Not My Cup of Tea // L.S.

*20*

*** 

Lunch break.

Louis scurried over to where Liam and Zayn were...just looking at each other? Love is something I can never understand. Louis concluded, shaking his head. "Zayn? Sorry to interrupt your moment." "Oh, hi, hi. Hello. Hi." Zayn said, immediately. Louis looked amusedly at Zayn and Liam. Liam was still looking at Zayn. Louis chose to ignore all that and ask Zayn what he wanted to, "Does Harry have a boyfriend?"

Zayn looked at Louis and said, "Nope. Why would you even think so?"

Louis felt the weird sensation in his stomach vanish. God knows what that feeling was. "Oh, nope, nothing. I overheard Harry talking to someone in the morning and telling them everything about his day so I wondered who it would be." "Oh, who was it?" "I don't know. He kept saying 'Gems' and I thought that was his boyfriend's name." Zayn burst out laughing. Louis looked at him confused, "What?" "Gems is not Harry's boyfriend. Gems is not even a boy." Zayn said between fits of laughter. "So, it's a girl. Harry has a girlfriend? But he told me he's gay. Or is he bi?" Louis began asking. Harry was bi? He had a...girlfriend? Louis thought and the weird feeling returned to his stomach. Zayn finally stopped laughing and said, "No, silly. He neither has a girlfriend nor is bi." "Then who the hell is 'Gems'?" "His sister, all fine now?" Zayn told. Louis' weird sensation finally disappeared. "Ohhhhhhh alright. Oh thanks, alright. Oh okay." Louis said and walked away.

Liam, who had been watching the entire scene, began wondering if Louis was alright because never in two years' time had Louis behaved like this.

***

(Time jump...)

The next one month passed by quickly with Louis, Liam and Zayn trying their best to show Harry from time-to-time how special he was. They would do his homework, wash his clothes, massage his feet and whatnot. The rumours of Louis and Harry dating had stopped eventually and Louis thought of sending a fruit basket to the dean. Liam began giving his solos in music class to Harry. Harry had been delighted and done Liam's solos much better than Liam himself. The music teacher was impressed with Harry and gave him a scholarship, which meant he wouldn't have to pay for Uni till the very end.

But that didn't stop Harry from having occasional cries in the washroom or alone in his dorm room. He still hated himself for being gay, even if he was beginning to understand he was worth living. He still missed his family, his bakery, Cheshire and everything. He wouldn't admit it, but he missed his dad also.

Harry thought only he knew about his crying. He was wrong. Zayn would hear him crying in his room, Liam would hear him cry in the washroom whenever he would be over at Zayn's and Louis could see Harry's pale face every morning when he came to Uni. Neither of them ever questioned Harry about it, but blamed themselves for not keeping him happy.

Louis would wonder everyday why he worked so hard for Harry's happiness. His brain would tell him only one thing over and over again. You are only helping a young boy be proud of himself and not dwell on his past. You don't want him to go through the pains you went through when you were of his age. So, Louis believed his brain and continued working for Harry's mental well-being.

Then, one day, Louis requested Liam to stay over at Zayn's and not tell Harry that Louis had requested them. Louis wanted Harry to sleep over at his because worry was eating him from inside that Harry would soon fall in depression. Zayn and Liam readily agreed and told Harry about their decision. They saw Harry smile wide and agree. But Louis didn't fail to miss the flash of hesitance in Harry's eyes.

He felt really sad for this boy who wanted to cry his heart out all alone at night. Louis sometimes would want to just forget everything and run to Harry, hug him tight and tell him how amazing he was, how adorable he was, how kind he was, the list would go on. Louis again wondered why he wanted to such things but his brain played the same tape over and over again: You are only helping a young boy be proud of himself and not dwell on his past. You don't want him to go through the pains you went through when you were of his age.