Nothing without you [L.S] AU

Chapter 4: Distractions

Louis walked through the halls between classes, the usual bustle of students filling the space around him. He was running on autopilot, trying to push through the monotony of his school day. But as he walked past Harry's locker, something unusual caught his eye.

Harry was at his locker, his hands shaking slightly as he fumbled with his books. Louis could see the way Harry's eyes darted around nervously, and it wasn't just the usual look of a kid who was trying to avoid trouble. No, it was something deeper—something that made Harry flinch every time he heard footsteps, always glancing over his shoulder like he was expecting something terrible to happen.

Louis stopped, watching from a distance. He saw how Harry shrank back whenever someone came too close, how his face was a mixture of fear and resignation. It was unsettling.

Why did Harry look so afraid of him? It wasn't just the usual fear of getting pushed around or having his books knocked out of his hands. This was different.

Louis shook his head, trying to push the thought away. Why did it matter? Harry was just another kid he picked on. It was part of the routine. But seeing Harry like this—so terrified—made something inside him twist uncomfortably.

He started walking again, but the image of Harry's fearful face lingered. Louis tried to ignore it, to focus on the next class, but the unease followed him like a shadow.

By the time he reached his math class, the feeling hadn't gone away. He sat through the lecture, trying to pay attention to the teacher's endless talk about derivatives, but he couldn't concentrate. The whole thing felt pointless, a waste of time. Louis fidgeted in his seat, glancing at the clock, wishing for any excuse to escape.

When the opportunity finally presented itself, Louis grabbed his phone and texted Zayn. He needed a break, needed to get out of there. Zayn was quick to respond, and before long, Louis slipped out of the classroom, making sure no one noticed.

In the hallway, he met up with Zayn, who was already waiting by the back exit. Louis barely said a word as they headed outside, making their way to the usual smoking spot behind the school. Zayn lit up a cigarette, offering one to Louis, who took it with a grim nod.

They stood there in silence for a moment, the smoke curling up around them. Zayn glanced over, raising an eyebrow. "Everything alright?"

Louis took a drag, the familiar burn of the cigarette a small comfort against the strange feeling that had been gnawing at him. "Yeah," he said, though he didn't sound convinced. "Just needed to get out of class."

Zayn shrugged, blowing out a plume of smoke. "Fair enough. Math's a drag anyway."

Louis nodded absently, staring off into the distance. The breeze felt good against his face, but it did little to clear the fog in his mind. He thought about Harry again—about the way he had looked so scared, so small. It was a contrast to the way Louis usually saw him, and it was messing with his head.

"Hey," Zayn said, breaking the silence. "You've been off lately. What's up?"

Louis sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know, man. Just... stuff."

Zayn looked at him for a moment, then shrugged again. "Whatever. Just don't let it mess with your head too much. You're fine."

Louis took another drag from his cigarette, the words barely sinking in. Zayn was right about one thing: he needed to stop letting things get to him. But it was easier said than done, especially when it came to things he couldn't quite understand.

The bell rang, signaling the end of break. Louis crushed his cigarette under his heel and headed back inside, Zayn following suit. The walk back to class was a blur of thoughts and questions, but Louis pushed them aside as best he could.

As he settled back into his math class, he tried to focus on the lesson, but the image of Harry's fearful face remained stubbornly in his mind. It was an unwelcome distraction, but it wasn't going away anytime soon.

Louis knew he had to deal with it somehow, but for now, he could only focus on getting through the day. One class at a time, one problem at a time. And if that meant shoving the thoughts about Harry into the back of his mind, so be it.