Chapter Text
Best Mates. That’s what they were in the outside world but behind closed doors they were so much more. They spent many nights wrapped up in each other’s arms. Harry wished he could scream it from the rooftops. Scream out his love for Jackson. But if he did, he knew Jackson would leave him. Harry didn’t think he could survive without Jacks. Jacks had been his rock since they were kids playing pretend pirates and cowboys. The truth of the matter was that Jackson and Harry had a whole lot of HISTORY together.
Harry met Jackson when he was only nine years old. Jackson’s family had moved in next door and Harry had gravitated towards him like a moth to a flame. The thing about Jackson though was that he cared what people thought of him. At first, it didn’t really bother Harry that Jackson needed to be popular. He remembered the little blond boy that had waved at him through his bedroom window and brought over brownies. The little boy who had complimented his Spiderman shirt. The little boy that walked to school with him every day until they got their driver’s licenses. But then they got older. The older they got; the more Jackson graved popularity and the more Harry graved Jackson. Harry remembered when things changed for them. They were sixteen years old and parked in the middle of nowhere just talking about the future. About where they saw their selves in ten years.
“Hopefully, you will still be by my side.” Jacks had told him.
Harry could still remember how those words had make the butterflies flutter in his stomach.
“Always.” Harry had whispered back earning himself a kiss.
Everything changed after that day. Jacks had become his first everything, first kiss, first time and first love. But he also became Harry’s first shame. He loved Jackson with all his heart but sometimes he wished that they he could show the world that love but Jackson would never let him. See, Jackson wanted to be popular, he wanted to be a professional football player and really, he just wanted to be a star...just not a gay star. That meant that all the firsts they experience were behind closed doors and stayed behind closed doors. In school, Harry was Jackson’s best mate not his boyfriend. It was a role that Harry had perfected. A role that Harry had mastered. He hated it. He wanted to walk up to Jacks and kiss him in front of everyone. He hated that Jackson had girlfriends throughout the years. He told Harry it was to cover his ass but sometimes Harry felt like he actually like being with some of them. Harry had broken up with him multiple times over the years but every time Jackson sucked him back in.
When it came time for University, Harry gave up Oxford to join Jackson at the University of Manchester. That earned himself a fight with his father that lasted for years but he did it for Jackson. There isn’t much he wouldn’t do for Jackson. The first few years of university were hard. Jackson made the football team and moved into the footie house. It was a house were most of the players lived. Which meant that Harry and Jackson didn’t get to spend much time together. But Harry still stood by him. Always.
Then, Louis William Tomlinson came crashing into their lives. The first time Harry had heard the name was when Jackson had come to him to complain and rant about the lad. The way Jackson spoke about Louis made Harry think that he was the worst person to ever exist. Harry was sure that this Louis guy was the embodiment of pure evil the way Jackson described him. Harry was determined to hate Louis before he even met him.
Then Harry met him. The first time Harry met Louis was at a party. Jackson had ditched him to talk to a pretty blonde girl and Harry was in the kitchen playing with his rings.
“You must be starving.” A voice had startled Harry out of his own world and turned to see Louis standing next to him with a frown.
“What?” Harry had asked blinking and Louis gestured to the barbeque outside the screen door.
“Everyone’s had at least one burger, mate. Except you. You must be hungry.” Louis stated scratching the back of his neck.
Harry blinked at him again. Louis had noticed that. Jackson hadn’t. Jackson was too busy flirting with Blondie to care.
“I...Uh... I’m good.” Harry muttered as he wrung his hands together.
“You vegan?” Louis asked with narrow eyes and Harry blushed.
“Vegetarian.” Harry mumbled and Louis nodded as he walked over to the fridge and pulled out veggie burgers from the freezer.
“You should have said something, mate. I always keep veggie options here. Two of my sisters are vegetarian. Let me slap one on the grill for you.” Louis winked at him and Harry gulped.
He was so confused. Where was the giant dickhead that Jackson had told him about?
“You really don’t have to. I don’t wanna be a bother.” Harry looked down at his feet.
“Nonsense. It’s no trouble at all but if you wanna ease your conscience I wouldn’t mind some company at the grill.” Louis gave him a huge grin that made Harry’s heart stutter.
Harry nodded shyly and joined Louis outside by the grill.
“Where you from?” Louis asked casually and Harry bit his lip.
“Cheshire.” Harry stated as he played with his rings again.
“Relax, mate. You’re good.” Louis gave him a soft smile and Harry was confused again.
Louis must of noticed his confusion because he gestured to Harry’s ring.
“Nervous tick.” Louis guessed and Harry was left flabbergasted again.
Jackson had never caught on about that but Louis had in the first few minutes of meeting him.
“Here you go, Curly.” Louis handed him a plate with his grilled veggie burger on it.
“Thank you so much. You really didn’t have to go through so much trouble.” Harry told him and Louis rolled his eyes.
“Oh yeah, that really work me up a sweat. I think I need to lay down. I mean the ten minutes that took really wiped me out.” Louis teased and Harry chuckled.
“I feel really bad for the people that end up in your bed if it only takes ten minutes for your stamina to die out.” Harry joked but then slapped a hand over his mouth in horror at what just came out of his mouth.
He waited for the punch to the face. Instead of a punch, Louis had bent over to cackle loudly.
“You cheeky little shit!” Louis said through his laughter.
“I’m so sorry that was out of line. I was just joking.” Harry bit his lip but Louis just waved him off.
“I can take a good burn, mate. Especially when they’re executed so well.” Louis shook his head fighting back another fit of laughter.
Harry was so confused. Why did Jackson hate this guy? He was so sweet and funny and kind. Louis took a step towards him and Harry went cross-eyed as he stared down at Louis. Louis raised himself on his tiptoes to bring his lips to Harry’s ear.
“I can assure you that my performance in the bedroom is hard, rough and mind-blowing.” Louis purred and Harry blacked out for a second.
“Fuck me...” Harry breathed out and then closed his eyes tightly... He did not just say that.
Louis laughed again.
“Honestly, if I were into lads, I would do you in a heartbeat, babe but sadly for you, I don’t play for your team.” Louis patted his shoulder and Harry eyes went wide in fear.
“I’m not gay!” Harry panicked.
Fuck... Oh no! Jackson was going to kill him if Louis suspected anything. Louis must have sensed his panic because his blue eyes softened.
“Easy, love. Your secret is safe with me.” Louis squeezed his arm.
Harry swallowed the lump in his throat.
“I...” Harry bit his lip.
“It’s safe with me but you shouldn’t be ashamed, Curly. Love is love.” Louis told him and Harry felt his heart beat faster.
“I’m straight.” Harry huffed and Louis frowned but nodded.
“Alright my hetero friend.” Louis winked at him.
“H!” Harry jumped as Jackson walked over to him.
Louis tensed and his smile vanished.
“What are you doing talking to this piece of shit? He bothering you?” Jackson glared at Louis.
Louis rolled his eyes at him and Harry closed in on himself.
“I was actually feeding him.” Louis nodded to Harry’s plate.
Jackson looked down and grimaced at the veggie burger.
“I have no idea how you can stomach that shit, mate.” Jackson sneered in disgust and Harry frowned.
“I like it.” Harry muttered and Jackson scoffed at him.
“Whatever. I want you to meet some of my mates.” Jackson gestured inside.
“Oh...Okay.” Harry smiled widely.
“You got dimples. That’s cute.” Louis complimented and Harry beamed.
“Stop with that gay shit, Tomlinson.” Jackson glared at him and Harry winced.
“Right because a lad can’t compliment another lad without it being gay.” Louis rolled his eyes and Jackson scoffed.
“Harry here is a pussy magnet, he isn't interested in your fag ass, Tomlinson. We’ve been best mates for years. I’ve seen him pull the hottest of birds. Back the fuck off.” Jackson growled before storming off.
“Charming as always.” Louis huffed with annoyance and Harry bit his lip.
“Jackson... Isn't normally like that...” Harry muttered lowly and Louis sighed.
“He’s a prick.” Louis stated blatantly and Harry frowned.
“I’m sorry.” Harry played with his rings.
“I hate that dickhead. But I won’t hold it against you that you’re friends with him. You’re too sweet to hate.” Louis smiled.
That night when they got back to Harry’s dorm, Jackson had gone ballistic on Harry for talking to Louis. The sex that night hurt. After that party, Louis had become a sore spot in their relationship. Harry couldn’t talk or look at Louis without Jackson losing it. And yet, Harry still loved him. He would always love him.