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

Chapter Five

Harry just shook his head. "Harry please. I need to know what's going on so that I can help you. I want to help. Let me help you." Louis practically begged.

"You're going to pity me and I don't want you to."

"Harry. I will not judge you. I am the last person that should be judging other people."

"If you promise me that you won't look at me any differently then maybe I will."

"I will not think of you any differently. I already know you are a very strong person so whatever you tell me isn't going to change anything. I promise."

Harry still looked and felt apprehensive. He didn't know if he should tell Louis, who he had just talked to for the first time a few days earlier. But there was something about Louis that just made Harry feel like he could trust him completely.

"Okay." Harry sighed, deciding he would tell Louis what he has never said out loud. Louis delicately placed his hand on Harry's knee to comfort him. "I guess I'll start from the beginning. When I was four my parents got divorced. My dad didn't get any custody of me because at the time he had an addiction to alcohol. So I lived with my mum all the time. When I was six she got married to my stepdad Mark. For as long as I can remember, I've liked more girly things than I guess I should, and Mark didn't like that. Up until I was around thirteen he would just take whatever girly thing I had and throw it away after spanking me and telling me I shouldn't have those things. Then when I was about thirteen, he got more aggressive towards me. I hadn't shown any interest in girls, and even though I didn't do any of the girly things anymore, because I had learned not to, Mark still thought I was doing stuff I shouldn't. So then and still now, when I would or do the slightest thing wrong, it could be a bad grade on a test or not washing my dishes well enough, he would punch me. He normally does it on my back because people can't see it there. My mum never did anything to stop him. But yeah that's pretty much all of it. Pathetic I know."

"Harry you are not pathetic, at all. You are incredibly brave and amazing for going through all that."

Harry didn't know what to say other than a "thanks" while looking down at his lap.

"Did you do something 'wrong' today?" Louis asked.

"I was late to fifth period."

"And he did all this just because of that?!"

"Yeah I guess so." Harry said, still looking down at his lap.

Before either of them could talk again Harry heard a noise from outside of Louis' bedroom. "What's that?" Harry asked. Slightly panicking thinking maybe Mark had followed him and then had broken into the house.

"It's probably just my mum." He answered. "She went to some yoga class tonight and said she would be getting home around eight."

"Oh. O-okay. Wait what if she gets mad I'm here? Maybe I should go. I'll see you at school on Monday. Bye Louis, thanks for everything today." Harry said as he started frantically getting off the bed.

"Wait Harry!" Louis said as he was grabbing Harry's arm to keep him from leaving. "My mum isn't going to care if you are here. She will probably actually be happy. I don't normally have people over."

"A-are you sure?"

"Yes I'm sure." Louis answered with a reassuring smile. "Mum!"

"Yes honey?" a female voice called out.

"Can you come in here?"

"Yes give me one second. Is everything okay?"

"Yes mum."