Chapter Text
Louis stared at Harry as he pulled his jacket tighter against himself as the wind rushed passed them making all the fall leaves rustle around them. He didn't know where Harry was taking them, but he knew they were downtown.
All the lights were on all around them. Christmas light on every single tree they passed. Colorful blinking lights around big trees, the lights of the tall buildings hovering above them and the sound of cars driving past them in a flash. There were also life-sized ornaments at the corner of the sidewalks on different streets. He admired that every light post had a green wreath with a big red bow on it. Louis could also see the ginormous tree a couple miles ahead of them. He had never been down here before during Christmas season. Why had he never been down here before? It was beautiful. Maybe he had never been here before because he didn't have anybody to come here with.
Harry was walking down the sidewalk with a cigarette in between his fingers. Louis couldn't help but internally gag. The silent killers. He hated people that smoked. Well, he didn’t necessarily hate them, it was just disgusting.
Since he was in the medical field, he knew first had what smoking does to someone’s lungs and how harmful it is in the long run.
There was a couple of people walking around them, but it was late. It was silent aside from the low Christmas music playing from the downtown speakers.
Louis sped up and walked right besides Harry. He couldn’t help but feel surprisingly tiny next to his big frame. "Where are we going?" Louis asked while looking up at him.
Harry smirked as he inhales his cigarette deeply and then blows it out lowly. He looks down at Louis with a smirk and says, "It's an adventure."
Louis felt uneasy at his words as his face twisted. Adventure? Louis wasn't good with surprises nor anything that he couldn't obsessed over a hundred times. But he was already this deep. What else could he do about it?
He could turn around and walk away from Harry. He still wasn't even sure why he agreed to come along in the first place. This wasn't like Louis. He never did anything like this. He was the one who always had to review the plans before doing them, had a schedule and wouldn't change it or else he'd probably panic about it.
He felt as if they had been walking forever. Crossing different streets and turn left here then right over there then left again. Until Harry went through an alley and kept going down the dark narrow street.
Louis froze and gulped down hard. He looked around at the bright street and then at the dark narrow alley. He was frozen until he heard Harry say, “Come along now.”
Louis pushed himself forward before he could change his mind and quickened his step to catch up to Harry. Harry smiled at him and shook his head when he thought Louis wasn’t looking. Louis feared that Harry was thinking the worst of him. He was probably thinking he was such a prude. A prude in baby pink scrubs and a white jacket fearing the absolute worst. He probably looked like a child right now. A short, tiny child.
Harry stopped in front of a big garage door, he threw his cigarette on the floor and crushed it underneath his shoe. He bent down and pulled out a key from his jacket pocket. Then he pulled the garage door up in one hard swing. The sound of the metal creaking sent shivers down Louis spine. He hated the sound of metal rubbing under something.
Harry started making his way inside of the building, it was pitch black and Louis could already feel the coldness coming from the entryway. Louis breathed in deeply and followed along. “Wait there,” he heard Harry yell. He sounded far away, and Louis froze in his spot. He tried blinking and adjusting his eyes to the darkness, but it was pitch black.
“Cover your eyes!” Harry yelled as soon as bright lights flooded the room.
Louis eyes were quickly in pain from the bright lights as he covered his face with his forearms. “Bloody fucking!” Louis squeaked out. Harry laughed out an, “I told you.”
Louis rubbed his eyes and started opening them slowly as he looked around. They were in a big, no massive room that held high windows and there were bleachers around them. There was also a pool in the center on the room. Why did Harry bring them here? He heard Harry yank down the metal door and heard him lock it from the inside.
Louis felt awkward as he saw Harry start taking off his shoes. Then he started unhooking his belt buckle. Louis face started flushing as Harry pulled his pants down and revealed a pair a neon pink brief. They hugged him in all the right places. “What are you doing?” Louis asked as he shifted on his feet with his hands still in the pockets of his jacket.
“I’m going in. Come on now.” Harry pushed his button up shirt down and pulled off his tank top in one swift motion by pulling it from between his shoulder blades. Louis couldn’t help but look at every inch of him. From his tattooed ankles to his toned thighs and up to his dimpled smile. Harry left his clothes on the floor and pulled off his bandana.
Before Louis could comprehend what was happening, Harry splashed into the pool. Water going everywhere as Louis stepped back quickly to avoid the water getting onto his clothes.
“I…” Louis started saying, but he couldn’t make the words come out. He didn’t even know what he was going to say. He tightened his sweater around his upper body as he stared at Harry with wide eyes. Harry was swimming on his back towards where Louis was. He pulled himself a bit over the edge and crossed his arms over the cemented floor. He laid his head on his arms as he eyed Louis. His dark curls were now pushed back from the water, his eyelashes held drops of water on them and they had never sparkled more than they did in this moment.
“Why are you scared?” Harry tilted his head and spoke lowly.
“I’m not scared,” Louis admitted a big too fast and harsh.
“Then stop overthinking and get in.” Harry pushed a bit of water over the edge.
“I don’t have swim clothes.” Louis blushed as soon as those words left his lips. It was obvious he didn’t because how would he have swim clothes on him?
Harry let out a giggle and started swimming on his back again. “That didn’t stop me.”
Louis didn’t reply, but instead started taking off his jacket. He walked towards the bleachers and placed his now folded jacket on the seat. He could feel Harry's eyes on his back as Louis squeezed his shaking hands together.
Deep breathe.
He gently kicked off his shoes and pulled off his socks, placing them inside the shoe openings. He pulled of his scrub top and then his long sleeve white shirt. He usually had on a lot of layers and he was now shivering. The cold room wasn't helping him right now.
He let out a breathe he didn’t know he was holding and loosened his tie on his scrub bottoms. He pulled them down and off. He placed his folded scrubs next to his jacket and slowly walked towards the pool. Louis looked around for any cameras as he walked.
“There aren’t any cameras, if that’s what you’re wondering.” Harry's loud voice echoed the area.
Louis neck snapped quickly to him as he nodded. “I was. I don’t want to get caught and go to jail. That would ruin my career.” Louis replied quickly as he stood in front of the pool with his arms wrapped around himself. He felt insecure about his tiny body. He was leaned out and toned from going to the gym and yoga, but he felt as if he was showing too much right now. He couldn't even remember the last time he was almost naked in front of somebody.
He looked down at his white briefs and he knew, once he was wet, there wouldn’t be much left to the imagination. He internally groaned.
Harry swam towards him and he noticed he was biting his lips. “C’mon. Come here.” Harry reached out to him.
Louis didn’t know what to do. He didn’t want to be pulled into the water. Louis slowly lifted his left leg and dipped his toe into the water. He shivered instantly.
“It’s freezing!”
“You’re a baby! Let’s go!” Harry let out another loud laugh as he splashed the water around him with his arms.
Louis huffed as he sat on the cemented edge and slowly pushed himself into the water.
Cold.
All he felt was cold as he went deeper and deeper. His skin was in goosebumps all over as he formed an “O” with his lips and shut his eyes.
He soon felt himself underwater as he opened his eyes quickly and saw a chest in front of him. He moved his arms everywhere until he was able to push himself up. Harry was laughing as he watched Louis suck in a breathe.
“What the hell was that?!” Louis practically yelled, but let out a barking laugh as well.
“You had to get it over with! Once you get your hair wet, that’s it. You’ll feel better in the cold water. Am I wrong?” He smirked.
Louis bit his lower lip from the inside and let himself sink into the water so only his eyes were above. He shrugged and hoped Harry noticed. Harry swam on his back like he was before as Louis stayed in the same spot for most of the time.
“Why did you bring me here?” Louis voice finally asked as soon as Harry had stopped swimming.
“I don’t know. I like to swim. I figured maybe you did, too.” Harry's voice was so casual and light, Louis didn’t even know what else to say to him. He tried to think of how awkward it currently was, but it wasn't. He thought it would be completely awkward swimming with a stranger, but Harry was different. He had an aura that immediately made him feel comfortable.
Louis slowly started swimming around the pool as he felt his heart pounding in his chest. He lets out a shaky breathe as he felt Harry staring at him.
“Why did you agree to come here?” Harry breaks the silence as he faces Louis.
Louis stops swimming and faces Harry. He raises an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“You don’t seem like the type to do these things. Especially with a stranger. I’ve been watching you all night since the café’.” Louis breathing hitched as he avoided eye contact. He tries to look at anything, but at Harry.
“I’ve noticed how you get nervous with any little thing. I’ve seen how you get when your mind starts wondering when I ask you something. You almost shit yourself when I stripped down to my underwear to swim.”
Louis felt himself blush from the neck up as he dunked his hair head under the water. He pushed his hair back once he emerged as he finally looked at Harry. Harry was still staring at him with a small smile on his face.
“I don’t…. I don’t do these kinds of things. I-I don’t go adventures with people I don’t know, nor do I strip to my underwear to swim in an abandoned swimming pool that I have never heard of before.” Louis rushed it all out before he could stop himself.
“I can tell,” Harry replied smirking. “Why don’t you?” Harry seemed genuinely intrigued.
Louis stopped and thought about his question. “Because I tend to overthink, overreact or not react at all. I let my mind go crazy with different ideas and negative thoughts. I don’t let myself do anything without second guessing it. I guess that’s why I am completely terrified you’re going to end up murdering me.”
Harry eyes went wide as he busted out with a loud laugh. “Murder!!” He yelled as he clutched his stomach from under the water.
“I can’t believe you believe I might mu-mu-murder y-you!” He was trying hard to get out his sentence as Louis blushed furiously.
“I’m stupid, I know.” Louis said as he covered his face. He felt big hands on his own pulling them down. Harry was right in front of him, still giggling.
“I’m not a serial killer. I just like doing things with fun people. If you want to have fun also, that’s what I do. I don’t judge nor am I going to bash you for the way you think or feel. Trust me.” Harry looked at Louis with a small smile as he held his hands.
Louis furred his eyebrows even though he felt touched by Harry's words.
“Why are you being so nice to me? You don’t even know me. I could be a complete weirdo for all you know.”
Harry shrugged as he swam around the pool. “Like I said, I enjoy having fun with people who want to have fun as well. You seemed stressed so I decided to bring you along.”
Louis looked down as his skin that was becoming was getting shriveled by being in the water for so long.
“Well, thanks, I think?”
Harry nodded in reply as he pulled himself out of the pool. His underwear was clinging to his body as he walked to a corner of the area. He pulled back a curtain and pulled out two blue towels. He started walking back towards Louis as Louis pulled himself up onto the cemented floor.
Harry handed him a towel as he started drying his own body. Louis eyed him slowly as he dried himself off. His arm muscles would flex in all the right places as he dried his upper body and then his lower.
Louis dried himself off completely and then started putting his scrubs back on. “Hang on, I have extra clothes. That way you don’t have to wear your scrubs again.” Harry said as he handed him some rolled up clothes from his backpack.
Louis hesitantly got the clothes. He debated on taking off his underwear and free balling it since they were still soaked. He looked back at Harry from his shoulder and Harry was facing away from him. He quickly dropped his underwear and pull the clothes over him. It was a pair of black running shorts and a black band t-shirt, which fit Louis too over sized. But still comfy.
Harry had already pulled over an outfit that was similar. He shoved his day clothes into his backpack and then pulled it over his shoulder. He noticed his neon pink underwear in the pile of clothes. Thankfully, Louis wasn't the only one who thought the same. Harry started walking away. “C’mon now.” He walked away as he waved his hand towards Louis.
Louis looked at him and then picked up his clothes while hastily shoving his feet into his shoes. He catches up to Harry as they reached another door.
Harry pulls out his phone and turns on the flashlight as he clicks off the lights in the swimming pool area. He opens the door with a lock and then starts walking. Louis could barely see anything as he followed closely behind Harry.
Harry stopped and pulled down something above him. It ended up being a ladder which made an incredible annoying sound as it scrapped the metal against it’s own.
Harry started climbing as he looked down at Louis. “Don’t run away now,” he said smirking.
Louis breathed in and out. Where is Harry taking him now? He thought they’d be done right after swimming. Louis picked up his own phone and saw that it was already past three AM. He would have died if he had to work tomorrow. He couldn’t believe he was even still awake after the day he had, but somehow he felt wide awake with Harry.
He put his phone away as he started climbing up the ladder steps. Harry had already pushed up on a ceiling entryway and had pulled himself over the opening. Louis stood on the top step and carefully looked out of the opening.
His eyes widened as he saw a bunch of tall buildings surrounding him. They were on the roof!
Louis stepped over the opening and dropped his clothing on the floor. He looked around in amazement. He had never been on top of a building before.
He admired the tall buildings and all their different lights. He admired the tall trees with different colored Christmas lights. He felt the wind rushing past him as he covered his upper body with his arms. His hair still wet and the wind rustling through it. He couldn’t help but smile as he also admired the rooftop.
It had four light posts around the corners and tiny twinkling Christmas lights handing from them. There was also a mattress on the far corner of the roof. It even had a fitted sheet, two pillows and two blankets on it. Did Harry expect something?
There was no way Louis was going to do something with Harry and he hoped Harry knew that. He walked over to the edge of the roof and glanced down.
His heartbeat picked up as soon as he looked down. He could see a few cars driving on the streets and a couple people walking on the sidewalk. He gasped and pushed himself away from the edge.
Harry laughed as he walked and stood right next to Louis.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Harry had his arms shoved inside the pockets of his shorts as he admired the view. His hair was still dripping a bit with water and it was landing on his shoulders. Louis wondered if he felt the drops hitting him.
“A bit scary, but yet still amazing.”
“I’ll never get tired of living here.”
“Me too.” Louis gave Harry a small smile as Harry turned around. He kicked off his shoes and laid down on the mattress.
“C’mon now.”
Louis glanced at him hesitantly and then made his way towards Harry. He sat down on the edge of the opposite side of Harry. He rubbed his hands on his thighs and gave Harry a smile.
“So, why did you come here? I’m assuming you’re from the U.K.”
Louis nodded as he fumbled with Harry’s t-shirt. “Yeah, I’m from Doncaster. I think I just wanted to come to America to see what it was all about. I came to university here because I was able to get a full ride to the nursing program in UCLA.”
Harry’s eyes went wide as he pushed himself up on the mattress. He stared at Louis in bewilderment.
“UCLA? Seriously?” Harry smiled so wide that he could see every inch of his white sparkling teeth. His dimple indented so hard that Louis wished he could reach over to him and poke it.
Louis nodded fast and chuckled. “Yeah,” he whispered. He always felt pride knowing he had graduated from UCLA since they had one of the top nursing programs in the U.S.
“Wow. That’s amazing, Louis.” Harry said as he fiddled with his fingers.
“Why did you come here?” Louis edged himself more onto the mattress as he slightly stood up to put his left foot underneath himself. He pulled one of the blankets towards him and wrapped it around himself.
Harry shrugged and looked down. “I guess, same as you. I always wanted to come here. I always wanted an out ever since I was young. I got a full ride for track to UCLA, as well.”
Now it was time for Louis to be shocked. “Seriously?!” He couldn’t help but laugh. “You went to UCLA? I can’t believe this!”
As they continued their conversation and cracked jokes together, Louis couldn’t help but feel his stomach warm and feel butterflies bundling up within himself as they laughed together. They laughed loudly as they held their stomach as their eyes squinted as tears ran down their faces. Louis had never felt this comfortable with a stranger before and it made him feel good. He wondered if Harry was the type of person to simply have fun with someone for one night only or to continue having fun with them again. He wondered if this was going to be the last time he would see Harry. Would he see him again?
Would Harry ask him to go on another adventure? Louis tried not to let him mind go crazy with the thoughts of hanging out with Harry again, but he couldn't help it. He had never felt this way before over someone he had just met. He wondered if Harry felt the same way.
Louis wished this night would never end and he had never wished that before today.