Until they tear us apart. | l.s.

49

Last actual chapter. 🥲 It's a long one tho. 🫶🏻

The outcome of the conversation- explanation more like- wasn't what the boys expected. It was far from that and not even close to be compared to the talk they had with Jay just one day prior.

Harry wasn't a big help to Louis who stammered out their story, stumbling over his own words and nervously looking around for help when Mark's gaze bored into his face.

He would never accept it. That was the thought that was running through Louis' mind since the moment they sat down at the table and by the looks of his father he didn't doubt that at all. He didn't move a muscle, not when Louis explained how he fell for Harry, not when he told him how they got closer and not how they picked up each other when they finally accepted what they were feeling for each other and how their relationship carried on from then. He just stared at Louis who was drained, tears of frustration were gathered in his lower eyelids and he was feeling helpless and angry with Harry for not saying a single thing and just squirming on his seat, glancing from Louis to Mark and further to Jay who tried to interfere twice, but Louis didn't want her to take the word.

"...I didn't use him, I didn't do this for myself or because I had fun with it. I loved him, dad..." Louis finished when finally the tears ran down his cheeks and he forced himself to look in his eyes. "...I loved him and I still do and I will never stop loving him." He choked out.

He waited for Mark to finally say something, for any kind of reaction, but the more seconds passed the more he got aware that it was pointless.

Then, Mark's head turned to Jay and his gaze herdened.

"How can you accept this?" He asked sharply. "This is not normal!"

"Of course it's normal!" Jay shot back just as harsh. "They are just two boys who fell in love-"

"They are brothers!" Mark exclaimed.

"Stop it!" Jay snapped. "We had this discussion and you know this is bullshit! Is it abnormal when best friends fall in love?" She glared at Mark awaiting an answer, but when she didn't get one she slammed her flat hand on the table. "Is it, Mark?"

"It's not the same." Mark muttered, more laid back now when his brain finally started working and he thought of what Jay just said.

"Of course it is!" Jay exclaimed.

"Mum, please..." Louis said weakly.

"No, Louis!" Jay turned her head to him and her angry look turned sad. "I just want him to understand that-"

"I know, but you can't force it." Louis said quietly.

"Lou." Harry breathed out with furrowed eyebrows when the fear of Louis giving up again by the tone of his voice was getting the best of him. "Please, don't."

"Hang on, baby." Louis appeased and grabbed his hand under the table, the pet name let Mark's head snap up and he stared at him again. Louis acted unfazed by it and stared right back. "Do you remember our talk?"

"What talk?" Mark asked apathetically.

"Harry's birthday when we sat outside." Louis reminded and he noticed the change in his features when he remembered. "I told you. I told you I fell for the wrong person and you said there weren't any boundaries."

"I didn't know you were talking about Harry!" Mark argued immediately.

"Doesn't matter." Louis shook his head. "Do you remember what else you told me? Please, just think about it for a second...just one second, that's all I'm asking for. How...tell me how you could tell me all of these things and fighting against this here now if it was true what you were saying? I know you- and I just know you were thinking about that conversation after that and questioning who it might've been I was in love with and I know you created the worst scenarios in your head, but is this here worse than what you imagined? Is this really the worst thing that could happen?" He asked desperately.