Tolerate It || l.s ✓

Chapter 28

Harry didn't turn up to work the next day. He didn't leave his house, and the only people he had interacted with were the headteacher and Zayn.

He looked down as his phone beeped, thankful to see that it wasn't Jake.

Louis: are you okay? xx

Harry paused, trying to think of an excuse before settling with sending him a simple answer.

Harry: yeah xx

Louis: where were you today? xx

Harry: just couldn't face it today xx

Louis: do you want to come over? I can
             make you tea xx

Harry: I can't, I'm sorry xx

Louis: call me then? xx

Harry sighed, calling Louis's number.

"What's up?" Louis said immediately.

"I'm okay." Harry's voice was raw from not being used all day.

"I know that you're not."

"Has Zayn talked to you?" Harry groaned. "Look, whatever he's said, ignore it."

"He's not talked to me Harry, but now I know something definitely is wrong. Can I come over?"

"I wouldn't. Jake may be hovering outside, and he's not very happy."

"Sorry, what? Has something happened between you two?"

"You could say that." He mumbled, "he hit me and stuff, that's all. I'm just hiding out at home so he doesn't attack me."

"Jesus Christ, I'm gonna come over. Don't worry, I'll bring a firepoker or something."

"You don't need to come over." Harry sighed, "I'm just, I look a mess anyway. It's okay."

"Nope, I'm coming over. I'll be there in 10."

"Okay," Harry muttered in defeat, picking some fluff off of his joggers. "Come to the back door please, if you can't see Jake."

"Okay, okay. I'm on my way."

//

Harry shut the door behind Louis quickly, locking it. Louis wrinkled his nose as he looked around at the dark house. "May I open the curtains?"

"No. No, come upstairs please." Harry said desperately.

"Okay, okay." Louis nodded, following Harry upstairs.

As soon as Harry reached his bedroom he resumed his previous spot, and Louis wedged himself between Harry and his bed. "Have you left your room since?"

Harry shook his head. "I don't want to."

"Have you eaten anything today?"

Harry shook his head again.

Louis frowned. "I'll get you something in a minute. Can you tell me everything?"

"He just, we're over. That's all. He hit me and he tried to um, he tried to rape me and he- no that's it. I just...I'm scared Lou." Harry's voice was shaky and he rang out his hands in front of him as he fixed his eyes on the carpet in front of him.

"Fucking hell, Jesus fucking Christ." Louis shook his head, "what the fuck. Are you okay? Well you're not, but are you?"

"I'm fine, I-I've dealt with that kind of shit before. It's just the anticipation of what might happen next. I can't do this, I don't know what to do. I can't leave this fucking room."

Louis wrapped an arm around Harry, pulling him tightly into his side. "Look, I'm here. Okay? I'm here and I can make sure you're safe. Jake's not going to hurt you again, okay?"

Within a second Harry's weight collapsed against him and Louis adjusted to hug him tightly.

"Can I open a few curtains H? I'll stay with you the whole time, okay? But you can't live in the dark for the rest of your life."

Harry nodded, pulling back and flopping against the wall.

Louis stood up, opening the curtains to let the sunlight spill in. "Come on, let's go get you some food." He held a hand out for Harry and Harry took it, allowing Louis to help him up. "It'll be okay."

They entered the kitchen and Louis opened the curtains, Harry cowering in the corner.

"What do you want to eat?"

"I'm fine, honestly. I'm not that hungry. You don't have to make me anything."

"Pizza? A sandwich? I'll put a pizza in."

"Will I be okay?" Harry asked quietly. "Do you think I'll be okay?"

"I do hun, I do. I know Jake's a fucking nasty piece of work but I don't think he'll focus on you for too long. I think it'll be far too much effort for him to do this. He's not stupid, he knows that if he hurts you the police will be here within an instance."

"I suppose." Harry shrugged, "thank you for coming over."

"Of course." Louis nodded, the look on his face telling Harry that he hadn't even considered any other options.

"I'm sorry for not listening to you about Jake. I should've listened. I just, I'm not really used to people caring about me and I think I got kind of carried away." Harry admitted.

"You don't have to apologise to me Harry. There was no reason for you to listen to me. Like, you could've worked out he may be a slight twat but there was no way for you to know that he was going to be a complete and utter bellend." Louis placed the pizza in the oven.

Harry shrugged, fiddling with the hem of his top. He ran a hand through his hair, sighing and shaking his head. Louis looked over to him, sympathy on his face. Harry bit his lip and opened his arms slightly.

Louis took the hint, stepping forwards and wrapping his arms around Harry. "Can I stay with you tonight? I don't- I don't feel too safe here on my own." Harry asked timidly against Louis's shoulder.

"Of course you can." Louis nodded, "will you be okay to go to work tomorrow?"

"Of course. I can't keep taking time off for no reason."

"I mean, I would kind of class this as a reason." Louis shrugged, "but that's just me."

Harry huffed out a small laugh. "Maybe."