one direction fluff | ♡ {Requests Closed}

Like It Used to Be | -H.S.-

But they never used to be. He used to be their best friend! But things changed, and Harry genuinely can't figure out why.

He trotted off to his room, sighing and shutting the door. If didn't take him too long to fall asleep. But, he wasn't the one that needed to worry about staying awake with excitement. He wasn't the one attending any parties.

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"Alright, lads," Paul announced, "you're done for the day."

The boys all cheered except for Harry. He just remained in his seat because he, in fact, knew that it was not the end of his day. Every time the boys went out, they'd have to leave him with Paul. Paul would always want to talk business with him, and have one-on-one meetings, since that's just about the only time they have to do so.

"Preston will drive you to your party. He's outside," the Irish man told the rowdy and excited boys. "Have fun!"

"Thanks Paul!" They all called. "Bye Haz!"

Harry propped his elbow on the couch and put his head in his hand.

"Oi, now, chap," Paul said, patting the boy's knee. "We go through this every time. You're just not old enough to-"

"It's not just that," Harry mumbled, tears already beginning to pool in his eyes.

"What?" Paul asked, leaning down (not failing to notice the teen's glassy eyes).

"They just leave me out all the t-time," he mumbled, his voice growing higher and higher.

"Hey," Paul whispered, wrapping an arm around the boy. "What's this all about?"

Harry wiped his eyes. "Last night we were gonna watch a movie. B-but Ni wanted a horror film even though I don't like 'em. I think he j-just chose one so I would leave."

The tears just kept falling down his pale face, and Paul couldn't do anything but squeeze him tighter.

"They're always, like, ganging up on me, it feels like. Dunno what I did," he sighed, letting a breathy sob escape his rosy lips. "An-and they always go out without me. They don't just go to parties. They don't want you to kn-now but they leave me alone."

Paul frowned. "They leave you at the flat?"

Harry nodded, even though the boys threatened him in the past not to let Paul know. "And at hotels and on the bus."

Paul ripped his phone out of his pocket, pressing buttons rapidly.

"Preston? Yeah. Bring them back up, please. No, they're not going. Thanks."

Harry just whimpered. He thought he was going to be in trouble. Well- he knew he was going to be in trouble. Maybe not with Paul, but with the boys especially.

Paul hugged Harry a few more minutes, the boy jumping when he heard a knock at the door.

"Yup?" Paul called out, ruffling Harry's hair a bit.

The door swung open and all three boys came in with confused expressions.

"What?" Louis asked sassily, putting a hand out and not acknowledging Harry's tears in the least. "Party is at-"

"You're not going. Sit," Paul said sternly.

Each boy shut their mouths, sitting on the chairs across from the couch. Liam was the first one to notice Harry, pointing to him.

"What's wrong with-"

"It's funny you ask," Paul interrupted. "Harry here's told me a bit of things that I'm not fond of. At all actually. Who do you leave Harry with when you go out?"