I'm fine, We're fine [boyxboy]

Thirty

Louis POV

I left Liam and Zayn's right after breakfast, though I hadn't really wanted to. Their home was small and cozy. It reminded me much of the hovel I turned into my bedroom when I lived with my parents. I enjoyed the hum of the AC and the sound of my friends' voices even more. As much as I didn't want to go, I had to. I couldn't crash at their place forever and I knew without a doubt that I was the reason the two of them had gotten upset with one another. There wasn't any yelling, but I knew them well enough to know when things weren't right, especially when they left the room I was in and closed the door to the one they were in.

If I had gone home, I'd have had to face the music of my parents constant I told you so's and my father threatening violence to Harry and our home— no, his apartment. It was no longer a home, but I still didn't want to hear it. It sounded strange not referring to it as our place, even in my mind, but it was a peaceful thought. I couldn't go home, I couldn't go back to Harry's, and that was how I ended up on Niall's doorstep. I was hesitant when reaching to knock, my hand wavering in the air. The two of us really weren't close, he was more Liam's friend than mine, but it was either this or sleep in my car, and given the fact that the windows weren't tinted, the latter was a no. I rapped lightly on the door and stepped back, half hoping he wouldn't answer.

My hopes were dashed when I heard the clicking of the locks on the other side. When it was pulled open, I made a point to look anywhere but at the surprised that was now on me.

"Louis?" Niall said. When I didn't answer or look at him, he reached out and snapped his fingers in front of my face. It was an aggravating sound and I finally looked towards him. "Louis, what's the matter?"

I wasn't sure what to say at first. My weight shifted from side to side and I shrugged a few times, reached up and messed with the ends of my hair, and looked over my shoulder before mumbling something even I couldn't understand. Niall hadn't caught it either, there was no way, but he said nothing more as he grabbed my arm and pulled me- roughly, might I add -through the open door.

The apartment was cool and had a nice smell, though I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was. Patchouli? Nag champa? The flicker of candles came from the small table in the living room and a few were on the counters in the kitchen. Then again, he could have had incense burning somewhere, too. Niall never struck me as a candle guy. But he never really struck me as anything because I didn't know much about him aside from his love for cooking. Still, he dragged me and I followed him until I was nudged down onto the couch. He left me and I could hear him rummaging around in the kitchen. While he did that, I kicked my shoes off and tucked my legs up under me. The couch was comfy, the material was a cross between cloth and soft leather. I liked it.

Niall came back a few minutes later with a glass in his hand. Ice clinked around inside and I knew as soon as he handed it to me that it was some sort of soda. Coke, probably. "It's not peppermint tea, but it won't kill you." Niall said it with a smile as he took a seat on the edge of the table in front of me.

I had no clue he knew I liked the herbal tea. "How did you know I liked that?"

"I talk to Liam a lot," Niall replied and shrugged. "So, you want to tell me what happened or should I call Zayn?"

"For heaven's sake, please, don't call him!" I blurted out. When I left, I hadn't told them exactly where I was going. I only specified that it would not be to Harry's. "I didn't tell them I was coming. I didn't even know I was coming here, I just... came, I guess. I'm sorry, I don't have anywhere to go. I don't want to face my parents or Lottie, I can't go to Harry's, I can't stay with Liam and Zayn because they're not happy when I'm around, I thought they were going to break up last night and I don't think Liam likes me and Zayn, he—"