Until they tear us apart. | l.s.

17

Louis was on his way home from Niall's where he had accidentally stayed over when they fell asleep while watching a movie the next morning. He glanced at the clock which read 8:13 and he stepped on the gas being sure he broke a few laws not only because he was far beyond the speed limit but also because he had already ignored two red turning lights and he was on the road only for three minutes. His mum would beat him up with a spatula, his dad would drown him in the bath tub and Harry would hate him for the rest of his life, he was sure of it. How could he have been so stupid and- out of all days- fell asleep somewhere else and not being home this morning?

With screeching tires he drifted into the driveway and sprinted up the path already fumbling out his keys without bothering to lock his car. Once inside he hurried into the dining area in hopes he would catch Harry in time, but his face fell when the only person who was in the kitchen was Jay who was just clearing up the table from the huge cake glaring at him.

"Where is he?" Louis asked quietly and out of breath.

"Gone. Dad drove him to school after he waited for you to show up for half an hour. And you should go as well, you're late already." Jay said apathetic and loaded the dishwasher with the used plates.

"How was he?" Louis asked. The guilt ate him alive and he was close to tears when Jay spun around and practically killed him with her glare.

"He was crying, what do you think, Louis?" She exclaimed. "It's his birthday and you weren't even there when it's tradition every goddamn year and you know how important it is for him especially lately since he's struggling with himself so much!"

"I-" Louis started, but Jay cut him off.

"No. Don't." She spat. "I don't know what's going on between you two again and I honestly don't care, get your shit together and apologise to him or this will have consequences! I have enough of your ignorant behaviour and I have enough dealing with you two constantly fighting or ignoring each other for whatever reason!"

"I'm sorry, mum." Louis mumbled feeling worse than ever before.

"Don't tell me that. Go." Jay pointed to the stairs and Louis nodded staring at the ground and disappeared upstairs to get ready for school.

At school Louis couldn't get a hold of Harry because he barely saw him in the hallways and if he did then Harry was quick to hurry away making it impossible for him to apologise. It was the same after school- when Louis exited the school building after searching the halls for him, Harry was long gone and rather took the bus than driving with Louis which was his confirmation that he fucked up really badly.

When he came home he didn't waste time rushing up the stairs without even taking off his shoes and into Harry's room ripping the door open.

"Haz?" He panted and looked around the room, but it was empty.

"Yeah?" Harry's voice erupted behind him and he spun around confused.

"Where were you?" He asked.

"Downstairs. You ran past me." Harry said quietly with furrowed eyebrows, not hiding that he was in a bad mood just like the last few days.

"Oh." Louis frowned. "Haz, I'm sorry I wasn't there this morning. I fell asleep when Niall and I were watching a movie and I forgot to set an alarm."

"It's alright." Harry shrugged but didn't look at him and stared at his feet instead.

"Hey." Louis stepped in front of him and lifted his chin. "Happy birthday, bub." He said softly and didn't miss how Harry's eyes grew wide hardly noticeable.

Harry tried not to let the pet name he hadn't heard in what seemed like ages get to him but his stomach exploded with butterflies and he could feel his cheeks heating up, so he quickly dropped his head again but his eyes didn't even reach the floor when he was engulfed in a tight hug and automatically his arms flung around Louis' shoulders.