Chasing Empty Spaces

Chapter 3

“It was presumptuous and rude,” Harry bristled, his own anger egging itself on.

Louis broadened his shoulders and gritted out, “So is the way you’re treatin’ the only person who seems to give a shit ‘bout you.”

Harry gawped at that, his hand slipping from the handlebars. He saw regret flicker over Louis’ face as he hung his head down, a heavy exhale puffing from his lips. Louis’ shoulders slumped and he looked back up to meet Harry’s gaze.

“That was out of line, I’m –”

“Thanks for what you did yesterday,” Harry coolly cut Louis off. He stepped away from Louis and expectantly held his palm out, “Keys?”

“Stud,” Louis frowned, “C’mon, just –”

“Don’t call me that,” Harry looked over his shoulder towards the estate. He saw the silhouette of his mother in the dining room window and rushed out, “Just give me the keys and you can go.”

“All I’m tryin’ to do,” Louis slowly passed Harry the car keys, “Is understand you better.”

“Yeah?” Harry snatched the keys and bitterly snipped, “Well, don’t.”

Harry schooled his expression into blankness, something he had perfected over the years. Without another word, he strode towards the front steps of the estate.

“Is this how you handle all your problems?” Louis called after him. Harry sucked in a breath as Louis continued, “Just walk away and act all fine when you’re not?”

Hauling the front door open, Harry walked inside and shut it behind him. He momentarily paused with his back against the wooden surface before he rushed towards the parlor’s widow. Unceremoniously, Harry dropped his book onto the ground and pulled back the drapes a fraction of an inch. He looked outside to see Louis still standing in the drive. Harry’s fingers dug into the thick fabric and his lips parted.

Louis stared at the estate with a frown etched into his face. He watched the front door as if he was waiting for Harry to come back outside. When Harry saw Louis tug his bottom lip between his teeth, there was a moment where he considered going back and apologizing. He knew that he was sensitive and had probably overreacted, but Louis’ words were still stinging inside his head. There was a sliver of a truth to them and Harry didn’t know how to even begin to grapple with it.

The echo of heels clattering across the floor pulled Harry from the possibility of changing his mind. His fingers instantly let go of the drapes. Harry snapped his head to the entrance of the parlor in time to see his mother strutting towards him.

“Everything alright dear?” Anne asked, feigning a concern that Harry suspected she wasn’t truly capable of.

“Yeah,” Harry tightly nodded. He glanced towards the drapes and then stepped away, “Just fine.”

He kissed his mother on the cheek and hurried towards the staircase. With every step, his pace quickened, wonder growing inside his twisted gut. Harry pushed his way into his bedroom and traipsed towards the window. His hands gripped the windowsill while his eyes flickered along the drive.

It was empty.

Harry shut his eyes and rested his forehead against the cool glass, his breath fogging the window when he exhaled. His fingernails dully scraped down the window sill before he slumped to the floor. Curling his knees to his chest, Harry tried to work out why he bothered to care what Louis thought about him in the first place.

Six hours passed and Harry never came to a conclusion.

****

Not bothering to straighten his suit jacket, Harry rapped his knuckles against a crimson colored door. He took a step backwards and only had to wait a fraction of a minute before the Mason’s door was pulled open. A young maid stood in the doorway, blonde hair pinned into a neat bun and a polite smile pinned to her face.