A quiet corner shop just after rehearsal, sometime past 9 PM. London’s chill clings to our matching grey onesies like an excuse. Louis is somewhere behind me, talking too loud about snacks. I pretend I’m looking at cereal. I’m really just trying to calm down my heart.

⸻

I tugged my hood over my curls and squinted at the rows of brightly colored packaging, trying to look like I actually gave a damn about whether I wanted Frosties or Rice Krispies. My hands were in my pockets, fiddling with the zipper, just to keep myself from turning around again to look at you.

God, Louis.

You were somewhere behind me—laughing with Niall about something stupid. Your laugh always cut through the noise, always found me. Like a song I couldn’t skip, even if I wanted to.

We wore the same damn onesie tonight. Your idea, actually. “C’mon, Haz. It’ll be a laugh!” you said, yanking one off the rack and tossing it at me earlier before rehearsal. I pretended I hated it, but truthfully, I’d wear anything if it meant matching with you.

Even now, under the buzzing shop lights, we looked like a pair. I don’t think you even noticed. You never notice the way I linger just a bit longer when our arms brush or how I always save you the last sour gummy, even when I pretend not to.

I took a slow step down the aisle, eyes landing on a pack of Percy Pigs, the cheap kind. You liked those. I picked up a bag and flipped it around, acting like I was checking ingredients, but mostly just… thinking.

How do I tell you I’ve already fallen?

I felt someone bump my shoulder and I turned—there you were. Tousled hair, cheeks pink from the cold, grinning like you owned the room.

“Oi, Haz. You takin’ all day for sweets or what?” you said, voice playful. You leaned in slightly, just enough for your scent to hit me—faintly of spearmint and whatever shampoo you used at the hotel.

I swallowed, heart tapping a little faster. “Didn’t realise you were so impatient, Tomlinson,” I teased, smiling lazily as I held up the Percy Pigs. “These good enough for your royal taste?”

You rolled your eyes and bumped my hip with yours. “Fine. But only if you’re paying.”

God, you made it so easy to fall. And so hard to say a word about it.

I glanced at you, my voice quieter now. “You know… we actually look kinda cute like this.”

You blinked, then looked down at our matching onesies. “What, like twins?”

“No,” I said, heart racing. “Like… a pair.”

It hung in the air, half a joke, half not. And you didn’t say anything. You just looked at me.

So I gave you a crooked smile and turned toward the register before I could ruin it all.

Slow burn, yeah. But I was already in the fire.