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Valentine’s Day was always a day that Harry Styles absolutely hated. He thought it was all just too cheesy. The sickening sweet declarations of love. The gross overpriced chocolate sold in the stores. The glossy, goofy eyed stares of people just trying to find love. It sickened him. Nothing else in the universe could even come close to the absolute loathing he had for the pink and red holiday.
The only thing -person- he hated even more was Louis Tomlinson. Ever since their first year of University, they haven’t gotten along. If you asked Louis, it’s because Harry was a grade A asshole who didn’t know when to shut his mouth. And if you asked Harry, it’s because Louis caught him on a bad day and never gave him a chance. No matter the reason, they never go a day without antagonizing each other.
Like right now. Harry spots Louis walking to his next class with Zayn, Louis’ best friend and roommate. Harry hurries up to them and purposely bumps Louis’ elbow causing his coffee to get knocked out of his hand to the frozen ground below.
“What the hell?” Louis screeches, turning to the person that rammed into him. As soon as his bright blue eyes fall onto Harry, they squint at him and turn fiery. “What’s your fucking problem?”
Harry just laughs at the scowl Louis gives him and walks away happy that he managed to ruin Louis’ morning. It’s always a sign of a good day when he can do that.
******
Harry saunters into the University cafeteria spotting his group of friends occupying a table. Liam is trying to study for an upcoming test while Niall and Zayn are talking about the latest fraternity party that they went to. Quietly reading a book next to Zayn sits Louis with a full plate of food in front of him. Harry veers away from the line of people trying to get their own food and heads to the table. He plops down loudly next to Louis and grabs his plate helping himself to the burger and chips sitting on it.
Running a chip through the ketchup on the plate, he mocks Louis. “What could possibly be so interesting in that book of yours that you aren’t eating the food you paid for?” He shoves the chip in his mouth and chews while watching Louis flip the page of his book.
Louis ignores Harry continuing to read his book. Harry, frustrated that he’s not getting a reaction from Louis, snatches the book from his hand and thumbs through the pages before throwing it down onto the table placing his elbow on top of it.
Louis swings his head to glare at Harry, holding his hand out. “Give me my book back.”
“That’s no way to ask now. What do you say, princess?” Harry smiles smugly at the other boy.
“Give me my fucking book back or I’m gonna punch you in the balls,” Louis smiles sweetly and bats his eyelashes. Harry momentarily gets lost in his eyes, the blue glittering in the fluorescent lighting of the overhead bulbs.
Once the words register in his brain, Harry rolls his eyes and tosses the book back to him. “Not quite the words I was thinking, but sure princess.” Harry stands back up and looks at Louis’ plate. “Might want to eat that before it gets even colder. Don’t want you to lose that pretty little figure.” He rakes his eyes over Louis’ body and then winks at him.
Louis huffs pushing the plate away from him again and pretending to gag at him. “I just lost my appetite.”
“Lou has to get ready anyways. Don’t you Lou?” Zayn pipes up, overhearing their bickering.
Louis checks his phone and gathers his belongings. “Fuck yeah. I’m gonna end up being late.” Louis abruptly stands body so close to Harry that he can feel his body heat. “Move Styles.”
Harry moves slightly out of the way, so Louis can pass. He has a confused look on his face as he lowers into his seat and watches Louis walk out the doors. “Where’s he rushing off to that’s so important?” He takes a bite of the burger that Louis left behind not wanting it to go to waste.
Niall decides to speak up through his mouthful of pizza, “He has a date.”
Harry’s head whips towards Niall in disbelief choking on the food. He swallows hard blurting out, “A date? With who?”
Niall wipes his hands on a napkin clearing away grease and cheese. “Some bloke named Dylan. He asked him out a few days ago and Lou said yes, so he must be at least a little special. You know how picky Lou can be about guys.”
He gingerly places the burger back onto the plate, losing the desire to finish it. Harry doesn’t like the feeling brewing in his stomach. Doesn’t understand why it’s happening. His head is swimming at the information that Louis has a date. Louis has never had a date before that Harry knew about. He’s so focused on his studies and according to him everyone who has asked him out are “stupid fucking idiots who only want to get in his pants.” He’s confused as to why this guy is so different. He scoffs quietly to himself, shaking all these thoughts away.
Tuning back into the conversation, he hears Zayn talking about how awkward Dylan was asking Louis out. Harry’s body relaxes knowing this is a pity date on Louis’ end to not embarrass the awkward little nerd asking him out. With that thought in mind, he picks up the abandoned food and eats it all. Louis is just a sassy little brat who only goes on pity dates. Harry knew that. Satisfied he lets the thoughts go and goes back about his day, forgetting all about Louis and his loser date.
******
Two weeks pass and Harry is annoyed. Everywhere he looks are happy lovesick couples and colorful hearts lining every surface. The worst day in the world according to him. He’s seen countless love confessions and flowers being delivered to classes interrupting his study time. More than a handful of girls and guys have come up to him trying to get him on a date and he’s respectfully declined each one. Harry was never short of prospective lovers and normally he would take them up on a date to get laid, but not today. Valentines day always was a day for just himself, just another day to get through. No matter if he was dating someone or not. It wasn’t a big deal.
Annoyed and frustrated Harry walks through the courtyard freezing his ass off hoping to go to the university cafe for a warm coffee and blueberry muffin. Inside he spots Louis holding a small bouquet of red roses talking to some guy by the pick up counter. As he stands in line to order, he keeps watching their interaction. The guy has short brown hair and golden brown eyes that are staring at Louis like he’s the sun. Like he’s the brightest thing in the world. Harry’s stomach turns just looking at them.
He orders his coffee and muffin with the barista at the till and ends up waiting for his order right next to Louis and this mystery man. He can’t help to overhear the tailend of their conversation.
“So I’ll pick you up from your place around 7? Our dinner reservation is at 7:30.” Mystery dude says to Louis. Harry notices that Louis has a rosy pink hue blushing his cheeks as he nods his head. The guy leaves smiling broadly with his coffee and date set with Louis. Harry watches as Louis smells his bouquet of overused flowers. He clears his throat loudly, snapping Louis from his little moment.
With a scowl, Louis looks deadpan at Harry. “What are you doing here? Don’t you bother me enough?”
Harry grins. “Just can’t get enough of you sweetheart.” He looks at the flowers. “What do you have there? Some poor sap come to confess his undying love for you?” Harry laughs mockingly.
“As a matter of fact, it was from my date. He brought them to surprise me this morning before my afternoon class. We were just solidifying our plans for later tonight.”
“Date? You have a date?” Harry laughs loudly. “How much did you have to pay him to go out with you?”
Louis rolls his eyes. “Nothing actually. Some of us don’t have to pay for companionship. But you wouldn’t know anything about that.” He smirks at Harry.
“Right, and who is this idiot that’s taking you out on Valentine’s Day for a first date? What a cliche.”
“Why are you so interested in everything that I do with my life? Why do you even care?” Louis looks at him annoyed.
“Don’t care, princess. Just wanted to know who I had to pray for that’s going to spend the worst holiday with the worst human.”
Louis grabs his cup of coffee from the table counter it was resting on. “Goodbye Harry.” He waves his fingers at him as he walks out the cafe doors. Harry just stares after him until his order is called.
Niall rushes through the cafe doors, scanning the room looking for Harry. He sprints over knocking into couples and students as Harry sits at a nearby table with his food and drink. “Haz! Fuck, sorry for making you wait. My class ran late.”
Harry waves away any worry as Niall sheds his winter coat and hat. He plops down into the chair grabbing the second cup of coffee that Harry had ordered, taking a big gulp to warm his body up. Harry stares after him in wonder as he keeps downing his drink.
“Who even are you, Niall Horan?” Harry asks him.
“The best person you’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.” He cackles, placing his cup on the table. “Speaking of people meeting. I saw Tommo walking away from here as I came in. He looked angry. What’d you do to him?”
Harry smirks. “I did absolutely nothing to him. We just had a conversation about his date tonight. No big deal honestly.” He says nonchalantly as he blows on the top of his hot coffee to cool it down.
“Oh shit! Lou’s got a date tonight. How romantic on Valentine’s Day. Who with? Did he say?” Niall leans forward wanting all the gossip of his friends date.
“No clue what his name was, but he was in here with him. Brown hair, brown eyes, average face. Nothing spectacular so exactly Louis’ type, I'd say.” Harry fills him in.
Niall makes a confused face, trying to match a person with that description to any of the possible people he’s befriended on campus. With no luck, he pulls out his phone typing rapidly.
Harry takes a bite out of his muffin as he watches the spectacle that is his best friend. “What are you even doing?” He leans his head on his arm on the table.
“Texting Zayn. He’d know for sure who Lou is going out with and I wanna know.” He puts his phone on the table as he looks at Harry. “Aren’t you curious?”
“No, Niall. I’m not.” He lies. Harry can’t admit that he is a little curious about the man who had sassy Louis all blushing cheeks and smiles. It bewildered him how confident, sarcastic Louis was reduced to a giggling schoolboy with a crush. He’s never seen him act that way before and it made his stomach ache and his heart race.
They hear a loud buzzing coming from Niall’s phone.
Niall picks it up excitedly, reading quickly over the words. “Dylan O’Brien!”
Harry is startled by Niall’s loud exclamation, burning his tongue on his drink as he swallows around the sip.
“That’s the name. Zayn said that it’s the same guy Louis went out with last week. Damn, the date must’ve gone well if Louis agreed to spend today with him.” Niall smiles big and wiggles his eyebrows at Harry in a mischievous manner.
The pit in Harry’s stomach grows deeper with that insinuation. He smiles tightly at Niall. “What else did he say? Any idea where they’re going tonight?”
“Said something about going to Le Petit Canard. Louis was really excited about it.” Niall shrugs. “Why? You gonna show up and ruin it for him?” He laughs jokingly.
An idea pops into Harry’s mind. Yes, exactly he is going to show up and ruin Louis’ perfect little date. It was perfect. The perfect revenge against Louis. Slowly a grin spreads across his face as he finishes his order. Niall’s face drops as he realizes the look on Harry’s.
“No, I know that look. Harry, you can’t. You can’t ruin this for him. He actually likes this guy and he deserves to let loose once in a while. Who knows? Maybe him getting laid will finally let you two get along!” Niall tries to persuade him that this was a bad idea. The thought of Louis getting laid makes him want to throw up. He never wants that image to pop into his head again.
Harry just shakes his head at Niall while grabbing his jacket and heading to the door. “Thanks Ni! I owe you one!” The bell jingles above as the cold air whips against his face. Time to set his plan into motion.
******
At 7:15 Harry walks into Le Petit Canard in pressed black slacks, a red sheer blouse, and the determination to ruin Louis’ happiness. He strides up the hostess stand and charmingly smiles at the girl standing there.
“Reservation?” She asks.
“I actually don’t have one.” Harry says sheepish, “But I think maybe my boyfriend does? Name Dylan O’Brien?”
The hostess looks up at him grabbing two menus. “Right this way, sir.” She leads him to the table decked out in a white tablecloth, red rose petals, and a single burning candle. He mentally rolls his eyes at the romantic absurdity.
He lowers himself into the seat, taking the menu from her. “Thank you,” he says as she walks back to her stand to greet the next guests of the evening.
Once she’s gone, he sits back into the uncomfortable chair looking around the dim room. Couples holding hands over the table, the smells of the lavish dinners, and the low notes of a piano playing love ballads surround him. How Louis could possibly be interested in all this boggles Harry’s mind. It’s so corny, so cliche. Not the type of date Louis should be going on with some loser.
The sound of footsteps gets closer and Harry braces himself for Louis’ reaction, which never comes. He looks up and finds mystery man, Dylan, looking at him confused.
“Who are you?” Dylan asks.
“Where’s Louis?” Harry counters back, glancing past him to search for the blue eyed boy.
“He was running late, and asked to meet here instead. Who the fuck are you and why are you at my table?” Dylan sits across from him, crossing his arms.
This wasn’t how Harry’s plan was supposed to go. He was supposed to surprise both of them, act like a cheated lover, make a scene, and embarrass Louis. But Harry can work with this new angle.
Harry just smirks dangerously at the guy across from him. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
******
Louis is running so late. Nothing about today has gone right. From waking up late and missing his morning class to running into Harry at the cafe to finding out his shower was broken in his apartment resulting in him rushing to Zayn’s to hurriedly get ready for his date with Dylan. He texted apologizing that he had an emergency and was running late, but he definitely would meet him at the restaurant.
Louis takes a deep breath calming himself down from the anxiety of being late and smooths his hands over his tight black pants. He checks his reflection in the window of Le Petit Canard, double checking that his black button down and pants were appropriate for the upscale place. Fixing his fringe, he walks inside the restaurant to the hostess giving Dylan’s name. She looks confused, but leads him back anyway.
What he sees as they inch closer to the table makes his blood boil. Sitting at the table that the hostess has brought him to is not his date. It’s Harry fucking Styles. The girl leaves them and Louis glares at him.
“What the hell are you doing here? Where’s my date?” He hisses through his teeth.
“Sit princess.” Harry says smiling, enjoying riling him up.
“No way am I sitting with you here. Now tell me: What did you do?” Louis crosses his arm over his chest, raising an eyebrow expectantly.
Harry sighs. “I just told your dear date that I was your poor heartbroken boyfriend who found out you were cheating on me.” Harry pouts. Louis wants to hit him.
Louis throws his arms out angrily. “Why the fuck would you do that?! Why would you ruin this for me? How’d you even know where we would be?”
“I have my ways and I have my reasons.” He responds, like this wasn’t a giant invasion of Louis’ life.
Louis just shakes his head at him, turning away from the table and the jerk ruining his life, walking out. Tears spring to his eyes making his vision blurry. He quickly wipes them away, not wanting anyone to see him cry over a stupid date. A date he was really excited for admittedly. Dylan was funny and cute and actually could hold an intellectual conversation. He was pretty perfect, even if he was a little dorky. And he liked him. Someone actually liked Louis. Brought him flowers and wanted to take him out to a fancy restaurant. No one has done that before. It was always just ugly frat boys wanting a piece of ass or big headed jerks who couldn’t keep up with Louis. It wasn’t fair that it was all ruined because Harry hated him.
He makes it halfway down the block when he feels his arm being pulled back. He twirls around and sees that it was Harry pulling on him. He pulls away roughly from him. “What do you want now? Want to see how humiliated and upset I am?”
Harry stares at him. “Oh come on Lou. It was just a joke. You can’t seriously be that mad.”
“Are you serious? I am that mad! This was my date! With someone I liked! Just because you have no one doesn’t mean other people want to be alone for the rest of their lives. Why did you think this was possibly just a little joke? Why do you hate me so much you ruin every good thing that happens to me?” A tear trickles down his cheek and his face screws up in upset. Harry stays quiet, not knowing what to say. Louis doesn’t even care if he did have anything to say. “Forget it. Just leave me alone. For good.”
Louis walks away back to his apartment, leaving Harry standing on the pavement with a furrowed face.
******
It’s been six days and Harry hasn’t seen Louis once in that timeframe. Not hanging out with friends. Not in the cafe. Or the library. Not even a passing on campus. It seems like Louis has changed everything he does, so that he and Harry never see each other. A part of Harry misses him. A large part if he was honest. He misses the sarcastic comments he makes. The way his face lights up when he's excited with his friends. The crinkly eyed smile he has when no one is looking. Harry never realized Louis was such a big part of his life and now that he’s no longer there, Harry has a gaping hole of a person in it.
It’s driving him mad. It was just a joke. It was what they did. They pissed each other off and acted like assholes, but it was all in good fun. He wasn’t actually ruining his life like Louis said. And that guy wasn’t even good for him anyway. All Harry had to do was insinuate he was with Louis and the guy split. So what was the problem?
Liam approaches Harry after one of their classes. “Harry, you need to fix whatever happened between you and Louis. He’s a wreck. Won’t leave his apartment, except for classes. Z is worried and so am I.”
Harry swallows harshly at hearing this, worry over him flashing in his mind. His friends normally don’t intervene like this with their friendship, so something must really be wrong for Liam to do this. With a rock in his stomach, he decides that he will go to Louis’ apartment tonight and figure out what the hell is going on.
******
Harry hesitates before rapping his knuckles on Louis’ door. He waits a few minutes with no response before he bangs on the door.
“Louis, it’s Harry. Let me in.” He calls as he waits again. “I know you’re in there.” No response once more. So Harry does what he thinks is best. He bangs like a madman against the wood.
The door swings open revealing Louis in black joggers and a too big Rolling Stones tee, angry scowl on his face. “Why are you fucking here and banging on my door? I have neighbors you know! Get the fucking hint!”
He closes the door, but Harry throws his hand out to prevent it from closing. “Not a chance.” Harry barges in, pushing past Louis and closing the door behind him. He looks over Louis, who has dark bags under his eyes and slumped shoulders hunching into himself. He looks like a wreck. Harry frowns
at his thought.
“Where have you been?” Harry asks, ignoring Louis trying to get him to leave.
“None of your business. I told you to leave me alone.” Louis pushes Harry toward the door. Harry turns around and holds him by his upper arms.
“I’m not leaving. So fucking tell me. What’s going on?” He looks into Louis’ watery blue eyes and brings his hands up to cup his cheeks. “Tell me Lou, what’s wrong?”
“Why do you care? You fucking hate me.” Louis looks away, Harry’s hands falling away from his face.
“I don’t. And you acting like this. Hiding away, fucking scares me. You’re worrying our friends. Worrying….me.” He confesses.
Louis scoffs. “Yeah right. You don’t fucking care about me. I’m sure you’re only here because someone asked you to.”
Harry runs his hand through his hair because he’s not wrong. He only showed up because Liam asked him to. But that doesn’t mean he isn't worried now. That he hasn’t subconsciously been worrying every single day he didn’t see Louis’ pretty face or hear his voice. That he has bags under his eyes and the fact he has been crying worries him. That he seems to think Harry genuinely hates him.
“I’m here because I care, princess.” He steps closer to Louis. “I’m here because you’re avoiding everyone and crying in front of me right now.”
Louis has tears sliding down his cheeks. “You hate me. You ruined the one good thing that was happening in my life. I thought that I could be happy, but you took that from me.”
Harry’s heart breaks at hearing Louis so vulnerable. He’s never vulnerable with him, so Harry must have really hurt him by ruining his date.
“I just don't know why you did it. Was making my everyday hell not enough?” Louis continues, choking on the words.
Harry scoops him into his arms and holds him. “I’m sorry. I-I didn’t mean to. It was just a stupid little thing.” He cradles Louis’ head as he speaks to him.
“Why?” Louis’ voice cracks.
“Because I couldn’t stand that he had you!” Harry exclaims, “Couldn’t stand that he got to take you out and make you smile while all I get are glares and snide comments. Made me want to throw up at the thought you wanted to be with him. So Niall told me who he was and where you were going and I decided to ruin your date.”
He pulls away just far enough to look at Louis, “I never meant to hurt you. Ever.”
Still crying, Louis stares at Harry’s face earnestly looking for any sign that he was lying.
“Louis, I’ve liked you from the first moment I laid eyes on you.”
Shocked, Louis pulls away. “No you haven’t,” He denies, shaking his head.
“I have. I thought you were beautiful obviously. But then I fucked it all up by being a jerk because I was nervous talking to you. And then you hated me. And I thought if I couldn’t be with you, then annoying you into talking to me was the next best thing.” Harry confesses seriously.
Louis just stares at him in disbelief. In an instant, Louis is in front of him and grabbing his neck bringing his lips to his. “You’re such an idiot,” he says before kissing him with years worth of pent up frustration.
Harry kisses Louis back, pulling him closer by his waist. They separate after a few minutes needing air. Harry places his forehead against Louis’, smiling happily. “I’ve wanted this for so long. I just denied it for too long.”
“Same here. I hated how you treated me, but couldn't deny my feelings for you. The glimpses of the Harry that was kind and smart and funny.” Louis admits.
Harry kisses his lips again. “I’m sorry that I hurt you. That I made you unhappy and ruined your Valentine’s Day. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
Louis smiles cheekily, “First take me on a date and then we’ll see about you making it up to me next year for Valentine’s Day.”
“For you, I will. Every Valentine’s Day forward I will make up to you.” Harry promises.
“Even though you hate the holiday?” Louis asks from Harry’s arms.
“Even though I hate the holiday. Maybe you can change my mind.” He kisses Louis again, stopping all conversation as they get lost in each other.