the rolling blues [l.s.]

chapter four

Harry hated Mondays. 

Mondays, as far as Harry knew, were cursed days. Monday meant showing up to class, submitting and receiving assignments, and sitting through three-hour lectures. It set the premise of a week of stress and hell. As a psychology major, he'd often been told how easy he had it. It was probably true as compared to other science majors, but it didn't stop his relief from finally leaving his Research Methods in Psychology class. 

Stepping out of the university campus, Harry made his way towards the nearest coffee shop. Although attending Lake Fair State University had been a dream of his since middle school, he couldn't stop the thoughts of dropping out. Two years ago, ever since his father had died, he'd succumbed to a sort of trance-like, always-tired state. The feeling sometimes went away when he was with Zayn, out partying or just having a simple laugh –– Zayn had that gift. 

Harry's parents were divorced. Harry was 14 and Gemma was 17 when it happened. Harry chose to stay with their father while Gemma stayed with their mum. Their parents had made it very clear that they had their own choice in the matter and that they wouldn't be condemned for choosing one over the other, and that of course Harry and Gemma would be allowed to see each other. Harry and his dad had moved to a small apartment his father's law firm (Harry's dad was a lawyer) had provided them. It had been sad for a while and he missed living with his mom and sister more than anything, but eventually, he got used to it, and soon enough it stopped feeling so quiet, so empty, and he'd begun to quite like living with his dad. Then when Harry was on the cusp of his 18th birthday, his father had suddenly packed everything up out of the blue and brought the two of them to California. He didn't really miss his old life –– he didn't have many friends at school or any other activity to keep him busy, but the sudden distance between him and his mother and sister had Harry in tears.

Harry and Rob had lived in a spacey house in California, and even though in the wake of Rob's death Harry wanted to move back home to Cheshire with his mother and sister, his mother had refused to see him give up his dream of pursuing Psychology at the university. Rob had left Harry the California house in his will, but Harry couldn't stand to live alone in such suffocating silence so he'd packed a suitcase and moved into a dorm at the university.

The campus was home now, in a way. With its bustling hallways, vibrant murals, the small rock garden outside where all the art students gathered, and the random 'Did You Know?' cards pasted around the campus, Harry felt oddly at peace. 

The coffee shop he was currently pushing into, too, was one of Harry's favorite spots. The ever-present vanilla-and-coffee-bean scent hit Harry's nose as he approached the counter, behind which stood Harry's favorite barista.

"Barbara!" Harry smiled as she waved goodbye to the customer in front of him. Barbara was an old lady who'd worked at the shop for years, and she'd absolutely adored Harry from the minute he first spoke to her. 

"Well!" she exclaimed. "Isn't your hair getting too long, young man? Planning to smuggle sweets to class in it now?"

"Hey!" Harry said in mock hurt as he patted his curls. "I like it."

She rolled her eyes. "Boys these days. What'll you have? The usual?"

Harry nodded and watched her prepare his order: a caramel mocha with soy milk and extra caramel drizzle. He paid for his drink and was on his way out when suddenly he heard someone call out his name. 

Perplexed, he turned, only to completely freeze as he saw Louis sitting on one of the corner tables, smirking as he sipped on his coffee, a guitar case propped behind him. Every instinct in him told Harry to run, but he felt paralyzed under Louis' gaze. Louis beckoned him over, and in a daze Harry complied, feeling a flutter in his stomach as he got closer.