how strange to dream of you

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"So he's straight." Said Rue, Harry's coworker and closest friend. She was perched up on the counter, knees bent, as she listened to Harry's encounter with Louis from the night before. She was listening to Harry go on and on about their meet as she applied a shiny gloss to her lips.

"No."

She paused and looked away from the mirror, cocking her head towards Harry. She smiled the mirror now dangling from her hand. "But you just said-"

"Doesn't necessarily mean he's straight. Just cause girls interest him doesn't mean you can assume they're the only ones who do."

Rue laughed, "You're right, sorry kiddo. I won't ruin your crazy fantasies."

Harry rolled his eyes as he reached across her legs and grabbed a piece of licorice for himself. He nibbled on it as his friend rambled on about how the previous night went way better for her than it did for him.

Not that he didn't enjoy hearing about her hookups, really he did, he loved supporting his friend and being happy for her, but not at this moment. He would rather be telling her about his hookup. But of course he didn't have one. So instead he listened.

"Wait, wait, wait- why was he in a stall if all he did was take a piss?" Rue asked to which Harry only shrugged. He had been so focused on the fact that he was actually in there that he hadn't realized Louis didn't even use a urinal.

Thank god he didn't, poor Harry would have for sure taken a peek and then passed out right there.

"I could really go for a cigarette right now," Rue groaned as she leaned over and fixed her stockings, pulling each one up to her knee. "Grab me a pack, will ya?"

Harry hesitated, as he was about to protest and tell her to get it herself, but of course he could never say such a thing. Giving her a soft smile, he stood and went to fetch her cigarettes. By the time he returned, another voice had joined Rue's.

"Oh, Harry! This is my friend Luke, we were just talking about you." 

Harry furrowed his eyebrows as he walked up to the two. He immediately recognized Luke, the incredibly good looking blonde boy. Harry wondered if he'd ever seen a kangaroo up close and if so, did he have a photo of it to show Harry.

The boy was from Australia, Harry looked it up himself.

"Yes, friend. I'd be more if-"

"If you had a vagina." Rue finished for him.

Harry tuned out of their discussion as something else now had his attention. Louis was walking over towards them, cigarette hanging from his lip, hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket.

His usual messy mop of hair was gelled back slightly, giving him more of a cleaned up look - despite the slight stubble evident on his face. Only one single strand of hair escaped the gel and dangled across his forehead.

"Luke," Louis called out as he walked up to the three. "You ready to go?"

Rue shot a look at Harry.

"Yeah, hold on. Rue here seems to think i'm not worthy enough of her." Luke joked, as he leaned against the counter, turning towards Louis.

Rue simply rolled her eyes before she, as well, turned to face the older boy. "That's his way of saying i'm gay."

Harry smiled, admiring Rue for how open she was with her sexuality. He would be lying if he said he didn't envy her for it, because for some odd reason, being gay just wasn't accepted. That's why Rue's confidence in her sexuality always confused Harry. She constantly got talked down on for it; assaulted even.

Harry couldn't even name one other person who he knew was gay. They either weren't, or they hid it. Harry has been hiding it his whole life. Rue has been hated for it her whole life.

That's why they really only had each other. Rue was the only one who knew truly who Harry was.

"Hey, you're that kid from the toilets." Louis spoke as he finally looked up, catching Harry's eyes. Which of course caused him to instantly cringe.

"Oh." Harry groaned, flushing, as he mentally slammed his face into a brick wall. "God, thats so embarrassing."

"What, no worries." Louis laughed. "It's completely normal. We all do it."

Harry wondered if the universe was out to get him because fuck, not this again. He wondered if perhaps the universe was homophobic.

That's when Harry's breath hitched.

Louis had just admitted to wanking.

Of course he knew everyone did it, but Louis actually saying it? Actually admitting it out loud to Harry as if it was nothing? It sent shivers down his spine.

"You all bump into every little thing in your way? Wow that's a first, guess you're not the only one Harry." Rue teased, bringing Harry back out into reality.

Harry frowned, leaning over and slightly smacking her on the arm. Rue simply laughed, poking at his nose. "Only teasing."

"So," She started, turning to the side - her legs now dangling from the counter. "Where you off to?"

"We met these two girls who invited us back to some party." Louis spoke just before taking a drag from his cigarette.

Harry couldn't help but watch as Louis lifted the cigarette up to his mouth and placed it between his beautiful thin, red lips. Harry was going to look away, really, he tried, but he just couldn't. How could he possibly not look at the way Louis' eyes fluttered shut with each inhale and the way his jawline only tightened more with each pull - which, by the way, Harry didn't think was possible.

"Gross." Rue rolled her eyes.

"Oh, ehm, no wonder you're all... nicely dressed." Harry said softly, immediately pulling his lower lip between his teeth. His face flushed as Louis met his eyes, furrowing his brows with a small smile across his face.

"You think i'm nicely dressed?" He asked, cocking his head. Harry couldn't tell if he was weirded out or not.

"Yes, well, um, different. You always dress nicely, just more now? Not bad different either. Not that you didn't before but-"

"What Harry is trying to say," Rue interrupted, saving him. "Is that he thinks you clean up nicely. Right, Harry?"

Harry's cheeks turned to a darker shade of pink. Deciding to just to keep his mouth shut this time to save himself the embarrassment, he simply nodded.

"Rue, why can't you be more like Harry? Why don't you compliment my appearance, huh?" Luke butted in, his pout returning.

Rue sighed, the two immediately going into their own argument, bickering at one another as always. Harry looked down at his feet as he could almost feel Louis' eyes on him but he was far too embarrassed to look up. So he simply found interest in his shoes instead.

Harry had always felt pretty confident in himself when it came to Louis - when he wasn't around, of course. He would always talk about the numerous things he could do with him or to him and vice versa, but with Louis there, he couldn't even say a word without turning into straight mush.

The only thing stopping Harry and Louis from getting anywhere at this point, was Harry himself.

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