Falling In Love At A Coffee Shop - Chapter 2
Harry isn't sure how he let Derek convince him to go to a stupid frat party. Especially when he knew how the night was most likely going to end. Someone is gonna go home drunk.
Regardless of whether or not Harry agreed to it, he finds himself getting dressed for a party. He settles for a cool look, a blue dress shirt with the top few buttons undone, paired with black skinnies and his scuffed up black converse.
Derek, on the other hand is going for the tough boyfriend look. A black muscle shirt with blue jeans and white Adidas high tops.
Harry laughed when he saw Derek, "You look like a drug lord's bodygard."
Derek looked at himself in the mirror, laughing, "Maybe I am!" He said pulling Harry in for a kiss, "Nobody knows!"
Harry giggled, pinching Derek's arm and squirming away. Derek chased him to the bedroom, tackling him onto the bed and pinning his arms down. "I gotcha," Derek whispered, leaning down to kiss Harry quickly, before sitting up and ticking Harry's sides. Harry squealed, squirming from under Derek.
"Derek- sto- stop! We're gonna be late!" He yelled.
Harry was secretly hoping Derek would realize they didn't have to go to some stupid party, but Derek stopped immediately, checking his watch and jumping up. "Shit, H, you're right!"
Sighing, Harry looked over at the clock on the bedside table, 6:48. The party started at seven, and according to google, it was fifteen minutes by taxi. Harry sat up, watching Derek scurry around the room, trying to find his stuff.
Harry sighed, groaning, "Do we really have to go? We can get takeaway and watch In The Flesh again, like old times."
Derek paused turning to Harry with a smile, almost like he used to, and for a second Harry imagined what life would be like if Derek's brother had never passed. What would they be doing tonight? Would they even be in Dublin? Harry indulged in the fantasy of waking up tomorrow morning to Derek cooking Eggs Benedict, giving him a good morning kiss, having coffee being handed to him with cinnamon sprinkled on the top.
Harry sighed contentedly, before being brought back to the present by the sound of Derek's voice, "C'mon, H. It'll be fun."
He allowed Derek to pick him up off the bed, and carry him to the door before setting him down and planting a quick kiss to his lips.
Before Derek could open the door, Harry reached for the nob and held it shut, tightening his free arm around Derek's neck. "Just promise me," Harry whispered, "that you won't drink so much tonight."
Derek smiled toothily, kissing Harry's nose, "I promise," he replied, taking Harry's hand.
For a half a moment, Harry felt hopeful, but then part of his mind reminded him that Derek had a track record for making promises he never kept.
Niall and Louis arrived a little late to the party. Their arrival would've been a little earlier if it weren't for their pep-talk outside the front door.
"Now remember," Louis teased, "if a guy starts hitting on you, use your sexuality to play hard to get, tell him you're slightly more into girls than guys. He'll automatically make it his mission to show you a good time." Louis wiggled his eyebrows.
"Oh shut up," Niall groaned, slapping Louis' arm. Louis slapped him back, and Niall punched Louis' shoulder a little too hard. "Oi, mate," Louis cringed, rubbing his shoulder protectively, "that hurt."
Before Niall could respond the door was opened by a skinny blonde holding a red plastic cup. "Hello boys!" Eleanour announced, "Come on in!"
"Hey El!" Louis exclaimed, leaning in to give his girlfriend a kiss and whispering something in her ear that made her giggle before brushing past her into the sea of bodies. "Hi Eleanour," Niall said, coming in for a quick peck on the cheek before shuffling past her into the house.
Inside, the music was blasting, and someone had set up a disco in the living room with colored lights shining at it, casting colors around the room like a rotating rainbow. There were also black-light strips where the walls met the ceiling all throughout the first floor, illuminating the room almost like a night club.
Eleanour poked Niall's shoulder playfully, motioning for him to follow her, she grabbed a hold of his shirt sleeve, her other hand holding Louis'.
She pulled them through a set of double doors to the backyard, where there was more music and christmas lights hung in the trees. A portion of the patio was sectioned off, containing a jacuzi, and fire pit in between two wrap-around couches.
Eleanour motioned for Niall and Louis to follow her to the area that had been sectioned off for "VIPs only", said the sign. There were six other people in the lounge. One was a curly haired boy that looked vaguely familiar to Niall, who was sitting on one couch, nervously poking at the fire. The remaining five people were in the jacuzzi, having stripped to nothing but their underwear, one was a muscular blonde, and the rest were skinny model-type girls, all surrounding him. Niall wrinkled his nose in disgust.
Niall collapsed on the couch across from the curly haired one, who looked up, paling when he saw Niall. Suddenly Niall recognized the eyes, but before he could speak, Eleanour introduced them to each other.
"Niall meet Harry," she said motioning between them, yelling over the music, "Harry meet Niall."
At first, neither of them spoke, too frozen in place at the sheer coincidence of them having met before. Niall then broke the silence, smiling up at Eleanour, "We've met before," he spoke loudly so she could hear him. Eleanour's eyebrows shot up, "Really
?!" she exclaimed, looking to Harry. Harry nodded, "we ran into each other at the bar yesterday, very breifly."
"Really?" Eleanour asked, laughing, "what a coincidence," she paused, "Lou and I are going to get ourselves something to drink, want anything, lads?"
Niall nodded at her, raising his voice, "A beer?" Eleanor nodded, "Harry, would you like anything?"
Harry shook his head simply, "No thanks, I'm good," he yelled.
Eleanour and Louis left Niall and Harry to their own defenses. Niall looked from Harry to the blonde in the jacuzzi, speaking up, "So I assume that's Derek?"
Harry rolled his eyes, smirking, "He's quite the charmer, isn't he?" The two boys watched as Derek reached over and felt one of the girl's breasts, squeezing playfully. Harry grimaced. Niall turned to him, "And he's your boyfriend?"
Harry laughed in spite of the terrible mood he was obviously in, "He's gay, I promise," Harry said. Niall laughed at this, sticking a hand out, "I'm Ni," he said. Harry cocked an eyebrow before taking his hand and pumping it, "I'm gay."
Niall laughed, "what?" He asked. Harry smiled, albeit a little confused, "You're bi, and I'm gay."
It took Niall a few seconds to realize what just happened. When he did, he burst into laughter so hard he started crying, "I'm Ni, not bi! Ni with an 'n'!"
Then it was Harry's turn to laugh uncontrollably, throwing his head back and clapping his hands. It took a while for the boys to settle themselves down, when they did Niall finally spoke, "I am bi, though." And they started giggling again.
Harry wiped a tear from his eye, letting the last few shaky breaths out, "Oh, that was great." Harry didn't think he had laughed so hard since-.
He suddenly was brought back to reality, his head swerving around to check on Derek, who was still in the jacuzzi with the ladies.
Niall followed Harry's gaze, noting the sudden change in emotion. Niall could tell Harry didn't want to be here, Harry probably didn't want to be anywhere with Derek. Niall poked Harry's arm, standing up, he held out a hand, "Come on, let's go somewhere." Harry hesitated, but Niall persisted, "you can forget about him for one lousy night, Harry. He's not going anywhere, we'll be back before the party's over."
Harry hesitated before nodding and reaching up to take Niall's hand. Niall pulled him up, and the two boys moved through the house, Niall's hand around Harry's wrist. He paused to speak to Louis, "We're going out for a while," he said. Louis nodded, "Party ends when people want it to, I'll text you," he yelled, tossing Niall his car keys.
Niall nodded, happy to have a supportive friend. Eleanour smiled at Harry, "Have fun boys," she said.
Niall nodded at her, before pulling Harry the rest of the way through the house.
Harry slammed the car door with more force than necessary, and Niall smiled as he climbed in the driver's side. "Go ahead, this is Louis' car, you can take your anger out on it if you want."
Harry sighed, sinking low in his seat, wondering how he let himself believe that tonight would be different. He rested his head against the car window, watching the houses pass. He always fell for Derek's promises.
Niall cleared his throat, and Harry lazily rolled his head to the side to look at the blonde, whose gaze was still on the road, "So," Niall announced, "any place in particular you want to go?"
Harry shrugged, "I don't know," he said, "anywhere other than back there."
Niall cast a quick glance in Harry's direction, "You're not from around here are you?"
Harry shook his head, returning his gaze outside, "No," he muttered, "what gave it away? Eleanour is definitely not Irish, along with over half of the people at the party."
Niall smiled, "Most of those people are here for Uni," he said, turning left to head downtown, "Most everyone has a favorite place to go when they're down around here. There's a special spot for everyone, which is what gave you away."
Harry smiled, he liked the idea of a special place, someplace that could be his. He sat up, turning to Niall, "Oh yeah? Where's yours?"
Niall smiled, winking at Harry, "That is exactly where we're headed," he said, before adding, "Where are you from?"
"London."
Niall sighed, "I've always wanted to go there." Harry turned to him quizically, "It's really nothing speciall, it's basically Dublin, minus-"
Niall interjected, "-Minus the bar fights?"
Harry laughed, smile wide across his face, Niall suddenly noticed this boy had dimples, and really cute ones. Niall couldn't help but smile. Harry nodded, smile still fresh on his face, "Yes, minus the bar fights," he said, "and some of the buildings are a little taller. Other than that, nothing special."
Niall scoffed, "Are you kidding me? You guys got the Eye, double decker tour busses, those fancy red phone booths-"
"The tower bridge!" Harry added, and Niall gave him a confused look. Harry continued, making wide hand gestures, "You know, the bridge, with the moving pieces? They come up to let boats pass?" Niall shook his head, "Never heard of it." Harry groaned, "Oh, you're missing out. You'll have to come see it!"
Niall smiled, looking at Harry, "Yeah? Maybe we'll go together and you can show me someday," he said. Harry's face lit up, suddenly thinking about how much he'd enjoy doing that, he grinned, "Yes, that would be nice. Someday." He relaxed back against the chair, a confused mix of emotions. How was Niall doing this? Not only had Harry forgotten all about Derek in the past five minutes, but thinking about Derek now that issue seemed a thousand miles away, unable to touch him. He wanted to stay like this.
They had reached the downtown area, passing small, cosy buildings, and streets lit with warm yellow-tinted lamps. They drove straight through the city and out the other side, brownstones giving way to suburbs, suburbs giving way to luxuriant green trees. Niall drove for another thirty minutes before turning down a narrow dirt path, stopping in front of a large iron gate with a sign above reading "Rory's Roller Park".
Niall stopped the car and flipped off the engine, turning to Harry mischieviously, "This is going to be fun!" Harry hesitated before climbing out of the car after Niall, who handed him a flashlight. Harry switched it on, sweeping it across the large gate, resting it on a smaller sign. Harry read it out loud, "Danger: No Trespassing Permitted," he glanced at Niall, indicating the sign, "Um, Niall," he said, "It says no trespassing."
"I know!" Niall exclaimed, eyes alight with excitement, "that's why it's going to be fun! Come on!" He grabbed Harry's wrist, pulling him a hundred meters or so along the fence, before lifting up a section of chain link and motioning for Harry to crawl through.
Harry hesitated, "Are you sure you've done this before?" He asked. Niall rolled his eyes, "Yeah tons of times!" he said, "Now hurry up."
Harry sighed, before crawling under the fence, Niall following right behind him into the theme park.