You get me dizzy

Chapter 3

The last act ends around midnight and everyone starts walking towards the exit once the music stops. Harry and Levi have long disappeared, and the problem is that Leo doesn’t want to go home on his first day of the festival, so when Noah suggests going to a party away from the festival grounds, Leo agrees on his and Zayn’s behalf.

“Where is it?” Leo asks as they walk through the exit and pass the camping grounds.

“At a hotel five minutes away from here.” Noah cryptically answers and looks over at a group of people with anchors drawn on their faces.

Leo doesn’t get it at first, so Noah elaborates a few seconds later after they’ve passed the group. “It’s at Harry’s hotel. He’s got a deluxe suite and he invited some friends over.”

“Oh, right.”

The hotel is indeed a five-minute walk from the festival, and Noah has to give the security guard by the door on the fifth floor a secret code name before they’re led towards the door to Harry’s suite.

Music is coming from inside and as soon as they open the door, Leo already spots two celebrities he’s seen in the magazines but doesn’t really know their name.

Levi and Harry are by the couch, talking to one of their friends, and Noah goes right over, which means that Leo has to awkwardly follow him there since he doesn’t know anyone else.

“Glad you could come.” Harry says, pressing his palms together and smiling at Leo and Zayn. “Help yourselves to the drinks in the kitchen.”

Leo doesn’t need to be told twice, because he’s already off to the kitchen. The amount of alcohol on the island counter is shocking even to Leo, who’s been to his fair share of parties.

He chooses to grab himself a bottle of beer though, because any more hard liquor will completely damage him for the next three days. If he wakes up hungover tomorrow it won’t be good for anyone.

On his weigh back out of the kitchen he takes a pastry from the counter and bites into it as he opens the door with his shoulder. The lights have been dimmed now and people are dancing, so finding Zayn is quite hard. Knowing him though, he’s probably on the balcony having a smoke.

As it turns out, Leo is right about Zayn’s whereabouts, because he finds him on the giant balcony overlooking a dimly lit golf course with Levi, Noah and Harry.

“I’ve got my tupperware in my room, should I start rolling?” Harry suggests and Noah instantly nods, urging him to do so.

“What’s the tupperware?” Leo asks, wondering whether it’s what he thinks it is.

“My weed.” Harry clarifies… and okay.

“Who keeps their weed in a tupperware container?” Leo asks.

“You do.” Zayn says and shakes his head.

Harry beams at Leo before he puts his cigarette in the ashtray by the door and disappears inside.

Two minutes later he’s back outside and sits down on one of the chairs, placing his tupperware on the marble round table.

Leo offers to help him with the grinder while Harry makes the filter.

“Look at us, already getting along.” Harry says, fingers working on the small paper.

“Well, if it’s about this, then sure.” Leo answers, motioning to the small baggy.

He watches Harry dart his tongue out to roll the joint, and blinks when he finds himself obviously staring.

Levi hands him a lighter and Harry stares at the joint for one second, before he lights it up and puts it between his lips.

The smell hits Leo instantly and he smiles, relaxing against the chair. Today’s been a good day, and smoking just tops it all off.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” Noah asks Harry when he gets the joint.

Harry explains that he has no idea what he’s going to do tomorrow and that the smart tv in his bedroom has Netflix so he might stay in and binge-watch something.

Fifteen minutes later after they’ve smoked it, Zayn reminds Leo that they should be heading back to the camp since Dua Lipa is performing at 4pm and it’s already way past two.

On their way back to the camping grounds, with Noah in tow, Zayn talks about how he can’t believe they just hung out with Harry Styles. All Leo can do, really, is roll his eyes until they’re in front of their tent, saying goodnight to Noah.

Ten minutes later after brushing their teeth and changing into a pair of shorts, Leo and Zayn get into their sleeping bags.

“You were flirting.” Zayn states in the darkness and Leo huffs, staring at the ceiling.

“I was not.”

“And he was flirting back.”

Leo turns his head to look at Zayn. He’s got one arm under his head and he’s looking at Leo.

“He was not.”

“I got a little gay vibe from him.” Zayn hums and then turns so he’s on his back. “But maybe I’m wrong.”

He’s not wrong.

“You’re wrong.” Leo tells him and closes his eyes, turning on his side. “Goodnight.”

***

Leo wakes up on his own the next day and Zayn’s still sleeping. He debates getting back to him for yesterday by jolting him awake but eventually decides against it and gets up to go shower and brush his teeth.

By the time he gets back to their tent, Noah is on the fold out chair in front of it, sharing a beer with Zayn.

“How did you get dressed before me?” Leo asks, looking at his best friend.

Zayn points to the right. “Gender neutral bathrooms were empty, and they’re right there.”

“s**t, I hadn’t noticed. I had to wait in line like ten minutes.”

Noah’s group is also ready, and they start walking towards the festival half an hour past 2pm. Steve Aoki is going to close the show at the Coachella Stage and Leo couldn’t be more excited, so he buys himself a RedBull as soon as they enter the festival just to be sure he’ll stay up until 10.

As they wait in line to get something to drink before Dua Lipa starts, Leo watches two girls in front of him with glitter in their hair.

“Excuse me?” he says, tapping one of them on the shoulder. They turn around. “Do you still have that glitter? I’d love to get some on my face.”

Their faces light up. “Of course! Hold on.”

She digs through her bum bag and takes out a small glitter tube and asks her friend to put some false eyelash glue by Leo’ eyes. Leo closes his eyes and waits for them to apply the glitter. He thanks them once it’s done and opens the front camera of his phone to check himself out.

“You’re pretty.” Zayn observes and smiles.

“The prettiest in all the land.” Noah adds.

Leo rolls his eyes but smiles nonetheless.

An hour later they’re in the crowd, waiting for Dua to come on stage.

“I’m in love with her.” Leo states, getting on his tiptoes so he can look at the screen when she finally comes out on stage. Zayn hums in agreement and Leo is about to say something else when Noah shouts “Hareeh!”

Leo turns around, eyes falling on Levi and Harry, who are trying to make their way through the crowd until they’re finally standing next to them. He’s wearing a plain white shirt, a grey jacket (in this f*****g heat) and black skinnies, sunglasses on top of his nose. The fact that he’s got a headband on does NOT make him more attractive. It does not.

“Hi.” Harry smiles. He looks at Leo, then at the glitter on Leo’ face. “Nice.”

Leo is aware that there are people staring at them right now, so he just greets him with a curt nod and turns around to watch the rest of the show.

“Listen, if we want to get caked we need to go there about an hour before Steve starts. People are ruthless, I already saw some heading over to the big stage with ‘Cake Me’ banners.” Leo informs Zayn halfway during Dua’s concert.

“He told me he brought like thirty cakes today.” Harry says, joining into the conversation.

“You know Steve Aoki?” Leo asks, and of course he does, what a stupid question.

“Yeah, met him a couple of times. He was backstage during my show yesterday. Nice lad.”

Leo huffs. He’s been trying to get on stage during Steve’s set for ages, not to mention the cake. But he’s never there on time and therefore the front row is always occupied.

“Well if you see him today, let him know that I want cake in my face.” Leo states.

“I’ll make sure to pass the message.” Harry laughs.

Leo already has a plan in mind, in which he’ll convince someone to give him a shoulder ride and find someone who will lend him a marker so he can write ‘cake me’ on his collarbones. He’s not sure whether it’ll be over or under his ‘it is what it is’ tattoo.

After Dua finishes, they go to the VIP section for some drinks, and Leo is determined to find at least one of his celebrity crushes and ask them for a photo.

There’s no one worth mentioning lounging around right now, so Leo heads directly over to the bar.

“One shot of Tequila please.” He tells the same girl from yesterday. She smiles, knowingly.

“Two.” Someone adds from behind Leo and he turns his head to stare at Harry, who’s currently leaning against the bar on his left.

“Where did you get the glitter?” Harry asks him.

“Some girls had it earlier. Don’t tell me you want some too.”

“Of course I do.” Harry smirks.

“Go find them then.”

“Or you could rub some off and put it on my face.”

Leo makes a face. “There’s no chance in hell that I’ll ruin my glitter just so you can get some.”

The bartender interrupts them when she places two shot glasses on the bar, eyeing them curiously.

“Cheers.” Harry says and grabs his shot glass.

“Cheers.”

They knock their glasses together before they down the shot in one go.

“Can you help me find glitter like that?” Harry asks, licking his lips.

“Another round please.” Leo says to the bartender. He can’t handle Harry Styles when he’s being like this.

“Oh, come on Lou.” Harry pouts.

Leo’ jaw clenches. “Don’t call me that.”

“Isn’t that your name?”

“No. My name’s Leo. Not Lou.”

Harry squints as if to say that he doesn’t believe him, so Leo turns to the bartender.

“Make that four shots love, I can’t handle Harvey when he’s being whiny.”

Harry opens his mouth. “You know that’s not-ugh, whatever.”

Leo c***s his head and shoots him a sweet smile as the shots are placed in front of them. Harry looks down at the glasses, reluctant look on his face.

“What, are you going to chicken out now?” Leo asks, wrapping his fingers around one of the glasses.

“No way.” Harry sternly says and takes one as well.

Leo bites into the lemon and closes his eyes, because he’s always hated the taste of lemon way more than the taste of Tequila.

“You know what would be even more fun?” Harry asks and Leo raises his head in question. “Body shots.”

The girls’ eyes widen, because she’s been watching them since no one else around wants drinks.

“Ha, you wish Harvey.”

“Are you going to chicken out now?” Harry asks, mocking Leo’ northern accent.

“No. But I’m not going to do body shots in broad daylight with you when photographers are around.”

“Wouldn’t have thought you’re the shy type.” Harry hums.

“’m not.”

“So not here then, huh? Where would you like to do it then?”

“Stop flirting with me.” Leo says, shaking his head.

“Who says I’m flirting?”

“Your body language.”

Harry looks down at himself. He’s leaning with one elbow against the bar, hips pushed towards Leo and his left ankle over his right.

“So you’re a body language expert or what?”

“Mhm.” Leo says, getting ready to take the third shot.

“You’ve got a Psychology diploma and everything then?” Harry continues, sarcastically.

“As a matter of fact, I do. Graduated top of my class at Uni.” Leo informs him and Harry’s speechless.

“Well…shit.” Harry grabs the glass and knocks it against Leo’. “To you being a Psychologist.”

Leo nods and drinks. Two minutes later they’re on their way to their group’s table.

“I’m not a Psychologist by the way.” Leo feels the need to say.

“Huh?”

“I got my degree in Psychology, busted my ass off for those grades but I never actually became a Psychologist.”

“What do you do then?”

Leo shakes his head. “You’ll never guess.”

“What if I do?”

They stop a few feet away from their table.

“You never will though.”

“And what if I do?”

Leo takes a second to think about it. “Then we can do body shots. Wherever you want, whenever you want.”

Harry’s tongue darts out in the corner of his mouth. “I get three guesses.”

“One.”

“Two.”

“Agreed.” Leo says and crosses his arms.

“Wait, you want me to guess right now?”

“Yeah.”

Harry stares at him, squinting, trying to figure him out.

“Well you’re at a festival, you like having fun…so I’m going to say something like…you’re a professional skydiver?”

Leo blinks. Then bursts out laughing. “Really? Out of all the jobs in the world, you think I’m a professional skydiver?”

Harry shrugs.

“I always wanted to skydive though, never really got the balls to do it. And Zayn would never agree because he’s afraid of heights. So, no.”

“I got one more shot though.” Harry points out and taps his finger against his chin.

“If it’s as bad as this one, you might as well give up now.”

“Give me some time.”

“No way Harvey. You’re going to ask Zayn or something. Tell me now.”

“Fine.” Harry huffs. “At least give me a hint.”

Leo smacks his lips. “Okay. Let’s say…my appearance is a clue. And I’m sort of a Psychologist.”

“I got it! You’re a hairdresser.” Harry excitedly says. “’cause you know…your hair looks good and you always talk to your clients.”

When Leo doesn’t answer, Harry asks him if he got it right.

“No you didn’t.” Leo laughs. “Was fun though. Thanks for the laughs.”

Harry pouts and Leo does his best to ignore it by walking over to their table and sitting down next to Noah.

“Quite an interesting conversation you were having over there.” Zayn points out as Noah shoves a cup filled with beer under his nose.

“He was trying to guess what I do for a living.”

“And did he get it?”

Leo shakes his head. “No.”

Harry sits down on the empty chair next to him and shrugs off his jacket, placing it behind him on the chair.

“Is that-is that a ship?” Leo asks, forgetting everything he learned about boundaries by placing his finger on Harry’s ship tattoo.

“Yeah.” Harry says, looking down at his arm.

Leo stretches out his right arm and points to his compass tattoo. “Look.”

He’s a bit dizzy from the shots they did, but he can put two and two together.

“What the fuck.” Noah says, leaning over. “Holy s**t! They align.”

“This is creepy.” Leo mutters, taking his arm off the table and putting his hands under his ass so people would stop staring at his tattoos.

It’s just coincidence. First time it’s an accident and the second time is a coincidence, that’s all it is.

Harry lights up a cigarette next to him and Leo does the same, only for Noah to interrupt them by proposing to take a shot.

“We just…I can’t.” Leo mutters, blowing out smoke. He needs to sit down right now. The Tequila hasn’t hit him yet and he’s pretty sure that one more shot will accelerate it and he’ll be hit by what feels like a ton of bricks.

“If you’ll do it I’ll do it.” Harry says and Leo suppresses his need to ask him if he’d also jump off a bridge if he were to do it.

“Fine.” Leo sighs. “Let me finish this first.” He says and points to his cigarette.

They make casual conversation until all the cigarettes around the table are put out in the ashtray before they get up to walk over to the bar. Leo’ pretty sure he’s spent more time at the bar than he has at any of the stages today.

Leo stands on the sidelines as Noah orders like twelve shots and catches the bartender scribbling something with her marker down a piece of paper, so he asks to borrow it for a bit.

“What are you doing?” Harry asks when he sees Leo pulling his head back, trying to write something over his tattoo.

“I’m trying to write ‘Cake Me’ on meself.” Leo explains.

“You need help?”

Leo nods and hands him the marker, before he pulls down the collar of his white tank top. “Right over the tattoo.”

Harry bows his head and places his thumb and index finger on Leo, even though it’s not really necessary since he’s already holding the tank top down. He doesn’t comment on it.

“Make sure it’s in huge block letters, yeah?”

Harry snorts. “Yeah yeah.”

Once he’s done, Leo looks down to see Harry’s work. “Thanks.”

“Do me.”

Leo’ head snaps up at that and takes the marker from Harry’s hands. “Oh, you meant the-yeah.”

Harry laughs and makes a scene of bending his knees to be shorter.

“Yeah, no need for that.” Leo mumbles and smacks his shoulder to get him to stand up properly. “Also, your shirt is kind of in the way.”

“You want me to take it off then?” Harry asks, and he’s way closer than Leo remembers him being

“Uh…no. Just pull the collar down.”

Harry does as instructed and soon enough, Leo writes the same words on his collarbones.

“That’s a hell of an innuendo, by the way.” Leo observes and puts the cap back on the marker. “If you’re not going to be in the crowd, I mean.”

“I know. But I am going to be in the crowd.”

“Isn’t it annoying to get recognized wherever you go? Have people asking to take pictures of you all the time?”

Harry shrugs. “I’ve gotten used to it.”

“Also, cake me is like…basically an invitation to get someone to-“

“I know.” Harry laughs.

Leo raises his eyebrows. “So you’re not bothered by people assuming you’re not straight.”

“Who said I’m straight?” Harry daringly asks and Leo is taken aback. He’s done his research last night and from what he’s read so far, Harry has been made out to be quite the womanizer. “You shouldn’t just assume that because you read a couple of articles.”

“Yeah…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“It’s fine. People assume all the time and I don’t really give a s**t, they can think what they want to think, me saying something isn’t going to change that. I’ve said that I don’t like labeling myself, but the media always needs something to get views.”

Leo nods. He wonders if he’d be this tough if he were in the public eye.

“Shotssss!” Noah yells, startling both of them. “Come get y’all shots!”

Everyone bursts out laughing and there’s pushing as everyone tries to get their shots and the lemon slice.

“Salt?” Noah asks, looking at Leo.

“No, thanks. I never use the salt. ‘s gross.”

Noah looks at him like he’s got three heads.

“To Coachella.” Levi says and everyone raises their glasses, causing a few spills here and there.

They down their shots at the same time and Harry licks his fingers afterwards because he spilled a few drops on his hand.

“That’s…okay.” Leo says and shakes his head.

He goes to the toilets and comes out with a fuzzy vision.

So the Tequila has kicked in. Great.

He’s on his way back to the group when Harry stops him, eyes wide. “I know what you do.”

Leo looks at Zayn watching them, and he knows.

“What do I do then?” he asks, crossing his arms.

“You’re a tattoo artist.”

“Zayn told you.” Leo states and Harry purses his lips.

“No he didn’t.”

“Zayn?” Leo asks, looking at him.

“I did.”

Leo points at Zayn. “Ha! See?”

“Oh come on!”

“You cheated. ‘s not fair.” Leo shrugs and sweetly smiles at him before he leaves Harry standing there.

He smiles to himself when he hears Harry muttering ‘damn’ under his breath as he walks away.