Some Say the World Will End in Fire |l.s.|

ten

A few weeks go by and I told mum and Harry I've been going to the counselor when mum threatened to sign me up for therapy. I don't really go, but they don't have to know that. Me and Harry's relationship has really been spiraling down ever since he became so paranoid and judges me over everything I do. The panic attacks have gotten worse during school, and I'm officially failing three classes, so there's that.

Basically, my life is turning to shit and I'm an absolute loser. It has it's good moments, but I'm usually high during those, and so all I remember is the bad memories like the flashbacks, the fights with Harry, and the dizzy spells I get a lot. When I'm out of school, I'm always in my room, whether Harry is there or not, and during school I'm usually zoned out or skipping, or I have a shit ton of drugs messing with my brain.

I hear a knock on my bedroom door, and I grumble a "come in" to which mum pokes her head into the room with a grin on her face. Her smile drops when she looks at me, and she opens the door fully as she barges in.

"Boo, Harry's waiting downstairs," she says, sounding panicked. "Are you not ready?"

"For what?" I ask, sitting up as I scan my brain for remembrance of anything I'm supposed to do tonight.

"Your date! Louis, it's your anniversary," she says quickly, and I'm struck with a mix of panic and realization as I shoot up, already grabbing dress pants and a nice button up as I take my shirt off, to which I hear mum gasp. "I can see your ribs!"

"What?" I ask as I button the top up.

"I knew it! I knew you were lying," she says. "I should've kept a better eye on you."

"Mum, I have to go!" I say quickly as I slide my shoes on.

"Louis, this is more important," she says sternly.

"Mum," I sigh, tying my shoes messily.

"First thing tomorrow, I'm scheduling you a therapist. Go have fun, be good to Harry, and make sure you eat tonight," she says while I spray some cologne on myself and rush downstairs. I slow down at the bottom, putting on a fake smile while I'm secretly swimming with nerves.

"Hey," Harry says, smiling widely at me from the doorway.

"Hi," I say breathlessly. I hug him before turning to my mum, giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek goodbye. "Love you, mum."

"Later you two, and don't stay out too late without texting me."

"Yes ma'am," Harry nods. Mum has reminded him to call her Jay and he does sometimes, but he's never stopped being a gentleman. We get in the car and as we're driving, Harry turns to me. "You alright? You seem stressed."

"I'm good," I smile small at him. "I'm happy to see you."

"Me too," he grins. "So, how does dinner and then a movie at my house sound?"

"Depends on what movie," I answer.

"The fault in our stars?"

"Oh my gosh, Haz, I'm gonna cry so hard," I shake my head.

"Aw, so emotional," he teases.

"Don't pretend you didn't cry during the Notebook," I scoff.

"I thought we agreed not to talk about it," he says.

"No, you begged me to stop laughing at you for it," I smile at the memory. Right now, it feels completely like the way it used to be.

Dinner goes well. Me and Harry are both so happy and honestly, it's almost nostalgic from how long it's been since I've felt normal. He's always been really good at taking my mind off of things, but only when he isn't bugging me about the bad things on my mind in the first place. I'm completely full, and I think it's the most I've eaten in a long time, so we're now currently watching the fault in our stars.

I'm snuggled into Harry's side, us both sniffling as I wipe my teary eyes on his shirt. We look at each other, chuckling at how emotional we are, and we kiss each other before cuddling back up again. He's so comforting and warm, I feel like I could fall asleep and never wake up. So, for the first time in a long time, my eyes start drooping shut and I don't try to stop it.

I open my eyes and I look around, seeing the ceiling above me and sitting up.  I look around at everything and it's completely silent. I move my hands to the ground behind me as I go to stand, and when I hear a splash and feel something warm on my hands, I look down to see a crimson color covering them. Blood.

I scream, standing up and wiping it off my hands frantically, before seeing a towel. I run over to it and wipe my hands off when I feel something in it. I take the towel off to reveal a gun held in my hand. My eyes widen and I drop it with trembling hands. I turn around when a pair of hands wrap around my neck before I can process it.

No air is getting to my lungs and I scratch and pull at the hands but they remain just as tight. I look into the eyes of Anthony and he's got a sickeningly evil smile on his face. I kick and flail in his arms, continuing the attempt to pry the large hands from around my neck.

I open my eyes and the pressure is gone. The air fills my lungs too suddenly, the skin on my neck burning and my chest heaving up and down with my frantic breaths.

"I've got you, Lou," I hear Harry's calm voice say. "It's me, babe, Harry."

"Haz," I choke out.

"Shhh, rest your voice. You were screaming," he says quietly, holding my in his arms as he brushes a hand through my hair. "You were scratching at your neck."

"He was choking me," I say in barely a whisper, looking up to meet him in the eyes.

"Who?"

"Anthony."

Harry's face shows sadness as he just nods, continuing to keep me calm. We don't say anything for a while when I can feel him growing tired. He yawns and I feel sudden guilt for keeping him awake and tired, so I push him down to where he's laying and I lay on his chest.

"I think it's time to sleep, Haz."

"I'll stay up all night with you if I have to."

"Just hold me," I say. "I'll sleep if you promise you won't let go."

"I promise, Lou," he says quietly. And so I sleep, even if it's long after Harry falls asleep and I end up with three hours of rest. Oh well, nothing new.