Harry rushed inside the judges house, not waiting for Louis to catch up with him. The younger lad struggled to catch up with him, huffing when the older man ran into his room and shut the door behind him. Louis frowned and made his way to his room, staring at his new glasses. Harry bought him glasses.

He thought back to that embarrassing moment when Harry called him princess. It was just a slip up, right? He shook his head because, there was no absolute way a twenty seven year old liked him. It was...absurd to say the least. Louis slipped on his glasses and grabbed one of his blankets and wrapped it around himself.

The room was cold, the air nipping at his fingers. He shivered as he grabbed his book and began reading again. A few hours passed before there was a knock on his door. A boy, Liam remembered him as Liam, opened it and smiled.

"Hey, um, Mr. Styles said to call everyone down. We're having dinner." he says and Louis nods, setting his book down and walking with the Liam bloke.

"Louis, right?" He asks and the smaller boy nods, pushing up his glasses. Liam hums as they enter the dining room. Harry was setting some plates. He looked up, saw Louis, and looked away quickly. Louis furrowed his eyebrows, but took a seat. Liam takes a seat next to him just as the others came behind them. A loud dyed blonde came bouncing down the steps, smiling.

"Hey! I was wondering when dinner would be ready! This all looks so good! You've done a great job, Mr. Styles!" he says and Harry chuckles.

"Call me Harry. And, I didn't make any of this. All the thanks should go to the chefs." he explains. The blonde just smiles, taking a seat opposite of Louis.

"Hi, 'm Niall." he says to Louis. Liam waves introducing himself.

"Louis." the smaller boy says, smiling softly. A few seconds pass before Harry clears his throat, standing up. The boys all become silent.

"Well, today is the start of a crazy journey that only some of you will reach the end to. But, don't give up hope because, even if you don't win this competition you can do great things in life. And, you never know," He looks at Louis, green irises piercing into his blue ones, "something may surprise you in the end."

Louis blushed, looking away from his intense gaze. Him looking at Louis didn't mean anything.

Instead he chose to look at the meal set in front of them. It varied from chicken to salmon and pumpkin pie to chocolate cake for dessert. Harry nodded, signaling the boys that it was fine to eat and took his seat.

He served himself a glass of red wine, shooing the prying fingers of the underage boys who tried to have some alcohol.

He served himself some chicken and vegetables with some fried rice. He sipped his wine slowly, looking around at the boys. They were all very talented, that was a fact.

He grew glum when he thought of the fact that only one of them might make it out of here a winner.

His gaze naturally directed itself back to the small blue-eyed boy with brand new glasses perched on his nose. He was laughing at something the blonde boy next to him was saying.

He was absolutely breathtaking, Harry couldn't deny that. His head tilted back, his mouth was wide open, his eyes closed and crinkled on the edges as he laughed.

Harry swished around the wine in his glass. He looked away before downing the drink in one go and serving himself another, trying to forget about the angel a few feet from him.

****

Harry was lightly buzzed when the dinner was over. He drank more than he ate. He walked, slightly slanted to his bedroom. All the other boys had already ran to their rooms, ready for bed.

He didn't notice someone walking down the hall until he literally bumped into him. Harry chuckled, steadying both of them before being met by piercing blue eyes.

Louis.

In the back of his mind, Harry knows he should just leave, bid himself goodnight and call it a day. But he can't move. He's caught staring at the small boy, who was smiling at him softly.

"Hi--um, sorry. I should get to my room." Louis stutters and tries to make his way around the taller lad but a firm grip on his forearm stops him.

Maybe it's the wine that's making him delusional but Harry can't bring himself to care. He pulls Louis back to stand in front of him, before brushing a strand of hair away from his eyes.

The hallway is completely silent, their breaths the only sound in the dark space.

"Har--"

"You're beautiful." Harry states, and Louis' eyes widen. He doesn't know what to say. What should he say?

"Uh--um..." Louis' cheeks are crimson red, his ears feel hot from embarrassment.

For some insane reason Louis liked the way Harry's hand brushed his cheek, while his other hand was ghosting over his arm.

For God's sake, there were dozens of other boys in the rooms next to them. Harry didn't seem to care. He was staring at Louis with such ardor, something the smaller boy hasn't seen in someone's eyes before.

He knows it's wrong. Besides the fact that Harry is nearly thirty and he's his fucking mentor and Louis' underage, he's got a boyfriend. A very loyal one at that. But he doesn't lean away when Harry leans in.

Instead, to his own surprise, he leans forward as well. Louis' eyes are shut, awaiting the moment when Harry's lips will meet his.

Harry's lips ghost over his own, their breath mingling together, and Harry smells like expensive cologne and wine.

Just then, as if a switch was pushed, Harry jerks away as if he was being electrocuted. He doesn't say a word as he breathes heavily and pushes past the small boy, walking into his room and slamming the door behind him.

Louis is left there, stunned.