Save Myself // Larry Stylinson

Chapter 17

Chapter 17: XVII

Summary:

500 years later...

Sorry about the wait on this chapter.

I still love you all and I hope to get the next chapter posted ASAP

<3 <3

Also, mild trigger warning for mentions of non-consent. Super not graphic though!

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Louis woke up with a stiff neck and a heavy heart on Zayn's couch. It was just passed seven, and of course, Zayn was awake (or still awake—Louis wasn't sure). There was a burn in Louis' stomach, a reminder of how much he'd drank the previous night. He felt a bit sick to his stomach, and more than a little confused about what was next. Instinctively the first thing he did was reach for his phone. As he suspected, the previous day hadn't been a dream. His phone informed him, that yes, it was still the middle of the week, and no, Harry hadn't texted him.

Louis tried to stifle all of the parts of him that wanted to break because of those facts. He couldn't do it. He couldn't be a functioning adult today. There was just no way he was going to make it to classes.

What hadn't Harry texted him?

Harry always texted him. He always overcompensated apologies so Louis wasn't sure why this time would be any different. He felt a strangely chilling emptiness in his chest as he considered everything. Maybe Harry shouldn't be apologizing? Maybe it was all Louis' fault. It was more than likely, but Louis didn't really want to consider it. He wasn't really to be transported back to the previous night. He didn't want to think about the things Harry had been trying to tell him.

Instead of allowing himself to dwell on what had happened the previous night, he tried to think about something else. He listened to Zayn's quiet whisper, coming from the kitchen area where he was perched on a chair, facing the floor with his phone pressed to his ear.

"I'm sorry," his voice was soft, insecurity laced between his hushed words. Louis got the feeling that 'sorry' wasn't a feeling that Zayn did often (or well). He probably thought that Louis was still asleep and was keeping his voice down for his benefit as he furthered his words, "I didn't, like, mean that stuff I said. You're my best mate and I'm stressed,"

There was a long pause and Louis wished he could hear the words from the other end, but he had a strong feeling he knew who was on the other side of the phone call.

"Sure?" asked Zayn, his voice more relaxed now, "I don't need to grovel some more?" there was a slight smile on his lips as he said the words.

He waited for, presumably Liam, to finish his words and then spoke again.

"Haven't slept yet, no," he started, laughing for real this time, his smile breaking through in a way that Louis had yet to see. His dark eyes looked about a decade younger with the expression and it looked good on him. Maybe he and Liam weren't as fucked up as Louis had originally thought, because he'd never seen Zayn smile like that for someone else. "Don't flatter yourself," his said, voice light and fond in a way that made Louis' lips curl up slightly. "Come over, I sleep better when you're here anyway," Zayn looked down at the floor while he listened to Liam and then said, "good. Fucking exhausted. See you soon."

He ended the call and then looked up to meet Louis' eyes. Louis felt himself flush a bit, worried that Zayn would be upset that he'd peered into what was probably intended to be a private conversation.

Instead, though, Zayn got to his feet, narrowing his eyes at Louis, "tell anyone what you just heard and I'll deny it to my death,"

Louis sputtered a laugh as he sat up on the couch and made room for Zayn to sit next to him. Zayn eyed him up as he got comfortable, "how are you feeling?" he asked cautiously.