Don't forget where you belong

Chapter 20.

Harry wakes up early the next day, or at least he thinks so. He doesn't dare to move to check the time, afraid to wake Louis who is cuddled up against him. He knows it's just a matter of time before Paul comes and knocks the door and tears Louis away from him. He's going on a date today... It will be hell, for sure. But he has to trust Louis. It's just a fake date after all, holding hands. It will be okay, he survived last time, they survived. He'll just not look at the pictures this time. That was the worst part last time, well and the misunderstanding. But the pictures still burned in the back of his mind, popping up whenever he felt slightly insecure. He hadn't told Louis that he still sees them, that is the last thing Louis needs now. Louis deserves to put out the songs he wants and if Harry told him about this Louis wouldn't go through with the stunt. He was willing to take this to make Louis happy, that was the most important thing at the end of the day anyway, Louis' happiness.

Harry spends all morning going through all this, it doesn't make him feel better, but he likes to be prepared. If one could ever be prepared for something like this.

Sooner than he'd liked there's that dreaded knock at the door.

"Lou, it's time" Harry reluctantly says as he strokes some hair out of Louis face.

"No, we can just hide here, they'll never find us." Louis said and squeezed Harry tight

"Pretty sure they already know, therefore the knock."

"You and your smarty brains." Louis pouted, still not opening his eyes

"You really do need to get up though, I think we should talk before you leave too." Harry says, kissing his forehead gently

"Yeah, you're right." Louis says and starts rolling out of bed

Louis walks around the room pulling on clothes before walking into the bathroom to brush his teeth and fix his hair. Harry is just sitting in bed, fiddling with his rings, trying his best not to fall in to the deep black hole his mind is trying to lure him into.

When Louis is done, he sits back down on the bed next to Harry holding his hand out to him. Harry takes it, but he can't look Louis in the eye, he's having a hard enough time trying not to cry.

"Haz, are you okay?"

"I will be, don't worry."

"That's like asking water to not be wet, of course I will worry. I care about you."

"I appreciate it, but I will be fine. I'll just not look at the pictures."

"There's still time to refuse, just say the word. I wouldn't blame you at all. In fact, I'm pretty sure I couldn't take it if this was the other way around." Louis admitted

"It will be fine, it's just fake right?" Harry asked finally meeting Louis eyes

"Of course it's fake. I don't want to be dating anyone but you." Louis said and pulled Harry into a hug

"Then I will be okay."

Just then there was another knock at the door

"Louis we need to go" Paul said through the door

"I will stop by Niall and give him a key and tell him to keep you company, okay?" Louis said and hugged Harry tighter

"Sounds good" Harry could feel tears starting to burn in his eyes, he forced them away before Louis could see

"I'm not going anywhere Haz! Well, I am, but you know what I mean. I hope you won't either" Louis said as he let go, looking Harry deep in the eyes