Today is the day. The day they're finally going to perform. To say they're all scared shitless would be too much of an understatement.

Louis is green in the face and can't bear looking at anyone, Niall has had 5 cheeseburgers in the last 2 hours. He stress eats. Zayn won't get out of the bathroom. Harry has thrown up thrice, Liam is running laps while singing their song and Josh is screaming at himself while practicing because he feels like he isn't playing well enough. So yeah, shitless is talking mildly.

They have two hours before the performance and they're meant to be rehearsing but they find themselves unable to. They're going to fuck it up, they know it.

"Lou." Harry groans weakly.

"Harry please I really don't want to speak to anyone right now." Louis murmurs glasses on his nose and face buried in a book.

"I know! You said that half an hour ago as well. Zayn's come out of the bathroom to say if we don't start practicing in the next 10 minutes he's going back in and not coming out till the end of the day. We've managed to get Liam in the room as well. Niall is still eating so he's still stressed but he'll be fine once we start practicing. And for once I'm not feeling like I'm going to spill out my intestines. C'mon." He tugs on Louis' arm. Louis sighs resignedly and closes his book.

"Fine then. Let's go." He takes off his glasses, putting them into the case and sliding it into his bag.

Harry smiles and they both jog to the music room. "How the hell are we supposed to practice here?" Louis yells over the ruckus.

"It wasn't like this 5 minutes ago, I swear."

"Well what do we do now?" Zayn groans walking over to them with Liam, Josh and Niall tagging behind.

"I have an idea." Everyone turns to Harry.

"My place?" Everyone but Louis looks confused.

"You," he gasps out grabbing Harry's face, "are a fucking genius." He places a smacking kiss to his forehead. "Lads? Let's go."

"What the fuck are we going to do at his place?" Niall asks through a mouthful of... something.

"He has a proper music room. Guitars, a drum, a grand piano, the works."

"Then what are we waiting for? Louis you, Harry and Josh go. Me, Zayn and Niall will follow." Liam commands rushing out.

"Where are you going?"

"Getting my stuff!!" He yells breaking into a run. "I'll meet you all in the parking."

-x-x-

"Okay that's much better. I'm glad we're finally getting the hang of this." Josh wipes sweat off his brow.

"Yeah. But I think it's about time we go back to school. We can't risk missing the actual performance." Liam uncaps a bottle of water and puts it to his mouth."

"Fine then. You guys go. Harry and I will follow once we clean this up."

"Nah mate we made the mess, we'll clean it." Niall shrugs picking up a few empty bottles lying around. They all follow suit and within 10 minutes the place is clean.

-x-x-

"Harry." Louis places his hand on Harry's shaking knee. Harry stills under the gentle touch.

"I'm nervous." He mumbles, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Louis smiles gently and pulls Harry closer to him.

"Don't be. You're going to be amazing yeah?"

"What if I mess up?"

"You won't. I believe in you." He gently tucks a curl behind Harry's ear making the lad smile softly.

"These people are great, I'm hella scared Li. I'm going to fuck this up."

"Hey hey. Zayn, calm down. Deep breaths. You've practiced so much, love. You aren't going to fuck anything up okay? Your voice is the best." Liam kisses Zayn's cheek and rubs his arm.

"Nervous?" Josh nudges Liam.

"A little. You?"

"Seconds away from death. Niall you?"

"Stressed as fuck." He chews on his nails. He turns around to Louis. "Scared?"

"Yeah. I really hope my voice doesn't crack like practice yesterday."

"Devine, Josh." The teacher calls and Harry gasps.

"That's us guys." He cries in a whisper.

Josh clears his throat. "That's- that's us ma'am." He gestures towards us.

"Well come on then. Stumbling and falling they reach the stage. Louis pulls a green Harry away from his place.

"Lou-?"

"Shhh listen. I want you to face me when you're singing. Don't look at the crowd if you don't feel up to it, okay? Look at me. You can do it."

Harry nods and hugs Louis tightly. Louis rubs his back and slowly pulls away taking his place at the piano.

"Ready?" Ms. Elliot asks and they nod.

Josh beats his drumsticks together. "Five, six, seven, eight..."

Niall and Harry begin strumming and Louis and Liam play soft piano in the background. Niall gulps taking a sharp breath.

"Counted all my mistakes and there's only one, standing out from the list of the things I've done. All the rest of my crimes don't come close, to the look on your face when I let you go. So I built you a house from a broken home. And I wrote you a song with the words you spoke. It took me some time, but I figured out."

Harry quickly looks at the crowd then at Louis finally shutting his eyes and bringing the mic closer to him, joining in with Niall.

"How to fix up a heart that I let down!!"

They all grin and begin clapping rhythmically. Zayn begins his solo. "Now I'm searching every lonely place, every corner calling out your name, tryna find you, but I just don't know..."

They all join in. "Where do broken hearts go? Where do broken hearts go?" Josh lets out a pleased sigh, happily drumming away.

Liam pulls the mic closer and gives it his all. "Yeah, the taste of your lips on the tip of my tongue, is at the top of the list of the things I want...." As the end of Liam's solo approaches everyone looks at Harry apprehensively who still stubbornly refuses to open his eyes. "Mind is running in circles of you and me. Anyone in between is the enemy."

Harry smiles contentedly. "Shadows come with the pain that you're running from, love was something you've never heard enough. Yeah, it took me some time, but I figured out..."

All of them join in, Josh still energetically drumming. "How to fix up a heart that I let down."

Zayn repeats his solo, killing every single note and driving everyone crazy. "Now I'm searching every lonely place, every corner calling out your name. Tryna find you, but I just don't know. Where do broken hearts go?" The last line sung passionately by all.

Harry confidently tackles his next solo, encouraged by the hoots from their classmates. "Are you sleeping, baby by yourself Or are you giving it to someone else? Try to find you, but I just don't know. Where do broken hearts go? Where do broken hearts go?" He pauses for a beat. "Tell me now, tell me now,

Tell me where you go when you feel afraid?"

The boys sing in the background. "Where do broken hearts go?"

"Tell me now, tell me now,

Tell me will you ever love me again, love me again?"

Zayn is loving his solos even if it's just repetitive. "Now I'm searching every lonely place, every corner calling out your name. Tryna find you, but I just don't know..."

The boys seem to share a favorite line. The one where they get to hear their voices perfectly complement each other "Where do broken hearts go?"

The boys continue to harmonize together, letting Harry take the lead. "Are you sleeping, baby, by yourself? Or are you giving it to someone else? Try to find you, but I just don't know."

Louis gives it all he has. A beautiful passionate sound coming through, causing a deafening silence in the room.

"Where do broken hearts go? Tell me where you're hiding out. Where do broken hearts go?"

Harry finally opens his eyes and looks right at Louis.

"Come on, baby, 'cause I need you now."

Louis grins softly and sings to Harry, for Harry. "Where do broken hearts go? Tell me, 'cause I'm ten feet down. Where do broken hearts go?" He pauses to catch the right beat. "Come on, baby, come and get me out."

Zayn repeats. "Come on, baby, come and get me out. Come on, baby, 'cause I need you now."

The song ends with the five of them singing together. "Where do broken hearts go? Where do broken hearts go? Where do broken hearts go? Where do broken hearts go?" A final drumbeat and strum of guitar to top it all off.

They get a standing ovation and full marks. And if Louis cries with how proud he is of Harry, no one needs to know. And if Harry knows, well, that's his business.

"Congratulations boys. This was by far the best advanced music performance I've seen in my 15 years of teaching." They all smile bashfully. "And Mr Styles, you'll be getting extra credit. I did not expect you to sing, let alone do it so well and confidently. Well done."

Harry smiles shyly and nods gratefully. "Well congratulations love." Louis smiles distractedly at Harry, placing his hand on his lower back. They both sit down and the performances go on. Louis' hands get sweaty as he clutches the slim velvet box in his pocket.

"You okay?" Zayn nudges him.

"Yeah man, I'm good." Louis smiles. He shrugs and turns back to Niall and Josh. Liam and Harry are deeply engaged in a conversation. Louis swallows down his nerves and chooses to concentrate on the performances. An hour later they're finally dismissed and Louis rushes out.

"What's going on with him?" Harry asks curiously.

"I don't know. He was looking peaky and nervous even after the performance. Any idea Z?" Liam turns to his boyfriend.

"Nah man, I asked him but he wouldn't say shit. He's been slightly off all week."

"Did something happen between the two of you?" Niall asks Harry.

"No... Wait! He said he wanted to tell me something but he would only tell me after the performance. It must be that!!"

"Well what are you waiting for? Go find him!" Liam urges and Harry grabs his bag, running out.

-x-x-

Harry's been looking everywhere but he fails to find Louis. He seems to have disappeared. He can't have left campus. They have a very important test in English today. It's got heavy weightage in their final grade and Louis isn't the type to let his grade sink. Harry tries calling him again but it goes straight to voicemail. "Where are you?" He murmurs.

As a last ditch attempt he decides to check the parking. He can make out a silhouette at the far end but can't see who because of the sun. Harry supposes it's Louis. Who else would be out at school time. He quickly runs over to him to find him smoking with his eyes closed. Harry scrunches his nose in disgust. "You know those things can kill you." He remarks.

"Oh shit!" Louis jumps a foot into the air, the cigarette falling out of his hand in shock. He groans and stubs it out with his foot. "Harry what are you doing here?"

"Since you decided to disappear, I thought I'd come find you. If you needed to smoke that badly you could've just said that, three seconds wouldn't have made much difference." He makes a face of disgust.

"I don't-"

"Here, take this, your mouth stinks." He tosses him a small rectangular box of mints.

Louis has the decency to look ashamed. He feels like it's his mother that caught him smoking instead of his friend. He pops two into his mouth and gives the box back to Harry.

"Give me the pack."

"What pack?"

"Louis at least don't fucking lie." Harry snaps. Louis winces. Harry never swears.

"I don't know what you're talking about really."

"Your pack of the bloody death sticks."

"I don't have one. I don't smoke regularly. Only when I'm really stressed."

"Then you must have gone through, what, ten, today itself if you're stressed after the performance." Harry sneers.

"No, it's my first, Harry, it's just-"

"Save it. I came to talk to you about whatever you said you'd tell me after the performance but now I don't even want to." He turns around but Louis grabs his wrist.

"Harry-"

"No Louis. I know I'm making a big fucking deal out of one cigarette or whatever. But one of my foster dads used to stub out his on my arms, okay? So it's a big deal to me. And it's like a betrayal of trust. I know you're not him and you didn't know, but it's just, it's not okay." He tries to yank his wrist from his grasp but Louis holds it harder.

"Harry I would never-"

"I know... I know, I just, I don't like smoking otherwise and I don't know, I thought I knew you but I don't know, it just doesn't feel like it anymore. I know it's only one cigarette but-"

"This is only the third time. The third and the last. I promise. I'm sorry. I just, I was stressed about what I had to tell you." He let's his wrist go.

"Had?" Harry steps towards Louis.

"Yeah, some other day. I'm not telling you when you're pissed at me."

"I'm not. I promise."

"You are and it's going to cloud your judgement."

"It won't. Trust me." Harry grabs both his hands earnestly.

"Promise?"

"I promise, Lou." He squeezes his hands before letting go.

"I just- I-" he sighs "okay, do you remember when I asked you what would you do if I, hypothetically, asked you on a date?"

"Yes?"

"Well, I was kinda, uh, wondering what would happen if the situation wasn't hypothetical?" Louis shrugs nervously.

"Huh?" Harry looks at him as if he's grown two heads.

"Never mind." He mutters.

"No are you serious? Are you really asking me out?"

"No I'm just practicing how I'm going to ask Eleanor out." Louis snorts. "Of course I'm asking you out."

"Uh-"

"It's okay forget it. Shouldn't have asked."

"Well I suppose there was a certain response I promised." Harry says coyly.

Louis' eyes widen. "Huh?"

Harry laughs softly and steps closer to him. Louis continues to stare. Harry places a hand on his shoulder and leans forward. "Oh." Louis' wide eyes flutter shut of their own accord just as Harry's lips touch his.

Harry sighs softly and Louis hands reach his waist to pull him closer. Louis' lips taste like mint mingled with smoke and Harry would be lying if he said he didn't like it. His hands lock around his neck and Louis pulls him closer. He can't get enough of Harry. His lips taste like cinnamon. Louis tangles his hands into the bottom of Harry's curls making the boy whimper with pleasure. Louis' tongue traces Harry's bottom lip, gentle, not prying, just lightly teasing.

"I told you they'd be snogging!!" Niall yells and they break apart. Harry flushes and hides his face in Louis' neck making him chuckle.

"Niall!!!" Liam groans.

"It's okay lads. We should head back in anyway. Lunch is nearly started and I don't know about you all but I'm super hungry." Louis laughs.

"How? You were literally just eating his face." Zayn snorts.

"Shut up, Malik. You and Liam are worse and this is just the beginning." Louis says confidently. "Now move along. There's something I need from my car. Harry and I will be right there."

Niall snorts. "Yeah right. Do you need a condom? Some lube?"

"No thanks." Louis says sharply when Harry flinches at the implication of sex. Niall looks confused and Louis just glares at all of them till they leave.

Harry looks up at Louis making the lad smile softly. "It is, right?"

"What?" Harry furrows his eyebrows.

"Just the beginning?"

"Yeah, it is. It's just the beginning." Harry blushes.

"So you'll go out with me?"

"Of course." Louis smiles and kisses his forehead. "Shall we go?"

"No! I actually did need something from my car. It's a little something I got you."

Harry blushes and looks down. "You shouldn't have." He murmurs.

"I wanted to. I'm so proud of you for today."

Louis opens the car and pulls out the slim velvet box from the glove compartment where he kept it when he went to buy the cigarette. He opens it and holds it out in front of Harry.

He lets out a soft gasp. "It's beautiful." He reaches towards it before stopping abruptly. "May I?"

"Of course, it's yours."

Harry takes it out gently and runs his finger over the little quaver and the green plectrum.

"Green not only for your eyes but also because it stands for rebirth or renewal, hope, and safety. Rebirth because you came out of whatever you went through and became a stronger, better person. Hope because that's what everyone needs in life, what you give me and what I hope this will give you and safety so that you know I'll always protect you and keep you safe. Green is also supposed to alleviate anxiety, depression and nervousness so if you ever feel nervous and I'm not around, I hope that will make you feel better. Also, it's obviously a plectrum because you play guitar. And the quaver not only to signify music but also because that's the kind of effect you have on me. Calming. You make me happy, just like music. And I just, your laugh, and your voice, it's like music to me. Better than any symphony. Better than Bach or Mozart or Beethoven or anyone else. Even better than the Script." Louis smiles. "You're my favorite song. A perfect rhythm with the best beat. The most beautiful lyrics. The best voice. You're-"

Harry cups his cheek and kisses him, the other hand carefully holding the chain. Louis smiles into the kiss, pulling away moments later. "Thank you." Harry whispers against his lips, tears in his eyes. Louis smiles fondly and pulls away. "Will you put this on me?" Harry holds the necklace out to Louis.

Louis gently takes it from him and turns him around. He brings the necklace over his head and takes the clasp behind his neck, closing it. Harry shivers at the sudden feel of cold metal against his neck. Louis kisses the back of his head.

"Shall we go? The lads are waiting?"

"Yeah. Let's go. Thank you so much Lou."

Louis takes their hand, entwining their fingers. "Anytime, love." He brings up their interlocked hands and kisses the back of Harry's making the boy blush.