"Hi man." I fist bump Louis.

"Hi lad." He smiles warmly, freeing his arm from where it was interlocked with Harry's and casually setting it on his waist.

My eyes fall on Zayn and Liam. They're leaning against the countertop and their hands swinging in between them. One of Liam's hand rests on Zayn's on the said countertop. It's so disgustingly cute. My inner fanboy is coming out. Both my OTP's coming to life.

"Liam." Louis calls. I sigh. It was too good to last.

"Tommo!!" He smiles warmly and gives him his 'Payno special' hug. Harry smiles fondly. "Hi Harry." I look at Liam. Was he really expecting Harry to answer.

"Hi Liam." Harry mumbles and everyone turns around. Well, not Josh because who knows where he went off to. Liam's face splits into a grin so wide I think his face might just break.

"Harry..." I say softly.

"Niall?"

"Nothing man. Just... S'good to hear your voice 'is all." His dimple pops out (or, like, in? Because it's a dimple? I doubt a dimple can pop out) and Louis immediately reaches over to poke it, getting a swat on the arm making him laugh and wrap his arm back around Harry's waist.

I laugh. None of us could get away with swatting Louis without a semi wrestling match.

"Harry?" Zayn calls and Harry kinda just curls into Louis making Zayn wince. A worried look overcomes Louis and he quietly talks to Harry, rubbing his back comfortingly. Louis smiles at Harry and goes over to say something in Zayn's ear. Zayn's face falls visibly and he nods mumbling what sounds like 'I understand.'

"Well lads, let's go? The pins aren't going to fall by themselves." Louis says, clapping his hands together. I snort.

"Like they're going to fall with any help from you." Everyone bursts into laughter, even Josh, who seems to have materialised out of thin air. Even Harry. He has a loud, goofy, booming laugh that makes me smile just a little more.

"Shut up Niall. I'll cut you." Louis sulks and Harry winces, moving a little away from Louis. "Hey, hey, hey! Harry, don't be scared, love. I'm just messing about. I wouldn't actually cut Niall, yeah? I'd probably just use him as a bowling ball instead."

"Man you're fucking wild." I laugh.

"Tell me something I don't know you leprechaun."

"Hey now, lads. I think your unnecessary bickering can continue in the car? Z and I don't have the whole day." Liam says in a calming and patronising voice.

"Don't patronise me!" Louis and I yell in unison and promptly burst into laughter.

"Children," Liam sighs, shaking his head. "I'm friends with absolute children. Honestly, Louis, Daisy and Phoebe are more mature than y'all here."

"Oh shut up Lima, you're just as bad." Louis waves dismissively, going towards the kitchen.

"Oi! Where're you going?"

"Gonna say bye to me mum. Need express signed permission from you for that now, do I, Malik?"

Zayn laughs knowing he's just being his usual sassy self. Yeah you do but sorry man, can't find a pen on me." He jokes, pretending to pat his pockets in search of a pen.

"Fucking twat." Louis huffs and the next second he's having his ear pulled.

"Louis William Tomlinson, we do not use such filthy language in a house full of children." Jay scolds.

"Owww, okay. Sorry mum, please let go of me ear, you're going to pull it right off." Jay glares at him playfully before leaving his ear. "Jesus, woman. You've got a way stronger grip than I anticipated." Louis mumbles rubbing his reddened ear causing everyone to laugh.

"Lads, are we gonna go or what?" Josh asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Of course we're gonna go. Who's driving."

"Well I walked here, because I was at a friend's before this. And those three came in Liam's car."

"So it's settled. Niall will come with me and Harry and you three can go together again." Louis rests an arm on my shoulder. "What do you say church boy?"

"Hey! I'm not a church boy." I protest indignantly shrugging off his arm.

"Stop pouting." Harry laughs.

"I'm not pouting, don't laugh at me." I threaten.

"Oh Niall, you're so terrifying I'm so sorry forgive me." Harry innocently bats his eyelashes and Louis' mouth drops open.

"Harry??" He asks wondrously turning him to face him.

"Uhm- I- err-"

"That... was fantastic. I fucking LOVE YOU." Louis yells the last two words shrilly making Harry laugh.

Well, if humiliating me makes Louis admit it, then okay.

Jay peers out of the kitchen. "Louis Tomlinson. One more swear word out of that mouth of yours and I swear I will wash your mouth with soap and ground you for a month." She then smiles sweetly, "have a nice day boys," and just like that she disappears into the kitchen again.

"Louis' mom is like the coolest I swear." Liam laughs

"Hey!! You can't say that. You haven't met my mom yet."

"Harry I'm sure your mum is great but Jay is something else." I laugh.

"Hey now, Niall. Anne is supercool okay? She makes the best cookies."

"And for that, young man, I'm never making you cookies." Jay smiles sarcastically, leaning on the wall with her arms crossed. "But as for you nice lads, come on, I just baked a fresh batch. Harry, you as well dear. I would be disappointed if you didn't fight for your mom." We all make way to the kitchen and Jay stops Louis. "No means no, Louis." He huffs and sits on one of the chairs on the dining table.

A minute later we all walk out a few cookies in our hands, and our mouths stuffed, except Harry, who holds only one and sits next to Louis. Jay smiles at us warmly, "enjoy, loves," and goes upstairs.

Harry cautiously watches her leave and as soon as she's out of earshot, he breaks his cookie into two, offering the bigger piece to Louis.

Louis looks at him like he just brought him the moon and opens his mouth. Harry gently places it in his mouth. I gag. Had any of us had the opportunity, we would've shoved the thing down his throat, just to annoy him. The smile Louis gives in return lights up the room.

He wraps an arm around Harry's waist and squeezes him close kissing his temple. Harry blushes and Louis mumbles something in his ear making him turn redder.

"Oi lovebirds, break it up will you? I think my breakfast and cookies are about to make a reappearance." Louis, Harry along with Liam and Zayn look at me sheepishly making Josh laugh.

"What were these two doing? I only noticed Larry here." I jerk my head towards Louis who's giving me the death glare.

"The same. Being disgusting." Josh laughs.

"I can't believe we're fifth wheeling." I sigh.

"We're not even dating." Louis protests hotly.

"Yeah, right." Josh snorts.

"Really, we aren't." Harry says earnestly.

"Uh-huh. Sure honey. Because that's totally what it looks like." I glare at Louis' arm around his waist. "Like how do you manage to cuddle sitting on two separate chairs?"

"Oi, don't sass him. Nobody sasses him." Louis says loudly.

"Uh-huh. Except you." Liam laughs.

"Not even me." He answers loftily.

"Mate, you're whipped." Zayn says his eyes fixated on Liam's thumb rubbing circles on the back of his hand. He then looks at them. "Harry trust me, you've got him wrapped around your little finger."

"You're the one to talk." Louis immediately fires back.

"Okay, okay, lads, calm down. This is not a competition. I thought we were going bowling?" Liam motions for them to keep their voices down.

"Li, but-" Zayn immediately makes to protest.

"Babe-" Liam patronises, squeezing his hand, "it's Louis. You'll never win an argument against him. You know better than to try."

Louis smiles proudly. "Well lads, I'm getting the car out of the garage. Harry? Niall? Be outside in five." He gets up and goes out of the house.

"Yeah we should go to. We haven't got all day." Liam smiles at Zayn and leaves to get the car out of Louis' garage.

Harry's face falls, just a little, but it does and he tries to make himself small, invisible. I look at him curiously but he's just playing with the hem of his- wait- LOUIS' JUMPER?

Harry nearly falls and Zayn and Josh look at me weirdly. Oops. I think I just thought out loud, like really loud. "Y-yeah. He gave it to me this morning." He mumbles looking down.

"Hey, Harry, it's fine, sorry, I was just thinking and I guess I didn't realise that I actually yelled it out."

"Why were you even thinking about Louis' jumper?" Zayn asks doubtfully while Josh is nearly doubled over in silent laughter.

"No reason." I give him a look saying 'I'll tell you later' and he nods understanding the gesture. "Anyhow, I think we should go? Louis will have our, no, my head. He doesn't like to be kept waiting."

"Yeah okay, let's go. Liam will be waiting as well." Josh agrees wiping away his tears of laughter. I quickly go to the kitchen finding Jay there with Phoebe and Daisy.

"Thanks for having us, Jay. And thanks for the cookies."

"Of course Niall, you're like my own son. Speaking of my own son, did he like the cookies." I blanch. "Oh yes I saw that. Harry's a lovely boy. Louis needs someone like him. He was made to grow up too fast, never having the time for anything other than family and friends. Not one single relationship, that one. I must admit it was my fault."

"He is. He really loves Louis. And Louis loves your cookies, Jay. Always has, always will. He was just being his whipped self. And it wasn't your fault. All of us thought that what you and Mark had was special. Louis loves you, and he doesn't blame you in the least."

"Oh I know. I plan on giving him his share when he got home. Now go on ahead, Louis will have your head." She laughs airily.

I smile warmly and kiss her cheek. "Bye Niall!" Daisy and Phoebe call.

"Bye girls, have a nice day and don't give your mother too much trouble. Louis gives her enough as it is." I wink.

"I would protest but it's true. He's the worst of the lot. But I love him anyway. Really helps at home that one."

"I know." I say softly and leave. I rush to the car and open the back door

"Niall, I swear I'm-"

"Sorry mate, got held up talking to Jay and the girls."

"Oh, okay." He says and turns the key in the ignition, starting the car and backing it out of the driveway.

He'd never admit it. But the only people he cares about as much as Harry are his mother and sisters. He absolutely adores them.

"Oi Harry?" I call and he turns to face me questioningly. "Jay knows about you slipping Louis part of your cookie." His eyes widen.

"Was she mad?"

"No, just said that you're a lovely boy and that Louis needs someone like you." That makes him blush and turn to face the front. "Are you guys really not dating?" I ask with a sigh.

"Not yet." Louis answers casually, taking the turn to the arcade and winking at Harry. Harry blushes and hides his face in his hands and wow OTP man.

Like honestly. Zayn and Liam are cute and everything, but they were so slow and shying about each other. These two are polar opposites and its really interesting to watch them interact. Louis would totally top.

"Niall, man, I appreciate the sentiment but we aren't even together yet. Too soon to say."

I did it again. I mentally face palm "Are you implying that you would bottom? YOU?"

"No, I'm implying that it's too soon for us to consider sex and it should be the last thing on your mind."

I rub the back of my neck sheepishly and then my eyes fall on Louis' hand, which I earlier assumed was on the gearshift, but... it's on Harry's thigh?

"Niall," Louis says slowly, "You need some training with not thinking out loud."

I sigh. "I do."

"Okay, we're here."

"Great!!" I immediately get out of the car and rush to the venue only to find it locked.

I turn to face Louis and Harry. "What the fuck?" Louis mumbles and opens the venue website. "The arcade will be closed for about two weeks from the 18th of December to the 31st for maintenance reasons and will open for the new year." He looks at me. "What the fuck. Let me inform the lads." He quickly calls a number and puts his phone to his ear.

"Z, man, don't come, the arcade is closed New Year's." He waits to here what Zayn says. "I don't know man, hold for a second." He looks at us. "What do you lads wanna do then?"

Harry and I look at each other and he shrugs. "Paintball? I've heard all good things about Go Ballistic. It's on Herringham Road"

"Okay. Z, how's paintball?" He waits for him to answer. "Yeah okay okay cool, meet us at Go Ballistic on Herringham Road."