More Than This

Chapter 1

Stuck. That's the best way to describe it. No place to turn, no exit and certainly no mercy. Just stuck. The coolness of the white tiles is pleasant against my already bruised body, but I know this beating is far from over. I honestly should be used to it by now, the names and the beatings, they happen so often yet it still burns as soon as the words have been said and the punches have been thrown. That tends to be how my day goes, wake up to my overly supportive household before heading to my extremely Catholic high school where I am beaten for being me. For being gay. I'm still not used to it, I never will be. I sink down to the floor seeking its cool relief as more abuse is rained down upon me.

"Did you really believe that you could hide from me?". Nick, the school's local homophobe, spits in my face as he grabs my neck harshly, forcing me to look at him.

I don't reply with words only whimpers as Nick's henchmen continue their brutal attack. My silence is not well taken. He hates it when I don't answer his questions.

"I asked you a question, homo. I expect an answer," he snapped.

"No," I reply to his earlier question, my voice coming out squeakier than I would like. My ribs hurt as I breathe, I am praying, begging for mercy but I don't dare ask.

That seems to be enough for him. He calls his henchmen off me and saunters away, the two boys following like lost puppies. I allow myself to roll from my side onto my back, trying to cope with the pain. I know that I'm going to have to come up with some lame excuse to explain my new bruises to my mother, one that she knows isn't true but doesn't push for more information. Slowly, I pull myself up from the floor, limping, I make my way over to the bathroom in the hopes of being alone and cleaning myself up. Unfortunately for me, the room is not empty, causing me to groan slightly subsequently earning the attention of my unwanted company. He turns around and I'm 100% sure my heart stopped beating and I forgot to breathe. The captain of the soccer team and the most popular person in the school is staring back at me.

"Holy- are you ok?" he asks. At first, I think it's fake concern. But the look he has in his eyes says something different. He's genuinely worried about me and that erupts butterflies in my stomach.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Nothing I'm not used to," I chuckle with the hope of lightening the mood.

"Used to it? Harry, that's not a good thing, no one should be used to this sort of treatment.". He runs his hands through my long hair. Unintentionally I flinch, the movement reminding me of this afternoon's beating. He moves away from me and heads to the sink, dampening a paper towel before going to carefully clean the cut on my forehead that I hadn't even noticed was there. I hiss as the towel contacts the cut, my forehead stinging and a headache sinking in. He mutters a sorry before continuing to attend to my injuries, the butterflies in my stomach erupt once again.

"That's why I haven't told anyone" he mumbles, obviously still trying to hide

"You, Louis Tomlinson, most popular guy in the school and captain of the soccer team, is gay?" he sighs, making it obvious I wasn't meant to hear.

"Y-yes Harry, I've been into you for the longest time. I just don't want anyone to know." I choke. The Louis Tomlinson is, and I quote, 'into me'. I don't think I can handle this.

"You okay there Haz? You look like you've seen a ghost," he says, but there's something off... Almost like he's scared about my reaction.

"Yeah yeah, I'm fine it's not like the guy I've liked for years just told me he's gay and into me, unless I've read this whole situation wrong. Oh god I have, haven't I? I've completely misinterpreted this entire thing, I'm so, so sorry oh my god I can't believe this, I'm so sorr-". I'm cut off not only by his words but also his hand coming up and tenderly grabbing my neck, encouraging me to look at his pure blue eyes making me shiver.

"Hey, calm down. You haven't misread anything." Nothing happens for a while, we're just sat on the bathroom floor staring into each other's eyes. His hand still hasn't left my neck and I swear with each passing second his eyes get bluer. Another shiver going down my spine is what breaks us out of our trance.

"I have?"

"You have. I don't want to see you getting hurt by those assholes again."

"Okay."

Andwith that he takes my hand lifting me to my feet, we walk out of the bathroomand into the corridors of our school, Louis' arm wrapped around my shoulder itswarmth a comforting presence. I turn and spot Nick and his henchman glaring atus, suddenly the warm feeling of his arm is lost, I looked to Louis and insteadof his blue eyes, I am met with a hard punch across my face. Louis said hedidn't want anyone to know, but I didn't think he would hurt me like this. Acolossal wave of betrayal washes over me and at first, I think I hate him butthere are two types of gay boys in high school; those who hide who they are inthe closet, and those who have to hide in closets. As Louis walks away, the hurtobvious in his eyes and the tiles once again cool against my bruised skin, Irealise that he too is stuck. That's the best way to describe it. No place toturn, no exit and certainly no mercy. Just stuck.

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Hey Guys! 

This is my first fanfic ever, but I'm super proud of it so I hope you like it!

This is also over on Ao3 if you wanted to read there instead!

Let me know what you think :) 

Georgia xoxo