Louis felt a tap on his shoulder so he looked up from his folder, pulling out one of his headphones. He smiled at his best friend. "Hey Lou." Niall smiled, giving him an one- armed hug like every morning in school.

"Hey Ni." Niall sat down next to Louis, who asked, "Have you done this geography chart?"

Niall shrugged, "A bit. Haven't found much." He showed Louis his notes and let him copy some. "How was Fizzy's birthday yesterday?" Niall asked just to make small talk.

"Alright. I mean, a bit loud with all the guests but great cake."

Niall laughed, "Unfair. I want cake too."

"I actually brought you some. I know you."

Niall's eyes widened and a grin spread across his face, "Really? Aww, Lou. You're the best." He leaned over and wrapped him into a hug.

"I know." Louis replied cheekily, placing a sloppy kiss on Niall's cheek and giggling when Niall pulled back with a grimace.

"Are you two snogging again?" Liam, a class mate they really didn't talk much to, commented.

Niall rolled his eyes, "I'm straight."

Louis blushed because... he was not, but everyone knew that. Maybe that was the reason the others teased them sometimes. They were never really rude but they made comments that made Louis uncomfortable sometimes. He was a bit insecure at times when they talked and it somehow seemed like they were talking about Louis. Also, he wasn't one of the most popular guys in school. Not that it really bothered him, he was quiet content with the small circle of friends they built themselves.

Michael came walking into the back of the classroom where the three of them plus Ashton always sat. As Louis watched Michael rounding the tables he subtly dared to let his eyes linger on a boy laughing with his friend Luke; Harry Styles.

Nobody knew about Louis' little fascination with the cute curly haired boy. At least Louis hoped so. The two of them were already in the same class in middle school but never actually talked. There was a time when Louis pretended to hate Harry the most out of his class mates. Not that he ever really hated his class mates and he also never showed Harry his "dislike" for him. He just told it to his friends and family when it came up. It was like some kind of protective mechanism, Louis guessed. He knew he couldn't fall for Harry, he was out of his league, and probably straight.

Louis smiled at Ashton who sat down next to Michael just as their teacher Mr. Aulepp walked in.

Michael didn't seem to have noticed that as he began to talk, Louis, Ashton and Niall leaning in to be able to hear him. "There is this party on friday. Can we go?"

Louis furrowed his eyebrows, "We never go to parties."

"You never go to parties." Niall protested, "I was with Michael."

"Yeah, but-..." Ashton was cut off by Mr. Aulepp.

"We want to start. If the gentlemen in the back could be quiet too. That would be great. Thank you." The clique sat up straight and looked to the front.

Louis asked himself if Harry would go to the party too. Not that it would really matter since they never talked anyway, but... you know. He glanced at the boy who didn't seem very interested in the economic circumstances of England during world war one. Then again, nobody really was. This curls looked good today, they always did though.

He teared his eyes away from Harry before anyone could notice, at least he hoped so. Instead he thought of the party Michael wanted them to go to. Louis wasn't at a lot of parties but the one he was on were always boring, to him at least. He refused to drink alcohol because it tasted disgusting and dancing wasn't his thing either. So the only thing the could do was lingering around and talk to people. But it was always so loud so he had to yell and what was the point anyways?

"Louis." His head snapped to Mr. Aulepp who was looking at him with an expectant expression.

"Hm?" Louis asked since he had no idea what was going on. He blushed when he heard the Liam- Harry- group snicker.

"I asked what text you want to read. Please pay attention next time." Louis nodded and just chose the first option.

"Is everything okay?" Niall whispered. Louis nodded and smiled sincerely.

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By the time they stepped into the class room for their last lesson Louis and Ashton were persuaded to go to the party on friday. That's why Michael was grinning like a fool when Mrs. Summerfield greeted them, "It's so great when people are happy to be in my lesson."

"Only for you." Michael quipped.

"Suck- up." Calum coughed. Michael flipped him off, lucky that Mrs. Summerfield wasn't looking. Calum was Luke's best friend and the two of them always hung out together with Liam and Harry. In the beginning of the year Zayn was in their group too but they got into some big fight Louis didn't know the details of. Now he was in no permanent clique, but he didn't seem too bothered by it.

"I've got something nice for you today." Mrs. Summerfield chirped. Louis saw Harry roll his eyes and Calum laugh because... something nice in english? "I'll show you a short film clip and then you'll work with partners. Let's just hope the electronic system works."

It worked after ten minutes of trying. While waiting they talked, involving Avril, a smart sweet girl who sat next to Ashton. She often worked with the four of them and hung out with them during breaks.

Perks of sitting in the back, Louis could look at people -Harry- without anyone noticing. It wasn't completely his fault. Harry sat right in this line of vision to the small dickey school TV.

"I want you to work with different people than usual." Mrs. Summerfield announced after the film clip. She made the people on the opposite of the classroom be partners, seeing as they sat in U- form. Louis, Niall, Michael, Ashton and Avril sat in the row in the back so they were spared and were allowed work with their neighbours.

Louis smiled at Niall since they always were partners. But then Mrs. Summerfield came up to them, "Would one of you mind working with Harry? He doesn't have a partner."

Louis tensed but before he could sort out his mind enough to react Niall volunteered, "Okay, I'll do it. Louis?"

Louis shrugged and leaned forward to look past Niall to Michael. The dyed blue haired grinned, "Come here."

They ended up working in a group of four with Avril and Ashton. Niall was more or less working alone since Harry wasn't really talking that much and did other things that had nothing to do with the english lesson.

So Niall often leaned over to Louis to ask him about different questions. Though, their group wasn't that productive either. They often drifted off the topic and joked around but seeing as they sometimes were the only ones taking part in the lessons regardless of being prepared they could afford it, Louis guessed.

"That's a good point." Niall said and wrote it down.

Louis smiled, "I've gotta have a good point once in a while."

"What?" Niall furrowed his eyebrows, "You often have good points."

Louis laughed, aware of Harry being able to listen to them but never actually looking into his direction, "Not in comparison to you. I feel so daft."

Niall laughed his famous Niall- laugh, causing Louis to giggle. "That's flattering, Lou. But, I mean-... you're not daft. If you raised your hands a bit more in the class room you could have as good grades as I do."

"Besides," Avril piped in, "Being clever doesn't have to do anything with your grades."

Louis smiled, "Thanks guys. That's really sweet."

A/N: Okay, this is kind of a bad chapter but I wanted to make the circumstances and relations clear before I start with the real plot. I hope it worked. You can always ask...;)

Hope you liked it. Love you<3