Home :) l.s

Chapter Nine

Louis ran upstairs to his room. Louis had the only bedroom on the top floor which was super nice. He wasn't a very clean person so his belongings were pretty much everywhere. He laid down on his bed and snuggled into Harry's hoodie. It smelled like honey and strawberries. Just like Harry. He fell into a deep sleep and dreamt of Harry. 

The next day was just like any other for Harry the only person he thought of was Louis. After Harry's shift ended he really wanted to see Louis. So that's exactly what he did. Instead of leaving the bakery and going back to his musty apartment he went to the warm bookshop. "Excuse me but I'm just closing up so-" Louis started before seeing that it was Harry who walked into the shop. "Harry!" Louis ran up to the curly headed lad and wrapped his legs around him. Louis let go of Harry and dragged him over to the corner. Louis brought Harry a tea and they drank and laughed together. 

"Your birthday's on FRIDAY! You didn't tell me!" Louis exclaimed. Harry had just told him when his birthday was. "Okay we are doing something together. I will plan it." Louis stated. He wanted Harry to have a wonderful birthday. Harry seemed surprised but agreed. "Okay but it better be good!" Harry joked before Louis walked him out of the shop. 

When Harry got back to his flat Niall was waiting to hear all about it. "I figured since you were home so late you went to see him?" Niall questioned. He gestured for Harry to sit down in the secondhand armchair that they had. Harry explained that Louis wanted to do something for Harry's birthday. "That's great! You've not had a proper birthday since you were what? Thirteen?" Niall meant well but Harry still felt nauseous every time anything was mentioned about that day. He wishes he could go back and before just blurting out who he was. He couldn't change that now though. 

He went through three, long, torturing years of his parents beating him almost to death. Two days after his sixteenth birthday was when he escaped the prison he once belonged to. His parents never looked for him. He had finished his studies early, he knew he had to or else he would be stuck at home longer than he needed to be. Niall and Harry had come up with a plan a few months prior. Harry was to take the three a.m. train from Holmes Chapel to Mullingar, where Niall would meet him. The plan worked flawlessly and from there they had lived with Niall's wonderful family for almost a year before Niall and Harry saved up enough money to move to London this past December. Ever since then they had been living in a crappy flat but it was better than being with his so-called "parents". Harry liked having his own space even if that meant water was constantly dripping from the ceiling. 

After Niall and Harry cleaned up dinner they went to bed. Harry's room was at the end of the hall and Niall slept in what was supposed to be an office but he insisted that he liked it better in the room attached to the living space. He didn't like closed spaces so having an open room was easier for him to sleep in. Harry slumped down the hall to go brush his teeth and get ready for bed. As Harry laid down he couldn't sleep. Maybe it was excitement or nerves but it took him a good hour or two to finally fall into a deep sleep. Which he was woken up from by a nightmare. They weren't like regular nightmares though because these things actually happened.

"You are so disgusting. I can't believe I have you as my son."

Harry's father was punching a whimpering, fifteen year old, Harry. He had just gotten back from school when his father grabbed him by the neck and threw him to the ground. "Dad please don't-" Harry started before his father kicked him heavy in the stomach. He heaved and tried to get up, before his fathers hands were around his neck. The air to his lungs was being blocked, Harry couldn't breathe. He started getting sleepier and sleepier...

With a jolt Harry woke up in bed. His breathing was heavy and sweat drenched his white shirt. Harry took a few deep breaths before looking at the time on his phone. The bright light flooded Harry's face before he squinted his eyes and made out the time, 5:28. Harry sighed before lying in bed for the next three hours before he had to get up to go to work. 

Louis was excited as he walked to the store from work on Thursday. Today was the day Louis was going to get everything for Harry's birthday surprise. He already knew what he wanted to get, an invisible list in his brain. As he walked into the store, he picked out a basket and walked through the isles, putting things into the basket now and then. After he paid for everything he headed home. Louis' mind was fogged over with everything Harry as he walked into the flat. He quickly ran up the stairs after putting the cold things in the fridge and finding things he needed around the flat. Louis wasn't a very organized person, but for Harry he made a checklist. Everything had to be perfect. Louis set the bags of stuff in a corner, separated from the mess of his room. He really should get around to cleaning it, but who's gonna come over anyways? After Louis checked and rechecked the bags he decided he should get some rest.

 As he walked into the bathroom he saw the blade on the counter. He had wanted to so many times, the only reason why he didn't was because of Harry's jumper. He still had it and hoped that Harry would give him another if he had to take this one back. Harry helped Louis even though he had no clue that it was him who made Louis clean for six days. It was an accomplishment in Louis' eyes, but that didn't make him any better. 

Louis finished up in the bathroom before heading back down the hall to his room. He laid down in bed, the smell of Harry had drifted off of the item of clothing but Louis still wore it everyday. If Harry had noticed Louis wearing it on Monday he didn't say anything. Louis sent Harry a text confirming that he would pick up Harry at five the next day. Harry agreed to it. Both of them were very excited and none of them knew what was going to happen next.