BLUSHING//L.S.

Chapter XIX

a/n: THIS WHOLE CHAPTER IS A FLASHBACK!!

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As Louis blew on the '17' shaped candle, he heard everyone around him clap their hands, and faked a bow, soon followed by a laugh.

-Happy birthday, my little sweet boy! - his mom exclaimed, getting closer and leaving a kiss on his cheek, making Louis blush in embarrassment. -It feels like yesterday you were leaning how to walk and...-

-Yeah, mum we know! - he cut her short with a smile, not wanting to hear the same story once again. He loved his mom, but sometimes she was just too emotional, and he wasn't always in the mood to listen to her. That afternoon in particular, Louis' mind was kind of occupied by other thoughts. One thought in particular with light blue eyes and blonde hair, that now set there in the kitchen together with his friends and family.

Louis almost rushed toward him, trying to play it off as casual but failing miserably.

-Happy birthday Louis, hope you made good use of your birthday wish- he said. And from the outside it just sounded playful, but Louis was able to perceive the smirk and the malicious undertone of the sentence.

-Thank you Jay, I did try my best- he said, unable to look away from those eyes and feeling the sexual tension grow stronger. In that right moment he was glad he had such a big and loud family: no one was paying attention to him, all of them busy tasting his birthday cake.

-You should be careful with what you wish for Tomlinson, you never know which dreams will actually become true- Jay said with a wink.

Louis was going to reply, when his mom called him.

-----

Later that night he left his room and went downstairs with a smile plastered on his face that he just couldn't shake off. He had taken a shower and sprayed on his favourite perfume, covered his whole body in cream and essential oils, and was now ready to finally go out.

He popped in the kitchen, seeing his mum wash the plates and his dad set at the table, a bottle of beer in his hand and a couple of them scattered around empty. He felt his stomach twist and avoided his stare.

-Mom...- he called her, his voice barely audible. Louis hated to feel so small that he couldn't even speak. But that was the only way he could behave in that house, and the only way that could let him to leave the house without a new bruise on his face.

-Where the hell are you going all dressed up and smelling like a fucking girl? - his father shouted, slamming the bottle on the table.

Louis saw his mom jolt, but she didn't turn.

-I'm going out with Zayn and Liam...- he said, mentally praying that he would believe him. He loved them, especially Liam. If only he knew the truth.

-Marianne, did you see your fucking kid dressing up like a proper faggot? - he screamed at his mom. This time she did turn, but stayed silent, eyes begging Louis to forgive her for not being able to protect him. Sometimes Louis thought that she just doesn't want to.

-I'm just going out with my friends...- Louis said in a whisper.

-He can't even talk! - he shouted, now throwing the bottle on the ground. It shattered in a million pieces and Louis swore he lost the counts of how many times he had to pick them up. He kneeled almost automatically and started to collect them.

He was starting to think that he would have stayed home that night, but then Paul entered the room and Louis felt relief wash over him.

-Dad, let him go. You know Zayn and Liam, they're good lads. Plus, they're going to watch a game- he said. Louis looked at him with thankful eyes.

His father grunted something that he couldn't grasp, but he took it as a sign that he could finally leave the house, so he rushed out the house in a hurry, forgetting everything on the dining table, including his phone.

-----

As they set on the swings, facing each other, Louis felt lost in Jay's beauty. He couldn't stop staring at him, taking in and memorizing all the little details that he could grasp: from the dimple that formed whenever he smiled at his bad jokes, to the way his eyes would light up whenever he talked about something he loved. Even there, in that poorly lit and abandoned playground, Louis swore that Jay had the power to bring light wherever he was, and that made him feel relieved in a way that he couldn't understand.

-So... I couldn't give it before, but I do have a gift for you...- Jay said, taking a small envelope from his pocket.

-Oh my god, did you finally buy lube for us?! - Louis said in a laugh.

-Stop it you jerk; I'm trying to be romantic! - he answered, laughing as well. Louis loved to make him laugh, he wished that could be his full-time job: professional clown for Jay and Jay only.

-Thank you...- he said sweetly, his features softening and taking the gift from the boy's hands, slightly brushing them. He opened it and saw an elegant and thin silver bracelet, with a small heart-shaped charm, with their initials carved on it. He felt tears threaten to leave his eyes.

-Do you like it? - Jay asked, waiting hopeful.

-I love it. And I love you- Louis said, standing up and then placing himself on Jay's laps. -I love you so much- he remarked, placing a small kiss on his lips.

-I love you too- Jay said, kissing him back. But this time Louis didn't let go, instead he started to kiss him harder, soon letting his tongue in. He loved the feeling of Jay's soft swollen lips, and he loved the way he always tasted of mint, since he always had chewing-gums in his mouth.

-Do you like my perfume? - he asked him out of the blue.

-I love your perfume Louis...- he said, going for his neck to feel it.

Louis smiled at the approval and soon felt Jay kiss and bite on his neck, leaving small marks where Louis could easily hide them.

Soon they started properly making out, the only audible sound being their ragged breaths and small whimpers that left their lips. Louis had his hands in his soft hair and right in that moment there was nothing and no one else but Jay: his smell, his taste and his hands going up and down Louis' torso, until his bum, and squeezing it softly.

The boys were so lost in each other that they didn't hear anything, nor saw anyone.

And then, all of sudden, Louis was on the ground, away from Jay, the small bubble of love that was around them suddenly gone. And he barely had the time to get himself up that he heard him scream. The next thing he knew was that his father was there, crunched down on the poor boy, hitting him straight in the face.

Louis stood up abruptly and threw himself on his father.

-STOP IT! FUCKING STOP IT! - he screamed, feeling his soul leave his body through those words. He could see blood on Jay's face, and he felt hot tears burn his cheeks as he kept screaming.

And his father did stop hitting Jay. But only to take his turn on Louis, that had no strength or desire to even protect himself. He took hit after hit, just slightly covering his face in fear, knowing that eventually he would stop and giving to Jay the chance to run away.