The House Across The Street • L.S.

7.

Louis spent the last week unpacking his new home, he was finally starting to get annoyed by the mess. He had completely forgotten about Harry, not intentionally, he just felt pre-occupied with his other responsibilities.

He grabbed his pack of cigarettes off the kitchen counter and put his shoes on so he could step outside to smoke. It was slowly getting colder and darker earlier. He didn't expect to see anyone outside since it was almost eleven at night and the cafe had been long closed.

He pulls out his lighter and brings it to his mouth, where his cigarette had been sitting between his lips. He cups his hand over the lighter to hopefully light the cigarette with no issues. The wind was strong tonight, and he really wasn't in the mood to deal with the lighter going in and out.

"I wish I could bring you home, kitty." Louis' eyes jot up to see the boy he met over a week ago. Luckily, Louis still had his contacts in and could see clearly. "I know you can't hear my because of this stupid glass" Louis wasn't sure, but Harry sounded as though he was speaking through tears.

Louis steps down the one step on his porch, now leaning against the light post on the sidewalk in front of his house. Harry hadn't noticed him yet, which Louis didn't mind.

"I can't talk to Gem because they closed at ten, so you'll have to fill in, okay Kitty?"

Louis continues to watch the boy as he talks to the cat through the glass windows of the cafe. The boy began to sob into the sleeves of his pink sweater that was a few sizes too big. Louis stepped off the sidewalk without thinking, and quickly turned around to go back into his house.

"Louis?" He heard a soft voice behind him. Shit. Louis sighed as he turned around to see the boy crying on the concrete while looking up at Louis with a confused look. "Louis?" The boy said again.

"Hey, Harry right?" Louis says as he walks over to the boy. "Mhm" Harry nods softly.

"What are you doing out here so late?" Louis asks

"I just don't want to go home, I guess."

"Why not? Did you have a fight with your parents?"

"Something like that" Harry sighs. "Why do you always wear shirts with bad words on them?" Harry asks, looking at Louis' black shirt with a giant middle finger and the words "FUCK YOU" across the front.

"I don't know, I like it. Why do you dress like a girl?"

"Because I like it" Harry responds, slightly smiling and feeling proud of himself for returning the snarky comment.

"It's interesting" Louis admits.

Harry's smile immediately fades and a small frown takes over. "Interesting?"

"Yeah"

"How?"

"Well, you're a boy" Louis laughs.

"Whatever" Harry replies, looking down at the ground. "Just call me a fag or a freak and get away already" He says.

Louis takes a step back and shakes his head "No, Lad. Didn't mean it like that. I don't think you're either of those things" Louis says. "To each his own. I don't judge" He puts his hands up in defense.

"Whatever" Harry repeats. "I hate this stupid town" He picks himself up off the ground and uses his sweater sleeve to wipe his face one more time. "Bye Louis" He says before turning around and walking off before Louis could reply.

Louis watched the boy turn a corner, before disappearing onto a different street. He stood in the same spot for a minute before turning around and walking back into his not so new home.