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Talk to me. There's nothing that can't be fixed with some honesty. And how it got this dark is just beyond to me. If anyone can hear me, switch the lights.
When Harry had finally made his way back home, the flat was a wreck. All the chaos seems to have sprouted from the kitchen, and Francis stood in the very middle, a bowl of dough clutched between his flour covered hands. "Oh the boy is back and he didn't bring his secret lover!" He announces as Harry throws the keys on the counter.
"She's not my secret lover. Francis, I don't know if this party is the best thing to do right now. Don't you think-"
"I already invited everyone, I can't cancel on them now." Francis seemed far away. He was engaged in what was going on around him, but he wasn't at the same time. His attention was trained on the dough in front of him, taking small chunks of the mixture and forming it into small heaps before putting them onto a baking sheet. He seemed to almost be on autopilot.
"Is your secret lover coming as well?"
Harry, not in the mood to argue, nodded. "Yes, I invited her. Who else is coming?"
"Some of the guys from work, Emily, Anais, Jasper, E-"
"Hold on." Harry interferes with a frown. "Jasper? You hate Jasper, why are you inviting him?"
Harry met Jasper during his first year of university, Jasper is who introduced him to the rest of his friends. Francis had never particularly enjoyed his company, but he never felt the need to express that to Harry. Harry knew nevertheless.
"Well, I know you like him, and he honestly isn't too bad." He shrugs, placing the last bit of cookie dough on the baking tray and shoving in the oven.
"This is your party, why are you inviting people that I know you don't like?"
"I have nothing against Jasper."
"Whatever you say." Harry grabbed an apple from their fruit bowl before making his way to his work desk. "I'm going to do some work, call if you need anything."
"Don't be mad."
"I'm not mad, Fran."
"Okay."
~
Harry leaned back in his chair, turning on his PC. He had to edit photos from a brand shoot he did last week, they had to be turned in by next Wednesday. He drowned out the sound of Francis's clattering pots and pans with his headphones but he couldn't keep his friend off of his mind.
He knew Francis didn't want to throw this party. He knew he didn't want to invite Jasper. He knew that he did all of that to prove to the world, and to himself, that he was okay. And Harry wished that he didn't have to do that. He wished that, someday, Francis would be able to accept himself and all his flaws. He knew that life was an ever growing, continuous pain for his friend, and there wasn't anything that he could do about it.
