Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles: Ready, Steady, Go! (The Early Years, 2011)

To understand the "ready, steady, go" whirlwind pace of Larry in 2011, let's refresh memories regarding an iconic photo taken just two days before the X Factor Finale. Harry on bended knee, handing Louis a single long stemmed, white rose.

Dec 10, 2010 - A public proposal and...

acceptance

White roses symbolize pure, honest, and devoted love. In contrast to red roses, the white rose imparts loyalty, mutual respect, and the promise of a genuine connection, often representing a "clean slate" or the beginning of a lifelong commitment. Louis and Harry were letting the world know that they were enough. That this journey they were about to embark on, was one they were going to take together. 

Louis taking care of his boy

Xtra Factor Interview, Dec 12, 2010 

After One Direction came in third

In many ways, the early months of 2011 confirmed what fans had been observing for the last six months. Louis and Harry were more than just close friends having a bromance; they were in a committed, serious relationship. By November, 2010, the can't-get-enough-of-one-another stage had evolved into an exclusive partnership, based on mutual support and a planned for shared future. Their mothers were best friends, and the Tomlinson-Styles families were already merging into one.  Louis was protective and supportive, and Harry adored and trusted Louis in big ways and small. 

The care and comfort they provided to one another was profound and immersive, already planning to build a future together domestically as well as professionally which, magazines, interviews, tweets, fandom gifs, concert performances, etc., would consistently confirm. Louis and Harry aimed to be as proud, bold, and honest as their X Factor contract (signed on December 13, 2010) would allow. So the portmanteau 'bromance' would quickly become the pop cultural catch phrase to basically cover for what was obviously romantic in any other universe not grounded in homophobia. 

Like maybe a mother-in-law? Dec 24, 2010

Feb 22, 2011

Harry's stepdad, Robin Twist with Louis and Harry

Let's not forget this tweet from Jay back as early as October 2010. Who was Babycakes again?

More family references.

By New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, Louis and Harry were very much on the same page.

By January 2, 2011 Louis' mom and Harry's stepfather were teasing each other affectionately, with a familial-like goofiness. 

 

Two days later, Louis and Harry attended a football game at Old Trafford Stadium to watch Manchester United with Robin. 

Then dinner at Rosso's Restaurant, co-owned by their friend, ManU footballer, Rio Ferdinand. A favorite date night high-end Italian restaurant. A restaurant they would return to on many occasions.

After Manchester United game, 1.4.11

Louis and Harry run into fans Jan 4, 2011

Louis and Harry, with Ashley Williams in front of Rosso's Jan 4, 2011

Louis and Harry's date night photo from Jan 4, 2011 hung on Rosso's wall of celebrities

Let's rewind a bit, as we continue with some good old-fashion romancing. Remember when Harry tweeted out these Bruno Mars lyrics on Sept 9, 2010, before the guys had even moved into the X Factor House?

You're amaizing just the way you are

Then in October, Harry tweeted this,

At first glance, Harry's repeated posting regarding Bruno Mars lyrics might hint at him being a big fan. But another, more romantic, explanation is more likely. 

Louis purchases Doo-Wops & Hooligans

Another favorite Bruno Mars song

Louis' response to an AskLouis question

You're turnin' heads when you walk through the door
Don't need makeup to cover up
Bein' the way that you are is enough

Louis and Harry Livestream, Jan 23, 2011, "because you're amazing..."

Then when One Direction performs Grenade as part of their X Factor Tour setlist, this memorable moment between Harry and Louis occurs.

X Factor Tour, April 2, 2011 Glasgow, Scotland

In other words, there's no surprise that Bruno Mars reappears at Glastonbury on June 29, 2025. He's always been a part of Louis and Harry's love story.

                       "Die With a Smile"

Oh, and how could Narnia forget to mention the sleepover to conclude Louis and Harry's date night?

Hmm.  Seems like Harry had found someone to fulfill all of his needs.

"Home" by Edward Sharpe and Magnetic Zeros

I never loved one like you
Moats and boats and waterfalls, alleyways and pay phone calls
I been everywhere with you (Hey, that’s true)
Laugh until we think we’ll die, barefoot on a summer night
Never could be sweeter than with you
And in the streets, you run a-free, like it’s only you and me
Geez, you’re something to see

Home, let me come home
Home is wherever I’m with you
Oh, home, yes, I am home
Home is when I’m alone with you

"Nasty Habits" You Me At Six

You're the best kept secret, rolling off my tongue

Some say you're as easy as they come

And I say, "what a way for the ice to break"

You're the best kept secret, rolling off my tongue

Remember that this iconic Harry declaration about his first real crush was posted on February 21, 2011, but Sugarscape actually interviewed Harry on January 13, 2011. 

But you say you feel the same

Could we ever be enough

Baby, we could be enough

Playlist:    Grenade – Bruno Mars

                Home- Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
                What a Wonderful World – Music Travel Love

                Ready, Steady, Go!- Harry Styles

Sources: YouTube; Sugarscape; Tumblr; X; ITV; X Factor; North West Nosh

Feeling Thankful

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Before too much time goes by, Methodical Muser and myself, PG, wanted to celebrate something that we sure didn't think would happen.   It took forever, I mean a long time, but no matter! 

Narnia Dispatches crossed 1 million views recently!

 

On May 15, 2016, we titled the first post, "Please Pardon The Mess":

 

 

From the very beginning, we had five couples right off the bat that we knew we would be posting about:  Jake and Austin, Jared and Jensen, Louis and Harry, Liam and Zayn, and Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.

At that time, we had NO idea how many posts would follow, some of the trouble we would get into, and all that we would learn via hours and hours of research, internet combing and endless phone calls & emails. 

Ten years later, we've grown to include professional sports besides the acting and recording industries.  

We want to thank everyone who have visited these pages, whether you're a fan or "someone-to-be-named-later" lurking to see if we're talking about someone(s) or a team that is of er, particular interest.  

This blog doesn't earn any money.  We're just here to chatter, entertain and learn.

Thank you again!

 

LATE BREAKING:

Okay, important tip in life is to always remain humble.  Here Narnia thought 1m was something to feel good about, and M&M did a check on OMG (bc she's a co-admin so she had access in case you're wondering how we know this), and Narnia's got nothing on nobody.

Oh My Godot has 7 million views!   LOL!  We're mud.😳😂

Anyway, 

 

With grateful regards,

Prairie Girl (PG) - administrator

Methodical Muser - administrator

 

pic sources:  Prntbl, vector, tumblr

our playlist:  Like Flames - Berlin

                     If I'm Any Closer - Seal

                     It's Always Somethin' - Joe Diffie

                     #9 Dream - John Lennon

                     Walk in the Sun - Bruce Hornsby

 

Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles: I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You - The X Factor Years (2010-2011) Part IV

One Direction Nov 7, 2010 (two-half hearts make a whole
and a bonus gesture, Louis with his left hand around Harry's waist

Note: This photo was taken three days after the X Factor same sex action reveal and two days after Louis allegedly went missing from the X Factor House.

At the end of Narnia's last post, the boys were visiting Holmes Chapel as part of the homecoming segment of the X Factor show, while Louis and Harry continued to happily present themselves as sappy boyfriends who had formed a newfound family. By this point in their relationship, it didn't matter where they were. The other's hometown. X Factor Studios. Autograph signings. Walking down the street. Shopping. Going to concerts. Hanging out backstage. The side by side expectations as well as the romantic nature of their interactions were impossible to ignore by now. Sure the cover was that they were just close friends, but the emotional and physical intensity of their interactions and the obvious physical attractiveness towards one another, inevitably said otherwise.  

So close, Harry

Just two mate's rough housing on a sofa, ostensibly playing a special money challenge game, is one thing. Roaming hands, fleeting crotch touches, sneaky hand holding, and requesting a kiss, while looking completely satiated in the end is another. By this time, Louis and Harry were having fun with their newfound attention. Yes, they loved being part of One Direction and following their artistic aspirations. But they also loved, being in love. Having been able to find both a bestie and an adoring partner to publicly share their future dreams with was more than they could ever have hoped for when their journey began in July. 

Surreptitious hand holding

Dec 5, 2010, Backstage X Factor

Inseparable, arriving at Fountain Studios, Oct 26, 2010

Compared to the almost sweet infatuation of Week 1 Video Diaries, X Factor Oct 4, 2010

Koko Club, London, Tinie Tempah concert One Direction in attendance, Oct 27, 2010

Koko Club, London, Tinie Tempah concert One Direction in attendance, Oct 27, 2010

And in case one might think that Holmes Chapel was an aberration, Louis and Harry exhibited the same touchy-feely over-the-moon happiness during One Direction's Bradford and Doncaster visits, the day before.  This demonstrative openness was particularly on full display when visiting Hall Cross School (now Academy), where Louis had been enrolled as a sixth form student, prior to his Live Show audition in July 2010.  

X Factor Home Visit, Hall Cross School, Doncaster Dec 6, 2010

Spot the Couple

You're mine

If the above snapshot looks familiar, it's because Louis replaced his solo Ping profile pic on January 20, 2011 with this photo from six weeks earlier taken at Hall Cross School. In other words, no need to wonder if Louis and Harry were still going strong after the final episode of the X Factor show, Series 7 ended on December 12, 2010 - with One Direction finishing in third place. Despite the temporary setback, both their careers and relationship were moving along, with no end in sight.

Later in the day, Zayn's hometown of Bradford was part of the homecoming procession. This time with an autograph signing event scheduled in the HMV store at the Broadway Shopping Centre. As usual there's Louis and Harry sitting next to each other while Harry focuses his attention on his man. Yes, we know Harry. Louis looks quite fetching with that pink rose in his hair. 

Bradford Homecoming, Dec 6, HMV store autograph signing

 

Protective and possessive arm touching

Having lived in each other's pockets since July, it would be expected that all the members of One Direction would be homesick by now; eager to decompress and spend some quality holiday time with family. This scenario seemed especially likely, since the group was going to get back together soon for their first non-X Factor performances (a whistle stop tour of Scotland) set for Dec 27-28 in Glasgow, Falkirk, and Edinburgh. The desire to take a break from one another, however, was most definitely not the case when it came to Louis and Harry. Quite the contrary. Louis' mother, Jay, would memorably describe her son's feelings at the time to Sugar Popstar Magazine on January 13, 2011.

Interesting pose there guys

 They just can’t bear to be apart!

At Christmas time they had three days off from the band, but Louis was on the phone to Harry all the time to see what he was doing. He even suggested to his mum, “Should we all go away at Christmas with Harry and [Harry’s mum] Anne.  As I might miss him? Awww!

Remember, One Direction's break was over Christmas and, even, more importantly, over a certain someone's 19th birthday on December 24, 2010. Not that anyone needed to remind Harry. 

Go ahead, and break everyone's heart, Harry

By the way, for those who don't know, Harry bought Louis a pair of TOMS slip-ons for his birthday that year.

.

Rejected is an interesting word choice coming from just a good friend, Harry

By the way, Louis called him back

Three days later, the love birds were having a blast in Glasgow, Scotland. One show at The Campus and then the City Club in Falkirk on Dec 27 and the next two gigs at The Garage and then The Picture House in Edinburgh on Dec 28, 2010. 

The Campus, Glasgow, Scotland, Dec 27, 2010

Just spending time together

                                                                               

Nuzzling and "his smell"

There's Niall - "Nothing to see here; move along, people"

City Club, Falkirk - Dec 27, 2010

                                           

Louis and Harry singing "Forever Young" at The Garage, Dec 28, 2010

Boyfriends, The Picture House, Edinburgh, Dec 28, 2010

Narnia's next post will begin with January 2011, a transition month in many ways, as One Direction would not start their X Factor Live Tour shows until Feb 19, 2011 in Birmingham. Given the shift from a weekly competition show more concerned about TV ratings and song selection than selling an actual product with a cohesive image, this next stage will focus on the competing forces of the growing Larry Stylinson fanbase and the straight images to which the music industry defaults to in general, and especially when marketing a boyband to teens. At the eye of the storm is Louis and Harry's love story growing stronger every day and with the help of social media about to skyrocket.

Playlist:  Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
                Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars
                Marry Me – Train
                Your Body is a Wonderland – John Mayer

 Sources: YouTube, Instagram, X Factor, ITV, Tumblr, X, Ping, Sugar Popstar Magazine (Sugarscape), YouTube, Glasgow Times, Crewe Chronicle