the nightingale

Chapter Fifteen

February was just around the corner.

It was still very cold and snowy, but Louis loved every bit of it. He loved winter. It was his favorite season. He loved the snow, the coziness of the fireplace crackling, the hot chocolate and fuzzy socks, and playing in the snow. It was beautiful.

Louis has been begging Scott to build another snowman for days, but he refused. Scott has been spending more and more time at work. He has never worked overtime this much before. Louis had the inkling feeling it was because of the fiasco with Harry. Scott felt threatened by Harry. Louis got great pleasure at the thought.

Louis has been pondering about leaving Scott a lot these days. He wasn't sure if he loved him anymore. It was evident Scott didn't love him. Scott was just too controlling. They both depended on each other in different ways. Whereas Louis was financially dependent on him, Scott was physically dependent on him to get the housework done and breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the table. Louis was only a slave to him.

And then his mind went to Harry. He knew something was there, but he put it in the back of his mind. Harry probably didn't feel the same way about him. Harry only had platonic feelings for him, he was sure of it.

Louis was currently in the kitchen, watering his plants. Scott was at work, and he wasn't going to be home until 9. He was really bored and spent the last few hours watching TV, re-reading his books, and talking to his plants.

He wanted to know what Harry was up to. He decided he would go over. Maybe Harry would play in the snow with him. So he put on his coat and shoes, grabbed his keys, and went out the door.

He ran across the street, after looking both ways, and knocked on his door. It only took a few moments for Harry to open up the door with a wide grin on his face.

Harry's face lit up. "Hi, Lou!"

"Hi," Louis giggled. "May I come in?"

"Of course! Come in," Harry said and opened the door wider, letting him inside.

Louis entered and took off his coat.

"Would you like some tea, Louis?" Harry asked.

Louis smiled and nodded. "Yes, please."

Louis waited patiently, watching the TV that was already on.

"Here you go," Harry said when he came back, and gave Louis his cup.

"Thank you," Louis said and took a sip. It was nice and warm.

"So what have you been up to?" Harry sipped his own tea. "It's been so cold, so no one has been out and about lately."

Louis shrugged and set his cup down on the coffee table. "Not much. Scott's been working overtime a lot lately. I'm just really bored."

Harry smiled and patted his shoulder. Louis felt his heart flutter just a little at the touch. He wanted to be held by him and to hold his hand. He wasn't going to make the first move though.

"You can come over any time you like," Harry said and smiled. "I'm always lonely."

Louis sniffed and said, "Me too."

Harry got up and went over to his movies, going through them. "Let's watch a movie."

"Okay," Louis said excitedly.

Harry picked out a funny movie and put it in the DVD player. He got up and sat next to Louis, leaning back on the head of the couch to relax.

Louis leaned back too, watching the TV. He wanted very much to cuddle with him. He berated himself at those thoughts.