Stay [L.S]

Chapter 4

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Louis woke up, eyes fluttering as they tried to focus, his hands instinctively roaming the other side of the bed only to find it empty.

Memories of last night slowly settled in Louis' still foggy mind, a tear slipping down his tan cheeks and Louis wiped it away quickly.

It was 9 in the morning, and Louis made a small gasp, before remembering that their interview would start at 12 later.

Harry must be cooking breakfast, Louis thought, his stomach rumbling. Skipping two meals in the span of a day wasn't the best choice Louis had made and he was ravenous now.

Louis jumped out of bed, throwing on a pair of sweats with Harry's hoodie still on. The cracked phone on his bedside table caught his eye and grabbing it, he tried to switch it on but to no avail.

Slipping it in his pocket, Louis went downstairs, as he found Harry cooking, of course with only a pair of boxers and an apron on.

It was a usual thing for Harry to do but surprisingly today, Louis felt heat race up not only to his cheeks but to in between his legs.

Maybe it was because of how tight the boxers seems to fit the younger boy especially his lower region, sculpturing his thighs deliciously, or maybe it was because he was simply hopelessly in love with the younger boy.

"What are you even thinking Louis, never" the voices in his head chuckled amused and the feathery haired boy might have regretted climbing out of bed moments ago.

Louis shook his head, trying his best not to pay any attention to them, and the voices faded out slowly just as Harry said "Good morning Lou."

Louis smiled weakly at the taller boy, mumbling a similar reply, before taking his normal place near the marble stool.

"You look adorable in my hoodie love," Harry smiled, placing a plate in front of the older boy, before grabbing some utensils and a plate for himself.

Louis couldn't help but flushed at his term of endearment. But little did Harry know the real reason, Louis' subconscious added and his heart ached.

"Hungry?"

Louis nodded, eyes brightening at the sight of his breakfast, just like how a child would when he sees his presents early morning on his birthday.

Pulling the plate closer to him, Louis started tucking in. Watching him, Harry started tucking in too but he soon stopped, slowly placing his fork on his plate.

"Louis?" Harry started and Louis looked up, blue eyes meeting green ones.

"I'm sorry for last night." Harry said softly. He watched how Louis seemed to be caught by surprise before the glint in Louis' eyes dulled and his face fell.

"It's okay," Louis replied, giving Harry a weak smile. Louis looked down, fiddling with his sleeves as he felt his eyes start to moisten and cuts start to itch by the passing second.

It was funny how Louis was so used lying, that didn't make him feel guilty by the slightest bit anymore.

"It's okay," Louis repeated again, voice barely above a whisper and it sounded like he was convincing himself instead.

"Louis, it really isn't, i-"

"I dropped my phone yesterday and it cracked, can we get a new one later?" Louis said instead, voice cracking.

Louis could feel himself on the verge of breaking down, and that was the last thing he wanted to do today.

He was tired of listening to Harry apologizing for the same reason over and over again. Why was Harry apologizing when he is going to go around and do the same fucking thing again?

Harry watched Louis took a deep shaky breath before he nodded slowly, Harry knew Louis full well to continue anymore, and he went back to finish up, silence filling the air.

Louis finished up, dapping his napkin over his mouth. Louis looked up to see a Harry with creased forehead set deep, as if he was deep in thought just as a stray curl flop down on his forehead.

Louis chuckled, reaching over to tuck it away and Harry smiled fondly at the boy, but it was soon replaced by a frown, brows furrowing in concern.

Harry just had this thing that makes everything he do so contagious and Louis frowned too, noticing the quick change of expression from the older boy as he moved his hand back which was still in mid air.

The hoodie's sleeve had slipped a few itches down, giving Harry a clear view of his bandage below.

"Why is there a band-" Harry was cut off abruptly as his phone rang. Giving Louis a look, he grabbed his phone from the countertop, as he answered.

"Yeah sure, will be there with Louis soon, yeah, an hour? Okay got it."

Harry groaned, ending his call while Louis sat there, feeling sick with apprehension.

Harry couldn't know about his self-harming, that was a secret Louis had so exhaustedly tried to keep, a secret which would certainly ruin and destroy him. Harry couldn't know, not now and never will, just like his feelings for the younger boy.

Louis knew things could go down to hell so fast he wouldn't have any time to comprehend and Louis could feel everything that went in to his stomach moments ago coming back up.

Louis sat there, heart pounding wildly against his chest, dreading what Harry was going to say next.

"Will wants us to have an earlier interview later so we have to be there in an hour's time."

Louis breathed out, immerse relief washing over him. He slumped down in his seat, not realizing he was holding his breath the entire time.

Harry was so close, so so close to finding out, and that scares Louis to no ends.