---

Harry helped Louis with the dishes after everyone finished eating. The two stood by the kitchen sink, Louis washing and Harry drying.

"So what did you two talk about back here?" Louis asked as he passed a plate to Harry.

Harry shrugged, wiping the plate clean and putting it on the stack of plates. "Oh, nothing, I just asked her what recipe she used for the pasta."

"Why'd you have to close all the shutters, then?" Louis asked, wrinkling his nose.

"Because it might be a secret recipe." Harry ended the sentence like a question but kept a straight face.

Louis turned around and looked at Harry, narrowing his eyes at him. "You guys had sex."

Harry let out a laugh. "What?"

"You two were acting weird during dinner, plus she has that glow in her eyes." Louis looked up, twinkling his eyes towards the ceiling.

"We didn't have sex." Harry stated, slapping the back of Louis's head.

"Fine," Louis rubbed the back of his head and turned back to the sink, washing the last plate.

"We kissed, though." Harry quietly said, looking down. He looked up after a few seconds and saw Louis staring at him with wide eyes.

"What?" Louis said, almost dropping the plate he was holding.

Harry shrugged and ran a hand through his messy hair. "We were arguing in the studio and we ended up saying shit and then we kissed."

Louis blinked at Harry and pushed the plate to him. "What happened to hating women?"

"I don't know," Harry admitted, wiping the back of the plate and putting it on the counter behind him with the rest of the plates. "She's different."

"That's what you say about every single girl." Louis rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, well, I mean it this time." Harry said.

"You better."

"Why are you so bothered about this anyway?"

"I just don't want you to get hurt again." Louis said simply. "You look so miserable all the time it makes me want to cry."

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Your gay is showing a tad bit."

Louis faked a smile. "But seriously! And I don't want Addie getting hurt, either."

"We're not even in a relationship." Harry chuckled. "Calm down."

Louis shrugged. "Still. This isn't one of your rebounds or fuck buddies, right?"

"That I'm still figuring out." Harry let out a long breath. "I just want to spend more time with her, you know? Be more open to each other so it's not just about physical stuff."

"Then go to her." Louis pushed Harry to the door.

"What am I even supposed to say?" Harry raised an eyebrow as Louis pushed him to the stairs.

"Just talk to her." Louis waved a hand.

"About what?"

"I don't know, cheese?"

"This is not She's the Man."

"Carrots?"

"I think I'm going to focus on getting her to know me, not you?"

"Just talk to her about something. Ask her stuff she likes." Louis pushed Harry to the foot of the stairs leading to the third floor. "She's up there."

Harry turned around. "Maybe this isn't a good idea, yeah?"

Louis laughed sarcastically. "Nope, get your arse up there."

Harry groaned and climbed up the stairs, still wondering what to say to Addie.

He spotted her sitting on a beanbag she had pulled over to the window, staring at the snowdrops falling down from the tree outside. Her fingers wrapped around a steaming mug, her knees to her chest. She wore Harry's sweatpants and thin blue shirt, her hair tied up to a messy bun.

Harry cleared his throat and smiled as Addie jumped a little in her seat. She rolled her eyes at him and nodded, gesturing him to sit beside her, rubbing her eyes after.

"You sleepy?" Harry chuckled, sitting on the beanbag with a huff.

"Nah," Addie let out a small yawn and shook her head. "Just a little."

"I think," Harry wrapped an arm around Addie's shoulder, "you need to sleep."

Addie shook her head. "I'm totally wide awake, man."

Harry chuckled as Addie let out another yawn. "Let's get you to bed."

"I want to stay here." Addie whinned, pouting her lips at him.

"It's warmer in my room, come on." Harry stood up, stretching out a hand to Addie.

Addie slapped the hand away and stuck her tongue out. "I told you, Curly, I want to stay here."

"Fine," Harry shook his head turning around to leave.

"Harry," Addie whined.

"Yeah?" He turned around, his eyebrows raised.

"Stay with me."

Harry chuckled and nodded, sitting beside her once more. He wrapped his arm around Addie's shoulders and kissed the top of her head which rested peacefully on his shoulder.

"Hey, Addie?" Harry asked quietly.

"Mhmm?" She snuggled in Harry's arms, shifting her head into a more comfortable position.

"Do you like cheese?"

Addie giggled a little and looked up at Harry with her nose scrunched up. "Isn't that a line in She's the Man when they were practicing on flirting with the blonde chick?"

Harry pressed his lips together. "Yeah,"

"I like that movie," Addie slurred.

"So, do you?"

Harry didn't hear a reply and looked down to see Addie pressed up against him, her eyes closed and her breathing steady. She looked so peaceful, drifting into her sleep, her hands holding on Harry's shirt.

He smiled a small smile and kissed the top of her forehead before shifting into a comfortable position beside her, wrapping his arms around Addie as his head fell on hers, closing his eyes shut.

"Yeah," Addie whispered.

---

Notes

Well I just recently watched She's the Man and Sydney White. Hooray for Amanda Bynes's old movies.

Comments make me happy!