That's The Way (Larry)

I. That's The Way

❝I don't know what to say about it

When all your ears have turned away

But now's the time to look and look again at what you see

Is that the way it ought to stay?❞

They were out in the front yard when it happened.

Ten year old Harry knew something was wrong when he'd first knocked on the door of the Tomlinsons and was greeted with a judgmental look instead of a warm one, but he'd ignored it.

He also knew that something was wrong when his twelve year old best friend half-heartedly played with the toy soldiers splayed out in front of them, too busy fidgeting and too lost in his thoughts. Harry tried to ignore the odd behaviour, but it was hard when he kept opening and closing his mouth every few seconds; inhaling as if he wanted to say something then exhaling right after as if he'd lost his nerve.

"Out with it," Harry finally said, staring at the blue-eyed boy who refused to meet his own green ones.

"It's nothing," the other boy immediately replied, frantically ripping out pieces of the itchy grass underneath them. Harry placed a pale hand over his tan one, immediately stopping him.

"How'd you like it if I pulled out tufts of your hair?" He questioned softly before adding, "Just tell me."

"Mum says I can't play with you anymore," the blue-eyed boy blurted. Harry couldn't help but recoil at the words.

"Why would she say that?"

The blue-eyed boy shrugged, mumbling, "People've been talking. She says you and your family aren't like everyone else." He looked up then, eyes wide. "I don't believe them! Really! I don't!"

Harry remained calm, whispering out a, "What are they saying?"

"Th-they say stupid stuff about your clothes and your hair and they think you're weird just 'cause you talk about and treat the earth like it's a human with feelings and all that." The blue-eyed boy took in a quick breath before continuing, "I don't think you're weird though! You just care a lot s'all."

Harry looked away for a moment, catching the glare of Mrs. Tomlinson from the living room window. He knew his time was limited, but he wanted to choose his words carefully before he spoke them.

"The Earth may not be human, but she does have feelings." He paused, face scrunching up as he squeezed his best friend in a side hug. "Do you still want to be my friend?"

"Of course I do!"

"Then what's stopping us?"

"I just- it's just," the blue-eyed boy was cut off by his mum opening the front door, informing him that it was time to come inside and wash up for dinner. Harry knew that she was just making up an excuse to separate them; could hear it in her tone as she told him to say his goodbyes.

"I'm sorry Harry, I gotta go." And with that, Harry lost his best friend.

Standing up and ignoring the cold look aimed at him, he numbly made his way to his own house - to the bright yellow one right next door that always radiated all the love in the world.

After that they hardly ever spoke; Harry continuing his care-free way of life while the other went on doing his own thing.

Since they lived next to each other their paths still crossed frequently, but each time that happened Harry was sure to keep his eyes on the sidewalk or the sky or anything that wasn't a pair of sad blue eyes. If he would've chanced a look, he would've seen the inner battle his former friend was fighting; would've seen him pause for a second, mouth open, before continuing on with his head hung low, remembering what his mother told him: they were closer than two boys should ever be, so they had no choice but to be forced apart.

That's the way it ought to be; that's the way it ought to stay.

—

One day a now sixteen year old Harry decided to go to the river; not to swim, just to look. He didn't know that a pair of blue eyes were watching him from a safe distance. He didn't know that those blue eyes saw the tears fall freely down his face as he stared at the fish swimming in the filthy water, slowly dying from other people's waste. He didn't know that the owner of those eyes was wondering if the sight had him as hypnotized as he felt.

The next day Harry was sat cross-legged in his front yard, enjoying the warmth of the sun whilst carefully caressing a few flowers he'd picked earlier. He felt bad for taking them away from their homes of course, but there was something about them he just couldn't resist. As he lifted them to his lips, brushing them gently back and forth, reveling in their softness, his eyes slipped closed. They remained that way even when he felt a presence beside him.

"What are you doing?" He recognized the voice immediately, even if the pitch had changed. He had already known who it was before they spoke though - the feeling of those blue eyes having been burned into his skin long ago.

"Indulging in what mother nature gave us."

"Seems like a waste of time to me."

He felt an ache in his chest at the words spoken so dully. Without moving his lips away from the white flower petal he quietly asked, "Why?"

"Because," He knew the blue-eyed boy had shrugged right then. "Everything that lives is born to die, so nothing really matters does it." It wasn't a question.

A tear slipped out from behind closed eyes, and Harry didn't respond. He couldn't respond.

It was silent for a long time before he decided to speak his mind.

"I miss you."

Without skipping a beat, "I miss you, too."

"Why, then?" Two simple words, but they both knew exactly every single complex meaning behind them.

Another shrug. "That's the way it outta be."

"It doesn't have to."

"Doesn't matter; that's the way it's gonna stay."

—

Harry hasn't been on this earth for too long, but he'd like to think that he's exceptionally wise for his age. He'd also like to think that he knows the difference between right and wrong, knows what is acceptable and what isn't, but it's all really just a matter of opinion when you look at it. What's right in his mind might not be in another persons, and what's wrong to him might be seen as the opposite in another's eyes. He's always been a free spirit though, so judging isn't really his thing. It's not his place to tell someone what they should or shouldn't believe, and he hopes that one day everyone else will open their minds to such a thing, because freedom, equality, and peace for all shouldn't be this hard to achieve.

But that's not how the world and its inhabitants see life.

Unfortunately, everyone is expected to act and live a certain way. From the moment we're born we're criticized for every little thing, and if it's not right in even one person's eyes then we're automatically shunned. Nobody wants to experience that type of pain, so instead we force our true thoughts to the back of our minds and we ignore them, too busy going through life as what other people want and expect us to be.

Some are lucky enough to break the mold, and though most could if they tried, they're too scared.

And it's sad.

It's sad to see the light leaving someone's eyes.

It's sad to see someone conforming because they don't want to be labeled as 'different'.

And it's sad to see someone not even put up a fight.

The world can be a very depressing place, but he decided a long time ago that he wouldn't let it and the people dwelling in it bring him down. He was lucky enough to have a fire burning bright inside his chest, and he wasn't about to let it be put out any time soon.

The world might be afraid of being different, but Harry Styles certainly wasn't.