And if the sky falls down to tear us apart

3

Louis had never in his life felt so miserable, as when he had to move for college and leave everything behind him while Harry went to a college on the other side of the world. He didn't really, but it felt like it. They promised each other to stay in contact and that worked out pretty well at the beginning. They face-timed every single night, talking about what happened at school and how their classmates were, the parties they went to, the gossip from the campus, literally everything until one of them fell asleep.

But over time, it got less and less, either one of them was too exhausted or forgot about it. Late-night talks turned to texting and that slowly became a rare thing, from every day to once a week and somewhen then maybe once a month, if even...

That was the time Louis realised he should have told Harry that day he was so close to finally doing it. Maybe it would have changed some things. But there he was now, sitting in the huge lecture room not able to listen to what the professor told him, he was fixed on the pen he was spinning between his fingers. Some days he missed Harry more than on others. Today was such a day. It was the first of February, Harry's birthday. He would be turning 20 today. Every birthday he missed Louis thought back at the ones they had celebrated together already, and all the things they did to make them special and remarkable.

Like that one time, when they secretly took a flight to Paris and another time to Rome without their parents noticing. "Louis, Hey! Louis!"

"Huh?" Louis didn't even turn towards the guy sitting next to him. "Can I borrow a pen?" It was always the same with him. Louis had no idea who he was, all he knew was that the lad lived a floor above him and that he had been at one of his parties. That's all, and to be honest he didn't really want to know more about him. All he wanted was to get through the college years. Throughout the day Louis caught himself checking his and Harry's chat multiple times. Just wanting to know if he was online and hoping he'd find the courage to text him.

What if he would be annoyed by him?

In the lunch break, while everyone else had some food, Louis had to show around the new students. And he noticed his situation was worse than ever when he found himself daydreaming about Harry being one of those new students. Well, he wasn't, what a surprise. He slurred down the halls, followed by a group of eight and introduced every room there was. "Now," Louis looked down at his phone to check the time, "You have some time to go and check out the campus by yourselves, please be back here in around half an hour."

Louis let out an exhausted breath just when a voice behind him sounded, saying "You do this great did anyone already tell you that mister Tomlinson?" It was that kind of sarcasm he only knew from Liam. "Shouldn't you be at the gym?"

"Yes," he smiled, "And you should be eating something now." Louis frowned asking. "I'll do the rest of the tour with them go and get yourself a deserved break."

"Thanks, lad."

"Anytime." Liam knew exactly how much stress Louis had lately and how tired he was. Liam was the person he talked to about everything since he didn't talk as much to Harry anymore. Louis decided to get some lunch outside from school today, he couldn't bear those halls any longer. And while he was sitting there waiting for his food to be served he switched back to Harry's chat and decided to text him a simple "Happy Birthday" but was struggling to click on the "send" button.

As suddenly a man came up placing the plate on the centre of his table, Louis did not pay any attention to him, he just monotonously said "thank you sir." and kept staring at the message until a certain smell made him look up, right into crystal green eyes. "Lou?"

"Haz?"

~

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry to interrupt you, and don't get me wrong the story is extremely thrilling but...I need a wee." Harry scrunched his face up the way he always did when he wanted to show that it was now really urgently. "Uh, yeah sure, do you need, like any help?" Louis asked hesitatingly, as he watched Harry struggling to get out of bed. He didn't want to just, like, touch him without his permission. "I need t-the wheelchair please." Louis immediately took the chair and brought it as close to the bed as possible while Harry heaved himself up to sit on the edge of the mattress.

Making sure it was okay Louis helped Harry get into the chair and then pushed him into the bathroom. "Can you... uh...maybe."

"Yes sure, I'm sorry." Louis turned on his heels about to leave the room, Harry did this already he could per on his own. "No, I- meant, just turn around and...stay, just in case something happens." Louis turned to face the door, feeling something he hadn't had in a long, and he meant really long time. He blushed, but not because he was embarrassed but because he felt like he would fall in love with Harry all over again. Why does it always have to be in the toilets?

"What are you chuckling at?"

"Nothing, just a memory." He smiled to himself. It was on that one day of sixth grade, the very first one to be exact. He and Harry had been at some weird theatre the school insisted to go to. Both of them needed a wee so badly that they snuck out, feeling like they were about to do something illegal. "God, that's boring in there."

"Yes, it is," Harry admitted, his breath calming down again from running all the way down the hall. "So what now?" Louis stopped thirsty for something exciting to happen. "What do you mean?"

"I will not go back in there."

"You wanna ditch? On the first day?" Louis just shrugged carelessly, everything better than going back to watch three people embarrass themselves. "Okay but first I need a wee." Harry chuckled and Louis followed him smiling. Well... and that ended up with Louis' pee accidentally splashing on Harry. God, they had never laughed so badly about something like that day. And for some reason, it wasn't even embarrassing.

~

"Would you like to get some snacks from the snack machine?" Louis knew exactly how much Harry loved Reese's and that they were available only at the other end of the hall. "Did I like them when... you know, before the accident?" Harry eyes the small orange package in his hands. "They were your favourite." Louis just stared into the air pushing Harry in his wheelchair up the hall, towards their room again. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything," Louis answered facing Harry who was looking up over his shoulder with soft eyes, he looked kinda tired. "What happened exactly at the accident?" Louis insides immediately curled up, feeling like they're trying to find a way out as he got ripped back to the past. It took him years, patience, and a good therapist to get over that fucking accident. No, he wouldn't rip open old craving wounds now. "It's too early for that Haz."

"Why doesn't anyone talk to me about it. God, I have been in a coma for four years and nobody, nobody is willing to tell me why!" Harry tried to raise his voice burr he was too weak and his words turned into painful coughing. "Harry, are you alright? Do you need water?" Louis grabbed a glass from some beverage cart nearby and made Harry drink it. All colour drained off of his face, the beauty washed away and eyes glassy and red. It was too much for him he needed to rest.

"I'll bring you back to your room, you need sleep." Harry just nodded, incapable of using any more power to speak. Arrived in their room Louis had to lift Harry back onto his bed. A weak "Thank you" was the last thing the man said before his ids closed. Louis watched him softly, his pale skin that laid like silk on his body, those outgrown curls that to be honest suited him pretty well, and the soft pink tone of his lips. The likes Louis used to steal a kiss from everyone he had the opportunity to.

Seeing him lying there, so still and shallowly breathing reminded him of when he was still in the coma, but that looked less peaceful. He didn't look about to die, fighting to get away from that slight edge of Fife or death, he was just there, sleeping. And for once Louis didn't worry anymore because he knew Harry was fine, with or without him. It hurt tho.

Louis pushed one strand of the brown curls out of Harry's face, gently brushing his sensitive skin while hot tears made their way up into Louis' eyes again. Louis has had more than enough time to admire every little thing in Harry's face over the years, how his lashes slightly brushed the thin, blue skin beneath his waterline. The way his lips were shaped into the perfect heart shape and coloured in such a beautiful pink, like the roses in spring. And his beard stubbles he used to be so proud of.

Louis chuckled at the scene in his head, God how he wished he could share this with Harry. "I'll make you remember us." Louis' finger traced along Harry's jaw as a hot tear dropped down his cheek leaving a small trace on Louis' jumper. "I promise, You hear me?"