Butterflies (l.s)

🦋15🦋

Ooh you guys are gonna hate me a teeeeeeeeny bit 🤏🏾👀

It was extremely late at night and Harry was still up, marking tests. He was honestly exhausted, especially since he'd gotten a ribbing for neglecting his roommate when he told Niall he was too busy to make them dinner. Niall still came by with his own culinary masterpiece, a couple of sandwiches to share so he would eat something. Harry was beyond thankful to have the annoying Irish man in his corner.

It struck him as strange when he noticed his phone light up with a call but his face broke out into an immediate grin when he saw 'Lou<3' flash across the screen. If he were any more cringey, he'd hit himself. He just thought the weird man was sweet and adorable and completely endearing, that's all. He hurriedly leaned to grab it and slipped off his chair, managing to hit the green button before it went off.

"Hello? Oh thank God, I was hoping you were awake. I wasn't even sure whether to call, I hope I didn't wake you or anything." Once the stranger was finished, he cleared his throat.

"Err... Who is this?"

"I doubt he's mentioned me but I'm Louis' mate. The name's Liam."

"Oh! Yeah, no, he has." He quietly picked at his painted nails, his foot tapping against the floor as he brushed his hair back. It had gotten in his eyes from the fall, not that he cared when all he could think about was Louis, now. "How is he? Still mad at me, I'm guessing? We haven't chatted in a bit."

"Umm... I don't know if he'd be okay with me saying this but I also know he needs someone to be there for him and he hasn't really let anyone in, friend or family, other than... You." Harry slowly sat up, trying to calm down his own anxiety as it pooled in. Had he had another panic attack? Why hadn't he just called him instead of being stubborn as always, he could have helped!

"What's happened to him?"

"He's in the hospital."

"WHAT?!"

"It's something I'd rather not talk about over the phone but if you could possibly come on by, whenever you're free? It's just... He started babbling at some point and he mentioned you quite a bit and I just- please come when you can, I really don't know what to do. He isn't talking to me or anyone and I- I just-"

"I'm on my way."

"Now? It's past midni-"

"Text me the address."

Liam's face broke out into a smile, one that waned as he looked through the glass and saw Louis laying in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. He knew Louis was a mess and it wasn't his fault either, after everything but God, for it to have gotten to this level? He felt like he had failed him. He should have been more assertive, done more like Louis would have if the cases were reversed.

To Liam, Louis had always been an older brother figure. Right from when they met in uni, he'd been this overly protective ball of fire who was impassioned about Liam not letting anyone walk over him, even if that person was his own self. Louis did like to joke that he was the only one allowed to be a dick to him. He was the reason Liam let the pains of highschool melt away and got into footie which led to his stronger love, exercise. He was always ready to help Liam in any way, no matter what it was and even as he teased him every chance he got, Liam knew Louis cared about him.

But then life happened. Louis had already faced loss, before but losing his mother, too? It was like a flip that had been waiting to be switched a long time finally did the job. Louis simply couldn't hide the pain anymore so he chose to hide himself, instead. With his siblings living in Doncaster, he found it easier to just pretend he was alone. But he'd had to ignore Liam as well and after all they'd been through together, Liam just never stopped trying, not once.