Painful Love - L.S

1

Louis was content with his life. Until he wasn't. He used to have it all; a loving boyfriend, a wonderful family, and loads of friends. That's all gone down the drain now, though. He, luckily, still has his best friend, who he is forever grateful for. 

That's where Louis was now, with his best friend, Niall. He didn't like being at home much anymore as the place just reminded him of his mum. Louis and Mark never really got on anyway, but it was just ten times harder when Jay passed. He is still exceptionally close with his sisters but he just finds it hard. The wound is still fresh.

Louis and Niall were currently spending their Sunday evening together, as always. It's been a tradition of theirs since they started secondary school, now they're 18 and starting their last year. There used to be three of them but, well things happen and now it's just the two.

Niall knows that Louis is still fragile, getting over a heartbreak and your mum's death so soon after is hard for anyone. They tend to avoid that topic unless Niall knows that Louis needs to let it all out. Louis will tell Niall anything, he's his best friend, his rock and he trusts him with his life.

"Man, I can't believe it's our final year at school" Niall sighed, "We'll be graduating soon, Lou!"

Louis smiled at the thought. It's not that he has had a bad time there, it's just after what happened he closed in on himself, throwing away the old, flamboyant him. Don't get him wrong, he has friends, but they're now more like acquaintances. 

"Tell me about it. I can't wait to leave this place behind," Louis grimaced at all the unpleasant memories.

"You know," Niall approaches slowly, unsure of what Louis' reaction will be to what he's about to say, "Harry said he might come back and visit soon"

Louis visibly flinched when Niall said his name, he hasn't spoken to him since August, it's now January. You see, Louis and Harry used to date and they had done for a year and a half. It was going great and Louis couldn't be happier until one day Harry and his family moved without a word to Louis. No explanation. Nothing. It broke his heart and then just over three months later, his mum died. He honestly doesn't know where he'd be without Niall by his side.

Harry still messaged Niall which just hurt Louis even more. It took some time for him to get used to the idea of them talking, Niall even said that he would ignore his messages but Louis saw how much the blonde boy missed Harry.

"Tell him not to come. I don't fancy seeing him any time soon, or at all for that matter." Louis replied, trying to keep his tears at bay. He doesn't deserve any more of my tears. 

Louis has no idea what Harry is doing with his life now, and he knows Harry doesn't know how Louis is doing, as he told Niall not to talk about him. Harry wasn't there for him when Louis needed him the most so just the thought of him coming back any time soon makes his blood boil in rage.

"Yeah okay, makes sense" Niall sighed, not wanting Louis to spiral further into the depressive state he only just managed to get out of. 

Louis' phone dinged and both boys looked at it, finding a message from Lottie, asking him to pick up a pizza on his way home. Sighing, Louis got up knowing that meant Mark was out once again and the girls were now his responsibility for the night.

"Gotta dash mate, I'll see you tomorrow" Louis sends a wave to Niall as he leaves his room, saying bye to Maura and giving her a quick hug before getting in his car and driving to the pizza place. 

It didn't take long to get some pizza for all of them as it happens more than it should. Once Louis arrived home he announced his entrance and listened to the soft patter of feet coming towards the kitchen.

Once they were all situated around the table they finally hungrily ate the pizza. Louis looked around at his sisters, it's such a shame they have been through what they have at such a young age.

"So, excited to start secondary school Lots?" Louis questioned, smiling at his sister.

"Yes!" she exclaimed, "it's gonna be so much fun!"

Louis just smiled at her enthusiasm, glad that something good was happening in these dreadful times. Lottie and Louis were extremely close, both of them finding it super hard when their mum left. The twins and Fizzy had Mark, at least, to help them but Lottie sought comfort in her older brother. She knew how hard he was finding it, especially since Harry was no longer in the picture, and was always there with advice, even with her being younger. 

When Harry left, it affected the whole family. Daisy and Phoebe are still confused at why they don't see him anymore and ask where he is. Louis wishes he could answer but the truth is, he doesn't know where Harry is either. Jay had lost contact with Anne after they moved, even if they were good friends because she was just so angry at how it all played out so it's not like she could tell Louis when she was still alive. 

Harry was always so good with the kids, the twins were only 3 when they first started dating and Harry treated them like they were his own sisters. Louis remembers coming home from footie practice and finding Harry curled up on the couch watching Disney movies with his little sisters. 

Shaking his head to rid himself of thoughts of Harry, Louis looked back up to find his sisters chatting quietly amongst themselves with empty plates. He stood up and quickly cleared away all the plates and put them in the dishwasher, putting it on.

"How about some TV before bed then?" Louis asked his sisters, causing them to cheer. "Right, go put your pyjamas on then and I'll get the telly set up."

Not even 10 minutes later Louis could hear his sisters running back downstairs and into the living room, where he is. They all jumped on the couch eager to see what Louis had put on, which was just one of their favourite movies, The Little Mermaid. 

About halfway through the movie both Daisy and Phoebe fell asleep and Fizzy and Lottie were finding it hard to keep their eyes open. Luckily for Louis, they didn't put up much of a fight when he suggests that they should go to bed, after all, it was the first day back at school tomorrow. After he made sure they were all comfortable and that they didn't need anything, Louis went bak downstairs.

He flicked the TV back on but didn't pay much attention to what was playing as his thoughts consumed his mind. He was excited to go back, he hadn't seen anyone in a while, only Niall. Their friendship group consisted of the two of them plus two other boys, Liam and Dylan. It was small but perfect in Louis' eyes, he doesn't think he could deal with any more people as it would be too overwhelming. 

Louis also knew that if he was ever feeling down, Niall and Dylan would cheer him up immediately with their idiotic ways. Or he could just get a hug from Liam, that boy was just so cuddly! 

Louis was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard the front door open then slam back shut again. He checked his phone with a sigh seeing it was nearly 11pm. Louis looked back up when Mark walked into the room looking utterly exhausted. Mark offered Louis a small smile as he collapsed onto the sofa, Louis barely managing to return it. 

"Where were you this time?" He questioned the older man, taking in the new wrinkles that had formed on his forehead.

"Working late. You know how it is, gotta keep the money coming somehow," Mark replied sighing deeply. Louis could feel a bit of sympathy for him, but not much as he remembered how he didn't even tell anyone he would be out late or leave them something for dinner. 

"Oh. Well, I'm off to bed, first day back at school tomorrow and all. Night." And with that Louis walked out the room and up to his bedroom, hearing Mark mumble something along the lines of goodnight. 

Louis wasted no time in changing and getting into bed, relaxing once his head hit the pillow. He couldn't help but let his thoughts wander back to the curly-haired boy and how Niall mentioned he might come back and visit. For his own sake, Louis really hoped that he stayed put, wherever he is, and let Louis be. Call him selfish but Louis knew it was for the best.

After tossing and turning for a bit, he finally drifted off to sleep, dreaming about his mum and all the happy memories of being one, big family.