"I Will Always" » Zarry* ⚠ ✅

3️⃣ 3: of

Louis doesn't want to seem like the type of person who takes advantage of people in need. So for the next three days, he doesn't bombard Liam with discussions of Harry or Zayn at all. Instead, when Liam comes back from the fruit stand in the evening, Louis only asks him about his life before Harry, like how he met his wife, how old his children are and what kind of job he had that caused him to stay there for twenty one years.

Then whenever those conversations would end, Liam was usually off to his own bedroom where he stayed put most of the night.

However, now that the fourth day has arrived, he knows he is way too eager to let this go on without talking about it. Therefore when Liam returns and sits down for dinner, Louis takes his opportunity.

"Liam, we should really talk about this."

"Oh. I'm glad you said that. I was thinking that too. Is it okay if I give you your fifty bucks at the beginning of each month?"

He pauses. "Uh... yeah. Sure. Whatever. But that's not what I was talking about. I meant we should talk about Zayn and Harry."

Liam takes his time and wipes his mouth with his napkin before speaking.

"Oh. Right. What about them?"

"I just can't let go of what you said. About how Harry might be putting his hands on Zayn. I'm worried it might be true."

He tilts his head curiously. "Why did you change your mind? Did something happen?"

"No. Not recently. What you said about those bruises. I remember them. Well, I didn't see them but I remember hearing about them. The story Zayn told me hardly made sense. But I didn't think he had any reason to lie because why would he? I'm his best friend. But if the reason it didn't make sense is because it was a lie then I'm worried. Zayn could be going home to someone who hurts him and I know I can't sit around and keep letting it happen if he is."

"And so... what? You want to do something about it?"

"Wouldn't you?"

"Of course."

"So then I should. But the thing is I'm still not so sure how real that really is. We could both just be totally misinterpreting the entire situation."

"True. Though I honestly doubt we are."

"But you're not sure. And I want to be sure before I open my mouth to his parents or say anything to him or Harry directly."

"That's reasonable. But how do you expect to do this?"

"Not sure yet. But I think we should figure out a plan together."

"To catch Harry?"

"Yes. Now that I've been alerted that something might be wrong, I know I need to start looking for the signs. But the thing is, I don't see Zayn often anymore. He just doesn't come around as much since he's been married. So I'm going to figure out how to change that. In the meantime, you have to stay lowkey. He can't know you stay here right now. That'll just complicate things and it might even put Harry on guard."

"I completely agree with you."

"So let's keep this arrangement silent for now."

"Okay. Anything I need to do other than that?"

"No. Not really. That's it for now. But I do have to say this to you. The fact that you did follow me concerns me."

"Why?"

"Because once we start this, I don't want you to interfere. And by that, I mean don't go crazy and do something stupid like go up to his job and confront him or go after him and try to hurt him."