Fading

Chapter Four

âWow Louis are these what youâve made?â Harry gasps, standing up from the work table and approaching the mannequins.

Louis watches for a moment as Harry circles them, his mouth hanging open slightly and his eyebrows raised. His long fingers brush at the collar of the peacoat, he bends down to get a better look at the jeans. He tests the knit of the cowel neck sweater against the back of his hand, lets out a little âwowâ as he thumbs the detailing on the hips of the tweed trousers.

âLouis,â he murmurs, straightening up and circling round the back of the mannequins, âI mean, I figured you were good but wow.â

Louis is sure he must be an unpleasant scarlet colour as he stands up, âthanks,â he says with a shy smile.

âI love herringbone,â Harry mumbles more to himself as he lifts the sweater to look at the waistband of the trousers.

âDidnât figure you for the type of guy whoâd be able to distinguish between tweed patterns,â Louis says, unable to keep the surprise out of his voice.

Harry looks up and shrugs sheepishly, âI like fashion,â he admits, moving on to the jeans, âevery year I save up and take my sister to the Burberry winter show for her birthday.â

âWow, thats really sweet of you,â Louis says quietly.

Harry chuckles, âwell its not like I can get us front row or anything and itâs a bit selfish because I love it as much as her.â

âNo, itâs really sweet,â Louis states, âI feel like Iâve misjudged you, I took you as more of a casual dresser.â

âNice clothes are expensive,â Harry shrugs, âbut I can clean up well when I have to,â he adds playfully.

Louis laughs, âyeah mate, I donât doubt that,â he says easily.

Harry looks up with a very distinct blush on his cheeks and grins bashfully. Louis thinks itâs adorable. He watches as Harry wanders over to the other mannequins on the other side of the work table, taking in the gown and cocktail dress.

âAre these yours too?â Harry asks.

âYeah Iâve got seven womenâs looks as well,â Louis replies, âmy friends Hannah and Sadie are wearing them for me.â

âYouâre so talented,â Harry says.

âThank you Harry,â Louis says shyly, âIâm glad you like what youâre going to have to wear.â

Harry laughs, âeverything youâve made is something Iâd buy if I saw it in a shop,â he says sincerely as he circles back to the three mens outfits.

Louis smiles, âtheyâre going to look great on you,â he says.

âI hope so. Iâm a little nervous to be honest,â Harry frowns, going back for a sip of his coffee.

âNervous of what?â Louis asks.

âIâm kind of knock-kneed, I donât want to fall on my face on the runway or whatever and blow it,â Harry says softly, avoiding Louis eyes by taking a bite of his scone.

âWell I donât see that happening but if it does I promise I wonât be mad,â Louis replies playfully.

Heâs rewarded with Harryâs lopsided grin, âokay thanks,â he laughs.

âNo worries,â Louis smiles.

Harryâs eyes linger on Louis for a moment and Louisâ linger on Harry, taking in the bow that his top lip forms, the little freckle on his left cheek below the corner of his lip, the darker ring of green circling the jade colour of his iris. Harry blushes and looks away first and it makes Louis a little curious.