If the Whole World was Watching (L.S.)

Chapter 21 (Louis)

It had been a few weeks since Harry and Louis had been riding on the bus together and - despite the fact that his parents barely talked to him - Louis has never felt happier.

Harry has not minded being kept in the closet at school, despite him having already come out, and Louis was eternally grateful to him for that. But on that note, Louis has been thinking about this especially this week, maybe he can come out. His parents already know so how much worse can it be? That is the main reason why he was reluctant about coming out at first, after all.

He was just scared that he was going to get the same reactions as his parents. Granted, nobody really cared about Harry but Louis was different. He was on the school's football (soccer) team, so he was much more well known.

One day, as he was debating this, he voiced his thoughts to Harry, "I want to come out, but I'm scared that the football team will kick me out."

"Lou, don't worry, you're the best person on the team! They couldn't kick you out even if they wanted to," Harry reassured him.

"But what about everyone else? They might hate me. I mean not even my parents like me, how can I expect anyone else to like me?" Louis asked.

Harry took his hands in his, "Louis. I love you. Zayn loves you. Niall, Liam, and Eleanor love you. Your sisters love you. So many people love you, don't take your parents as an example. Sometimes people aren't given the opportunity to shine with their parents because they're jerks, and unfortunately you're one of them. But don't let them influence any of your decisions. They lost that right the moment they basically disowned you just because of who you are. Only you have the right to make any decisions regarding your life."

Louis smiled, "Yeah I guess so."

"So, just keep repeating that to yourself. I have full control over my life. Nobody can drag me down," Harry said.

"Nobody can drag me down," Louis grinned.

"Also, please don't feel pressured to come out on my account. I honestly don't mind, it's like a secret spy mission!" Harry exclaimed.

Louis chuckled, "Well, I genuinely want to, and I think I'm confident enough to."

"Okay," Harry shrugged, hiding his smile, "Whatever you say."

"Oh come on, you can grin your goofy grin now," Louis teased.

Harry laughed and complied, "You know me so well."

"Yes I do" Louis softly smiled and leaned closer to Harry, "It's one of the things I pride myself on."

Harry leaned forward, "Oh yeah?"

"Mhm," Louis said and then kissed Harry. He tried to express how much he loved him in that one kiss, but he was pretty sure that was impossible.

He was going to come out tomorrow! That's exiting!

—

He did not, in fact, come out tomorrow. He instead embarrassed himself by standing up on top of a lunch table and then not saying anything before sitting back down again.

So much for that.

Harry wasn't mad, he just comforted him and told Louis not to push himself into doing anything.

He'll just do it tomorrow.

—

He was going to do it. He was just going to yell in the middle of this hallway that he's dating Harry. After all, none of the girls would blame him. Harry was gorgeous.

He didn't do it.

He couldn't form the words, and he didn't know why. These should be the easiest words to say, because this is the love of his life that he's talking about.

—

Ok, they say third time's the charm. He can do this. He can say it.

No. He can't say it. But he can show it.

He was determined to let the world know that he was with Harry. He didn't want Harry to have to hide. So he just kissed Harry in the middle of the hallway. He wasn't worried about the consequences and he wasn't worried about the people because the only thing he cared about was Harry's happiness.

He could tell that there was an immediate lift in Harry's mood when he was able to hold Louis' hand. Louis couldn't blame him, he was also extremely happy.

This was amazing, that he could finally hug his boyfriend in public, hold his hand while walking down the hallways, and kiss him whenever and wherever he wanted (as long as he wasn't near his parents, of course).

—
(Exclusive Lottie POV)

Lottie could tell that her brother was happier. She could tell that something happened. She didn't know what, but there was a secret smile and a sparkle in his eyes that normally wasn't there when he came home.

So obviously, fulfilling her duties as an annoying younger sister, she had to ask him, "What happened? Why are you so smiley?"

"Oh, you know," Louis grinned, "I came out today!"

Lottie squealed, "Oh my god!!" She jumped on Louis. She was so happy for him. That was amazing!

She didn't know how he did it. She would never have been able to take such a bold step when her parents so clearly and obviously disapproved of it. She definitely wouldn't have been mentally ok if her parents had told her that she wasn't allowed to love who she loved.

But Louis did it. Somehow. And Lottie really admired him for that. She admired him for being able to push through and go after what he wanted because he knew it was right, and not because his parents told him otherwise. He went after what he wanted with no hesitation when he knew it was the right thing to do.

Lottie has never seen him go against their parents' wishes before, so it was quite a shock to her that this didn't completely destroy him.

But they have also been subject to hearing about how much they hate the LGBTQ community, so that probably helped build up his tolerance.

Long story short, Lottie was proud of him. She was proud to be his sister. And she was so, immensely happy for him.

—

(back to Louis PoV)

Louis was happy that at least some of his family supported him and his wishes. He was happy that he had such amazing sisters.

They probably didn't look at him with as much love as he did for them, but he was still grateful that they had his side. That was greatly apparent when Lottie stood up for him to his parents (not explicitly, but she helped him communicate and see Harry).

This excitement that Lottie showed just proved that Lottie will always be on his side.

And he is so, very thankful for that.