You Found Me [Nouis]

Chapter 4

Niall woke up dazed, confused. He was blinded, staring straight at the sun. Where was he? He wasn't in bed, that's for sure. He couldn't see the sun from his window, his curtains were always down.

Niall sat up, blinking. After a while, when the tiny suns behind his eyes faded, he realized he was still in the woods, under his willow tree. Louis was next to him, already awake. Niall had been using Louis' chest as a pillow.

"Hi." Louis said. Niall waved in response, then he frowned. It was broad daylight, and they were still under his willow tree. He looked down at his watch. They were an hour late for school!

Niall tapped his watch frantically, his eyes wide as he looked back up at the boy next to him. Why hadn't Louis woken him up?

"I-I know." Louis paused. "We don't have to go today. I mean, there's always tomorrow. It's still pretty early in the year, you know? I doubt we'll miss anything important."

Niall raised an eyebrow at him, confused. Louis wanted to skip school? He didn't seem like the type to want to do that.

"I kinda wanted to talk to you." Louis said. "We can sneak in at lunch to see the others if it will make you feel better."

Niall, after a moment's hesitation, nodded. He didn't mind skipping school- less bruises and pain and feeling out of place- but he didn't want to be questioned.

"What happened yesterday?" Louis asked, havgin hesitated for a moment. "When those guys went after you. Did they hurt you?"

Niall shook his head, tapping his fingers against each other. He was still looking at Louis, so the other boy knew he hadn't hit a soft spot. Not yet.

He didn't want to run into a sensitive subject with Niall, but he had to know. He had to know why Niall was so tense and quiet. "Were they going to?"

Niall nodded, biting down on his bottom lip as his fingers paused, hands falling limp in his lap. Louis was worried- Niall seemed so upset.

"Why?" Louis frowned. He knew he wouldn't get an answer, but he couldn't help but wonder why someone- anyone- would hurt such a harmless boy.

Niall held his hand up, showing Louis his palm, which still had 'gay' written on it when he told Harry, Liam, and Zayn he was in love with Louis yesterday.

"They hurt you because you're gay?" Louis asked in disbelief. He was quite surprised he got an answer, but he was disgusted by that answer. "That's completely fucked up."

Niall shook his head slightly. He put his hand back down, letting it fall limp again beside his other one. Louis have him a look.

"You don't think that's fucked up?" Louis raised an eyebrow at him. Niall shook his head again. "Huh? Why?"

Niall didn't move this time, just looked down. Louis knew he'd hit a soft spot this time. He cursed himself for asking so many questions, ones he may not need to know the answer to, but now he was beyond curious.

"Do you think it's wrong? To be gay?" Louis asked. He didn't think Niall was homophobic or judgmental or anything (but how was he supposed to tell, really). Niall shook his head.

Louis didn't understand, not that that wasn't normal. Everything was pretty confusing with Niall, considering he couldn't just tell Louis what was on his mind. "Well, are you ashamed by it? Are you ashamed to be gay?"

Niall shook his head again and Louis frowned. "You're losing me here."

Niall shrugged, still not looking at Louis. Louis sighed, scooting closer to Niall. "Harry told me you're the best person in school. That's why they bully you, right? Because they want to be the best."