Chapter 2
#2
Harry had held down a night shift at the hospital for several years now and he enjoyed it immensely; the flitting between wards to care for sick children or the buzz of the nurse’s office where they had their interesting late night chats. However, some of his favorite evening chats evolved no words, no actual contact just silent conversation with the boy in the flat across from his.
Harry had no idea what the boy was doing making tea for himself at three am but he was thankful for noticing him. The way that Harry’s apartment is built allows him a clear view of the kitchen of the apartment across the way from his own and every morning at almost exactly three when Harry returns from his shift the boy in the apartment across from his can be seen shuffling around his kitchen with messy hair and bleary, sleep filled eyes. For several months now they’ve made tea together, holding silent conversations with glances, waves and smiles.
This morning was different though, Harry couldn’t see the boy and he’s already finished making his own mug of tea. He’s about to go to bed, telling himself that he’s stupid for wanting to wait up for a boy he doesn’t even know when he’s as exhausted as he is. Just as he’s turning the lights of his kitchen off to take his mug to bed he sees the fluffy hair of the boy pop up from beneath one of the counters. He’s got a pout on his face and is holding a Yorkshire Tea box, shaking it upside down to indicate that it’s empty. Harry waits a moment before turning on his kitchen light and holding up a spare box of tea, looking over at the boy questioningly and chuckling when he nods his head vigorously. As he’s still dressed he grabs his mug and the box of tea before making his way over to the boys apartment, he knocks on the door and smiles when its opened by the short boy.
“Hi, ‘m Harry” He smiles, kicking off his shoes as the boy lets him inside the hall of his house, the smell of vanilla air fresheners filling his senses.
“I’m Louis” the boy, Louis, smiles “thanks for the tea” he says leading Harry to the kitchen where a pale blue mug is already filled with tea “although, I didn’t need it, all I needed was a reason to get you over here” he chuckles which makes Harry blush deeply. If they stayed up till six chatting and then fell asleep together on Louis’ couch after an episode of Big Bang Theory, no one needs to know.