Harry snaps out of his thoughts as the bell above the door rings. Two people step inside, looking around insecurely. The slightly taller one with the black hair, Zayn, spots him first and tugs on Louis' pullover, causing him to turn around.

He seems to lose his breath for a moment but eventually pulls himself together. The lump in Harry's throat makes it hard for him to swallow as the two men start walking slowly over to his table.

Now in the daylight, Harry can clearly see how different Louis looks. Last night, he only noticed his messy fringe and his eyes. Now it is visible that his face has lost its childlike features – even more than the last time he saw him – and his once so bright blue eyes have become darker, duller, sadder. His sunshine smile is nowhere to be seen; fine beard stubble is covering his chin instead. The once so flamboyant boy has turned into serious young man – still just as beautiful, of course.

Harry shakes his head to get rid of the thought. He hadn't expected that it would be so easy to make Louis meet up with him here. Louis looks like he can't believe that he actually agreed to this. When they finally stop next to the table, Harry awkwardly gets up not to be impolite and tries a small smile. Zayn returns it, slightly nodding his head as a hello, while Louis's eyes flicker nervously between him, the table, the floor and a point just above Harry's shoulder.

Harry eventually catches a glimpse into his eyes for a second and can make out pure panic there. He motions to the seats to show them to sit down. Zayn pulls out his jacket and helps Louis out of his as well.

"I'll put them away," he silently mumbles into his ear.

Harry believes to hear Louis weakly hiss a Please get me outta here but he isn't sure. Whatever it was what he said, Zayn gives him an encouraging smile in response and quickly rubs his shoulder, before strolling over to the cloakroom.

"Thank you for coming," Harry says when Zayn is out of earshot.

Louis doesn't look up from his lap when he quietly replies, "Zayn literally dragged me here."

The Actually I didn't want to come lingers unspoken in the air. Harry feels a pull inside his chest. But what else did he expect? They fall silent after that, waiting for Zayn to return.

The waitress comes over to their table and Harry orders a cappuccino and Louis two cups of tea for himself and Zayn, who just plops into his seat again as the girl disappears behind the counter.

"So, umm...," Harry tries to find something to start off a conversation. "You said you guys are here for a job, right? What are you doing?"

Since the question isn't directed at any of them in specific and Louis doesn't really make a move to say anything, Zayn decides to answer it.

"We're both part of the same film shoot, Louis as an actor and I'm responsible for the make-up."

"Wow... You've always been talented, I should have expected something like that," he says in Louis' direction, without receiving any reaction, besides a light flush that creeps on his cheeks. Harry takes this as a positive sign – at least he has heard him.

"Is it difficult, working together?"

Zayn frowns slightly but shakes his head.

"Why would it be? It's the first time ever, it's fun actually."

"That's great! And how did you two meet?"

"Umm, we met at uni," Zayn replies, slightly confused by the question, "before I discovered that I prefer working behind the camera instead of in the spotlight."

The corner of Harry's lip twitches up in a lopsided grin at the thought of Louis being the entertainer and Zayn being the one who makes everything work in the background.

"What are you doing?" the black-haired man asks in return, ignoring the strange fact that he is keeping the conversation with Louis' acquaintance going instead of him.

"Oh, I work at a hospital – I'm a nurse," Harry says with a dimpled grin that lights up his whole face.

Louis lifts his head slightly, not exactly enough to look into Harry's face but the soft smile on his lips becomes visible. He tries to hide it by taking a sip of his tea.

"So you're living here in... Holmes Chapel?" Zayn continues, lifting his cup as well.

"No, I live in London," Harry answers, and Louis chokes on his tea, starting to cough heavily. "Lou, are you okay?"

Louis holds up his hand and nods, his eyes tearing already from coughing. "'m alright."

Zayn gently pats on Louis' back until he can breathe normally again and gives him a confused look. In this moment, Zayn's phone starts ringing, and he searches for it in his pocket.

"I'll be right back," he states after checking the caller ID and gets up from his seat to walk outside. Harry and Louis are left alone on the table once again.

"You two are cute together," Harry says softly, blushing slightly. "I'm glad you have someone like him."

Louis' head shoots up so fast that he nearly pulls a muscle in his neck. His eyes are as big as saucers when he stares at Harry with his jaw hanging on the ground.

"What?!"

Harry furrows his brows in confusion and opens his mouth to say something, but Louis anticipates.

"Oh – no, no... We're not – He's not my – Why would you think we're-"

"Dating? Well, I don't know, I just assumed by the way you interact with each other and when I crashed into that bathroom... He said you're sharing a room...," Harry trails off, frowning deeply by now and with growing embarrassment. "I'm sorry, I just thought..."

"I have a girlfriend," Louis suddenly blurts out as if this explains everything.

"Girlfriend?" Zayn suddenly repeats, sitting back down. "Who has a girlfriend?"

"I have a girlfriend," Louis mumbles, his cheeks crimson.

"Umm... I know?" Zayn laughs and gazes back and forth between his friend and Harry.

"Well, I didn't," Harry chuckles and motions between them, "I came to the conclusion that you two were..."

"What? Really?" Zayn laughs and looks at Louis, before continuing with feigned seriousness. "Well, dammit, now that he found out himself, we can tell him, don't you think, Lou? Lou and I, we're having an affair but please don't tell his girlfriend, okay?"

Louis looks like he is about to throw up. His face has turned worryingly pale with a disturbing shade of green. Harry decides to play along Zayn's joke, even though Louis reaction concerns him more than slightly.

"I'm as silent as a grave," Harry replies with a soft smile and Zayn grins back at him but also seems to notice how uncomfortable Louis suddenly is.

"Hey, Lou. I just got a call from Johnny, there's pure chaos on set. Mary is completely overchallenged and he asked me to come over now. I'll have to take the car, maybe..."

"I can drive him later," Harry offers instantly.

"No, I'm coming with you," Louis mumbles quickly and grabs Zayn's arm to make him wait.

"I'm sure it would be a better idea if you two kept talking a little more – without me disturbing you."

Louis opens his mouth to say something, but Zayn doesn't let him.

"I'll see you later before you drive home... sweetheart," he adds with a wink and presses a quick chaste kiss on Louis' cheek, leaving him with a puzzled expression on his face before strolling over towards the door.

Uhhh what's going to happen next??? Vote and comment pleaseeee xxx