Chasing Empty Spaces

Chapter 2

"What about me?" Louis looked over his shoulder with a quirked eyebrow.

Harry sat upwards and rested one back on the dock, "D'you have a girlfriend?" He bumped Louis' shoulder, "Maybe even a mechanic's wife?"

Louis huffed out a laugh and shook his head, turning away from Harry.

"What," Harry pressed and knocked their knees together, "You don't bring all the blushin' ladies here?"

"Sorry to disappoint, but no," Louis pulled the knit cap off his head. He ran his fingers through his slightly matted hair, "You're actually the first person I've showed this place to."

Harry's eyes widened, "Really?"

Louis nodded and leisurely swayed his feet over the pond's surface.

"Oh," Harry dumbly said after a moment, not sure how else to respond.

Before he could think too far into it, Louis turned to him with concern coloring his irises.

"What're you gonna do about Faye?" Louis asked.

"What'd you mean?"

"I mean," Louis held out his hands in front of him, "Are you gonna marry her?"

Harry slightly narrowed his eyes, "I don't exactly have a choice in the matter, Louis."

Louis shook his head with a dumbfounded expression, "Course you do."

"My parents have expectations for me," Harry rushed out, starting to feel defensive.

"And?"

Harry straightened his back, "And as their son, I have to meet those expectations."

"As their son," Louis enunciated, "They should want you to meet your own expectations."

Harry frowned, "What does that even mean?"

"That means, it's your life and you should be livin' for yourself."

"It's not that simple."

Louis laughed, the column of his throat extending as he lolled his head back.

"Are you laughin' at me?" Harry turned his body to fully face Louis.

"I am," Louis panted once he calmed down enough to speak.

"You're rude."

"And you're too concerned with what people think."

Harry pulled his knees to his chest, "Are you gonna try and tell me that you don't care about your parents' expectations?"

"That's exactly what I'm tellin' you."

"But," Harry eyes widened, "How can you just not care?!"

Louis shrugged, "My mama wasn't supportive of me. I chose not to care and I left."

"You left?" Harry cocked his head to the side. "Left where?"

"Savannah."

Harry gawked at him, "Why'd you leave?"

"I told you," Louis trialed his finger over the dock, "Mama and I didn't see eye to eye."

"What happened?"

Louis sighed, "That's a story for anotha time, Stud."

"No," Harry insistently said. He expectantly widened his eyes, "You heard about what I'm goin' through. Now you tell me your story."

"And why would I do that?" Louis looked up at him.

"Why?" Harry dubiously laughed. "Maybe cos that's what friends do?"