Oh I Do Like Guys, Just Not You (L.S)

Chapter 17

A week goes by without Harry talking to Louis, and it's utterly horribly. As is it for everyone around him, Harry seemingly in a chronically faulty and irritable mood that no one can drag him away from.

For some reason, Liam has been overly kind to Harry this past week, probably sensing that something is wrong, considering that Harry has given up on trying to hide the overwhelming sadness making his entire body heavy.

Liam keeps an eye on whether Harry is eating properly or not, the younger boy having a habit of forgetting when he feels like this, buys him candy and drags him downstairs to watch movies.

Harry's feelings aren't even limited to sadness. Instead, a rush of contradicting emotions seems to constantly flood through his body, sometimes more confusing than actually upsetting. Considering Louis basically kicked him out of his house, Harry doesn't even dare try to make up with the older boy, as he is pretty sure he is only one rejection away from a complete meltdown.

So, he functions at somewhat half power - barely getting out of bed in the morning, at this point more numb than anything else which seems to worry the people around him even more.

At school, Niall and Zayn tries to cheer him up - Harry no longer caring enough for pretend happiness, and barely even being mentally present.

Even though Zayn has told him multiple times that the whole fuckbuddies thing was a stupid idea, he doesn't as much as indicate an 'I told you so' when Harry is staring aimlessly into a wall at lunch, completely oblivious to the other boys' conversation.

He hasn't told them exactly what went down between him and Louis, but his friends aren't stupid, and they've seen first handedly how smitten Harry is with the older boy.

Speaking of Louis, Harry has barely seen him since he was kicked out of the other boy's house, and Harry isn't sure whether that's a good or a bad thing.

In some ways, he is mad at Louis for calling him a child and a hypocrite when Louis is the one always saying they're not dating. He should be happy that Harry isn't pestering him with stupid feelings, instead just sleeping together whenever one of them are in the mood.

In other ways, he just misses Louis horribly - the quick, stolen kisses when no one is looking, his laugh, his soft hands and the way his breath hitches once in a while when he's sleeping. And the sex of course. But maybe Harry misses those other things a lot more - misses the feeling of just being close to Louis in general.

Louis hasn't even been with Liam since their fight, probably wanting to avoid Harry altogether, making movie night with the boys a whole lot less fun. So, on Friday, Harry for once watches the movies playing, not having Louis to distract him.

Niall does thread his fingers through Harry's hair carefully, but it's nowhere near as calming as when Louis does it.

Zayn and Liam are cuddled up under a blanket on the other side of the couch, and Harry can't help but look at them with a bit of an ambivalent feeling in his pit - happy for them, but sad it isn't him cuddled up in Louis' arms.

***

After more than a week of numbness mixed with occasional minor breakdowns, Louis finally seems to be done ignoring him, and a text tick into Harry's phone during his last period.

From Louis: Truce? Come over after school, I miss you?

Harry really doesn't know what he is supposed to think about the text. It's not an apology - more like a break in their fighting.

Maybe Louis really misses him too, so Harry gives the older boy the benefit of the doubt - paired with an undeniable desire to be close to Louis again, in whatever way, and texts back.