Things I Can't

Chapter 17

Louis

Things were different from that day on. The cousins had left yesterday and I wasn't sad to see them go. They had caused too many problems, which left my entire family in a bad mood. If my mother hated the Styles before, she loathed them now. I wasn't even allowed to look at the house next door.

I broke that rule multiple times though, including right now. I peeled open my blinds and watched as the family of three piled out of. Their car. Harry had his arm wrapped protectively around Gemma's waist.

I found out Gemma had gone blind by my mother, who surprisingly did feel at bit of sorrow for the family. Jay Tomlinson wasn't a horrible person, she just didn't want to deal with the baggage of apologizing.

Seeing Harry made my heart flutter, but I remembered his words in the bathroom. How could I forget them? He didn't want me anymore. It was the only thought running through my head for thr past two days. He didn't want me, and I was alone.

I knew that he had the right to be angry, I had been there the night Gemma got hurt but ignoring him hadn't been my idea. Now I knew what it felt like. To check your phone with the little hope that maybe, just maybe, he contacted, and then to have your hopes crumble every time the screen stayed neutral. It was hell.

I couldn't just loose Harry though, like he'd said we're too strong for that. I desperately needed some way to talk to him, to apologize. I very well knew that I was forbidden from his house, but there had to be a way somehow.

Maybe speaking to a friend would help. Liam always had the best advice, so I made the rash decision to pay him a visit. I shut the blinds that were still open and pulled on a pair of white vans, slipping past my mother.

The walk to Liam's house wasn't far. It was only twenty minutes, give or take a few. I made it there quicky with the brisk pace I was sporting. Liam answered the door a heartbeat later, rubbing at his tired eyes.

"Lou? What are you doing here mate? It's almost nine!" I accepted the hug he offered me and entered the house, immediately heading to the kitchen to collect some snacks.

"Sorry Lee." I said, grabbing a bag of potato chips. "I just really need a friend right now." Liam's brown eyes softened.

"Go on up to my room." He said, giving me a soft smile. "I'll be there soon, I've just got to let my parents know you're here." I nodded and watched as he disappeared around the corner before ascending the metal stairs that led to Liam's room. The Payne's lived in a much smaller house than my own, but in a way it was comforting. Everything wasn't so spaced out, and the building felt more like a home. I used to love coming here as a younger child. Liam and Zayn would boggle their eyes, wondering why i'd ever want to leave my house. 'You have everything!' They'd say but sometimes 'everything' wasn't enough.

I was tossing a stray baseball in the air whem Liam returned holding a cup of tea in his hands. "I made you your favorite tea." He explained. I thanked him for his kind gesture, taking a sip of the scalding liquid. I felt my body relax, sighing in pleasure and yeah, it was exactly what I needed.

"So talk to me." Liam scooched next to me on the bed, placing his hands behind his head. I captured my bottom lip with my teeth, chewing on it as I thought about what to say.

"I don't know what to say." I whispered, feeling all the guilt lay itself upon me for the millionth time.

"Start from the beginning." Liam suggested. "I swear I won't judge you Lou. You seem really put off." I flicked my eyes from the covers to Liam a few times before launching into the story. While I was explaining this last weeks events, Liam kept quiet, only reacting with various facial expressions. When I finished, he hummed and held a finger up, pondering what to say.

"So Harry's ignoring you?" He fianlly spoke. I grabbed a pillow and shoved it in my face.

"Yeah, and I miss him Lee. You have no idea how much I miss him!" My voice was muffled by the pillow, but Liam seemed to understand. He made a sympathetic sound and wrapped a comforting arm over my shoulder.

"So what are you going to do?" He asked, taking the pillow off of my face. I whimpered in denial, grabbing the fluffy object back.

"That's why I came to you!" I pouted, throwing my head back. Liam apologized, making soothing noises.

"Alright Lou alright." He patted my shoulder. I eventually calmed down, giving him an apologetic glance. "We'll get your Harry back to you."

"My harry!" I cried, leaning into Liam's shoulder. "He's not really my Harry anymore."

"Here." Liam handed me my forgotten teacup. I gratefully took a sip and looked down at the covers. "Now let's discuss this. What's a way to get Harry to forgive you?"

"Well..I'm not sure." I shook my head in dejection. "That's the other problem."

"What is?" Liam asked, positioning himself closer to me.

"Harry won't even talk to me." I snapped, feeling angry all of a sudden. "I was a bitch though, I deserve his silence." Liam cautiously wiped a tear away from my eye, afraid I'd yell at him.

"Well..." He bit his lip. "I actually have an idea, but it's a bit farfetched." I nodded for him to continue, desperate for anything. "You said Harry always wanted to go to Venice right?"

"Yeah?" I furrowed my eyebrows, not sure where he was going with this.

"Why don't you..you know..take him?" At first I thought Liam was joking. I began to laugh, but Liam kept a neutral expression. "
Wait..you're serious?" My jaw dropped open when Liam nodded. "I thought you were suppost to be the sensible one!" I punched his arm.

"First of all ow." Liam pouted, rubbing at his arm. "Second of all, it could actually work."

"Really?" I said in disbelief. "Cause last time I checked, Harry hated me and we both have parents who would have our heads chopped off Just for talking to each other."

"That's why the Venice trip would be your apology." Liam shrugged, completely nonchalant. "And didn't you say your mum was going away tomorrow anyways?"

"She is." I huffed. "But Harry's mum will probably be watching him like a hawk after what happened to Gemma, and besides how would I even get Harry to talk to me?"

"Leave that to me." Liam smiled evilly. "I've got a plan, just make sure you're around tomorrow with the Venice tickets."

"Liam!" I yelled indignantly, "I haven't even agreed to this! How do you know it's going to work?"

"Oh trust me." Liam smirked, "My plans always work. Tomorrow, five, be here son."

"Weirdo." I scoffed, looking at him fondly. "But okay, if you say so." I took one final sip of my tea and stretched my muscles out.

"Thank you Liam..for you know, helping me with this." I said, taking a bite of a potato chip. Liam suprised me by wrapping me in a hug.

"No problem mate. You want to just crash here tonight?" He asked, holding me out by my shoulders.

"That'd be nice.." I trailed off, not wanting to feel lonely tonight. Liam patted the bed next to him, giving me a sympathetic look.

"Try to get some sleep." He advised, switching the lamp off. I turned over on my Side, but something felt off. Beside me, Liam was sleeping soundly. I desperately searched for the white pillow and hugged it tightly to my chest, wishing that it Harry.

Maybe in my dreams it would be.