Misadventure

55

Louis' POV

"Take my car."

"Harry. No."

"Just take it, okay!"

"God, I don't understand you." I tried with everything in me to not raise my voice. I wasn't mad at him. Not really. I was mad at myself, and mad at Will, and completely beyond frustrated by this entire situation. "I thought you didn't want me to leave."

"I don't want you to leave!" Harry hollered from across the guest room. "I didn't say that!"

"Then why are you telling me to take your car?" I asked.

"Because I don't want you to call your mum for a ride! She's going hate me even more than she already does, and she's going to take it out on you!" he argued.

Harry was right. Fuck. I knew he was right. I reluctantly placed my phone back in my pocket. "You know. You could just believe me for once. Then I wouldn't have to leave."

"I believe my own eyes, Louis! The drugs were in your jeans-" His words were cut off by a sob. He scrubbed at his watery eyes with two clenched fists. "I don't want you to leave! I want you to stay, and I want us to work through this like mature adults!"

Oh, he did not just say that...

"Mature adults?" This was the moment I finally lost my cool. "You won't even listen to me! There's no point in me staying if you won't even listen! This conversation is just going in circles!" I exhaled loudly, feeling dizzy with emotion. "We need a break. I need a break."

"Here," Harry muttered. He wasn't yelling anymore, but his voice was laced with so much venom. He wouldn't even look at me. "Take my keys. Go home."

"What about you?" I asked, dumbfounded. Did he really think I was okay with ditching him in a foreign country?

"I don't know. I'll call my dad or something."

Oh god. Nope. Bad idea.

My stomach sank.

"Please don't," I practically begged. It was bad enough that my own parents fucking hated me. I hadn't known him for long, but the thought of Mr. Styles hating me was painful.

"Just tell me the truth, and I won't have to!"

"I am telling the fucking truth, Harry! I'm sober! Fuck!" I threw my hands in the air, then placed them on my head, trying to take slow, deep breaths through my nose.

The room was quiet for a moment. When Harry spoke, his voice was lower. It was calm, but full of so much sadness. "I want to believe you."

"But you don't," I concluded.

His silent staring at the floor was answer enough.

"Great... That's just great." I scoffed in disbelief. I reached for my empty suitcase that was tucked under the bed. "You want me to leave so bad? Fine. I'll drive your fucking car and give you space."

"Louis. It's not that I want-"

"You do." I shook my head, swallowing tears, because I knew what he was going to say. "You clearly want me to leave. You bloody gave me your keys."

He finally looked at me. His lip trembled, his eyes full of so much raw hurt, the sight was enough to break my heart. "I want you to stay, Lou. I want you to stay and talk to me."

"I love you, okay? I love you, Harry. But I-"

He winced. "Don't say but..."

-think we're just talking in circles at this point." I finished. As I spoke, I made a conscious effort of keeping my voice as soothing as possible. I momentarily set aside my own feelings of upset and slowly reached out to put my hand on Harry's shoulder.