SINCERELY YOURS ONLY

⭐STAR GAZING⭐

*AUTHOR'S POV* (THIS IS GOING TO BE HEAVILY CHANGED)

(SAME EVENING AT THE PAYNE-TOMLINSON HOUSEHOLD)

"Yes, Mom. No, Mom, he's home. No, Euni, I didn't let him go anywhere. Yeah, yeah, I will. Okay, have a great trip. Bye." Louis ended his mom's call and sighed, wondering what he'd gotten himself into

"Payno?" Louis called, standing in front of Liam's bedroom door, lightly knocking. "Liam—Liam—Okay, I'm coming in, I don't have the patience for this." He barely knocked three times before pushing the door open, surprised when it swung wide. "Fuck off," Liam mumbled from under his blanket. "Oh, buddy, trust me, I want to. I left my fucking date for you," Louis said, flipping on the wall light beside the door. Liam tried to sit up but failed. "Then go, please. I don't want to bother you." Liam fell back onto the bed, gasping and groaning. "Woah, woah, woah, you can't even sit straight." Louis rushed to him and climbed onto the bed. "Shit, you're burning up." Liam reached up to his forehead, groaned, and pulled Louis towards him, mumbling something under his breath. "Shit—shit—shit," Louis cursed under his breath, moved the hair from Liam's forehead, and got up.

Louis ran to the bathroom and grabbed some cold water in a bowl he found next to a hair bleaching kit and a small towel from a hook. Liam groaned continuously as Louis returned and placed the water-filled bowl on the bedside table. He moved the blanket aside, but Liam grabbed his hand, trying to pull him back. "Don't... don't pull me, let me take care of you." Liam was breathing heavily, and Louis gulped as he removed his t-shirt after a moment of internal struggle. He dipped the towel in the cold water, squeezed out the excess, and gently patted Liam's body. "Li—Liam," Louis called with a shaky voice as Liam's hand crept to his waist. "Hmm," Liam replied faintly, his eyes screwed shut. "Buddy, buddy, look at me." Louis ignored the burning sensation inside him, putting on his emotional mask again. "Leave, Louis. You don't want to be here. I don't want you here," Liam said, still clutching Louis's shirt, while Louis remained on top of him, patting his body with the cold towel. "I—I told you to leave. Leave me alone," he said again, now getting on Louis's nerves. "Well, we don't have much choice here, do we? Now sit up." Louis tried to pull him up, but Liam, stronger even in his fever, pulled him down onto himself. "You know what, Liam? What do you want?" Louis asked in frustration. Liam opened his eyes, looking deeply into Louis's, and adjusted his head on Louis's forearms. "You... you shouldn't have left your date." Louis groaned, wanting to slap his forehead. "But now I'm here. I can't do anything about it. You can go back." "No, I can't. It's late. She's at her home now, and Liam, shut up. Let me get your fever down." Liam cupped Louis's face and pulled him closer. "You should call her then." Louis had never felt this nervous before, except maybe once. "I'll call her later. And when did you get drunk?" Louis asked, now placing the towel on the side of Liam's neck. "Ahh, no, you should call her now... and I got drunk when I was out." Liam said, taking Louis's hand and placing the cold towel on the back of his neck. "Uhm, feels good," Liam almost moaned, closing his eyes, and Louis looked away. "Wh—when were you out?" Louis asked, confusedly licking his lips, having no idea Liam was out. "All day long. You weren't here, though." Louis bit his lip, and Liam's grip on his hand tightened. "I'm sorry, Liam. I shouldn't have left you alone." Liam just laughed, shaking his head. "No, I'm not your responsibility. I'm no one's responsibility." Louis sighed, and Liam rubbed his temples, a little too drunk for his liking. "Liam, your mom called me to ask about you, and she—she repeatedly told me to take care of you. She even wanted to come back home," Louis informed him, and Liam combed his fingers through Louis's hair. "I'm sorry on behalf of my mother. She shouldn't have forced you. I'm sorry for your trouble—" "Liam, shut up, please," Louis said, sitting up, sliding his hand away from Liam. "No... my pillow... It was my hand, Liam, not a pillow—" "No, my pillow." Liam pouted, and Louis sighed, hiding a chuckle. "Okay, okay, I'm just going to bring your medicine, and your pillow is coming back. Wait." Louis said, getting up to go to the drawers.