Broken Arrow (Larry Stylinson)

Prologue

CHAPTER SONG: Broken by Lifehouse

Harry sat staring mindlessly at the screen as Barney cracked some jokes about his stripper girlfriend. Usually he would be laughing like a madman by now,rolling around the couch, letting his curls bounce as he threw his head back in sheer joy. There was only one way to describe it.

Nothing's the same anymore.

His nostrils flared at the thought. It wasn't like Harry knew what was wrong with him. He had to endure endless questions from his bandmates asking him how he felt, was he alright and what not. No matter what the question, Harry's reply was always the same.

/ don't know.

The crestfallen look on Louis's face broke his heart every time. He didn't mean to upset others but how was he supposed to explain that he just didn't feel whole. He felt like there was a missing jigsaw piece needed to complete him. That he was drowning in ennui.

Harry snorted at the pure theatrics of it. It wasn't a quid pro pro situation where they would empathize and leave him be. Oh no, they'd take him to a psychiatrist and shoot him worried glances. Who knows? They would probably talk behind his back, calling him crazy and unstable. Something which he was certainly not.

Harry pulled up his sleeve and traced the puckering skin. He knew that when most people said they cut, they used the excuse of relieving inner pain or something along those lines. Not Harry though, for him it was a sick fascination, a simple curiosity. So it was him one night when Lou had gone with the guys to a pub. Just him in the bathroom and the ghosts of his mind to keep him company-oh and the blade.

He remembered crouching there, on the cold, white tiles wondering if he pressed the shiny metal to the soft, inner corners of his wrists would the blood spill, seep and splatter? Or would it bead up in small berries, tearing up at the lips of the slit, like ruby dew?

A small mirthless laugh escaped Harry's lips at the memory. The times when he'd only cut on his thighs out of sight from the world because he was too much of a coward. He supposed he'd started cutting after live week 2 at the X Factor. He recalled feeling so inferior to the others with the beautiful, beautiful voices and the stage presence. They made scrawny 16 year old Harry feel so weak, feel like... like nothing. And as if that wasn't enough, he'd thrown up during one of their rehearsals due to 'stage fright.' Bullshit

He never understood why people cut on their wrists. It was just too hard to conceal. Too risky even. Accidently slitting a vein and bleeding to death or worse ending up in a hospital was never part of his plans. Eventually though, he succumbed to the need to cut his wrist. The skin there was so smooth... So delicate. The doorbell rang pulling Harry out of his stupor.

Pushing his sleeve down till it covered his knuckles. Harry moved to open the door, he had missed Louis in the few hours that he had been gone. Out of the rest of the boys Harry always felt the closest to Louis, but Zayn came a close second. Opening the mahogany door and shuddering as it creaked, he was greeted to cerulean eyes glinting up at him.

"Hey Curly!" Louis exclaimed, almost dropping the delivery bags in his arms.

Harry gave him a shy smile as he let Louis in. "Hey Boobear." He scrutinised the bag trying to figure out what was in it. Although the aroma wafting from it strongly suggested food.

Louis placed the bags on the dining table, leaving a few scratches as he pulled out a pair of chopsticks.

Harry groaned, he had just polished the table. Did Louis really find it necessary to dirty the table?

"Don't give me that groan Mister." He said turning around and pointing an accusing finger at Harry. "I go through all that trouble to get us Thai food for dinner and rent a movie, then get soaking wet on the way back and this is how you thank me?" Louis mock glared at him.

Harry chuckled diffidently at Lou's antics. If it was anyone else, Liam for example, Harry would be freaked, scared, horrified. But since it was Louis, Harry had learned not to take it seriously. He sighed taking in a forkful of pad thai.

Louis was worried about Harry and pounced on him the instant he ignored Louis's theatrics and stuffed food in his mouth... Without a single word. This wasn't like his Harry at all. Louis brushed the hair out of his face and decided to ignore it. Harry was probably tired and moody. Taking a seat next to Harry he nudged him. "Guess what Haz?"

Harry cocked his head to the side to indicate that he was in fact listening.

"We have a radio chat with the Saturdays."

Honestly Harry couldn't care less but he thought maybe his troubles could be shoved in a drawer for later. After he didn't want to bother Lou. Sweet, kind, stubborn yet thoughtful Lou. So Harry put up a brave face and laughed, slipping into their usual banter.

Author's note:

Hi, this is to be edited so please bear with me. I know this sucks and you probably wont even read it. But in the case you do, a virtual cookie and hug for you! YAY! Comments would be nice too... Since this is my first fanfic and like i want to know if i should continue it:)) love to you all. And don't worry there will be eventual Larry Stylinson.

-Apoorva ;)x