He - A Larry Stylinson AU

one

School [skool]
noun
an institution where instruction is given, especially to persons under college age

In Louis' eyes, however, it meant something much different.

School [skool]
noun
a place where everyone secretly hates each other including students, staff and teachers and is a nightmare. They force you to do useless work while they also expect you to put up with peer pressure, your home life and social life

He never liked school, but who could blame him? Society practically begs him to be normal, but with his phobia, it's almost impossible. The crowded hallways seem to be getting smaller as the days trudge on. It feels like Louis is constantly taking a death march, avoiding anyone and everyone he can just so he could not be touched. He wasn't a germaphobe, he wasn't antisocial, he was afraid. He was afraid of finding his soulmate because he knew the consequences. He knew he would have to find his soulmate eventually, but honestly, Louis did not feel ready. The only person who he has ever let touch him was his mum. Watching his mum and dad's marriage, it seemed cute before he became aware of everything with soulmates. In fact, Louis would be lying if he said that he didn't have nightmares over figuring out who his soulmate is.

Today happens to be the most dangerous day in Louis' mind: the first day of school. He'll be walking the halls with clueless new students and there is an even bigger risk of chaos and someone touching him. Mainly because he also happens to be one of the new people. Freshman year used to excite Louis. The thought of being in high school and being finally able to participate in more "adult" things excited him. His pre teen mind was so naive. If only he knew that he would become something like this. A person with Haphephobia: the fear of being touched.

Louis has had Haphephobia since about seventh grade, when his class was given a lecture on understanding how soulmates worked since they were considered "at the age" to know. It wasn't the right age to know. Maybe if Louis had known about this later in life, it wouldn't have scared him so much, but no. The teachers had to tell him while he still believed in Santa and the Easter Bunny. Although he has all of these fears, he tries not to show them to try and protect his dignity, especially in front of his mum.

"Good morning Louis! Happy first day of school, hun. I made you a nice breakfast, and I already packed your lunch. Are you excited for the first day?"

Louis' mum, Jay, says as Louis walks down the steps.

"Yeah, Mum, I'm as excited about school as I am about watching paint dry."
"Very funny, you. You're just like your father, you know."
"*rolls eyes* Yeah, I know. Thank you so much for the breakfast, Mum, but I really should get going for school. Bye, love you."

Louis rushes out of the house because he was afraid of Jay asking more questions about the first day. The more she would ask them, the more Louis' anxiety levels would raise, making it extremely noticeable if something was wrong. Louis may not think straight when he gets anxious, but he knows his mum knows him way too well no matter what state he is in.

As Louis is walking to school and is trying to calm himself down before the anxiety driven day, he takes a look around him and he admires how beautiful today is. There isn't a single cloud in the sky, with the trees full of green leaves. Louis believes that the aura of nature is so calming. Whenever he feels the least bit upset, he runs to the pond by his house and just sits there, admiring the nature, all of the fresh smells of the newly bloomed flowers, all of the peaceful sounds of the birds chirping. During this season, specifically, is where Louis is able to have the best days at the pond. In the fall, Louis' able to watch the leaves change from green to red and watch them fall, making it the most enjoyable. Thinking about these times, Louis sighs and smiles because he finally has been able to calm down before arriving to school.

When Louis arrived, he felt confident. He felt like nothing could ever stop him. He was actually smiling for once upon arriving to school: a place that used to dread him before he found his safe haven. Seeing all the new faces didn't scare him. It in fact excited him. He was practically skipping up the steps to get into the school, until...

"Hey, watch where you're going, man!"

... he was touched.

❤︎

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