•

Louis was half asleep on the public bus, his head knocking uncomfortably against the cold window as the bus went over potholes.

Music played quietly in his ears as he drifted in and out of consciousness, his hands wrapped securely around his mobile as the strap of his bag was clutched around his elbow.

His feet were stretched out infront of him, his ankles crossed as the heater under his seat radiated a comfortable warmth.

He felt a soft pressure on the top of his foot, he cracked his eyes open to see a foot, nudging the side of his shoe.

His eyes followed the foot up a leg and to a body. The boy was in the same sort of position as Louis, but sitting on the opposite side of him.

Louis closed his eyes again, smiling softly. He pulled his foot out from underneath the other boys', and gently rested it ontop of his faded white shoe, just as he had done to Louis.

The boy opened one eye, discreetly looking down at their feet. He moved his foot back and forth slightly, watching as Louis smiled with closed eyes.

After a minute, Louis withdrew his foot so they werent touching anymore. The stranger inched his shoe back towards Louis, making the sides barely skim over one another so that Louis wouldn't be able to feel it.

Louis exhaled, making the boy look up at him. Louis' eyes were open as he surpressed a laugh. He looked up at the boy, raising his foot off the ground a few inches to lightly tap the top of his shoe.

The boy did the same action to Louis, but left his foot resting ontop. Louis untucked his leg from under his body, layering his other foot over top of the boys.

He closed his eyes again, tilting his head to the window. The boy followed his action before taking his other foot to top off their tower of shoes in the middle of the isle.

The stranger watched through squinted eyes as Louis smiled to himself, half asleep.

After a while, the bus came to a stop. Louis awoke with a start, squinting at his phone before standing up abruptly, rubbing his sleepy eyes. He waited for an opening in the isle before he disappeared in the crowds and got off the bus.

The boy retracted his long legs, tucking one knee up on the seat. As the bus started up again he looked out the window, trying to spot Louis.

The bus veered back out into traffic a moment later. The boys eyes settled on the seat infront of him. A pair or wired earbuds sat on the blue patterned fabric.

Furrowing his eyebrows, he leaned forward, picking them up. He recognized they were the ones Louis had been wearing.

Must have forgot them

The boy wrapped them up around his finger, then stuffed them carefully into his jacket pocket. He went on that bus every day to get home from school, so he figured he'd just give them back next time he saw the boy.

With a deep exhale, he closed his eyes and waited for the bus to make the turn to the next subdivision.

•

The boy stepped onto the bus, going up on his toes to see over the crowd of people.

"Ah!" He gasped as his eyes settled on the boy from yesterday. He was sitting in the same seat, his legs extended to rest on the opposite seat.

He pushed his way through the crowd to get onto that section before the doors closed. Squeezing between people and the wall, he finally made it to the seat.

He shuffled into the inlet of the double seats, the boy immediately apologizing and dropping his legs from the seat.

He looked back down at his lap, his hand dove into his pocket, feeling around for somthing. He furrowed his eyebrows as he used both hands to open his pocket, sitting up and angling his head down.

"I think you forgot these yesterday mate" the boy spoke, extending his hand to expose a jumbled pair of white corded earbuds.

His eyebrows shot up as he took them from his palm.

"Thank you, you're a lifesaver. I didn't even realize I lost them until now" he chuckled embarrassingly as he tried to untangle them, to no avail.

"Course. M'Harry by the way" Harry nodded.

"Louis" he replied.

"Sorry for sitting here, you looked comfortable with your feet up" Harry carded his hand through his hair.

"No no, thank you actually. For erm, sitting here. Probably not very polite of me to be putting my dirty shoes on the seats like that" Louis smiled, bringing the neckline of his sweatshirt over the bottom half of his face as he tried to warm up.

"Its fine, I'm sure people have sat on dirtier things" Harry replied, instantly turning red.

Both of their heads snapped up in unison.

"Ah, get your head out of the gutter" Harry chuckled.

"Hey, you're the one who brought it up" Louis raised his hands in defence.

Louis sunk lower into the seat, his lower back on the fabric now. He closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again, rubbing his hands down his face.

"Tired?" Harry asked.

Louis just nodded, a smile on his face as he stretched his arms above his head and let out a silent yawn.

"Put your feet back up, take a nap" Harry suggested.

"Dont wanna get the seat dusty" he yawned.

"Just use my lap, I dont mind" Harry shrugged.

Louis looked up at him.

"Are you sure? Your pants will get muddy" he replied.

"I dont mind mate, m'gonna be washing them either way" Harry laughed, patting his thighs.

Louis hesitantly lifted his legs, hovering over Harry's lap.

"My legs might be too heav-"

"Shh Louis, take a nap" Harry whispered as he layed his forearm over the tops of his ankles, his heels pressing into the tops of Harry's thighs.

"You're not gonna rob me while I'm sleeping, are ya?" Louis smiled as he leaned his head back against the soft headrest.

"Maybe" Harry replied, closing his eyes as well.

And in any other case Louis would have been out of there, but instead he closed his eyes, popped his earbuds in, got comfortable and dozed off into a light sleep.

•

Harry stood in the corner, holding onto the bright yellow pole for dear life as the bus took a sharp corner, nearly knocking everyone down in the process. He briefly skimmed the crowds for Louis, but couldn't find him.

The bus pulled over in one sharp movement. He looked out the window to see dozens and dozens of people waiting near the covered bus stop.

The sky was grey and cloudy, a cold, light drizzle of rain pattered down.

He spotted Louis, his eyes were red and puffy. He was looking up at the sky as he bit his lip until it turned white. He was bouncing back and forth on his feet. The rain had plastered his hair to his neck and forehead and his arms were wrapped around his slender frame. He shivered as the bus stopped infront of him.

People pushed past him, packing into the bus. Angry shouts of men in black blazers with briefcases pierced the air as the door closed. The bus started to move again.

Harry watched as Louis took a deep breath, his eyes glossy.

Without second thought, Harry reached up to the checkered white and black string that hung above the seats, labeled 'pull incase of emergency'. He yanked on the delicate wire.

The passengers seemed to groan as the bus slowed down once more. He pushed the doors open with little to no resistance as he stepped off the high platform, onto the cold concrete.

The wind peirced him as soon as the bus took off once more.

Louis looked over his shoulder, noticing Harry walking toward him.

He spun around, wiping his eyes hurriedly before smiling.

"Hey Harry, this isn't your stop?" he said.

"No but I couldn't leave you alone out here, you look miserable" Harry replied.

Louis let out a wet chuckle, shrugging and nodding.

"What's up?" Harry asked quietly.

"Just been a tough day" he sniffled.

"Are you cold? You look cold" Harry asked, taking his jacket off. Louis gulped as Harry wrapped the thick fabric around Louis' shoulders, rubbing his hands up and down Louis' arms once before retracting his hands.

Louis hugged the jacket to his body, a smile appearing on his face.

"You really didn't have to do that" he said quietly, refusing to make eye contact.

"Cant have you freezing alone at a bus stop, now can we?" He smiled.

Louis chuckled along with Harry, making eye contact for a brief second before looking at somthing in the distance.

"Thanks Harry" Louis replied after a pause, his eyes wide, wrapping the jacket tighter around himself.

Harry just nodded, turning away for a brief second to hide the warmth spreading to his cheeks.

Louis crept over to Harry's side until their arms were flush together.

Louis' head lolled to the side, resting on Harry's bicep, as light as a feather. They waited there together, in the rain. Harry looked forward at the road once more before dropping his head to the side as well, resting on Louis.

They didn't mention it, neither did they mention the footsie or the jacket. The next bus came and wordlessly they got on together, it was barren except for a few people sitting quietly in the back.

The pair fell asleep, their temples barely touching eachothers shoulders, yet it warmed the both of them up with fissures of giddiness.

The bus slowed, Louis sat up and looked softly at Harry. He looked down at the jacket, his nimble fingers reaching toward the sleeves to peel if off.

Harry captured the back of Louis' hand, lightly pushing it to his chest, shaking his head.

"Keep it, gives us a reason to see eachother again" he spoke quietly. Louis didn't argue as they both stood up, Harry held the door open as it began to close, Louis wasn't quite ready to leave yet.

"Thank you" Louis spoke. He stepped forward, bumping his head into the side of Harry's chest softly, he took a sharp inhale as Harry wrapped his arms around his shoulders, squeezing him to his chest for a moment before letting him go.

Louis gave him a small smile before stepping off the bus. The doors closed and Harry sat back down, looking at Louis standing on the concrete. He couldn't see through the tinted windows, but he waved at Harry as the bus pulled away.

•

Louis walked through the rain, Harry's jacket was soaked by now. He made his way to his street, waving at his elderly neighbor as she pulled out of her driveway in her small red car.

He cracked the door open, slipping in quietly. The air conditioning of the house made his wet clothing feel freezing against his skin. No lights were on as he crept into the kitchen, peeling off the jacket and his sweater.

He popped some leftovers in the microwave, watching as the plate turned around, a soft hum sounding through the kitchen.

He stopped the timer before it beeped, the microwave light turned off as he opened the door, taking out the small container of leftover mac & cheese.

The kitchen was dark once again. He sat on a tall wooden stool at the island and began to eat his supper quietly.

He took his phone out of his pocket, seeing it was about 6am.

He heard a light flick on upstairs, and soft steps approaching him. His mum peeked her head into the kitchen, a soft smile on her face.

"Hi mum" he smiled, turning around on the stool.

"Hi sweetheart, you're home late?" She said quietly, sitting beside him.

"Yeah, I couldn't get on the first bus, had to wait for the next one" he replied, forking another load of noodles into his mouth.

"You're freezing, love" she said, rubbing her hands up and down his arms to warm him up.

"I'm okay" he laughed, gently swatting her hands away.

She pursed her lips, crossing her arms as she looked at Louis.

Her eyes caught somthing behind him, a long, light brown jacket hanging over the back of a chair.

"Who's it that?" She asked, motioning with her head to the jacket.

"Someones from the bus stop" he replied, getting up to put the now empty container in the sink.

She furrowed her brows slightly, confusedly looking between Louis and the wet peice of fabric.

"I was just talking to him and" Louis shrugged, "he said I looked cold, so" he finished.

She nodded, opened her mouth to say something, and nodded again, staying silent.

Louis cleared his throat, interrupting the silence as he grabbed his damp bag and pocketed his mobile.

"Night mum" he said quietly.

"Sleep tight" she replied, pressing a kiss to his forehead. He disapeared up the stairs and into his room.

•

He was up by noon, grabbing his stuff for class in an hour.

"Shit" he mumbled as he saw the jacket on the chair by the door. It had dried, but was crinkled and still slightly damp.

He hurriedly grabbed it and stuffed it in the washing machine, turning the knob on for 15 minutes.

He cut up and ate half a mango as he was waiting, then put it into the dryer for another 15.

It smelled clean as he took it out, pulling it close to his body as it radiated warmth from the dryer.

A few small white pieces of paper fell out of the jacket as he shook ot out, smoothing the wrinkles near the collar.

He bent down to pick them up, seeing they were all pilled up and unreadable.

He dug his hand into the left pocket, feeling a pile of damp paper. He pulled it out, tossing it in the trash beside him.

Quietly pecking his sisters on the forehead, he left the house and started walking to the bus stop once again, the light brown fabric tucked under his arm.

•

After his class he took the bus once more to where he works. A night shift at a small diner downtown.

"G'morning Niall" he nodded as he tied his white fading apron around his hips.

He was met with a grunt as Niall sloppily plopped a peice of bread ontop of a sandwitch, sliding the plate across the counter to the waitress on the other side.

"Night shifts not treating you well mate?" Louis laughed, plucking a small white sheet from above the grill to start making the food.

He shook his head and leaned against the fridge.

Louis strained his neck to look over the counter at the tables. Only 2 people were sitting in a booth at the front of the restaurant.

He pulled his body back to face Niall.

"Go home, it's not busy" Louis shrugged.

"Dont wanna leave you alone here" he replied.

"I'll be okay. And I'm not alone, Joe's here" he replied, motioning to the small redheaded girl angrily cleaning a table.

Niall cocked his head dramatically, linking his fingers behind his back.

"Just go home and sleep you oaf" Louis chuckled, taking the bottle of ketchup from Nialls hands to finish the burger he was making.

"I owe you one" He exhaled, grabbing his belongings to walk out of the swinging door to the front of the restaurant.

"Night Joe" he waved with a sly smile.

"You're not leaving me alone here, come on" She groaned, tossing her cloth on the table.

"You can go too, take the night off guys" Louis replied as he peeked his head out of the door.

"You don't have to tell me twice" she laughed, taking her apron off.

"Come on Niall, let's go bar hopping" she grinned, grabbing his arm and pulling him out into the cold night.

Louis cleaned up behind the register for a while before the last person left. He sat on the counter, facing away from the front door as he tapped away on his phone, quiet music playing over the old intercoms.

He didn't notice the soft tingling bell above the door as someone walked into the restaurant.

"Louis?" A soft voice asked from behind him.

He whipped around, gasping in a breath of air as his phone dropped to the ground.

"You scared me" he clutched his ontop of his chest, chuckling as he took a deep breath. He bent down to pick up his phone, but was met with a hand reaching for it as well.

"Sorry!" The customer exclaimed as their hands bumped.

Louis looked up, seeing Harry with a small smile on his face. His hair was in a small bun on the top of his head, his cheeks rosy from the cold.

"How'd you'd know where I work?" Louis laughed genuinely curious. He took his phone with a nod out of Harry's hand.

"I didn't, I swear I'm not a creepy stalker or anything-"

"That's exactly what a stalker would say" Louis chucked

Harry huffed, a smile still etched onto his face. He leaned against the counter, looking at the menu that was illuminated on a screen behind Louis.

"I'll prove it to you" Harry replied.

"How so?" Louis tilted his head.

"Let me take you out sometime?" Harry asked, when Louis didn't reply immediately his cheeks turned a deep red.

"But how does that prove you're not a stalker?" Louis surpressed a laugh.

Harry thought for a moment before his eyes lit up with a reply.

"Knock knock"

"Who's there?" Louis shook his head.

"Hula"

"Hula who?"

"Hula-" Harry started before sticking a finger in his mouth, making a popping sound with his cheek.

Louis stood there, his arms crossed with a small smile threatening to turn into a grin.

Harry gave him a dimpled smile before sitting on the counter, throwing his long legs over to stand on the opposite side.

He stood face to face with Louis, a contagious smile on his face.

"Get it? Because it sounded like hoo-"

"I got it" Louis rolled his eyes. He pulled his phone out once more, checking the time, he was off in 4 hours.

"So this is why you're always so sleepy on the bus?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, a collage student with a night shift don't mix too well. But anyways, did you want something to eat? Seeing as you came to a restaurant" he asked.

"Maybe in a bit, do you think other people will come in?" He asked, rummaging through Louis' bag that sat under the counter.

"Not usually this late, no" he replied, his face twisted as he watched Harry take his jacket out from Louis' bag.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to give that back to you" his eyes widened, as he watched Harry stick his hand into one of the pockets, smiling when he didn't feel anything.

"I washed it, there must have been a peice of paper in the pocket? A receipt maybe? I didn't realize when I put it in the washer, I'm sorry if it was something important" Louis poked the inside of his cheek with his tounge.

Harry gave him a dimpled smile as he stuffed the jacket back into his bag.

"It was kind of important" he replied, his hand coming up to scratch under his chin.

"What was it?"

"My number" he replied, looking down at the floor.

"Oh? Oh" Louis realized. He looked up a small smile on his face as he avoided making eye contact.

Louis wordlessly grabbed his phone again, stumbling to make a new contact. He pushed the phone into Harry's hands.

"Hm?" Harry hummed.

"Add your number" Louis motioned shyly with his head.

Harry brought the screen up to his face as he tapped in his number, the mobile hiding his excited face.

He gave it back to Louis, giddy and feeling like a teenager all over again.

"Would you like to, maybe come over for dinner tomorrow?" Harry asked after a second of hesitation.

"Are you asking me out on a date?" Louis smiled.

"Mhm, yeah. I geuss I am, yeah" he replied, his fingers wringing nervously behind his back.

"I'll be there" Louis replied, his stomach erupting with butterflies.

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