The Exceptionals

Chapter Thirteen: So... Friends?

Fooled Around And Fell In Love - Elvin Bishop

     "I can't believe she only gave you a week." Lottie scoffed as she pushed around food with her fork. The pasta left a slimy trail as it was forcibly driven towards the corners of the ornate plate. "If I were her I would've punished you for life." She paused, pointing at him with her fork. "And no Christmas presents for 3 years." 

"Okay, I think we're exaggerating a little bit there." Louis rolled his eyes, shoving another bite of food inside his mouth.

"No, I think you were exaggerating when you almost killed yourself." 

Louis stopped his chewing, rolling his eyes again. "Why does everyone keep saying that," he muttered under his small breath. He set the utensils over the plate and reached towards the centre of the wooden table where he had set a wad of napkins earlier when setting the table. He brought the thin napkin towards his face and gently rubbed his mouth before flinching at a strand of pasta that struck his nose and leisurely slid down his face, falling over his lap in blissful silence. Lottie giggled behind her closed fist and Louis' eyes viciously pierced an unwavering glare that quieted her immediately. Simply bringing the napkin to clean his nose, Louis picked the strand in his lap with pinching fingers and launched it in her direction, landing on top of her blonde hair twisted up in messy braids.  

She gasped, clutching her braids in her quick grasp. " What is wrong with you—Mum!"

The two siblings sat around the dining table eating dinner as a loving family on Friday night. Louis looked towards his mother stirring something in a pot bubbling and steaming heatedly under the dim lights. Her head turned back around at the sound of Lottie's sharp voice, her silky hair sliding along her freckled shoulders.

When Louis came home yesterday evening, his mother wasn't home, still slumped with work at the office. He stood silently—relieved she wasn't home yet. His mother's angry tone was rattling,  fucking terrifying when she needed to and wanted to be, but above that, she was the kindest woman Louis had the pleasure to meet. Johannah was an angel and Louis didn't know how he got lucky enough to have her as his mother. 

Later that same day, when the moon wallowed over the sky and the stars shone above the town Louis heard the front door creak and footsteps tentatively walk in. With mustered courage and guilt caught between his legs he apologised to her, promising he would never put himself in danger again when it came to alcohol and wouldn't allow himself to drink copious amounts of liquor irresponsably like that, again. The word quit never left his mouth, only saying he'd be cautious about how much he drank. He'd never give up drinking. He'd just have to be more careful and stealthy while doing so.

Johannah had looked at him with caring eyes and smiled before enveloping him in a tight hug, whispering in his ear she wasn't mad, just frightened at the state he was brought home in. She thanked the Gods above that his boy was brought home safe and sound by an angel roaming earth as she snuggled closer to him. 

"Bless that boy Harry dear." She pulled away from him, tucking a stray piece of hair behind his ear. "You should bake him some cookies and bring them to his dorm! It's the least you could do to show how thankful you are for having such a lovely friend." 

Louis simply smiled tentatively, nodding with no intention behind the action. 

"Louis! Why are you throwing food at your sister?" She tilted her head but did not show much care, promptly returning her attention to the boiling food on the stove. Lottie scoffed and slumped her shoulders as she continued to push food around on her plate. 

Irked, Louis furrowed his eyebrows, stood up with a creak of wooden legs thumping against the ground, and smiled at his mother as he brought his plate to the sink. His mum was a nice lady, forgiving and gracious. She didn't like to hold grudges on her sleeves and hence, had only grounded him for a week—but like the rest of his punishments, he doubted it would last that long.