good for you!" Louis rolled his eyes fondly.
"I guess I'll sleep on the small one," Harry said with a grimace looking at a small futon Jade and Perrie occupied during the movie marathon. It was at least 15 inches shorter than him.
"Don't be daft. I have a queen size, and an extra blanket you can sleep with me," Louis said, pulling out two blankets from the cupboard and draping one of them over Zayn's sleeping frame.
"Are you sure?" Harry asked tentatively.
"Yes, Harold I'm sure." Louis rolled his eyes.
They went down the hall to Louis' bedroom and he dug through his closet to find Harry a T-shirt to wear and Harry looked around the room curiously. It was different than he expected. He really thought Louis' bedroom would be messy, he was a bit chaotic with the way he carried himself, he was loud and he demanded attention, so Harry expected his room to be an extension of that, and yet when he got inside there was barely a thing out of place. The only thing not put away neatly were a stack of flyers that caught his eye.
"You're looking for a photographer?" He asked, showing the flyer to Louis.
"Yeah, I hang them all around the campus right before Christmas. I have to update my portfolio, but unfortunately, all the good ones went home for Christmas or want to get paid. Which I can't afford, I was hoping I could find someone who had an assignment for a class or something." Louis shrugged, throwing a T-shirt at Harry's face.
"Why can't you just wait until people come back from Christmas break?" Harry asked, taking off his clothes and folding them neatly on the chair.
"I kind of have to get it done during Christmas break. I have some time because there are no classes and no musical rehearsals. I'm afraid I won't have enough time over the break, and this year is the first one that we can audition for actual Broadway shows and if we get any they will accommodate it in our class schedule next year. I have to be ready by the end of the school year". Louis sighed getting under the blankets.
"You know I'm a photographer right?" Harry asked sitting on the other side of the bed.
"You know I can't pay you, right?" Louis said mimicking Harry's tone.
"Yeah but I do need practice. James asks that I always bring him some new material and Zayn and Perrie are getting tired of me photographing them. So, it's a win-win."
"Seriously?" Louis asked, assessing him, a smile slowly spreading over his face.
"I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't serious." Harry smiled draping a blanket over himself and turning over to look at Louis.
"That would be great. Thank you." Louis whispered.
"What, you don't need to see my credentials?" Harry teased earning the chuckle out of Louis.
"I think that James Corden's approval may be enough of a credential." Louis said. "Really. Thank you. This is important to me. I may not seem like a very serious person, but this is the most important thing in the world to me." He whispered squeezing Harry's hand in a silent thank you.
"You know, you're not so bad Tomlinson." Harry teased, squeezing Louis' hand back.
"Right back at ya, Styles." Louis chuckled softly.
They looked at each other for a few more seconds before they started to doze off, their hands still intertwined between them.