Through My Lens

Chapter 4

When Louis woke up, it was already half-past six in the evening. The fading sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. As he looked around, he realized he was in his own bedroom-Harry must have carried him here after he'd fallen asleep elsewhere. A flush of embarrassment spread across Louis's cheeks at the thought of Harry seeing him in such a vulnerable state. However, his stomach growled loudly, interrupting his self-conscious thoughts. The burning hunger was almost painful, urging him to get up and find something to eat.

Throwing off the soft, rumpled covers, Louis noticed he was still in the clothes he had worn to school-his navy-blue blazer, a crisp white shirt, and grey trousers. He decided he needed something more comfortable, so he quickly stripped off his school clothes and pulled on a pair of light grey joggers and a baggy white graphic tee with a vintage band logo on it.

Feeling a bit more at ease in his casual attire, he headed out of his room, his bare feet padding softly on the wooden floor. As he made his way to the hallway, he heard the faint sound of laughter drifting from the downstairs living room. His curiosity got the better of him, and he followed the noise, descending the stairs two at a time, the stairs creaking slightly under his weight.

The dimly lit hallway led him to the living room, where the warm light from the overhead lamp illuminated the scene before him. He saw Liam, Harry, Niall, and Zayn lounging comfortably on the couch, their faces lit with amusement as they watched a movie. The laughter was infectious, and Louis felt a pang of longing to join them. When Liam's gaze fell on him, he turned with a wide smile, clearly happy to see him.

"Hiya, bubs!" Liam greeted warmly.

"H-hi," Louis replied shyly, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Did you sleep well?" Liam asked, genuine concern in his eyes.

"Y-yes," Louis said, nodding slightly.

"Good. Want to join us?" Liam gestured towards the couch, which was already occupied.

"S-sure," Louis agreed, making his way over. He noticed that Liam and Niall were nestled on the loveseat, chatting animatedly, while Harry and Zayn were sprawled out on the three-seater couch, looking thoroughly relaxed. Louis assessed the seating options and realized the only places left were the chair in the corner or the floor. The chair, with its awkward angle, seemed too uncomfortable, so he chose to sit on the floor, directly in front of where Zayn and Harry were seated.

"Lou, why are you on the floor?" Harry asked, looking up from the screen with a curious expression.

"C-chair is too u-uncomfortable," Louis mumbled, feeling a bit self-conscious.

"Come sit with Z and me. We don't bite," Harry said with a playful grin. Louis hesitated, shaking his head as if to say he was fine where he was. But Harry wasn't having any of it. He reached down, wrapping his arms around Louis's chest and lifting him effortlessly onto the couch beside himself and Zayn. Louis let out a surprised yelp as he landed next to Harry, his heart racing a bit from the sudden movement.

"W-why did you do that?" Louis pouted, his cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and warmth.

"The floor is no place for you," Harry said, his tone soft but firm.

"Meanie, you scared me," Louis pouted further, feeling a bit flustered.

"Don't pout, love. You're too pretty to be pouting," Harry said, his voice laced with affection. Louis's cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink as he looked down at his lap, trying to hide the smile that threatened to break through.

"Hey Styles, stop making the poor boy blush and watch the movie," Niall called out with a laugh, tossing a piece of popcorn at Harry's head.

"Fuck off, Horan," Harry shot Niall a playful glare, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He then turned back to Louis, his expression softening. "How are you feeling, Lou?"