Once in a Lifetime

Twenty-Three.

The next time Harry and Louis saw each other, they were sat in their usual places in the lecture hall, their professor talking about something that Louis wasn't paying attention to. They were going to be given an envelope containing the results of last terms exams, and Louis was worried that he hadn't prepared enough. Harry was busy writing things down in his notebook, and Louis knew that he would have to copy whatever it was at a later date.

"And that concludes the end of today's lesson. If you could all collect your results from the table on your way out that would be appreciated. If you have any questions, you can either wait until our next class, send me an email, or see me in my office. Have a good day, everyone!" With that Louis stuffed his things into his bag and stood up, waiting for Harry to make his way across the row of seats. They didn't say anything as they picked up their envelopes, walking in apprehensive silence until they reached the safety of the carpark.

"Are you ready?" Harry asked, his voice shaking slightly. Louis nodded, his trembling fingers gripping onto the brown envelope. There were two exams in there, the one he took the day Zayn died, and the one Harry helped him prepare for. "Three, two, one," Harry counted, both boys ripping into the paper at the same time. They each stared at the words, taking it all in.

"How did you do?" Louis croaked, the tears beginning to fill his eyes as he stared at the page.

"I passed both, 74% and 71%, you?" That was when he looked over at Louis, concern rushing through his body when saw the tears in Louis' eyes. "Hey, hey, it's okay, whatever, um, whatever's happened it's all okay," Harry reassured him, his hand resting on Louis' thigh for comfort.

"I... I... I passed. 68 and 60, but I passed!" Louis cried, tears of happiness spilling down his cheeks.

"You did it, Lou, I'm so proud of you!" Harry smiled, "And I know, um, I know Zayn would be so proud of you, too!"

"No, Harry, we did it. Without you, I'd be getting thrown off the course by now, I owe you," Louis said, pulling Harry in for a hug. They drove to the café to celebrate, Louis ordering his and Harry's drinks as they spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying each other's company.

Harry and Louis went on another date the next week, Louis taking Harry bowling and out for dinner. They held hands as they ate in the restaurant, laughing and smiling as they complimented each other and told jokes. Louis was enjoying dating Harry, it made him feel like the shackles of Zayn's death were beginning to loosen, and it gave him hope that one day, his life would feel normal again.

A couple days later, and Louis was crying in his bed. It was the day he had been dreading ever since October, but now that it was finally here it was worse than he could ever have imagined. It was 5.30am, and he was gripping the sheets as he silently cried into his pillow. Harry was sleeping soundly next to him, but Louis was determined not to wake him up. The hours rolled by with Louis sobbing quietly into his pillow until Harry began to stir, turning over to face Louis as he opened his eyes.

"Louis, baby, come 'ere," Harry mumbled, pulling Louis' shaking body into his own. "I'm not going anywhere today, okay? We're going to take the day off from school, and we're going to do whatever it is that you want. Today is, um, it's all about what you want and what you need, alright?" Louis just nodded into Harry's chest, his tears creating a pool on the sheet. That was how they stayed until Harry made himself get up and make breakfast for the boys. The four of them ate it on Louis' bed, each of them thinking about Zayn.

"Can you remember his birthday last year, when we went clubbing and that blonde girl kept hitting on him?" Liam laughed, remembering the way Zayn repeatedly moved around the club so that she would stop chasing him.