Love&Affection | Larry Stylinson

31|31

The front door opens and Zayn walks in with a frown. "What's up with you?"

"I found out my cousin Roco just died." Me and Nia both look up at each other with the same look. "Don't, this isn't even funny."

"You hated Roco, he was gross. Wasn't he the one that called Liam- words he shouldn't have used." We all look over at Riley. "Aren't you bi?" She shrugs. "Bi?"

"Are you bi?" She asked Harry, I swear I watched him short circuit. "Woah, okay hold up. Zayns homophobic cousin just died, let us pay out respect." I change the subject.

"Yeah no fuck that," Zayn mumbled before clearing his throat. "H you good?"

"Mhm." It went off to a different conversation and I'd stayed for a while just listening. But then I noticed Harry just wasn't here anymore so I started to look for him.

Finding him in the kitchen just sat at the table with his cheek squashed into it. "You okay baby?" He nods. "I don't think she meant to cause you stress."

"I know." I sit beside him. "Nobody out there really, knows you. They think you're a great person but they just don't know you. Not the way I do. That's okay and I know you like it that way but the things they say are just- little nit picks. You know?"

"I know," His eyes were red. "I think- I think I need time." I hated where this was going. "Okay." I can't force him to stay. "It's not- I don't want you to leave I just. I need to figure it out. I need space."

"Yeah no I get it." I move my hands under my thighs watching him sit up. "I thought i was fine and I really was. Then I started thinking about it- not, because of what Riley said. I've been thinking about it for days I just, I need time to actually think."

"Harry it's okay. You don't have to explain." He was just slowly getting even further away. "I'm not pushing you away Louis." I nod. "I know."

"I'm sorry." I can't force him to stay. "Harry it's okay." The kitchen door closes, I drop my head forward feeling my heart beat out of time with my breathing. "Damn it."

I can't force him to say?

I wasn't sure how much time had passed, there was an entire meal on the fucking table by the time I'd finally pulled myself together and blinked. "Daddy, are you okay?"

"Yeah no I'm good. I'm sorry, you look pretty. Absolutely beautiful Angel," She starts to spin slowly. "Gonna make all the other ballerinas look terrible."

"The teacher said I have to be calm when I dance." Riley snickers. "Have you seen the black swan? Shits bonkers man."

"Louis you don't have a slushy in your hand." Niall frowns. "No?" They all turn to look at me like I'd gone mad. "It's seven o'clock."

"You always have a slushy in your hand. The red one." That explains where Harry's gone. "I know I just, wasn't feeling like it today."

"Harry went without you?" Safah wasn't here. "No, Taffy went with him." Zayn clicks at me. "That's true, I watched her go with him." She talked him out of it probably.

She talks everyone out of my life, she didn't it with Niall and she did it with Zayn at one point. I don't know why, I don't know if it's a learning lesson for me.

But I hated it.

I ended up with everyone following whoever it was. I ended up alone.

I just got everyone back I can't end up alone. "Louis." Liam sits beside me. "It's- is your heart okay?" I nod. "Yeah. Why are you stressed? Are you okay?"

"I'm. Fine. You looked- look, you look sad." I pull him into my side. "Why are you stressed?" I asked feeling his arms wrap around my waist.

"I d-ont know. I wanted, to ask Z somethings- thing, something." That's why we call him z, I always forget. Cause Liam could never say his full name. "Ohhh, look at you. Bein' all fancy and shit. You're gonna ask him out."

"Shut up." I've missed his laugh. "You're gonna get a boyfriend," I start poking his sides. "I am about to tease the shit out of you."

"What's going on?" Zayn asked making us both freeze. "Liam has something to say."

"What, no I don't." I push him out of the seat watching him stumble into Zayn. "He has an important question to ask you." I give him a queazy smile. "You're weird. What's up?"

Liam takes his hand, leading him out of the kitchen and into the living room. "What is going on in there?" Riley teases. "Liam has a very important question for Zayn."

"Took what? 12? 14 years?" Niall clicks at her. "16 my dear." She hits him with the spoon. "Click at me again James and you lose a finger, call me dear again and you lose a tooth."

"Which one cause this one kinda hurts." She grabs his face. Baby come over here- oh you look fucking adorable, hold on Niall."

She pushes him away. "Do a spin for me." She starts to spin with the biggest smile on her face. "Nia you are the most beautiful girl in the world. I really hope you know that, absolutely gorgeous. Okay, hold this flashlight for me."

She holds it towards Nialls mouth, Riley starts to poke at his teeth with a cocktail stick. "Does that hurt?"

"No I fucking love screaming in detrimental pain because it's fun!" He screams, muffled into her hand. "Have you flossed?"

"Ever?" I asked. "I was thinking the past week but that too. Niall this is really bad."

"Okay," she pushes him away. "Not all of us are born with perfect teeth Riley, i hate the feeling of flossing it makes me cry." She scoffs.

"He's not kidding. He has tried thousands of times but it's just the feeling he gets doing it makes him cry. The water pressure thing is a god send. He did listen to you, he just couldn't execute it completely with the same results."

"That's really sad, you have an infection in your mouth Niall. From- you'll never guess what." He groans. "I don't even eat popcorn it doesn't make sense."

"Clearly you do, it's fucking in your fucking tooth you dumb bitch."

"Nia what did you do?"