Nothing without you [L.S] AU

Chapter 15: Fixed

It had been three days since the heated confrontation that had left both Louis and Harry in a state of emotional limbo. The silence between them was heavy, a wall of unspoken words and unresolved feelings. Wednesday morning arrived, bringing with it the usual routine of classes. For Louis, the day was broken into two parts: Health in the morning and English later in the day.

Health Class

Louis trudged into the health classroom, the day's topic already announced on the board: "Safe Sex and STD Prevention." It was a subject he found both awkward and essential, a topic he had mixed feelings about. As the teacher began discussing the importance of using condoms, legal age, and the reality of STDs, Louis tried to focus, but his mind kept wandering to the recent fallout with Harry.

His thoughts were interrupted by the door creaking open. Harry walked in, head down, clutching a folded note. With an air of practiced nonchalance, he handed the note to the teacher and then slid into the seat next to Louis. The closeness was electric, a palpable tension hanging in the air.

The teacher read the note and raised an eyebrow. "Alright, Harry. It seems you were not paying attention in your health class, so you'll join us here for today's lesson."

Harry gave a faint, apologetic smile as he settled into the seat beside Louis even though there were many others around.. The proximity made Louis's heart race, a mix of anxiety and excitement. The two of them exchanged fleeting glances, their mutual apprehension mirrored in each other's eyes.

As the lesson progressed, Louis found it hard to concentrate on the teacher's words which he probably should be listening to. Instead, he focused on the way Harry's fingers brushed against his as they both reached for their notebooks. The touch was brief but charged, making Louis's pulse quicken.

"Hey," Louis whispered, leaning in. "We need to talk."

Harry's eyes met his with a hint of relief and a touch of flirtation. "I know. We really do."

The class dragged on, each minute feeling like an eternity. Finally, the bell rang, signaling the end of the period. Louis and Harry walked out together, their shoulders brushing occasionally, a silent acknowledgment of their unspoken agreement.

Domino's

During lunch, Harry suggested they head to Domino's. "I'm starving," he said, and Louis, eager for a chance to clear the air, readily agreed.

They found a quiet booth in the corner, the aroma of pizza and garlic filling the air. Harry dug into his meal with gusto, while Louis watched him, a mix of admiration and nervousness swirling inside him.

"So," Louis began, his voice low, "we need to talk about everything. About what happened... and about us."

Harry nodded, his expression serious but soft. "Yeah. I've been thinking about it non-stop. I don't want things to stay like this."

Louis took a deep breath. "I messed up. I pushed you away because... because I'm scared. Scared of hurting you like I've hurt others."

Harry's gaze was intense but understanding. "You're not like them, Louis. You don't have to push me away. I care about you—probably more than I should."

Louis looked down, his fingers tracing patterns on the table. "There's something I need to tell you, Harry. Something I've never told anyone before." He hesitated, gathering his courage. "My dad... he was abusive. He left because he couldn't accept me being gay. I've always pushed people away because I didn't want to get too close and hurt them. I thought that's what I was doing with you."

Harry's eyes widened, filled with empathy. "Louis, I'm so sorry. I didn't know. But pushing me away isn't going to protect me. It's just going to make things worse."

Louis's voice was rough with emotion. "I know. And I don't want to push you away. I just... I'm trying to figure things out."

Harry reached across the table, placing a reassuring hand on Louis's. "We'll figure it out together. I still care about you, despite everything."

Louis's heart swelled at Harry's words. "I want to make things right. I'd like to take you out sometime—just us. Not a date yet, but... maybe soon?"

Harry smiled, the warmth in his eyes undeniable. "I'd like that."

After they finished their meal, they walked back to school together, the weight of their conversation lingering but lightened by their renewed connection.

English Class

In English class, Louis and Harry found themselves sitting next to each other once again. The flirtation from earlier lingered, manifesting in stolen glances and subtle touches. The lesson was a blur as they exchanged whispered comments and playful banter.

Under the table, Louis's hand brushed against Harry's, and they instinctively entwined their fingers, holding hands in secret. The contact was both comforting and electrifying, a silent promise of what they were building together.

As the class drew to a close, Louis couldn't help but feel a mixture of hope and apprehension. He was terrified of messing things up again, but the connection he felt with Harry gave him a glimmer of hope for the future.

When the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Louis and Harry walked out together, their hands still linked. They made their way towards the school entrance, the day's events weighing on their minds but lightened by their renewed connection.

As they reached the front of the school, they were approached by Liam, Niall, and Zayn, who were waiting for them. Niall's face lit up with a mischievous grin as he saw Louis and Harry together.

"Look who decided to make up," Niall said cheerfully. "So, yes, Larry is back together!"

Louis's eyes widened in confusion. "What? Larry?"

Harry chuckled softly beside him. "Niall's been calling us 'Larry' for a while. It's just a nickname."

Liam stepped forward, smirking. "Yeah, we've all been waiting for you two to sort things out. It was pretty obvious you both needed to talk."

Zayn added with a grin, "We've all noticed the way you look at each other. It's hard to miss."

Louis glanced at Harry, who was smiling up at him with a look of relief. "So, you knew about this?" Louis asked, a mix of embarrassment and curiosity in his voice.

Harry nodded, still smiling. "Yeah. We've been trying to figure things out. Niall's been rooting for us to get back together, and Liam and Zayn were in on it too."

Niall clapped Louis on the back, laughing. "I'm just glad you two finally talked. It was driving me nuts seeing you both so miserable."

Louis looked around at his friends, realizing that their support had been there all along, even if he hadn't seen it clearly before. "Thanks, everyone," he said, feeling a wave of gratitude. "I guess I was just too scared to face it."

Harry squeezed Louis's hand gently, his gaze warm. "We'll get through this. We just need to keep talking and being honest with each other."

As they stood there, the group of friends began to disperse, leaving Louis and Harry alone for a moment longer. The tension of the past few days had lifted, replaced by a newfound sense of understanding and connection. They knew that their journey wasn't over, but at least they were on the right path.

With a final glance at each other, Louis and Harry walked off together, ready to face whatever came next—with their friends' support and each other's hearts guiding the way.