Bad Habit
“I want to take you out for dinner.”
“Y… You what?”
“I want to take you out for dinner.”
“Like a date?”
“Yes… I want to take you out on a dinner date.”
“I… I don’t know what to say.”
“Just say yes.”
“Yes.”
That’s how this all started. Harry agreed to a date and Louis had taken him out. At half six Louis arrived at Harry’s dorm room. He was dressed in a pair of black jeans and a grey button down.
Harry was still in his uniform when he answered.
“The reservation is for eight. I thought I’d come by and tell you to pack an overnight bag since the restaurant is quite far out and so we’ll be staying at my parents’ house… And don’t worry, separate beds and my parents aren’t home.”
Harry felt really overwhelmed. Louis had put so much thought into this.
“Okay. I just need to get changed and put a bag together and then we can go?”
“Yeah, okay.”
Before Harry knew it they were in the car. He still had that overwhelming feeling deep in his gut.
“Louis?” He asked gently,
“Yeah,” Louis replied looking over, whilst still keeping an eye on the road.
“Where are we going?” Harry asked a little nervously.
“It’s just a small steak house in my hometown. I used to go there with my parents every time we had something to celebrate.” Louis replied.
Harry felt panicked as soon as Louis said where they were going. He knew he should have told Louis when he asked him out, but he didn’t. Now they were almost at the restaurant so it was too late to say anything.
They arrived at the restaurant at ten to eight. They got seated almost instantly and Louis had been a gentleman. He pulled out the chair for him and made sure he was okay. Harry had almost told Louis the truth about how he was feeling but then he saw the look of happiness on his face and couldn’t do it.
The menus came around and Harry spent time looking over it trying to see something that would make this night easier but he couldn’t. There was nothing.
When the waiter asked what he wanted he just asked for Louis to choose since he’d been here before and knew what the food was like. Louis just smiled and asked for two classic steak dinners.
When the meal came Harry saw that the meal consisted of steak, goose fat potatoes and salad with egg. There was also some sort of sauce. He ate slowly trying not to upset his already panic filled insides.
After the meal, Louis went paid and thanked the waiter before they headed back to the Tomlinson residence. They had a good night together. It was a great meal but Harry was really nervous about what was going to happen.
They watched a film and had a good time chatting and messing around before they decided to go to bed.
In the night Louis awoke with a start. He rolled over in bed to see it was two in the morning. He was wondering what had woken him up when he heard retching in the bathroom down the hall. Louis carefully got out of bed. He pulled on some grey sweats and left the room, not even bothering to put on a top. He walked toward the bathroom.
When he got to the door he knocked gently but when there was no reply he pushed the door open to see Harry sat on the floor leaning over the toilet. Louis walked over and placed a hand on Harry’s back rubbing soothing circles.
Harry lurched forward again, throwing up into the toilet.
“It’s okay…” Louis soothed, “it’s okay…”
When Harry was done Louis flushed the toilet and helped Harry back to bed. Louis then left and returned quickly with a glass of water and a bowl just in case Harry needed it.
“Are you feeling okay?” Louis asked sitting on the bed next to Harry.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Tomorrow I’ll call a doctor and we can get you checked out.”
“No… It’s fine.”
“Harry, you were just throwing up. You’re not fine.”
“I am… I know why I was throwing up.”
“Why? What’s wrong Harry?” Louis asked, still concerned for Harry.
“I’m vegan Louis.” Harry suddenly blurted out.
“Wait… what… but you ate meat tonight? And egg?”
“I know… It’s just… I didn’t tell you when you asked me out and then you’d chosen the restaurant and then it was too late and I felt bad so I didn’t say anything.”
“How long have you been vegan?” Louis asked, still confused.
“Since I was seven, my dad took me hunting and he said we were going to cook what we catch and it just made me feel sick. I mean… I already had a pretty bad dairy intolerance anyway but I mean I just…”
“It’s okay Harry.” Louis said, “You should have told me. You haven’t eaten meat or any animal products in eleven years. It’s no wonder your body has reacted this way.”
“I’m sorry… I should have said something… This is my fault.”
“It’s okay. Why don’t we put on a film and just lie here.”
Harry nodded and so Louis turned on the TV and sat next to Harry on the bed.
“Hey, can I maybe?” Harry started before letting the words die on his tongue.
Louis turned to look at him, “What?” He asked gently.
“Can I maybe?” Harry gestured to Louis.
Finally, Louis worked out what Harry was saying.
“Of course!” Louis said happily, moving his arm to allow Harry to cuddle up against him with his head on Louis's chest. Louis laid a protective arm around him holding him close.
“Are you feeling okay?” Louis asked gently, rubbing Harry’s back.
“Yeah. I’m feeling okay.” Harry replied sleepily.
Louis lay a gentle kiss to the top of Harry’s head as Harry let the unconscious world take him once again.
Louis had no idea where this was going but he knew that there is nowhere else he would rather be.