A Touch of Style

Chapter 17

A/N:

Okay, for people angry at me for k wording Jay, I'm sorry, it had to be done. I hate it, but that was on my rough sketch of the fic since the start. I have a few more things coming up I will be hated for. But I'll take it.

Songs:
Wildflower- 5SOS
On Our Way- The Royal Concept

Harry

A month had passed since Louis got that phone call and flew back home. Harry had called him several times, always just "missing" him. Niall and Zayn had visited the two of them at least twice, giving him nothing on Louis; which was frankly put, frustrating. Niall did tell him Lottie and Louis were arranging for their other siblings to move in with them, and that Louis would come around.

Harry was not daft, he knew Louis' mother meant the world to him, he knew okay? He knew losing a parent is...heartbreaking, more so if the bond was as close as theirs. He knew Louis needs space. But he was human, he needed to know Louis' okay, he needed to be there for him. He needed to know whether or not he was wanted. He needed Louis to know Harry was there. And this was why Harry, Niall, Liam and Zayn were on their way to Doncaster.

The Tomlinson-Deakins were moving in a week, and the four of them volunteered to help. Well, Niall and Zayn did and Liam and Harry just tagged along.

.....

Harry

Niall pulls up in a driveway and cuts the engine. He turns in his seat to face Harry in the passenger seat, opens his mouth and then closes it. Niall looks at the other two in the backseat, who are looking at Harry as well. At least Liam is as clueless as him.

"What is it?" Harry finally speaks, looking curiously between Niall and Zayn.

"You should know, Louis is," Niall stops, turning to Zayn, "is it necessary?"

"What's necessary? Louis is what?" Harry asks anxiously.

"Mate," Zayn starts, "okay, I need you to understand Louis' been through a terrible thing. I need you to not be upset if he's..."

"Not himself." Niall pipes up.

Before Harry can ask anything further, the front door opens and Lottie steps out. She comes up to Harry's side of the car, and Harry's heart sinks at the look of her. Lottie looks horrible. She doesn't look like what Harry remembers at all.

"Well, are you going to stay here for the whole time or get your arses in and help us?" she smiles a tired smile, and opens Harry's door pulling him out of his seat and in a hug, "it's nice to see you, Harry." She lets go of him and hugs the other three. "Come on, I'll introduce you to the littles, Louis has gone to get us lunch. Niall tell him to get a couple more pizzas, with you oafs here, there can never be too much food."

Harry and Liam get their bags, Lottie tells them to leave them anywhere that doesn't get mixed up with their stuff. They shove it in a linen closet by the door and head towards all the sound. Niall and Zayn are both surrounded by a set of twins, Fizzy and Lottie are by the island wrapping up dishes.

When the younger twins notice Harry and Liam, they freeze and hide behind Niall, peeking from there now and then. Niall squats down to their level, "okay you two, that's Harry," he points towards Harry and then Liam, "and that's Liam. We all work together." Harry grins and waves at them, getting two shy waves in return.

"We're going to be neighbours soon Harry," Lottie smirks.

"How so?" he asks, sitting on one of the stools near the island. He pulls some bubble wrap and starts helping her.

"We got a flat in your building, well two and joined them on the inside. Louis' been up there the whole time while Dan and Dad helped us wrap everything up here."

"Oh, Louis was there? He could have told me, I would have helped. Is Dan moving there too?"

"Nope, just us lot. Dan is staying here, moving into a smaller place, so we can visit anytime. Louis and I will be moving in with them, all of us together and," she's cut off by the front door opening, and a loud call coming their way.

"Fiz! Help me out please!"

.......

"Fiz! Help me out please!" Louis says as he reaches the kitchen, and freezes, eyes set on one curly head, "Harry."

"Hey Lou," Harry moves towards him and grabs a few boxes on the top.

"Hey, hi. Um, what are you doing here?"

"Wow, it's like we're invisible," Liam chuckles. He hugs Louis, "Zayn told us about you moving, so Harry and I decided to help. How are you mate?"

With that everyone gets busy with food and catching up, at some point Dan and Mark join them too, discussing details here and there. It isn't until both the set of twins have gone to bed and Fizzy to a friend's house that Louis is alone with the boys. Harry is out somewhere helping Lottie with the packing. This is when Niall asks what Louis had been dreading all this time.

"You've still not talked to Harry, have you?"

"No."

"Do you plan on it?"

"No."

"Louis-"

"Look, I'm going to have a lot of responsibilities and it will be a mess and no one deserves the extra burden, especially Harry. That's all I'm saying on this matter ever."

.....

Harry

At first, Harry thought he was imagining things, but now two days in and Louis not acknowledging him at all, he has come to the conclusion, Louis is avoiding him.

The first night, when Louis was with the boys, and Harry with Lottie, Lottie had brought up the conversation from before.

"Louis is in a very different headspace right now, he's thinking that there is no one else to share the responsibilities of us. He is....running around taking everything on himself. The only way he let Dan and dad pitch in with the money was because they wouldn't take no for an answer. I am pretty sure he has put the money they gave aside. I know this because that's what he did with me." Harry was quietly listening to all this. Lottie took the bowl he was packing and kept it aside, taking his hand in hers, "Harry, Louis told me everything. I know what you told him and I know what is going on in his head. Please be patient with him."

Two days later, and after realising he was being ignored, Lottie's words came back to him.

Well, then I will have to make sure Louis doesn't do what he's trying.

A/N:

Thank you for reading!