|•| : Harry's pov
|∆|: Louis' pov
|✉|: 3rd person pov
The rumble of a loud engine woke Louis up as he sat up in his still dark bedroom. He closed the laptop he realised he'd fallen asleep on, stretching lightly as he made his way down the stairs to find his father slamming the door shut.
His nose scrunched at the alcohol stench he left in his wake, completely ignoring Louis' sagged frame against the staircase railing. His ears perked up at the voice of a woman coming from his father's bedroom. A few things falling over and the bedroom door slamming shut made him gag internally. He grabbed a protein bar, running upstairs and locking the door. He skipped breakfast to avoid bumping into his father and whoever he'd brought home.
He sat at his desk, a small wooden table with a revolving chair that creaked and squeaked at the smallest movement. His desk didn't have a lot of stuff, a few textbooks and novels scattered on the table with a few pictures of him with Zayn and Niall, with the Ballet troupe pinned up on the wall above the table. The one picture he really loved was from the photobooth at the local fair his friends took him to on his birthday three years ago.
*Three years ago*
Louis' day had unsurprisingly started off with his father yelling at him from downstairs. He slid on the oversized hoodie he'd borrowed from Zayn, dragging himself downstairs.
He jumped as an empty beer bottle crashed right before his feet, making him stumble against the wall. His father was sitting on the dining table, the lamp above his head flickering with a depressing yellow light. In front of him was an envelope, a little crumpled but looked freshly delivered. He snarled at Louis, throwing the white envelope at his chest.
He fumbled his fingers going through the envelope addressed to him.
He wanted to cry. He wanted the floorboards to open and swallow him whole. His skin prickled with hurt and confusion, eyes stinging with the burn of forgotten tears. His thumb trembled as he traced over the singular line on the white sheet of paper.
'Happy Birthday Loubear' - momma
His heart felt like it would crush itself out of his ribs in an attempt to free itself of the misery four words made him feel.
So his mother was alive and well somewhere, she remembered him on his 18th birthday. He took a daring peek inside the envelope to find a gold chain with a dandelion pendant. He sniffled and pulled it out, tracing the pendant.
He knew why his mother chose this specific pendant, their backyard had a lot of dandelions when it used to be taken care of. She'd sit there with Louis after a particularly bleak day, holding him in her lap. She'd hold a dandelion up for him.
"Remember Loubear, wish for happiness. Everything else shall find you if you're happy in life"
And he would. He'd blow gently, wishing for happiness even if his little three year old self didn't know what being happy meant truly.
His faint smile at the memory was quick to fade as his father's large hands snatched the chain, leaving the pendant in his palm.
"NO" he screamed, trying to grab the chain as his father struck him across his face.
He stood there stunned, his ears ringing as tears streamed down his cheeks. He knew his father to be verbally abusive, spewing curse words at him left and right but he'd never dared to hit him. His right cheek felt numb, he knew it'd bruise with how hard he'd hit.
"Keep your filthy hands off of this. She thinks she can boast her wealth by sending these gifts? There's no need to accept any gifts that come from her. If I see you accepting them, consider yourself dead."
The threat should've seemed faux, but it no longer did. The weight of it kept him grounded to the wooden floor. He nodded weakly as his father grabbed his phone, leaving him alone and scared.
He finally slid down the wall on the floor, body trembling like a leaf as he cried. His hand looked for his phone, dialling Zayn's number immediately.
Few minutes pass with him lying on the cold floor in a foetal position before a cold gust of wind makes him shiver. He tilts his head up noticing Zayn, Niall, David and Taylor huddling inside.
"Oh boo..." Zayn coos, gently helping Louis sit up as he immediately buries his face in the cool skin of his neck, crying silently as his fingers curl in the collar of the navy blue shirt Zayn was wearing.
He stays like that for a while, tucked into Zayn's lap while the others took turns rubbing his back as he cried his heart out.
After what seems like hours, he looks up, his voice hoarse and raw
"Thank you all so much for coming as soon as I called" he whispers.
"Of course darling, c'mon it's ya birthday we won't let him ruin it"
David smiled, pulling Louis up gently as he wiped his eyes. He hugged him gently, kissing his forehead
"We're going to the Winter fair. C'mon" Taylor tugged him closer taking him upstairs while Niall and David cleared the broken glass.
Louis tucked the letter and pendant in the lock and key drawer of his small cupboard.
He opted for a baby pink turtleneck and khaki pants. He tugged the beige cable knit pom pom hat over his head, loose fringe sticking to his forehead as he walked downstairs.
David drove all of them to the fair. Louis sat between Niall and Zayn as they fought with Taylor over her choice of songs.
As they stepped out in the parking lot, the wave of hot chocolate and baked goods hit them like a truck. Warming them up from within. Louis held Niall's hand as they entered.
The entrance was a huge arch, imitating half a wreath as comforting yellow lights adorned it. The snow had settled on it, giving it a magical glow.
The wet snow crunched beneath their feet, rows and rows of stalls with various games, food items and clothes lined the fair. The walkway was lined with mini Christmas tree pots, fairy lights decorating them as snow remains scattered around it.
They played games, bought hot chocolate far too many times and bought fruit cake.
Taylor dragged them all to a photo booth near the entrance, all of them squished in the small booth. Louis sitting on Niall's lap, Zayn sitting on David's lap while Taylor stood behind them all.
The camera flashed, the curtain of the booth rustling as their laughter overtook the voices in Louis' head.
He went home with a happy heart and probably a cavity.
It had not been an ideal birthday, but looking at the pictures right now, it definitely was the best.
He was late. He was royally fucked.
He didn't realise when his father left or if he left as he sprinted out of the house. He was late for Mr. Styles' class. He just hoped he doesn't bring any of last night up today. Or anyday.
As he squeezes himself past the groups of students huddling towards their classes he trips, catching himself as he stumbles on the door, making a lot more noise than he originally wanted to.
When he looks up, all eyes are on him including a pair of jade green eyes that twinkle with amusement.
"You alright there Mr. Tomlinson?"
Mr. Styles' voice seemed deeper somehow if that's possible. The hair on the back of his neck stood up as he heard a subtle click of his tongue before shoes clicked towards him.
Louis' gaze shifted, finally taking in his appearance. He was wearing a black velvet suit with a pink silk shirt inside. His hair slicked back as he watched Louis with a glint in his eye, Louis couldn't quite place what his eyes held. His face was even more perfect up close, his cupid's bow shaped lips looked too good to be true.
He quickly looked back down, not to look too obvious but he was certain he crossed that point a while ago. Louis coughed to hide a blush as a strong hand steadied him off the door.
"I asked if you were okay Mr. Tomlinson?"
The warmth of the hand went as quickly as it came, leaving a weird feeling in his body.
"I'm alright sir." He nodded, somehow managing to coax out a coherent sentence from his muddled and fuzzy brain.
'He smells like cinnamon and musk. God stop being so intrusive, probably the whole class can hear you'
He heard Harry clear his throat, speaking a little more sternly.
"Mr. Tomlinson, please take a seat. It's your first time being late so I'm letting you go easy. But make sure you sleep on time and reach on time instead of looking out your window late at night"
Louis' eyes widened scrambling to the seat beside Niall.
"What the fuck just happened" he heard Niall speak but it seemed distant.
Louis' eyes were transfixed to the man in front of them. He reeked of mystery and that intrigued Louis.
And if he spent the rest of his lecture caressing the spot Harry's hand touched him, no one had to know.'