Darling

Chapter Six

The news about Harry's father suddenly reappearing in his life, had impacted Harry more than he would like to admit. He hadn't moved from his bed in a couple of days. He wasn't hungry, he couldn't eat, and he couldn't remember the last time he showered.

The sudden reappearance had brought up bad memories and feelings from the past that Harry didn't realise he had been suppressing for so long. Harry's mum tried multiple times to get him out of bed, but he just couldn't bring himself to. Seeing his mother's face just made Harry feel even more guilty. Niall and Liam had been coming by to try too. Currently, they were attempting to get Harry up with the threat of school.

"C'mon Harry, you have to get up. We have school tomorrow. You don't want to miss it, do you? You've never missed a day," Niall said, with a sing-song voice. Harry took on board his suggestion, the looming presence of university in the back of his mind.

"Harry, please?" Liam sighed, as he sat on the edge of Harry's bed next to him. Harry turned away from him, he couldn't bear to look either of them in the eyes. He felt humiliated, upset, and embarrassed.

"You don't get it," Harry mumbled into his pillow, "He just reappears out of nowhere, suddenly wanting to take my mum away with no apology and no acknowledgment of what happened at all? I-I just can't."

"H, I understand. I understand what it is like to have someone hate you so much for something you have no control over. But this isn't your fault. I get that you don't know how to feel, I do. But please, don't shut us out. Your father is an asshole for what he did to you, but do not let this consume you, okay? You're like a brother to me and I need you." Niall spoke with soft words and Harry thought maybe he was right. He continued to look away feeling more guilty than before.

Niall sighed. "Look, if you aren't going to listen or get up after my awesome speech then I guess it's time to pull out the big guns," He took a deep breath before continuing.

"I invited Louis over."

Harry turned over and gave Niall a side-eye look.

"You're lying. You didn't invite him over," He half-laughed, hoping it wasn't true.

"I'm not kidding," Niall said, seriously. Harry stopped laughing and sat up looking him dead in the eyes. Niall had no tells that proved he was lying. No eye twitch, no stuttering of his words, no half-smile. That was when Harry's heart started racing.

"Why? Why would you do that? Oh my god," Harry groaned, falling back into his bed and covering his face with the blanket.

"Because if you're not going to listen to Liam or me, you might listen to him. Is that okay with you?" Niall asked, with a hint of sarcasm.

"No! That is not okay with me. You can't just spring that on me. I like him! I can't let him see me when I'm in this state. Especially since I've been ignoring him for the past two days," Harry groaned and half-shouted from under the blanket. He felt someone pull the blanket from his head, and realising it was Liam, he stayed silent.

"It was my idea to invite him over. As Niall said, you're not listening to either of us so you might listen to him. We didn't tell him what happened, we aren't like that. But you need to talk to him. And I know you haven't messaged him back since your date, so I think this will be good for both of you. Ease the anxiety, okay?" Harry sighed and nodded.

"Oh sure, you listen to him, but when I have something to say it's met with silence," Niall sighed, rolling his eyes and Harry just laughed. That's when Harry heard the front door open, and he knew it wasn't his mum.

"Hello? Is anyone home?" A voice called out and Harry immediately recognised it as Louis's.

"Oh my god," Harry whispered yelled, glaring at Niall and Liam.