A World Without Augusts

10

Louis had woken up early the next day and instead of sitting on the balcony's ledge, he wandered his way into the kitchen and stayed there. Even though he wouldn't admit it even if his life depended on it, he had started enjoying the inn owner's company way too much.

"I never asked you what you're making," he quipped, standing behind Harry who was humming some tune.

"Pancakes. You'll have a choice of butter, jam or honey,"

"Sounds nice. Then again, all your cooking is amazing," he smiled and he swore he heard Harry gasp.

"Thank you, love," he gushed a little and Louis' heart felt like it could burst.

"Don't make me reply to thank you," he said mockingly and Harry turned back with a frown.

"Oh shut up, it's a genuine problem alright?"

"Yeah yeah alright. I'm gonna go up the cliff, save me breakfast," he said, looking at Harry with his best I-adore-you-please-allow-my-nonsense eyes.

"I feel like I spoiled you more than I did with Brie," he sighed and Louis snorted.

"Be glad I'm not leaving a shitty review after you compared me with a dog,"

"The best dog," he retorted and Louis laughed. Brie was indeed the best dog.

Louis sat down on the edge of the cliff, legs dangling. Was it precarious? Obviously. Did Louis want to move from the spot with the perfect amount of wind? No. He turned on his phone to several missed calls from Zayn and a text from his mum asking how he was. Sending a quick text back with too many x's to Jay, he dialled Zayn's number. He picked up exactly after three rings and Louis was met with a yelling Bradford accent. Terrible combination but it was Louis' price to pay for not calling in three days.

"Why the fuck haven't you picked up any of my calls, you asshole?"

"Hello to you too, Zaynie," he sassed but he could feel the dagger filled glares thrown his way.

"Answer my question, Tomlinson," he snarled and Louis couldn't help the little tug at his heart.

"The place doesn't have service and you have to climb up a godforsaken cliff to even get three bars. I didn't wanna walk that much,"

"And you didn't think to tell me that until today? I thought you died of pneumonia or fucking drowned.

"Sorry sorry. Now, do you wanna know about Harry?"

"The pretty boy with the green eyes?"

"And the owner of the inn, pervert," he chuckled and Zayn hummed. "Alright a puffin bit me," he sighed causing Zayn to laugh in the most unmanly manner existing.

"How? No, I'm sorry. What?" he guffawed and Louis was looking at a rock he wanted to bring back to London and hit Zayn with.

"Shut up, it bled,"

"Oh man, this just keeps getting better doesn't it?"

"D'ya wanna hear about Harry or what?"

"Alright fine go on," he said and regretted it as soon as ten minutes had passed but Louis hadn't stopped gushing about the lad. God help him.

"Alright, gotta run. I'm having breakfast with him," he broke out from the Harry centric conversation and Zayn thanked all the Gods to ever exist.

"Try and call every two days okay? It's quite worrying to not hear from you for long periods of time,"

"I will I will. I'm sorry," he said softly and Zayn cut the call with a quick goodbye. Louis felt all sorts of warm and fuzzy after talking to Zayn, it was the knowledge that someone out there worried for him not because he was their son but because they cared about him just like that. Zayn Malik was his safety net.