Big Top

Chapter 43

Harry's pov

After I made Martha and Matthew hide in the showgirl's car, I pulled my hair into a bun and pulled a hat over it so I wouldn't be recognized. I then made my way to Louis's car, I held my head down so my face wouldn't be seen, and I slowly opened the door and went inside. What I saw scared me to death. Louis was curled up in a ball on the bed, his face was covered in back and purple bruises and his left eye was considerably swollen. I couldn't see the rest of his skin but I cringed at the thought of what it would look like. I walked to the bed very slowly, I felt like I hadn't seen him in ages. I was afraid this was just a dream and if I finally got to touch him, I would wake up. But, I took the chance and placed my hand on his shoulder, "Louis?" He groaned and flipped over, leaving my hand. I heard him wince as he settled to get comfortable. I moved to the other side of the bed and wrapped my hand around his. "Louis, baby, it's me. It's Harry." He shuffled slightly and blinked his eyes open.

"Harry?" He croaked out, his voice rough. Before I could comprehend anything, Louis's arms were wrapped around my neck and he buried his face in it. "I-I thought you were dead." He cried. I could feel his tears hitting my skin and I cried as well. I wrapped my arms around his waist gently, afraid I might hurt him, but I wanted to squeeze him tightly. "I-I saw them b-beat you." Louis sobbed, pulling back to look at me. He moved his hands to my face to gently run his fingers over my scrapes and bruises. "I-I thought you were dead." He whispered, still touching my face. "Where's Matthew?!" He voiced in panic.

"It's ok, he's with Martha. They're safe." Louis sighed visibly and I felt him relax under my hands.

"I can see your face." Louis laughed and rubbed my cheeks. He moved a hand to feel the strands sticking out at the back of my hat.

I looked at his face and into his eyes, still lovely blue, but red and glassy now. "What did they do to you?" I brought my hands up to cup his cheeks softly. Tears fell from my eyes as I observed him closer than before. His eye was so swollen, it scared me, and the scrapes on his face made me cringe. Louis ignored me and dove right for my lips for a kiss. I ignored the painful pressure on my injured lip and focused on the pleasure it gave me to kiss him again. He kissed me deeply and passionately. It felt like we were both reassuring each other that we were together through touch. "Please don't leave me again." I pleaded, feeling desperate to keep him.

"Never." He kissed me again, "I love you."

"I love you too." It feels so wonderful to say it. One thing I will never understand about homosexuality being wrong is why does it feel so good to be in love. How can it be wrong to love Louis Tomlinson? We finally broke apart and let our foreheads rest against each other as we tried to manage our breathing. "It looked like there were a bunch of roustabouts missing." I pointed out to him. A pained expression revealed itself on his face. "Lou?"

"A-after we left, Richard redlighted a lot of them." He said slowly. I waited for him to say more, I expected bad news. "Zayn, Liam, Niall, and Joe were redlighted too." He told me, another tear falling from his eye.

I felt like I was going to be sick. "A-are they dead?"

"I-I don't know, more than likely." He sniffed, rubbing his eyes. "I feel awful. I never wanted anything bad to happen I just..." he breathed and tried not to choke up again, "I just wanted to be with you and Matthew and Jean a-and to be happy."

"I know, m-me too."

BANG BANG BANG

We heard the from the door. Then Richard was yelling through it. "Quick, hide in the closet!" Louis panicked and shoved me in the closet. I heard the door open then Richard's voice.

"Why was this damn door locked?!" He shouted.

"Dunno, Red must've locked it the last time you left." Louis replied bravely.