safe haven │ larry stylinson

52

Harry's POV

After getting out of the shower, Harry dried his skin with a towel and put on his sleeping trousers. Taking a few deep breaths, he opened the door and made his way back to the room Louis was already waiting in. The man laid on the right side of the bed leaving more than half of the bed to him. Without saying a word, Harry closed the door and laid down on his side of the bed. He turned and looked at the wall, his back facing Louis.

Trying not to breathe too loud he could hear Louis turning. Harry bit his lip. His heart was racing. Laying there like that, that near to him but that far away at the same time was just like torture. He tried to fall asleep, he really did. But his heart wouldn't let him. He just laid there, listening to every sound Louis made. Sometimes he even thought he could hear him breathing.

"Harry..?" It was nothing more than a whisper but he heard it. Should he pretend to be asleep? No, Louis would know. What was he supposed to say? Harry didn't want to say anything. He just wanted to be on his own. Before he could think too much and tears would start rolling down, he quickly mumbled an answer.
"Hm..?"
"I..I just wanted to say I'm sor-"
He didn't let him finish. Instead he interrupted him. "Don't say it, stop it. We both know you don't mean it"
Harry didn't turn around. He couldn't bear looking at Louis. His heart would break in another million pieces if he did.

"But I am, Harry-"
He shook his head, closing his eyes as hard as he could. "No, Louis. I don't want to hear it. You meant what you said and it's-" He wanted to say that it was alright, that he was fine with what he had said but he couldn't. It would be a lie.
"It's what you felt, so it's ok. But now you don't get to apologize because you feel pity for me. I don't need your pity. You have no right to apologize. Because I'm the broken one" His eyes filled with tears as he spoke and he paused for a few seconds. Louis took a deep breath.
"I'm the one that has to deal with the consequences of your little game. So now you don't get to apologize just because you see how much you've hurt me, just to make you feel better because you're stuck here now. You don't get to apologize, Tomlinson. I don't want to speak about it again. If you can stop treating me like that I can stop making a fool out of myself" Harry remembered Louis' words all too well. They were stuck in his head, burned into his brain. The man who was laying so close to him now had gotten into his heart and now he was left with the broken pieces of his flight.

As he didn't hear anything, Harry turned his head into the pillow, letting the fabric dry off the tears on his face before closing his eyes again. His thoughts wandered, but came back to Louis words over and over again.
You can't make me happy.
Now you're just making a fool out of yourself.
After a while he was sure that he had heard a sound. Was it a sob? Definitely not. Louis hadn't said anything but why would he sob? No. Harry must have imagined that. He closed his eyes and after what seemed like hours he fell asleep.

When he woke up the next morning Louis was peacefully asleep next to him, had even snuggled at him a little bit. His arm was around Harry's waist and his head was resting next to Harry's on his pillow. Trying to control his breath, he got up carefully without waking Louis up. For a little moment he stood besides the bed watching him breathe. His chest moved up and down in a beat and there was a little bit of drool at the corner of his mouth. There always was when Louis slept well, Harry noticed with a smile.

As quietly as possible, he took new clothes and left the room. When he closed the door, Gemma appeared at the end of the floor. "Morning dimples"
"Shht, shut up!" Harry whispered. "He's still sleeping"
"It's 1 PM?"
"It is?" Harry looked at her in shock. He hadn't slept that long without waking up in ages.
"Yes, sleepyhead. Good morning" She giggled. "But let sleeping beauty sleep. He probably needs it"
Ignoring the provocative sentence, he went to the bathroom.
"I'm going for a walk, wanna join?"
"Yeah!" He nearly shouted happily, finally able to escape the situation even if it was only for an hour or two.
"Hurry. I'll wait downstairs. I'll pack lunch"
"Thanks"
Within a few minutes, he was dressed in sweatpants and a hoodie and met his sister downstairs. They put on their shoes.
"Mom? We'll be back by 3 or so" Gemma informed their mother who was standing next to Louis' sisters in the kitchen. It seemed like she was showing them how to bake her special cookies.
"Morning, Harry honey. Fine. Take care! Louis is still asleep?"
"Like a baby" Harry answered with a smile before they headed outside.

He followed Gemma to the little path near the house and they started walking.
"So, how was it going when I was gone?"
"Not much honestly. I was with Michael most of the time, the daily shit" She shrugged and he smiled. "Oh I went shopping with Penny once"
"Really? You haven't heard from her in ages"
"Well I just texted her because I thought I saw her in London so.. but honestly, that's everything. There didn't happen much"
Harry chuckled and they walked in silence for a few minutes. The path lead them into the woods, the way was now shielded by trees. There was no one around but them and he enjoyed every single minute. Every breath he took was calming him down.

"Are you happy to be with him again?" Harry was happy she didn't look at him. Lying was easier that way. Even though he hated nothing more than lying.
"Absolutely. It's great"
"That's everything?"
"Gem, we were trapped in a hotel room most of the time" He bit the inside of his cheek as they were walking before she stopped him by grabbing his arm.
"You're a terrible liar, Harold. Tell me what's wrong. Now"
Harry kept quiet. He knew if he broke the silence he wouldn't be able to hold back the tears. But talking to Gemma always helped. And she wouldn't let go until he told her what was wrong.
"Harry. Speak. Now."
"We.. aren't together anymore" The words left his mouth and he bit his lip. His eyes were focused on the ground. He didn't dare to look at his sister.
"WHAT?"
Harry flinched and kept looking down.
"Harry, what happened?"
"He broke up with me. A few days ago" He paused and then continued telling her everything, every little detail. The words blurted out while a few tears streamt down his cheeks.

When he finished, Gemma turned around and started walking back. "That's it. I'll kick his fucking ass out of the house"
This time it was Harry grabbing her arm. "Please don't!"
"Give me one good reason to not go back there and beat him up right now!"
"Gemma, please.. I-"
"What Harry? You are torturing yourself. Again. Just for the sake of others. Mom would hate knowing-"
This time he interrupted her. "Then don't tell her. Please, Gem. It's fine. I got this. You know how much she loves the girls and so many voices in the house. Please. Do it for me"
Gemma mumbled something Harry didn't understand and he pulled her further, back into the woods.
"I don't like it"
"You don't have to"
She hummed in disagreement but kept quiet for several minutes. Her silence made Harry's anxiety go off. He shouldn't have told her. She wouldn't be able to hold herself back around Louis. He should've kept it to himself.

All of the sudden she pulled him into a tight hug. He put his arms around her as well and exhaled. "I won't tell. But as soon as you want me to kick his ass-"
"I'll tell you" A hint of a grin made its way on his face and she gave him a smile before she wiped away a single tear that was left on his cheek. "You've always been emotional. And I always hate to see you cry"
"Thank you Gemma.."
"I got your back. I always do"