Objects of Virtue

Chapter 09

Louis watched Charlotte as she moved across the room, oblivious to the fact that he knew. He knew what she had done. He just needed to know why. Was it worth him going to jail for? Was it worth all the love that he had for her in his fragile little heart? Hers was the only love he still knew, or well - thought he knew. Maybe she was putting it on all these years. He'd looked after her like she was the most precious jewel on earth. After mum died, it was only ever Lottie, Pheebs and Daise. They were his world, god dammit and now it was just crumbling apart. Everything that he loved. Washing away beneath him and he could feel himself begin to fall.

Louis felt the tear sting at the back of his eyes as he watched, sightlessly. People moving around, speaking softly – all a blur. Until he saw him. The afternoon sun shone through his hair, an array of dark brown curls swept back, reflecting golden rays of sunlight. He looked immaculate in his black suit and white shirt. Harry broke through like a sudden lazer beam cutting a path through the crowd and suddenly Louis felt like it was just him. Walking over to him, coat gently flapping in the wind. There was lump caught in his throat that Louis didn't quite understand how to deal with, so he simply stared. He could see the very edge of Harry's tattoo peaking out under his coat as it hitched up when he raised his hand to push back his aviators. And there they were. Those beautiful greens searching the crowds until – finally they found Louis' Bahama blues. Electric. But that was expected. A ghost of a smile fluttered across Harry's face and was gone just as quickly as it appeared. Once he found Louis he made his way straight to him, magnetic even.

"Hi, Louis. How are you holding up?" Harry asked as he held out his hand to Louis who took it only to be drawn into a one-handed hug. It was warm and inviting but it was over in seconds and Louis was left wanting. Wanting to breath in the sweet vanilla of Harry's perfume and the slight ting that was divinely and uniquely Harry. Harry had asked him a question? What had he said? Louis' brains were scrambling to find the answer to a question he couldn't remember.

"Louis, are you alright, you look a little pale," Harry asked, softly as he held Louis' arm, firm and warm. Louis could feel his skin burn in the most ridiculous of ways. Strange what this boy was doing to him.

"Thanks, Harry – I'm alright – honest. Just a little tired you know – haven't been sleeping all that well. Thank you for coming, I really appreciate it. Nice to see a genuine face amongst all these – well not so genuine ones," Louis replied smiling back at Harry weakly. There was a dullness in his eyes that Harry caught on to instantaneously. The shadows of his sleepless nights were beginning to show under his eyes if you looked closely enough. And Harry looked very closely – not that he could help it, he was just prone to staring at Louis of lately and it was starting to be a little too obvious. Niall stood besides Harry, coughing a tad louder than normal, breaking through the cocoon of the moment that had woven itself around the boys.

"My deepest sympathies Louis, I think it's safe to say that we are making some progress – hopefully we will be able to provide you with some answers soon," Niall said as he extended his hand to Louis and shook it firmly.

In the shadows of the funeral parlor, Harry watched as a beautiful head of blonde hair bobbed around, moving from place to place occasionally. She was lost in deep conversation with a man, well dressed, in his sixties – Harry hazarded a guess. It seemed intense – what ever it was they were taking about. Harry wondered what it was about and didn't quite notice that Louis too had followed his line of sight – noticing that he was intently observing his sister.

"Didn't think you were that way inclined mate," Louis said, his eyes glinting in the soft lighting of the parlor. Even though his voice was jovial, there was nothing funny about the way his jaw was clenched, drawing a line sharp enough to cut glass.