TW⚠️: Mentions of a character hating the way they look, and a character not eating enough
The song attached may also be triggering for the same reasons
Idea for this from: Moondragonice
Thanks for the idea! :)
Enjoy the chapter everyone!
***
No one's POV
"Guys, the real reason Henry passed out isn't cause he was tired or overworked!" Jake said "He passed out cause he hasn't been eating for a few days!!"
Drew's eyes went wide. Liam looked at Henry, and Henry saw his eyes were wide too
"He was doing it for a while a couple days ago, too! I talked to him and convinced him to stop. And you wanna talk promises, Henry?! Well, you promised me that you'd stop this all!!"
Liam stared at Henry in shock
"Honey, is...is that true....?" he asked. Henry could hear the pain and worry in his voice, and that just broke him. He didn't wanna lie anymore
"Y-Yes, it's true, okay...?!" he snapped
There was silence in that moment, as tears started to flow from Henry's eyes. Drew and Jake looked at each other. Jake felt bad about revealing Henry's secret. But not too bad, knowing he was helping him. Drew put his arm around Jake, and rubbed.his shoulder lightly. Then he looked back at Liam
"We'll give you two a minute alone, okay...?" Drew said. Liam looked at Drew and Jake, and nodded. Drew and Jake left the room, closing the door behind them
---
Liam sat on the bed next to Henry. Put hugged him and patted his head, waiting for him to stop crying. Once he had, he rested his head on Liam's shoulder
"Henry, why didn't you tell me earlier that you felt like you had to do this...?"
"I-I dunno..." Henry responded
"Does your mom know about this...?"
"N-No, and she can't..." Henry said
"Babe, you gotta tell someone about this..."
There was silence, then Liam asked another question
"Why did you tell Jake first and not me...?"
"I didn't wanna worry you..." Henry said "a-and besides, you....."
The next part of Henry's sentenced he kept to a low mumble
"What...? What about me...?" Liam asked. He lifted Henry's face to look at him
"Y-You deserve someone better than me..." Henry said
"What...?"
"I said you deserve someone better than me...!!" Henry repeated "I-I'm ugly a-and gross and-and overweight, and y-you need someone S-So much better than m-me....!!"
Liam suddenly pulled Henry onto his lap and hugged him. Henry put his arms around Liam as he cried into his shoulder. Liam just patted Henry's head lightly, trying to calm him down. After a bit, Henry looked at Liam
"Henry, I want you to listen to me..." Liam said. Henry nodded
"I love you, okay...? I always have, and I'm always gonna...your looks don't define you as a person...you're cute, funny, sweet...you're the most amazing thing that's ever happened to me..."
A light pink blush rushed over Henrys cheeks as he stared at Liam
"If you ever feel that way about yourself, always talk to me about it...don't do something drastic like that again...promise me you'll always talk to me...?"
Henry looked down, thinking for a minute. Then looked back up at Liam, and smiled a bit
"Okay...I promise..." he said
---
"He hates me, I know it..."
In the waiting room of the office, Drew and Jake were sitting beside each other. Jake was starting to feel guilty about revealing Henry's secret
"Jake, you did the right thing..." Drew said as he rubbed Jake's back
"What if he doesn't wanna talk to me anymore...?!"
Drew sighed, then held Jake's hand. This made Jake look up at him
"Jake, listen to me." Drew said sternly "Henry's your friend, right?"
Jake nodded
"Then he won't be mad..." Drew said "You did the right thing by telling us about this...imagine how much worse it would be if you didn't tell anyone..."
Jake hesitated before nodding again
"And if by some chance he is mad..." Drew continued "It won't last long...in the end, he'll thank you...okay...?"
Suddenly, the next thing Drew said caught Jake off guard
"Trust me, I...I would know..."
Jake gave Drew a confused look
"Huh...? ...b-babe, what are you talking about...?"
Drew hesitated, looking down. Then he sighed, and said;
"When...I was younger...b-before I met you...I felt the same way that Henry's feeling...I felt like I needed to loose weight so people could like me..."
Jake's eyes went wide
"How....long did that go on for...?" he asked
"A-About a week..." Drew said "I didn't tell anyone...but...somehow some kid found out...he told me he understood what it was like having a secret...and he...tried to help me....told me all the things to help me feel good about myself again..."
"D-Drew, I...I'm so sorry..." Jake said
"It's alright.." Drew said "Believe me, I feel a lot better about myself now...I've felt better about myself for years now, actually..."
Jake smiled, then asked;
"If you don't mind my asking, who....was the kid who helped you..."
Drew smirked a bit. "I think ya know him..." he said
Jake raised an eyebrow
"I'll give you a hint.." Drew said. He then gave Jake a cold, terrifying stare. One Jake was easily able to recognize. His eyes went wide
"Zander....?!"
"Bingo.." Drew said, pointing to Jake. Jake was in shock
"Wow..." he said
Drew nodded. "Don't ask how I can perfectly do that stare." he said
Jake smiled a bit, then hugged Drew
"I'm glad you...told me all this, Drew..." he said. Drew nodded, smiling a bit, and put his arm around Jake
"You know I love you for you, right...?" Jake said
"Of course.." Drew said, holding Jake's hand "And you understand the point I've been trying to get across, right?"
Jake nodded, continuing to hug Drew
"Thanks Drew..." he smiled
"Don't mention it..." Drew responded
---
Back in the nurses office, Henry was still sitting on Liam's lap, their arms still around each other
"....ya know, the last couple of days, it has seemed like you've felt smaller every time we do this..." Liam said
Henry gave a small nod
"....Liam, can...can we go to your house early...? And I can stay tonight and tomorrow...?" he asked
"I gotta ask my mom..but if she says yes, then of course...absolutely..." Liam responded, smiling and nodding
---
After checking with both their mom's, Liam and Henry were able to go to Liam's house. Liam's mom had been gone for a while due to a business meeting for her job. So Liam and Henry would have the whole house to themselves
"You want a snack..?" Liam asked Henry as they left their bags and coats by the door
"This is...my first time saying this in a while and meaning it truthfully...but yes...yes, I do.." Henry said smiling a bit
He went to the couch and flopped down
"Whatcha got...?" he asked
"A lot of stuff.." Liam said "Cookies, chips...uh...I think mini cupcakes...?"
Henry thought for a minute, then said "Chips..?"
Liam nodded
"And uh...can I have a...fairly large bowl...?" Henry asked as Liam was leaving, making him look back at him
Liam smiled a bit with a nod, then left to the kitchen
---
Henry and Liam were laying on the couch, watching tv. They'd both finished the chips they were eating, and had seconds. As they were laying on the couch, Liam's arm around Henry and Henry leaning his head on Liam's shoulder, Henry suddenly looked down at his stomach
He closed his jacket over his stomach, then folded his arms over it, which Liam noticed
"Hen...?"
Henry looked up at Liam
"What...?"
"Are you okay...?"
"Um...I don't really know..."
Liam kissed Henry suddenly, making him turn red
"I love you..."
Henry just laughed a bit. "I love you more..." he said smiling. This time though, he was truly happy while smiling
---
After a bit, Henry was asleep in Liam's lap. Liam was watching tv, and suddenly he heard his phone buzz. He picked it up and saw a text from Jake
Jake🎤: Dude, help. Drew's at my place, and he fell asleep leaning up against me, and I can't move😭
Liam🍅: Lol. We both got happening at the moment☺️
Liam sent a photo of Henry laying on him asleep
Jake🎤: Aww, cute!
Jake sent Liam a photo of Drew asleep beside him, his head on Jake's shoulder
Liam🍅: Hehehe. He's gonna be so pissed when he sees how he fell asleep
Jake🎤: Yeah😝Hey, btw, how's Henry doing now..?
Liam🍅: A lot better...he had two bowls of chips to eat, and I'm gonna make us some frozen pizza later🍕
Jake🎤: That's good☺️
Liam🍅: Hey, I almost forgot...thanks for saying something when you did...I can't imagine him suffering in silence any longer...
Jake🎤: It's not a problem at all. I didn't want him hurting anymore either
Liam🍅: Yeah..
Jake🎤: Crap, I think Drew's waking up😬😅Talk to ya later possibly?
Liam🍅: Sure! Say hi to Drew for me
Jake🎤: Will do👍Tell Henry the same, and tell him I hope he's feeling better☺️
Liam🍅: Will do👍
Liam smiled at Henry, then kissed his cheek before going back to watching tv. He looked down after a bit and saw Henry smiling slightly while asleep
"Heh...cute..." he said quietly to himself
End
Authors Note: Remember everyone! You are all beautiful no matter what ^^