19.03.15
~*~
It had been a little over 3 months since they'd seen each other. Harry leaving for uni on the 10th of April and not coming back until the 20th of July. They called each other and were constantly sending texts but it was different from being with each other most days. School had become a place Louis was constantly agitated, despite Max being there people seemed to start picking on him even more for being gay. It was as if the presence of Harry had scared them away. Because school had become worse Louis attitude towards school had become worse meaning that his grades were dropping and his behaviour in the classroom wasn't as good as it used to be. He was grumpy and agitated and he just constantly wanted to go home.
"Louis," his English teacher Mr Gomez sighed, knowing the boy wouldn't answer his question anyway, "can you give your opinion on my the author wrote this passage the way he did?"
"I don't have an opinion sir." Louis grumbled, his chin resting on his hand.
"Alright, can you stay after school please I'd like to have a word."
Louis sighed and rolled his eyes as people around him snickered to themselves. Jess caught his eye and raised an eyebrow as if to ask 'why are you being like this?' but he just shrugged and looked away. The teacher let them choose partners for the work they were doing and seeing as Jess was the only one of his close friends in the group he partnered up with her.
"What's gotten into you lately Lou?" She asked as she wrote both their names at the top of paper.
"Nothing, I'm fine." He denied quickly.
"This time 2 months ago you wouldn't have said anything like that to anyone."
"I'm fine Jess."
"Is it the bullying thing? I saw what they wrote on your locker Lou, why don't you tell someone?"
"It's fine Jess. Besides they're not wrong are they?"
"Faggot," she hissed as if the word was burning her tongue, "is a horrible word. It's not funny and I don't see why they think it's okay. Louis you like men, so what? They have no right to use such a disgusting slur in a bullying manner. You've got to tell someone, especially if while they're bullying they're also vandalizing by writing it on your locker."
"I'm not going to tell anyone Jess, if I do they'll just get worse. Maybe if I don't react then they'll stop." He said weakly, rubbing harshly at his eyes so he didn't cry.
"Babe." Jess sighed, hugging him.
"It's fine, I'm fine. Explain to me what we're doing again." Louis said, changing the subject.
With a reluctant sigh Jess let the subject drop and she didn't mention it again, telling Louis she'd wait for him outside at the end of the lesson while he was talking to Mr Gomez. The teacher just went on about Louis' attitude and how he hoped it would improve because other wise he wouldn't get the grade he'd like for his GCSE next year. He just nodded and told him he'd try harder before he was let out, Jess, Olly, Jamie and Max standing outside waiting for him.
Max kissed him lightly and took hold of his hand as they headed for the exit.
"Why are you glum Lou? Doesn't Harry come back Monday?" Jamie asked, noticing his best friend frowning slightly.
"Yeah, dunno if I'll see him, mum still doesn't know if he's coming back to look after the girls." He replied, smiling half heartedly.
"Bet you will, he loves you." Jamie teased, pinching Louis lightly as they neared the gates.
"Not as much as I do." Max said quietly, kissing Louis cheek as the shorter boy looked up at him with a loving smile.
"What time is training tonight?" Jamie asked Max over Louis' head.
"5, reckon your dad could give me a lift?"
"Yeah, he's here now so you can come with now and then he'll take you home."
"Alright." Max shrugged, putting his arm around Louis waist.
Stan came running up then from where he was stood near the gates, red faced and a giant grin spread from ear to ear.
"What's got you smiling like the cheshire cat?" Olly asked.
"Lou...gates...look." He panted out but Louis didn't need Stan to tell him anymore.
Harry was stood leaning against the wall, sunglasses perched on his face and his arms folded across his chest. From where Louis was he could see a smirk on Harrys face, the older boy calm and relaxed as if they'd seen each other 3 hours ago not 3 months ago. Without a second thought Louis wriggled out a Max's grip, dropped his bag at Jess's feet and was running towards Harry. He jumped when he got near and wrapped his legs around the older boys waist as Harry caught him with a laugh.
"Oh my god!" He squealed, Harry still laughing in his ear.
"Surprise." Harry laughed, putting Louis down and wrapping his arms around the younger boy.
"I thought you weren't back till Monday."
"Yeah well I finished classes yesterday and the people renting our house moved out this morning so we all just decided to come back early, thought I'd surprise you."
"I'm definitely surprised. I've missed you so much."
"I missed you too princess." Harry laughed.
"Still not giving up on that nickname I suppose?"
"As if I would."
"You've got stubble," Louis noticed, reaching his hand up to stroke along Harrys jaw, "and your eyebrow and ear piercings are gone."
"Yeah, the eyebrow ring got lost and I never bought a new one and I just took the earrings out, think I'll stick to just the lip piercing for now."
"Yeah, that's my favourite."
Olly, Jess and Stan were approaching, Max and Jamie having gone off in the opposite direction to get to Jamies dads car.
"Someone has cheered up then." Jess teased, handing Louis his bag.
"Shush, thanks Jess." Louis replied, looking up at Harry with a pleading smile, silently asking the older boy to carry his bag.
"We're walking you know, Zayns got my car." Harry told him.
"Bummer, was hoping finally I'd get that luxury back."
"As if." Harry laughed, tugging on Louis hand and beginning to walk down the hill towards the village.
"So tell me the gossip, what have I missed?" He asked the group, his and Louis' hands brushing against each others as they walked.
"Ooh! Miss Carnegie is pregnant!" Olly said.
"Yeah and guess whos baby it is?" Jess asked.
"No idea." Harry shrugged.
"Mr Gomez."
"What? I thought he was married?"
"He is, that's what makes it all the more scandalous." Olly laughed.
"Well bloody hell, didn't expect that."
"It was Dylan who wrote on your locker." Stan told Louis.
"How do you know?" Louis asked, worry flooding through his body.
"Overheard him and Jason talking about, had to stop myself punching them both."
"What was on your locker?" Harry asked casually.
"Nothing." Louis replied far too quickly.
"Louis, what was on your locker?"
"Harry, nothing was on my locker."
"Tell me later then?" Harry offered, knowing Louis was lying to him.
"There was nothing on my locker so I have nothing to tell you later."
"Baby I know you're lying because when you lie you hold onto your right thumb."
"No I don't." Louis protested, holding onto his right thumb.
"You're doing it now."
"Please just drop it H."
"Alright." Harry surrendered, putting his hands up in defence then flashing Louis a grin.
With a shake of his head Louis' sighed, smiling up at Harry to try and convince the boy he was fine. His friends all went off in their own directions, Harry and Louis heading back to Harrys house. When they arrived Niall, Zayn and Lex were all in the living room, Lex jumping up immediately to hug Louis.
"My babe," she exclaimed, "how are you?"
"I'm fine, we spoke yesterday Lex nothing new has happened." Louis laughed.
"I know but I missed you, I'm attatched to you now there's no getting rid of me."
"God help me."
Louis looked to Harry who was leaning on the wall with a vacant expression on his face.
"Alright kiddo?" Zayn asked, stretching his leg out to nudge Louis with his toe.
"Don't call me that." Louis whined, glaring at him.
"Why not, kid?"
"Cause I hate it."
"What about lolita?" Niall tried, seeing how far he could push the boy.
The comment made Louis blush and shift from one foot to another as he tried to think of a reply.
"Niall, enough." Lex scolded, shaking her head at the two who were grinning smugly.
Louis hurried out to the kitchen, intent on getting himself a glass of water then trying to calm down. Of course Harry was in the kitchen but he made no movement to talk to Louis or even get a glass down for him like he usually did. Watching the way Harry moved around the kitchen, Louis drank his water, his eyes following the older boy before moving the glass from his mouth and saying quietly "Are you mad at me?"
"No." Harry replied stiffly.
"You are."
"No I'm not."
"Is this about the locker thing?"
Harry sighed and said "I just want to know okay."
"And I don't want to tell you."
"Why don't you want to tell me?"
"Because it's stupid and it doesn't matter. You don't need to know Harry."
"I want to know," he said taking a deep breath so he wouldn't shout, "I care about you and I want to know what's going on. I want you to tell me these things."
With a reluctant sigh Louis gave in saying "I'll tell you. Just please don't get angry at me."
"Baby, I wouldn't."
"Fag." Louis whispered.
"What?" Harry replied, confusion on his face.
"Fag. That's what they wrote on my locker."
"What? Why?"
"The same reason they called me a queer," he mumbled, tears brimming in his eyes, "the same reason they called me a poof, a bender, a fairy. I don't know why they do it though, suppose they're not wrong though are they? I am a fag."
Harry practically lurched forward and pulled Louis into a hug as tears began rolling down the younger boys face.
"No, no, no baby. You're not any of those things. You like boys, so what? That's all. There's nothing wrong with who you are and they're just horrible people for making you think there is. Have you told someone?"
"No." Louis whimpered.
"You need to, this is bullying baby. You can't let them do this."
"But if I tell someone then they'll hate me even more and they'll do worse things."
"You can't think of it like that. They're bullying you and you need to tell someone so it can be sorted out. Does your mum know?"
"No," he admitted, "don't tell her. Please. I'll tell her."
"I'm not gonna tell her love, but you've got to do something okay."
Louis nodded and Harry looked down at him with a smile.
"Good, now how about we order chinese and watch movies?"
The younger boy perked up, a proper smile stretching across his lips. Harry wouldn't admit to the smug grin that spread across his face when he saw Louis wearing the paper airplane necklace.
A/N
Hi my loves, how are you?
All this Zayn drama is giving me anxiety and making me sad, I hate it and I hope he's okay :(
I hope you're all well, see you next week x
**image, I love this fan art, eeeeekk**