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Summary: He planned on clubbing with his celebrity friends and wasting his days away when summer came around. Now, as punishment, Harry Styles had to go spend the summer with his outlandish distant relatives and his mother in the dull, small town of Palmer, Tennessee. But things start to pick up once the annual horse races begin, and Harry’s attention is driven towards the town’s number one jockey. Larry Stylinson AU.

Disclaimer: Hey all. I know, I know. I said I didn’t know when this chapter would be out. But, alas, here it is, written at an extremely fast pace and surprisingly it’s pretty damn long.  But, I wanted to get this out before I go off for the weekend and live in the Library and finish everything that I need to. But I do hope this was a bit of a surprise for you all! Oh, and in the chapter, if you see a [x] it means there is a link to a  picture I would like you all to look at, so you can see what Harry sees :)  Sorry for any grammar mistakes or anything. Also, this banner was made by itsgottabelarry! Hope you all like it! ~Raven x

It was eleven forty five when Harry strategically popped the child lock that was on his bedroom window, as this was his attempt to get out of the house and meet Louis without anyone knowing. He shook his head as he examined the now broken lock, wondering why the hell Maura still had this window protected when her only son was over the age of twelve and no one ever slept in this room.

He tossed the lock to the side and excitedly opened the window, feeling the soft breeze of the warm southern air. He looked down and noticed that while he was on the second floor, he wasn’t exactly very high up. He stepped away from the window and turned off his bedroom light, his stomach fluttering with excitement at the fact that he was not only breaking an unmentioned rule, but he was going to a forbidden place…with Louis Tomlinson, of all people.

Harry smiled to himself; he was particularly excited about the latter.

He grabbed a light jacket from his suitcase and headed for the window. He decided jumping straight down and landing on his feet was probably the best way to go about this. He sucked in a deep breath and was about to lift his leg over the ledge when he heard a whisper from behind him,

“What in the hell do you think you are doing?!”

Harry closed his eyes and slowly turned around, only to be met with a slightly irritated Niall.

Harry gaped at him and swallowed thickly. Fuck.

“Okay, listen, Niall, you can’t tell anyone—“

“Tell anyone what?”

“I’m meeting someone.” Harry said simply. Well, he wasn’t lying.

Niall raised an intrigued eyebrow, “Who you meetin’?”

Harry closed his eyes, remembering the warning Louis had told him just as he had left the karaoke bar, “I can’t tell you.”

“Why not?”

“I was told not to.”

“By who?”

Harry paused and then smirked at his cousin, “How about this…how about you tell me what the deal with Mia was at the karaoke bar…and I’ll tell you where I’m going and who I am meeting tonight.”

Niall froze instantly at the sound of the girl’s name and his eyes widened. Harry raised a vindictive eyebrow. He knew Niall wouldn’t budge when it came to the girl—at least not right now, anyway. While he genuinely did want to know what the deal was, now was really not the time for Harry to be negotiating.

Niall shook his head and Harry saw a blush creep up from his neck to the tips of his ears, “It’s really nothin’ with her. Really. She’s just a girl I know from school. And then she moved and…it’s nothin’. It was a long time ago. Nothin’ to talk about, really.”

Harry crossed his arms and smirked again. Harry could tell Niall was getting anxious, and he would bet everything he had it was because of Mia. Harry knew that the two had a past—but if he wasn’t going to spill, then neither was he.

“Sure it’s nothing,” Harry muttered, “Well, since you won’t tell me, I don’t have to tell you anything—“

“Wait, Harry! You’re sneaking out!” Niall exclaimed.

“Yes I am.”

“To meet someone?”

“Yes, we went over this.” Harry said sarcastically.

Niall grunted, “Why can’t you tell me who you’re seein’? Why is it such a big deal?”

Harry shrugged and looked down, stuffing his hand into his pockets, “I said I wouldn’t tell,” He thought of Louis’ worried look when he said this, “I promised him I wouldn’t.”

Niall frowned and ran a hand through his blonde locks, “There is only one person in this town that you shouldn’t be caught sneakin’ around with. And I know you ain’t seeing him, because that would be stupid…”

Harry shot him a knowing look, a pleading look, and Niall’s eyes widened,

“No…Harry, come on, you—you ain’t serious, are ya?”

Harry looked down and nodded, making Niall shake his head,

“You gotta be kiddin’ me! You’re meetin’ the jockey!?” He cried, a little too loudly.

Harry made a beeline for his cousin at the sound of his voice, and placed his hand around his mouth to shush him, “Shh! You’ll wake up the whole house!”

Niall pushed his hand off of him, “Don’t do it, Harry.” He warned.

“Why not?”

“The Mayor will have your head if he sees you two fornicatin’ at night!”

Harry laughed, “Fornicating? Do people actually use that word anymore…?”

Niall shot him a frightened glance and Harry frowned, “They…they really use that word?”

“That’s not the point!” Niall said in a hushed tone, “If you get caught, he’ll get run out of the town, and you’ll be as good as dead if the Mayor has anything to say about it.”

Harry gripped his cousins shoulders and gave him a somber look,

“Listen, it’s nothing serious; he’s just showing me around the town.” Harry lied.

“Why does he have to show you at this time of night? That just makes you look more suspicious, with you sneakin’ out! And it’s worse if you get caught!” Niall said.

“It wasn’t my idea!” Harry defended, holding up his hands, “Louis said for me to meet him at Maple Street—“

“Maple Street? Harry, I told you not to go there—“

“We are just meeting there!” Harry exclaimed in a soft tone, letting the lie spill from his lips, “He didn’t say we were going to go past the tracks, he just said to meet there.”

Niall gave him a suspicious look, “I don’t want you going back there, Harry. It’s dangerous! I’ve heard terrible stories about things that happen past Maple Street…”

“I know,” Harry said reassuringly, “I won’t go past the tracks, I promise. Just…” He said warily, “Just please don’t tell anyone where I am, if they ask, alright?”

Niall groaned and rubbed his eyes, “I hate keepin’ these secrets, Harry.”

“I’m sorry,” Harry said sincerely. Because, truth be told, he did hate having to make his cousin cover up for him. He actually enjoyed hanging around Niall, and he didn’t want the blonde to think he was using him.

Niall rolled his eyes at the look of distraught on Harry’s face, “Fine fine, I’ll keep your damned secret.”

Harry grinned, patted Niall on the shoulder, and made his way towards the window.

“Hey, wait!” Niall said.

“Yeah?” Harry said breathily.

“Do…do you have a thing for Louis?”

Harry shrugged and smirked, “Dunno—I mean, no, I hardly know him.”

“Doesn’t mean you can’t have a thing for him.” Niall pointed out. Harry opened his mouth to protest and closed it again, having no argument to prove Niall wrong. Niall noticed his hesitation and grinned at the boy. He shook his head in amazement,

“Wow. For some reason, I feel like you’re Cinderella.”

Harry cocked his head to the side and Niall continued, “You know, you’re sneakin’ around with some guy, and I’m the only one who knows. It’s like I’m the—“

“—Fairy Godmother?”

Niall nodded, “And the Mayor is like the evil stepmother.” Harry had to laugh and shook his head,

 “That makes no sense. I don’t even know the Mayor!”

Niall shrugged, “We should probably try and keep it that way.” Niall muttered, “Just promise me you won’t lose your glass slipper.” He added teasingly with a wink at Harry.

“I promise.” Harry said with a laugh.

“Oh, and make sure you come home at a decent hour—we got work tomorrow.”

Harry said he would and Niall left the room, making sure to close the door behind him. He then tossed both of his legs over the window ledge, and jumped out, making a hard but secure landing on the grass outside.

He looked around nervously to make sure no one had seen him, and he made his way towards Maple Street, which was only two blocks away from Niall’s home.

—

By the time Harry got to Maple Street, it was already two minutes past Midnight, and he was relieved by the sight of Louis, wearing the same outfit he had seen him in earlier, leaning against a white pick-up truck.

Harry gave Louis a weak smile as he approached him, finding it a bit dizzying to look at Louis when he looked so damn pretty.

It wasn’t a secret to him that he found himself strangely attracted to Louis. He hardly knew the guy, but he thought that was what made Louis so interesting to him. He was like a blank canvas, waiting to be filled. And Harry wanted to learn more about him so he could paint that picture.

“You’re late.” Louis said with a slight chuckle, tapping his wrist watch.

Harry rolled his eyes, “Sorry, I got caught up at home.”

Louis gave him a nervous look suddenly, his body tensing up, “Did you tell anyone where you were going?” He asked sternly.

“N—no!” Harry said.

“Did you tell anyone who you were with?”

“No, I swear, I didn’t.”

Louis looked him up and down, crossing his arms, “Al’right.” He said, composing himself, “So…you ready?” He asked with a smirk.

Harry nodded and Louis turned around, unlocking his car and opening the door and motioning for Harry to get in on the other side. Harry did so and slammed the door behind him. He settled into his seat and pulled his seatbelt over his chest.

“So…where exactly are you taking me?” Harry asked

Louis smirked and turned on the engine and pressed the gas lightly, grinning as he drove right over the rail road tracks that were ‘forbidden’.

“You’ll see.” The jockey said.

Harry narrowed his eyebrows, “Why do I feel like this is a trick.” He said, trying to lighten the mood.

“How do ya mean?” Louis asked, turning right onto a dirt path.

“I mean you could easily be taking me to a gravesite you’ve buried for me,” Harry teased, “How do I know you’re not planning to kill me?”

Louis laughed and let his hand rest on Harry’s head rest. He looked at Harry with his soft, blue eyes and raised an eyebrow, “Well the first part of my plan was to force you into my truck with candies,” He smiled, “But ya came in willingly.”

Harry sighed, “I should have known better.”

“Damn right. Hasn’t your mama taught you never to get into a big white truck?”

Harry laughed, “Sure she has. She never taught me what to do when the man driving the truck was harmless.”

Louis laughed and smacked Harry’s shoulder, “Asshole.” He paused to laugh, “That was a good one.”

Harry shrugged and laughed again. The two shared a smile and a short gaze at each other, in which afterwards they looked awkwardly away. Harry felt a butterfly or two creep up in his gut and Louis spoke,

“So you’re cousin’s with the Horan’s?”

“That I am.”

“But you’re from London.” Louis stated.

“Correct.”

“That’s weird.”

“Sometimes I wonder how I’m related to them.” Harry said as an afterthought.

“I’d wonder the same thing,” Louis said, “I mean no offense, the Horan’s are nice people, but you ain’t look nothin’ like them.”

Harry shrugged, “We’re distant cousins,” He reminded Louis, “I try not to ask too many questions about our family tree.”

“Don’t blame ya.” Louis nodded and turned another corner, smiling to himself as they drove up to a very long, wide and utterly empty grass field.

Louis drove past the wooden fence and through a gate that led right onto the grass. The surface was bumpy, but eventually Louis stopped right in the middle of the field. He killed the ignition and looked to Harry,

“We’re here.”

“We are?” Harry asked, looking around for something that popped out at him.

“Yup, we are. Come on.” Louis opened his door and slammed it, making his way for the bed of the truck. Harry got out of the car and looked around the darkness.

Louis returned at Harry’s side, holding a bag in his hand and nodding forward, “Come on.”

Louis walked to the front of his truck and placed the bag on the hood. He hoisted himself up to the hood of the truck, and scooted back so his back was leaning against the windshield.

Harry looked at him as if he were crazy. “What in the world…?”

Louis grabbed the bag and sat it in his lap. He looked at Harry and waved at him, “Come on then. Don’t wait for the grass to grow.”

Harry shot him a confused look, “What?”

“Get on top of the car, ya dolt.” Louis smirked and Harry sighed, copying Louis’ movements to get onto the hood of the car. He scooted back to sit next to Louis and stretched his legs,

“So…” He began.

“So.” Louis said, smirking.

Harry leaned over to try to get a peek into the bag, “What’s in the bag?” He asked.

Louis opened the bag and pulled out two beers, “You drink, Harry?”

“I do.” Harry said, his mind wandering to the parties and club he was probably missing out on back home.

Louis handed popped open the beer bottle and handed it to him, “Then enjoy.”

Harry grinned at him “Thanks.”

“Sure thing.”

The two sipped their beers in silence for a few moments, and Harry wondered what the hell they were doing in an empty field in the dark?

More importantly, what was Louis doing with him here? What was so exciting that Louis came out here all of the time?

It seemed boring as hell to him.

Harry looked up from his beer and saw that Louis was looking up at the sky, and that he was positioned comfortably on the hood of the truck.

“What are you looking at?” Harry asked.

“The stars.” Louis asked simply.

Realization struck through Harry, “Is that what you do, then? You come out here and, and—“

“Stargaze?” Louis finished for him, now taking a moment to glance at him, “Yeah, I do. It’s nice sometimes, to get away from everything and everyone. I come here by myself, drink a whole lotta beer and stare.”

“Why do you come here alone?” Harry asked.

Louis chuckled, “Liam wouldn’t like it if he knew I was drinking. And he’d think this stuff was stupid, anyway.”

“You don’t think I think it’s stupid?”

Louis shook his head, “I’m not sure if you do. But that’s ‘cause I know you’ve never looked at the stars before.”

“Sure I have.” Harry defended. And it was true he had. He’d taken loads of girls out to ‘stargaze’ in a romantic fashion.

Louis tutted and shook his head, “Naw, you haven’t seen them like this.” He saw that Harry was looking down and his hand reached out for Harry’s chin and lifted it so he was looking at the stars.

The sight Harry saw took his breath away [x].

Living in London, with all of the lights and cars driving by, the stars he was able to see were very limited. But now, in an open field, with no light source for miles, Harry could see every star perfectly.

He stared at the sky with his mouth hanging open, and Louis grinned and took another sip of his beer, “Do ya think it’s stupid now?”

Harry shook his head, his eyes never leaving the sky, “No, I think…I think it’s beautiful. You don’t see this in London.”

Louis nodded, “I figured.”

“Why did you bring me here?” Harry finally asked, the question burning in his mind.

Louis sighed, “I realized I didn’t want to come here alone anymore.”

“But why with me?”

“Why not?” Louis said clearly avoiding the question.

“Did you really just answer my question with a question?”

Louis laughed heartily, but nodded, “I guess I brought you here because, I don’t know, I like you. You’re a lot like me, ya know? An outsider. And I needed to share this secret with someone. Someone who was like me. I can’t do it with anyone else in that fuckin’ town, because they wouldn’t get it,” He looked up at the stars again in wonderment, “I had a feeling you’d get it.”

Harry looked at Louis in shock, because he completely understood where Louis was coming from. He was new in this town, so he was the definition of an outsider. Since Harry knew Louis’ story, he could only imagine the isolation he was feeling from the town. Granted, Harry hadn’t seen any confrontation between the townspeople and Louis since he had gotten to Palmer, but he was sure it was not a pleasant sight to see when everything was going down between him and the Mayor’s son.

And what was worse, was that it wasn’t even like Louis could leave the town. According to Maura, if he wanted to race horses in the derby coming up, he had to stay in Palmer with his horse and his trainer. Harry knew it would be a hassle to move everyone from Palmer to another town for him to race.

Plus, Harry figured, the Mayor probably used that as a way to make Louis stay and train in Palmer. Harry remembered Maura saying something about the Mayor using Louis as way to make a name for the town. Harry scowled inwardly at the thought of someone making another person live their life in a place where most people didn’t approve of their lifestyle choices. It made Harry sick to his stomach.

Harry saw Louis’ eyes shift from Harry to look at the stars again. He sighed sadly and Harry felt a huge wave of sympathy wash over him for the jockey.

Harry looked back up at the stars too, “I do. I—I get it.”

Harry saw the corners of Louis’ lips turn upwards, “I knew you would.”

There was a short silence between the two and then Harry looked to Louis again, setting his beer down on the hood of the car,

“How do you do it?”

Louis looked from the stars to Harry, “Do what?”

Harry shrugged and pointed to Louis’ smiling lips, “That. Smile. How can you still be happy when you feel so…so…”

“Alone?” Louis finished for him.

Harry nodded and Louis shrugged before taking a big swig of his beer, “I don’t know. I think it runs in my family—being optimistic and happy all of the time. Always gotta look on the bright side of things. It’s the best way to live life—to just go on with a smile and be happy for the little things.” Louis shook his head, smiling as if he were recalling a memory in his mind.

“I wish my family were like that.” Harry muttered.

“Your family doesn’t have to be,” Louis pointed out, “It could always just start with you. It doesn’t seem as though you live a horrible life, though.”

Harry sighed loudly, taking another swig of his beer. Oh, if he only knew.

Being famous in the UK for Harry wasn’t terrible—the gig definitely did have his perks. But there were major downsides too; the late night working hours, the pressure he had from his management to be better, and the show he had to put on for the public—that was the main reason why he was in Palmer, and was the biggest downfall of them all.

He thought of his friends back home, who in truth weren’t really his friends at all. They just used Harry for his fame and his VIP entrance into clubs. Back home, he pretended not to care—it was all for show, anyway. But now that he was here, in this empty space, where he was finally alone and left with his thoughts…he realized couldn’t really name anyone from back home who was a ‘true friend.’  

While he did miss the parties and the girls and the boys like crazy, at the end of the day, was it all really worth it? Was getting drunk and hanging out with people who really didn’t give a shit about him worth it?

“It’s not too bad,” Harry ended up saying, trying not to think of his home life now, “But everyone has that one thing that brings them down and makes them sad or bitter.” Harry looked down with sad eyes and Louis took notice, giving him a wary eye but shooting him a small tug of the lips.

The jockey raised his beer and nodded, “Preach,” He took a sip of his beer, frowning slightly at the sight of Harry still looking down and the bit of sorrow in his eyes, “You know what Harry?”

“Hmm?” Harry hummed.

“I say we make a toast,” Louis announced, raising his bottle.

“To what?” Harry raised his bottle as well, and locked eyes with Louis.

“To bein’ happy. Even in bad times. Just walk on by with a smile on your face and a tug in your heart. It’s how I’ve been gettin’ by ‘round here. If I can do it, you can.” Louis gave Harry a reassuring smile and their eyes locked again.

Harry felt his heart tug at the look in Louis’ eyes. It was as if Louis really wanted Harry to be happy. And it amazed Harry that a person he considered a stranger not a few hours ago could suddenly turn into someone who made him feel special. As the minutes passed, Harry continued to feel a connection with Louis that he couldn’t really explain. He wasn’t sure if he wanted it to have an explanation right now, because it was honestly a feeling he knew he didn’t want to go away.

Harry clinked his glass with Louis’, actually feeling a weight off of his shoulders for the first time since he had been in Palmer, “To being happy.”