Hands On Learning

29. makes no sense

L

"We're on a break," Louis stated matter of factly, though his tense face exposed how he really felt. His friends stopped talking and looked over to where Louis stood, arms crossing across his chest protectively, staring at them and waiting for a reaction. He'd caught up with them before lunch, needing to expel the information like spitting out bad tasting gum.

"For how long?" Liam asked at the same time as Lexie sighed out, "I'm sorry Louis."

"In two weeks we're 'reassessing', his words. No contact at all. He just pulled me into his classroom to talk today... I don't care it's fine," Louis waved his hand in the air as if batting away his worries. "We're not even dating."

Lexie pulled him in for a tight hug, clearly not believing that he wasn't upset. He relaxed into it and allowed himself to be vulnerable, no longer fighting his urge to frown, to let his eyes blur with a few stray, frustrated tears. She gave him a squeeze as he let go and rubbed a hand over his face.

"You'll be okay, Louis," she said gently. "No matter what happens, you have us." Liam nodded in agreement.

"Should we do a trust fall or something?" Louis joked, trying to lighten the moment.

"No, Lexie would find a way to injure us all," Liam pointed out.

"He isn't wrong," she replied.

-

Of all things Louis expected to feel upon entering Chemistry class that day, the sudden flushing of heat spreading from his face to his ears and the urge to hide or disappear was not one of them. He looked anywhere but at his teacher, who was engrossed in something while at his desk. Louis quickly made it to his seat, forcing a smile for Riley and Evan as they cheerfully greeted him.

"Hey, Lou? Can I tell you something?" Evan asked quietly as the boy neatly set his pen and highlighter next to his notebook.

"Yeah?" Louis glanced up, noting the way Evan had a hesitant smile, his eyebrows raised and mouth tense like when you watch someone open a gift and wait to see if they like it. Louis turned in his chair to give his full attention, mirroring the way Evan's feet were pointing toward Louis.

"I, uh well." He paused and when he spoke again he was much louder and confident, causing several people to look towards the pair. "I wanted to tell you I'm coming out as demisexual. I've been questioning for at least a year and when I came across a list of sexualities on Tumblr the label just clicked. I've never been able to have an attraction to someone until I know them, have a bond. It's such a relief to realize why I'm not like most people. And I have you to thank for giving me the courage to do this." Louis' face broke out in a genuine grin and Evan's hesitant smile matched his. Louis reached out to give Evan a tight hug, rubbing his shoulder a bit too.

"No, thank you," Louis said, clearing his tightening throat. "I've been having a hard time with my mom accepting me and it makes me worry about telling the rest of my family..." He pulled back from the hug to see Evan's brows drawn together in concern.

"Just hang in there, it will get better." Louis nodded, turning to face forward in his seat and wiping a hand down his face. Mr. Styles looked at the pair impassively, his face betraying not a single emotion. Louis would have given anything to know what the man was thinking at that exact moment.

"What does that even mean? That can't be real," Ash-fucking-ley bit out from where she'd been banished by the door. A few gasps and shaking heads responded - Evan was kind and well liked, and Ashley was alone in her derision.

"It means he could never like you," Riley called out, "and it's more real than your hair color sis!" The entire class burst out into laughter and howls, some students pointing at Ashley, who had abruptly turned to face forward in her seat.