Once Upon A Coffee Shop *Larry Stylinson AU*

Alley Encounters - Harry's POV

***Harry's POV***

After many painful attempts to get to my feet, which took at least half an hour, I was standing. What was I doing before this whole encounter? I scaned the room until I saw a smallish pile of vomit. Oh yeah...I began to move towards the mop again, until Louis stopped me. He had a plan to get me the rest of the day off. We, well really he, talked to my boss and I was released from my duties. We started walking out of the shop when something happened in Lou's brain and he scrambled. He asked me to wait for a sec, and I agreed. I had no reason to object. He ran inside and talked to someone. I wasn't sure, but it looked like the same guy who had approached Louis earlier.

I didn't understand why Louis was even talking to me, his life at school would be a nightmare, we'd never even talked. When I'd started getting bullied, I'd see him just standing there, watching the fists beat my face. We've locked eyes a couple times, but that was as far as we've ever interacted. Now, I was going to his house. This was one crazy day. I turned to see Louis walk back outside. "Hey Harry," he said. "um so there are two ways to get to my house, a shortcut and the regular way. Which way would you prefer?"

Well in case he couldn't tell by my multitude of bruises and misshapen joints, I wasn't really up for too much walking. "Erm...probably the shorter way?" I wasn't sure. I didn't want to disappoint Louis, but he'd given me a choice and I picked. Sue me.

"Okay, sounds good to me," he replied. Bullet dodged. We walked a couple blocks, him leading and me following, until he turned into an alley. '

Oh no. Not this way'  I thought. I stopped in my tracks. My breathing was labored and my heart rate skyrocketed. Louis turned around and then I spoke, "Y-you never told me we'd pass through this alley." I stammered. I'm not good with words. I dropped my head, desiring to be swallowed by the earth around me. I saw three figures appearing. I started trembling, I was nervous beyond belief.

"What do you mean 'this' alley?" He asked, coolly. I wish I had that kind of power, to mask my emotions and just be cool. I could never pull that off.

"I just, it's just," I couldn't talk. I stood there, wild eyed with nowhere to hide. Louis spun around and met face to face with the pack. They looked like they could tear us both apart. 'Great' I thought. I didn't want Lou to suffer what I had to. He didn't do anything wrong. "L-lou, c-can we take the regular w-way to your house?" I tried to say, but my heart was pounding too hard, I just hoped he'd hear me. He met me, eye to eye. The fear I had reflected in his eyes.

"Sure love. Let's go," he said pretty calmly, even though his eyes told another story. I weighed my options. I could try to run and hide somewhere, or I could fight. Well considering I was covered with battle scars from the latter, I felt as though I should run. I took off, but it wasn't as smooth as I hoped. Every movement sent a wave of pain through my spine. I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it. I slowed to a stop and looked back. I'd be lying to say I was impressed with my distance from them. I made it about four feet before I couldn't run anymore. Louis came up behind me and put a hand on my shoulder. I flinched, but I didn't draw away.

I was weak, I began to cry, not from the pain, not from the pack. But just from the sheer number of things swirling in my head. 'Do not let the pack get you. If they get you, don't let them hurt you. Don't let them hurt Lou. Be brave. No your leg doesn't hurt. Don't let them hurt Lou. Don't let them win. They can't win.' The pack caught up to us, shocking. They didn't even break a sweat. Will began taunting me...typical Will. I had pretty much stopped crying at this point. I only had one thought on my mind. 'Don't let them win.'

"Hazza! How are ya," Will taunted, throwing a punch at my face. His fist connected with the side of my face. I broke again, the word boring into me. Hazza. I hated when people called me Hazza! I couldn't stand it. Sadly, Will knew that better than anyone. I tried to find Lou, he was standing behind Stan, just watching. I couldn't blame him, nobody wanted to live the life I led. I tried forming words, what would Louis say? He was good with words. But I was too shaken to even try. "Awww cat got your tongue Haz?" he mocked again.

Without thinking, I burst out. "Don't call me that!" 'Uh oh,' I thought. Why did I tell him off like that? This was sure to lead to trouble. Stan hit me a couple of times in the ribs, I was pretty sure at least one of them was broken. Then he picked me up, like I weighed nothing and threw me onto the ground. Hard. I whimpered and surrendered.

"Ooh so worthless boy can talk now I see. Why just start talking now you pathetic excuse for a human?" Greg taunted. Why was I always the target? Oh yeah... I guess Louis got tired of watching them harass me, because he gingerly lifted me into the air and took off in the opposite direction.