red stone heart {l.s} • needs editing

chapter four

Harry was strict with Louis. Much stricter than he'd ever been with Liam or Niall.

Louis had only seen Harry smile once, which scared him. Usually people with the money and popularity that Harry had were quite happy or even just content with life. Louis hadn't seen even a small smile dance across the tall boys' lips.

Not since Harry stopped being so nice to him like he was doing before.

Harry demanded that Louis only eat and sleep when told he was allowed, since he didn't pay for rent so he shouldn't have any say on what goes on in the house.

Louis didn't have a problem with that.

Sometimes, he would get hungry but he'd ignore it and move on to something else much more distracting.

Harry also warned him never to be around when Harry had friends over or colleagues.

Multiple times Louis had to skip dinner or leave for work much earlier than necessary due to Harry's rules but he didn't mind, as long as he had a roof over his head.

Niall and Liam didn't understand why Louis was treated in such a way but neither of them wanted to get kicked out so after talking about it once, never was it spoken of again. They both felt bad for the boy but they couldn't really do anything.

But, over the past month of Louis living with the three best friends, the boys had revealed his silly yet adorable side. He truly was a child. They all silently believed that that was only the case because Louis never truly had a childhood.

Louis' stomach growled a low groan. "It's okay, tummy. Mr. Styles will feed us soon." Louis giggled.

Niall and Liam were cuddled up on one of the couches, watching The Little Mermaid with the boy. Harry wasn't home yet and neither of them were sure when he would be.

When the rules got set down for Louis, it was made very clear by Harry that Niall nor Liam were aloud to feed the small man. Only Harry. No exceptions.

So Liam and Niall stared at him, watching him and feeling an immense amount of pity and guilt.

The movie carried on; it was getting later and later into the night. Harry still wasn't home and Louis would still hush his tummy like a five year old every couple minutes.

Eventually, the movie ended and Niall couldn't take it anymore.

"C'mon Louis. We're going to get you some food." Niall said sternly, upset that Harry expected to go from lunch to 10pm without food.

Niall understood that Louis wasn't Harry's first priority all the time. He has a job and bills and a family. But with the rules and boundaries set for Louis, he needed to be taken care of in a good way. Not ignored or forgotten.

"Oh! No. Niall, I wouldn't want you to get in trouble. It's alright, Mr.Styles should be home soon." Louis retaliated, still smiling.

Liam grimaced at the way Louis had to say Harry's last name instead of using his first, like a normal housemate. He also couldn't understand how the boy was still so happy with himself and with Harry. Liam would be fuming.

Niall sighed, knowing the man wouldn't budge from his current state. "Alright, Li and I are going to head up to bed. If he's not back in the next hour, eat something then go to sleep, okay?" Niall ordered. He stated it as a question but really, he didn't need an answer. Louis needs to get some sleep into him
before he has to work at The Three Coins tomorrow.

"Sir Yes Sir" Louis playfully saluted the blonde.

He didn't realize how long he was downstairs but he knew he'd watched all 3 Toy Story movies since Niall and Liam went to bed. Louis was putting in The Beauty and The Beast when he realized how tired he was. He couldn't keep his eyes open but when he felt like he was almost asleep he'd jolt awake, not wanting to break one of the two simple rules Harry had given.

Be Our Guest was playing when Harry got home. He was stressed out and tired so when he saw Louis lounging on the couch, his eyes fluttered closed, he wasn't happy.

"Louis Tomlinson!" Harry yelled, startling the boy awake. Harry's voice boomed throughout the whole house, unintentionally awaking Liam and Niall.

"Wake up, boy!" Harry hollered. Louis yelped in surprise, standing quickly from his comfortable position on the couch.

"You know what I told you about sleeping, you only sleep when you're told!" Harry snarled. He was being so rough, his voice filled with hatred.

Louis looked down at his feet, ashamed. "Yes sir, I know. I just accidentally fell asleep because you were gone for so long and I couldn't help my-"

"So now it's my fault?! It's only 3am Louis! Get ahold of yourself. Tell me you didn't eat too, did you?!" Harry snapped.

"No sir. I didn't."

"Good. Now get out!" Harry said, his long index finger pointing towards the front door.

"I'm sorry...what?" Louis asked, his eyes filling with tears.

Liam and Niall came down the stairs at the commotion. "Are you seriously kicking him out, Harold?" Niall asked, shocked. He knew Louis was still going to be downstairs in the first place because he never broke any rules but this wasn't expected at all.

"Yes. Are you going to tell me otherwise because if you are, you can leave with him." Harry threatened. Liam has never been scared of Harry but now he was.

Louis was so intimidated he was visibly curling in on himself. "Yes sir. Thank you for letting me stay here but it's clearly been overdone. I'll just grab my things and leave. Thank you again Mr Styles. I'll see you tomorrow Niall and Li." Louis said, still attempting to smile.

Harry stopped him from walking up the stairs. "No, everything you have is mine. Leave."

"May I just get my blanket and my art tools?" Louis asked desperately.

"Tomlinson, don't push it. Leave. Now." Harry snapped.

Louis nodded slowly before slipping on his vans that were by the door and walking out into the brisk air of December.