We Will Find a Way Through the Dark (Larry Stylinson)

Chapter Two

Harry froze when he saw his mum move towards him.

"Who dropped you off?" Mark demanded.

"J-j-just a friend" he managed to get out.

"What's this 'friends' name?" Anne, his mum, chimed in.

"L-Louis T-Tomlinson"

"Don't ever get a ride from somebody again. They could be dangerous."

Harry knew his parents weren't really concerned about his safety however, they were concerned about their own and if he told somebody what was going on in their home they would be in a lot of trouble. They would do everything in their power to make sure Harry didn't get close enough to anybody that he would feel comfortable telling about what they did to him.

"O-okay. I'm going to go do my homework now if that's okay."

As Harry was walking around them Mark grabbed his arm and said,"Listen to your mother."

"Why did you think that locking your door was a good idea last night? We need to be able to have access to you and to your room at all times. Is that clear?" Anne threatened.

"Y-yes." Harry moved and Mark's grip on him tightened.

"Anne go start dinner. I need to talk to Harry alone now."

Anne left the foyer and retreated into the kitchen.

Harry braced himself for what was coming and when the fist landed on his back he manages to stop himself from yelling out in pain. He felt a cut reopen on his back and wanted to cry. He knew if he cried or made any indication of being in pain, Mark would just continue hitting him.

After Mark got his punch in, he left to go into the kitchen with Anne.

Harry ran into his room and shut the door, being extra careful not to lock it.

After removing his shirt, he mentally cursed himself for not getting band-aids on the way home. The best he could do to stop the bleeding was to wrap a t-shirt tightly around his torso.

His mum never called him for dinner so he was once again without food. He hadn't had anything to eat all day except for a granola bar he had found in the bottom of his book bag.

Harry fell asleep with tears running down his cheeks. This has been happening to him ever since his mum married Mark when he was six years old. He didn't understand why his supposed parents would do this to him.

~~~~
The Next Morning

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

Harry groaned when he heard the sound of his alarm clock waking him up. Today was a Thursday and that means there is only school for one more day after today and then it's the weekend. He hated weekends because he was made to stay in the house all day and he would be subject to more abuse than during the weekdays because he somehow managed to annoy Mark even more on those days.

Harry's back was overcome with pain when he moved to get up. He remembered that his cut was reopened and made himself slowly get out of bed.

After taking a quick shower he got dressed and bolted out the door before Mark would come out of his room and find something that Harry had done wrong.

On his walk to school, Harry's phone beeped, alerting him he had a text.

When he opened up the message it was from Niall and read, "Hey sorry bro but I'm sick and my mum's making me stay home today."

Harry groaned and realized that his so far good day was quickly turning into a bad one. Him and Niall had been friends only for a few months but Harry relied on him to help him get through the school day.

When he finally arrived at school, he went to his first two classes and then it was time for lunch.

As soon as he walked inside he remembered that Niall wasn't there and he would have to sit by himself. It was always embarrassing whenever he had to do that because it made him look like he had no friends.

As he sat down at the table he pulled out the apple he had managed to sneak out of the kitchen this morning, he felt a hand land delicately on his shoulder.
Harry jumped and spun around, having no idea who it could be.

"Whoah, it's just me, Harry"

Harry let out a sigh of relief when he realized it was Louis standing behind him and not somebody wanting to hit him. At least he hoped Louis didn't want to hit him.

"Oh h-hey" Harry let out, still a little shaken up.

"Why are you sitting by yourself?" Louis asked, ignoring the stutter.

"Erhm... Well my friend I normally sit with is sick today, so that's why."

"Well why don't you come sit with me and my friends! I'm sure they wouldn't mind!" Louis said, pointing at a table across the cafeteria.

"Um... It's okay. I'm fine by myself. It's just for today."Louis looked disappointed so Harry added, "It's not you, I swear. I just don't know them. And they are all seniors. They probably don't want to sit with a junior."

"Fine I'll just sit with you then." Louis said with a smile.

"You really don't have to do that"

"Well I want to." Louis said sincerely.

"Alright but I hope your friends don't get mad at me."

"Why would they get mad at you?"

"Because you're sitting with me and not them."

"Ehhh they probably won't even notice." Louis chuckled. "So who do you normally sit with?"

"A guy in my year named Niall."

"Horan?" Harry nodded. "I have him in my history class!"

"Really?

"Yup. He seems pretty cool."

Louis and Harry just made small talk the rest of lunch and when the bell rang, signaling it was time for classes to start up they said goodbye to each other.

After the rest of his classes were over, Harry walked outside and started on his way home.

A car pulled up next to him before he was even off the school grounds.

"You're not seriously walking again, are ya?" Louis called out from the car.

Harry turned and nodded his head.

"Get in"

Harry went around to the other side and got in.

When they were a half a block from his house, Harry asked Louis, "Do you mind stopping here?"

"Um sure. But don't you live over there?" Louis asked pointing at Harry's house.

"Uh yeah but I need to walk the rest of the way." Harry answered, hoping Louis wouldn't ask too many questions.

"Okay?" Louis questioned with a confused look on his face. "But before you get out, give me your phone number so that I can make sure you aren't walking to school either."

Harry blushed, but gave him is phone number.

"I'll text you so you can have mine too." Louis said with a wink.

Harry got out and walked up the street to his house. Louis stayed down the street until Harry was inside and then took off towards his own house.