Until You Know

Chapter Four

Louis stood before them, silent.

"What?" He asked after a tense pause.

"Nothing," Liam replied quickly.

"You look different." Niall said, and Zayn thumped him in the stomach.

"Ouch! What? He does!" Niall whined, rubbing his gut.

Louis sat down with the rest of them and said nothing. He started tearing up the grass in front of him. Liam cleared his throat.

"Right. Annnyywaaaay, Zayn told me to get everyone together cos there's something we've got to talk about. Zayn-- why don't you tell us what's been going on?" Liam looked to Zayn.

"Well, it's Harry," Zayn said, and Louis' head snapped up at once. "He's not been acting like himself and, I'm worried. He's also.." Zayn hesitated, "Well, he's been drinking quite a lot. He doesn't go outside, and he barely talks to any of us. He's obviously going through a really tough time, and I think something's gotta be done soon."

As Zayn finished, he looked around at all of the boys. Liam was nodding his head and Niall was unusually still for a change. But Louis was staring down at his lap, unresponsive.

"Lou, what do you think?" Zayn asked.

"Wha?" Louis looked up. "About what?"

"Harry!" Liam said. "What do you think we should do about Harry.?"

"I dunno..." Louis thought for a moment, and then his emotions got the best of him. "I was over at his place a few days ago, and he had nothing to say to me! He barely even looked at me! I felt like he didn't even want me to be there! It's never been like this before and-- Zayn's right, he has been drinking a lot! Actually, there were enough empties at his place to serve twenty from what I saw."

Louis' lip trembled and he couldn't continue. Liam place a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Something's gotta be done," Liam said. "I just don't know what."

Niall spoke up: "I do."

"Let's hear it then."

"One of us has gotta go over there, and knock some sense into him! He's being a right selfish twat and he needs to come to his senses!" Niall said, jumping to his feet.

"No, Niall," Zayn said, grabbing his arm and pulling him back down, "you didn't see what he was like. He can't take any roughness right now, he's really fragile." Zayn paused, wondering if he was making a mistake. But he threw caution to the winds and said the next thing looking directly at Louis, "I think someone just needs to talk things through with him." He paused, waiting to see if Louis would say anything, but Louis just stared back at him.

"Louis, I think you should try." He said.

"No way!" Louis cried. "He practically hates me now. I'm not going over there!"

"C'mon, Lou, he trusts you! Whatever went down before, I'm sure it was nothing! He was probably in a bad mood or something. You're the best friend he's got. You owe it to him to find out what's wrong." Liam pleaded.

Louis slowly shook his head. But then he let out a huge sigh, throwing up his hands. "Alright. Whatever you say, boys. But if I'm not back in an hour someone's gotta rescue me."

He stood up and brushed off his pants. Then adjusted the beanie on his head nervously.

"Don't worry, you look fine," Zayn said.

Louis looked down at him quickly and said quickly, "I don't care what I look like!"

Then he walked off.