coffee stains ; larry stylinson

chapter twelve

"are you going to dump me?"

"you've been an annoying shit for the entirety of seven years i've known you, but no, i'm not. because then i'd fall into pieces and nobody would be there to grieve my tragic death."

"wow i went from wanting to punch you then hug you and then punch you again."

"i am a player. playing with emotions is the sole reason of my existence."

"remind me, louis, how many boyfriends have you had in the past?"

that had been a joke. louis had never dated anybody.

"and remind me, calder, when was the last time you were in a committed, loving relationship?"

eleanor hadn't been in a proper relationship since three years after she broke up with her toxic boyfriend -- fred.

eleanor rolled her eyes. "whatever, louis. give me a harry update."

"harry is...harry. i found out he has a dead sister. family is a touchy subject for him."

"family issues! nothing we don't know about."

eleanor's tone was cheery but her voice held a bitter edge.

and the thing was, it was true. eleanor was a result of a one night stand and her father had refused to be a part of her life. her mom, though eleanor had never revealed anything, was diagnosed with a mental disorder.

louis, himself, was a runaway. he'd been in a happy, loving family until he came out to them. louis' step father had been furious and moved out with the twins, who'd been too young to understand what was going on. his step father claimed 'he didn't want them to be contaminated'. that left his sisters -- lottie and fizzy -- and his mom who tried to give him all the love they could but that didn't stop the guilt crushing louis. he couldn't stand to look at their faces everyday, knowing they'd lost half of their family because of him. it was too much for louis so, when he was fifteen he ran away -- eleanor with him. they'd been able to afford a ride to london and here they were -- two traumatized teens amidst the bustling, crowded streets of this damp, smelly city.

so for three years and the four before them, they'd looked after each other. keeping each other upright, making sure they didn't fall into pieces.

and yeah, yeah they were far from home, but now they were each other's homes and honestly, that was the only reason louis even tried at life.

louis definitely had not seen many miracles, but being here with her by his side after everything was definitely one.

. . .

louis was walking by the parking lot at school when he saw harry leaning against the back wall smoking a cigarette.

one leg was propped up on the wall behind him, his head leaning on the wall, tipped upwards with his eyes closed. between his fingers was a cigarette, glowing cherry red.

louis made his way over. they hadn't talked since the scene at louis' place which had been two days ago. for some reason, louis couldn't find it in himself to stay mad at harry for too long; he genuinely looked in so much pain, and so frightened. he just...couldn't.  "hey, styles."

harry opened one eye and inclined his head in acknowledgment.

"tense morning?" louis asked lightly as harry took a drag from the cigarette.

"been better," harry murmured as he exhaled the smoke. he offered louis the cigarette, who took it.

he wrapped his lips around the tip, sucking lightly, resting his head against the wall as the smoke entered his mouth and down his airway. he'd only smoked twice, and not under pleasant circumstances.