THIRTEEN / LIGHT.
[ Louis' POV ]
Doncaster.
After spending my whole weekend taking care of Emily at the hospital, with Harry never leaving my side, it was Monday again.
And I needed to go back to my work duties.
It was a miracle that Emily didn't get major injuries and that the doctors discharged her late last night, because this morning she stayed inside our flat, resting on her bed.
Harry, who didn't want to leave me alone in case Emily or I needed something, spent the night in my car, denying my - and Emily's - offers of sleeping on my couch.
This morning I left him back at the park after two days, with his things and my guitar so he could spend the rest of the day.
Of course it was on my plans to pick him up after work and let him sleep in my car tonight as well. But I knew he was going to argue with me about it, and I hoped I would win against his stubbornness.
Because after everything we faced this weekend, I just couldn't keep him away any longer. Not after living the scare of my life with Emily.
Another thing, was that now Emily kept insisting on contacting Gemma Styles, and I must admit I was curious.
I was curious about Harry's reaction when Emily named her, and about the last name coincidence.
So, now that the rush of the weekend passed and I was coincidentally sitting in front of my work computer, it was my chance to investigate.
I quickly opened the browser and typed Gemma Styles, finding many articles about her organization and all the victims she already found and took in at the shelter.
It was quite amazing what she accomplished in only a month, but she was doing it and she already had contacts all over the country.
I kept digging and found her number and an email account, I saved them for later and returned to the main browser, quickly typing Harry Styles next to Gemma's name.
And just like that, in just a millisecond, it all showed up.
Hundreds of images of Gemma next to Harry, photos of Harry alone, looking a bit younger than he is right now, but much more healthier, photos of him in different signs at the manifestations of some city.
Holmes Chapel.
But also some pictures of a gravestone.
Dated this year.
Harry Styles was buried at the Holmes Chapel cemetery this past fall by his mother.
This is another of the victims that were taken in this violent situation that is surrounding us.
What?
Harry's not dead.
Did these people think he was dead?
How?
I kept searching and I felt my heart stop when I found a video of Gemma talking about her brother only four days ago.
"I started this organization because my brother is one of the victims too. We still haven't found him, but Harry if you're out there somewhere, we're still looking for you, we didn't give up.
I miss my brother every day and I know deep in my heart that he is still alive and fighting."
I pressed pause and clumsily grabbed my phone, quickly dialling her number and placing the device in my ear.
I needed to tell her.
I needed to let her know that he is indeed alive, and that he was here.
I heard the tone on the line for seconds.
I couldn't stop myself from lifting my fingers to my teeth and biting my nails.
My leg was bouncing in nervousness and I just didn't know what to say to her if she answered.
It was all a really twisted and crazy situation.
But she didn't pick up.
This is Gemma Styles' phone, I can't speak right now. Leave a message.
"Fuck!" - I whispered-yelled.
I hung up and dialled again.
Maybe if I insisted...
But no.
This is Gemma Styles' phone, I can't speak right now. Leave a message.
"Shit!" - I ran a hand on my face. - "Fine." - I sighed and nodded to myself. - "Hello Gemma, this is Louis Tomlinson. I'd really appreciate it if you call me back. I need to speak to you urgently."
Yeah, that's a good message.
I hung up and let my head fall on my desk, not caring about my forehead pressed against the keyboard or my phone falling on my lap.
This just can't be real.
Suddenly I felt two hands on my shoulders and someone's weight leaning down on me.
"What are you doing, Lou? Everything alright?"
"Chad, hey." - I sighed, straightening up and looking back at the screen with Gemma's video still on pause.
"Hey, who's that?" - He pointed to the screen from over my shoulder.
"Nobody. What did you want?" - I asked, turning around in my wheelchair.
"Wow no need to get aggressive." - He smiled. - "I was just wondering if you wanted to come over to my place tonight."
"What?" - I said, raising an eyebrow.
"I know it's Monday, but maybe you can stay at my place tonight and we'll come here together early in the morning."
"No, Chad. Sorry but I can't deal with you today."
"What does that mean?"
"I just... I have a lot of things to do and worry about and you're... you're in the way right now. Please don't ask."
"But Lou... we said..."
"I know, okay?" - I stopped him. - "But I can't today. I have... I'm in the middle of something. Just please leave me alone today." - I said, exasperatedly.
"Fine, okay." - He said sharply and turned around, going back to his desk.
I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
I need to deal with him later.
~
After three more attempts to call Gemma and two scolds of my boss for not doing my job correctly, I was finally able to leave that stupid place and go find Harry.
I rushed to the park and I could hear Harry's voice even before seeing his figure.
It was incredible how he was now playing the entire song, how happy he looked while singing, and how many more people stopped just to listen to him.
I got closer and stood up in between the multitude until he finished his finally completed song.
I smiled and applauded loudly at Harry, causing him to look up at me and grin.
People left some money on the guitar case and dissipated eventually.
"Lou."
"You smashed it. It sounds incredible!"
"Thanks." - He shrugged. - "You're the one who helped me though."
I smiled and knelt by his side, softly leaning over him and kissing his lips.
"You're the talented one."
He blushed and shook his head.
"Do you want to play today?"
"I actually want us to talk."
"Talk? About what?" - He asked me, placing the guitar back in it's case on the ground and turning to face me.
"Is there anything else you remember about your family? You mentioned your mom the other day, but maybe you remembered something else since Saturday?"
"Uhm... no, not really."
"Not even after the song?"
"I... the song is important to me..."
"How so?"
"I feel like it's mine."
"Yours?"
"Yeah... like I wrote it."
"I believe that too."
"Really? Why?"
"Because the melody is beautiful, but I never heard it on the radio before." - I shrugged. - "And I already told you. You're talented. Really talented. So it wouldn't be a surprise if you wrote such a beautiful song."
"You're too good with me."
"I'm trying." - I shrugged with a playful smile.
Our eyes locked and I could feel so much happiness emanating from them, like if he was finally feeling comfortable with himself and with me.
He was finding his way.
I closed my eyes and leaned in, closing the gap between us and pressing my lips against his'.
He smiled into the kiss, but kissed me back sweetly.
I moved my hands to rest on his lower back and he also pulled me closer by the neck of my shirt.
Progressively, the kiss turned deeper and more passionate.
Harry sighed against my lips and dipped back into the kiss, allowing me to feel his plump lips and his tongue in every inch of my mouth.
I hummed softly and I gently separated our lips, rubbing circles on his back and looking fondly at him.
"So, you remembered the song being yours."
"Yes." - He smiled widely, softly caressing my nape with his thumb.
"Do you remember where you were at that time? When you wrote it?"
"Mmmm... I had my old guitar, the one that broke in half?" - He asked me and I nodded. - "That one. And I was in a room. My bedroom."
"What was your bedroom like?"
"It had... yellow walls and..." - He stopped and smiled at the memory forming in his mind. - "There was this desk... and it was like really old, but I loved it because it belonged to my grandpa."
"Really? You remember your grandpa?" - I asked softly, still feeling his fingers playing with the strands of hair in the back of my neck.
"No... I mean, I remember grieving? Like as if he wasn't around anymore. Like a pain in my chest if I try to remember him, but also happiness."
"Maybe he was alive when you were a kid?"
"Maybe." - He smiled and pressed his forehead against mine.
"What else do you remember, angel?"
"Sometimes I have this image of a park... and it has some similarities to this place, to that fountain over there." - He signaled with a movement of his chin. - "But not completely. I guess it's just another park. And I wasn't alone. I was having fun? I guess."
"Who were you with?"
"I believe... it was my sister?"
"Do you remember having a sister too?" - I smiled, feeling some kind of relief in my whole body.
"Kinda." - He shrugged.
"Would you like to see your family again sometime?"
"No."
"Why, love?"
"Because I don't remember them. And I don't want to be with strangers, or maybe... Louis, I don't want them to be in danger."
"Why would they be in danger?"
"Because I think... I think there's someone after me? And they could be after my family too."
"That's why you don't want to find your way back?"
"Yeah." - He whispered.
"Okay." - I said, thinking to myself while I stroked his back.
"I don't want you to be in danger because of me either."
"I'm not. We're safe."
He leaned towards me and pecked my lips shortly.
"I feel safe."
I looked at him and cupped his cheeks, nuzzling my nose against his'.
Harry was just so pure, so incredible and so gentle. I just couldn't believe my luck.
I knew I had to protect him.
I knew I couldn't just leave him here.
If he felt safe with me, then I was his only chance to get out of the streets and go back to his family.
Even if that meant letting him go eventually.
I had to do this for his family that's still out there trying to find him, I had to do this for him.
For this wonderful creature that didn't deserve anything that happened to him.
"Harry, tonight you're coming to my flat with me."
"No, I already told you I don't want to." - He said, lowering his hands back to his lap and taking some distance from me.
"Harry, please, I want to give you a home. And a place to stay the night. If you want to come and play the guitar here during the day, that's fine with me. But you won't stay here at night any longer."
His eyes softened and looked down at his hands.
"Why?"
"Because I want you there. I want you alive and I want you with me."
"Really?"
"Really. I promised you I was going to help. This is where I start. You can finally sleep in a real bed, shower in a real bathroom, eat at a real table. I can give you all of that. I want you to have all of that. Please, let me."
He nodded shyly without looking at me.
"If that's what you want."
"Yes. That's what I want." - I smiled and grabbed his chin, making him look at me again. - "You have suffered enough, you need to be happy."
"Okay..." - He whispered, leaning towards me and wrapping his arms around me, resting his head on my shoulder. - "But the second you feel like I'm too much trouble, you'll let me know."
"That won't happen." - I said, sliding my arms around him and hugging him closer to me.
"That means we're leaving now?"
"Yeah, in a bit. I need to check on Emily."
"Okay... does this also mean I'm going to sleep with you?"
"Only if you want to. I can take the couch."
"But I like to sleep in your arms."
"Then I'll hug you to sleep." - I smiled at him and kissed his cheek and then pecked his nose too, causing him to grin. - "I'll hold you forever." - I whispered into his hair.
"Please."