Cocaine for Breakfast

Chapter 13

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"Why can't we go?" Louis asks, putting his hands on his hips, brows drawn so tightly together it stings.

"Because I say so," Harry shoots back, cheeks flushed and the vein on his throat flexing. He folds his arms across his puffed out chest, levelling Louis with a death-stare.

Louis holds his breath, holds it trapped in his lungs, his heart pounding against his ribcage like it wants to break free. He hates fighting with Harry. He thought that they were over this, that they now talk things out...apparently not so much.

"Because...you say so," Louis repeats slowly, lifting his brows, shoulders hunching. "All right, Dad. I'm going up to my room, am I allowed?"

"C'mon, Lou. Don't do this." Harry groans, arms falling to his sides.

Louis snorts unimpressed, "Tell me one good reason why everyone else can go but us?"

Harry opens his mouth, then closes it again. He clenches his jaw, the sharp bones that Louis adores so much jutting out, like he's afraid the words will escape his lips without his permission.

Louis blinks, once, twice, then he nods. "Right." Louis huffs, "Okay. You won't tell me, so I won't be talking to you until you give me some better explanation than 'We can't, because I say so', which, let's be honest, is no explanation at all." With a tired sigh, he turns away from Harry, walking up the stairs with heavy feet.

It doesn't take long until a shadow appears in the doorway of the bedroom. Louis glances at Harry, then continues pulling on a clean, white shirt over his head.

"What are you doing?" Harry asks dolefully, voice breaking at the end. His brows knit together, almost touching. "Are — Are you leaving?"

Fussing annoyed with his fringe that's hung in his eyes, he shrugs nonchalantly. "Yes. I'm mad at you and you won't talk to me like an actual adult," Louis says, shouldering his duffle bag, "so, I'm leaving."

Harry's lip juts out and his Adam's apple bobs when he swallows. "Don't," He pleads brokenly. "Just stay here...you can take the bedroom. Just don't leave."

"Harry," Louis warns, crestfallen.

It's Friday, one day before Ed's gig and their friends are talking about nothing else. His good mood dropped when he bought it up this morning, asking if they were going to take the car or train, and Harry threw casually in that they wouldn't be going. Obviously, this was news to Louis' ears but Harry won't tell him why and no one can blame Louis for putting up a fight, right? It led them to standing across from each other yelling and pulling their own hair in frustration. It's their first fight, - since Harry confronted him about the coke in the bathroom, that is.

Harry is kind of scary, when he's angry. It's all flashy eyes and cold huffs, crossed arms and his voice roaring like a cornered lion, ready to attack. Louis is not actually afraid of Harry, he knows Harry would rather hurt himself than touch Louis in a hurtful way, but it all gives Louis a headache and he's done fighting. This won't bring them anywhere but apart and before this it gets too heated, he's going to leave it be, clear his head, take a walk and a hot shower and when Harry is ready to talk things over, he'll be back at the house the moment Harry calls.

"Okay, I can't keep you here," Harry gives in with hunched shoulders. "Have a good day." He steps inside the bedroom, freeing the exit in defeat.

Although it's exactly what Louis wanted mere minutes ago, the words sit wrong with him, the sound of Harry's voice too tight. It sends chills down Louis' spine. He stays put, observing the pout of Harry's bottom lip and the way he avoids looking directly at Louis. There is no sign of anger anymore, only sadness, and Louis can't leave his boy looking like that.