"I'm home mum."

"In the kitchen, love."

"Hi." Harry hugs Anne.

"Hello, Harry. How was your sleepover? And what did you do today?"

"It was good mum. I told Louis about- about everything."

"Oh honey-"

"It's okay. He took it really well."

"That is great sweetheart. Louis is really lovely."

"Mum?"

"Yes, darling?" She pushes her hair back.

"I think- I think I love him ma. I think I love Louis."

"Oh baby. I- I don't know what to say." She washes her hands.

"I- mum- I don't know what to do."

"Talk to him, darling. He seems to love you as much as you love him."

"You think?"

"I know." She ruffles his hair.

-x-

"Louis William Tomlinson."

Louis closes his books and turns around on his chair. "That's my name. How can I help you mum?" He takes off his glasses.

"What is going on with you?" She sits down on his bed.

"What do you mean?" He yawns rubbing his hands on his face.

"Harry." She says simply.

"What about him?"

"What is going on with the two of you?"

"Nothing, why?" Louis asks.

"I'm your mother, Louis. I know you. I've seen how you look at the boy."

"What are you implying Ma?"

"You like him, don't you?"

"Of course I do. Don't you?"

"I do. He's a very sweet child. But I don't like him the way you do."

"Mum, he's my friend."

"I know that... But you want him to be more, don't you?" She edges towards him.

"No, what? That's, pffft that's absurd." Louis laughs nervously.

"Louis... Mothers know everything."

"Yeah okay fine. I want him to be more so what?"

"So you ask him to be more."

"Ma come on I'm not discussing Harry with you."

"Why boobear?"

"Oh god don't call me that!" He hides his face in his hands.

"Okay okay I'm sorry. Now tell me, why won't you discuss Harry with me?"

"Because it's too weird."

"Louis don't be silly, you've always told me everything. Now if you don't want to that's a different thing."

"What? No? You know I tell you everything ma. Fine, okay. I- I kind of love Harry. And I uh planned on asking him out after our music thing."

"That's wonderful baby. When is your music thing?"

"Next week. We have rehearsal all day after school tomorrow."

-x-

"Harry, man we can't afford this anymore. The performance is in a week. You gotta sing." Josh says even before we begin practice.

"I know Josh, I'm sorry, I'll try my best okay?"

"Harry can I talk to you for a minute." Louis gestures outside.

"Um yeah, of course." They both go out and Harry leans on the balcony railing facing Louis. "What's up?"

"Nothing, Harry. I just, I really need you to do this okay? We haven't had a full practice and our performance is next week. The competition is tough okay? It's not going to be a walk in the park, you have to do this."

"Louis, I told you then and I'm telling you now. I can't. I can't do this alright? You gotta get that through your head."

"Harry you have to."

"No Louis I don't. I don't have to do anything."

"Harry, I have faith in you. You need to do this. For them. For me. Hell you need to do this for you."

"Okay, let's say, I'm able to sing right now, what happens next week? What happens when I need to sing in front of 20 other people? You and I both know I can't do that. I'm not you Louis."

"No Harry, you're not." He places his hands on Harry's shoulders. "You're me and more. Stop putting yourself down. You, Harry Styles, you're better than any of the people watching you, you're better than any of the people up on stage with you. You, are born to perform. You," he shakes him gently, "are going to do that, and you're going to show these people what you're made of Harry. You're going to make them proud, you're going to make me proud, most of all you're going to make your mom proud."

"Lou-" Harry chokes out wrapping his arms around his neck. Louis stumbles backwards and his arms come to rest at his waist.

"Shhh, I know you can do it."

"Thank you, thank you so much for the talk, thank you for believing in me, Louis. Thank you for being supportive."

"Of course Harry. Anytime, any day. Shall we go to practice now?"

"Yes please. I promise I'm going to do this, for you and for mom, and for them, because they put up with me like no one else could have."

"That's the spirit, love. Come on now." Louis places his hand on his back and gently pushes him to the room. "Okay boys, it's showtime."

They all cheer and Josh beats his drumsticks together to count everyone in. "Five, six, seven, eight."

Their voices flow together, Niall's voice melting into Zayn's accompanied with evening m rhythmic clapping and all of them joining in at the end then changing to only Liam, working like a well oiled machine because of practice. Louis held his breath as Harry's solo came and suddenly a deep, raspy voice flooded the room, throwing all of them off guard. Zayn smoothly takes over at the chorus, all of them joining at the end and Harry taking over for his solo and the boys joining when needed. Josh is happily drumming away when Zayn takes over for his next solo, all the boys joining after, then Louis taking over for his solo, Harry joining shortly, followed by Zayn. The song comes to an end with all of them singing the last lines with all they have.

They all cheer loudly. "Man, you have one hell of a voice. You're going to own it bro." Josh laughs.

"Shit Harry, you could give Zayn a run for his money." Niall laughs.

"I knew you had it in you, Harry." Liam smiles softly.

"I'm jealous bro." Zayn laughs.

Harry looks at Louis expectantly, only to find looking at Harry. Harry raises his eyebrows and Louis shakes his head. "Let's take it from the top?" Harry looks down.

"Was it not good enough?" He asks Niall in a small voice.

"No!! No it was brilliant."

"Then why is Louis-"

"Let Louis be, he'll come around."

So Harry tries to let it be and concentrates on singing.

"Let's call it a day, lads, I'm hammered." Josh sighs wiping his brow.

"Okay then. Great practice, tomorrow, same time." Louis says and covers the piano.

"Louis can you give me a ride home?"

"Of course. Get your stuff."

Harry grabs his guitar bag and they both leave saying goodbye to everyone. "Is everyone okay, Louis? You're acting weird." Harry asks softly.

"Everything is fine don't worry."

"Then why are you acting weird?"

"I'm not."

"Louis I know you."

"Harry I'm fine okay?" Louis snaps and Harry recoils.

"Okay." He whimpers, wrapping his arms around himself. Louis pulls over to the side and undoes his seatbelt. "W-what are you doing?"

"Look at me." He hooks a finger under his chin and forces him to face him. "There's something I need to tell you but I can't right now okay? I'll tell you after our performance. You sounded amazing okay? Don't doubt that for a second. Just, give me a week yeah? I promise I'll tell you."

He nods and hugs me tightly. "You're not dying are you, Lou?"

Louis laughs. "No, love , not at all. Not dying."

"Okay good." Harry mumbles into Louis' neck.