Show Me (A Harry Styles Fanfiction)

Chapter Nineteen - Fall

You and I,

We're lifted over the edge,

And I will fall for you.

- "Fall", Ed Sheeran

....

AUTHOR'S NOTE: THIS CHAPTER DEALS WITH THE VERY ADULT THEME OF RAPE. (HARRY'S PAST) IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS, PLEASE SKIP THIS CHAPTER. AND THE NEXT.

Oh, no. No wonder why he didn't want to mention family at all. "H-Harry's dad?" I mouthed.

Louis nodded, his eyes fixed on the table. "Yeah."

"Louis." I took a deep breath, picking at my cinnamon roll. "What happened to her, exactly?"

He shook his head robotically, setting his jaw hard. "I can't tell you that, Ali. I'm so sorry."

"But why?"

"I'm pretty sure Harry wouldn't, ah...he wouldn't want me to." Louis chewed on his lower lip. "Especially with his birthday comin' up and all."

Birthday? I jumped, my eyes practically popping out of my head. A zillion conversations whizzed through my brain, and I realized Harry never once told me his day of birth. "Harry never told me!"

Louis snorted, amusement creeping back over his expression. "Of course he didn't. Harry hasn't celebrated it in ages."

You've gotta be kidding me. "When is it?"

"April nineteenth."

"A week," I responded quietly. "He'll be eighteen."

Louis nodded, adjusting his beanie as he gazed into his phone's screen. When I glanced up, he was watching me carefully, slowly setting his phone down. "You okay?"

"I guess." Harry's birthday. Why hasn't he celebrated? Does this go back to the reason why he hates talking to or about his family? Is this somehow in connection to Cara? "Louis?"

"Yeah, love."

"Can you help me shop for a gift for Harry?"

Louis' head snapped up, shocked. "Mean it?"

"Yeah." And I really did mean it. After all he's done for me, and whatever he's been through... "I want to cheer him up somehow." Any way I can.

XXX

After we left the coffee shop, Louis and I walked down the streets, browsing windows. Girls turned to gawk at him as we strolled along, identical to how the female population looks at Harry. He simply ignored it, or he just didn't care.

"You know what Hazza could use?" Louis said suddenly.

"What?"

"A new pair of those brown boots he loves so much."

I laughed a little. The sound was off. "Really?"

"Have you seen how worn and disgusting those things are? I always tell Harry to throw them away, but no." Louis wrinkled his nose. "He's gotta have 'em."

I couldn't argue with Louis' logic. And with that, Louis and I wandered inside some thrift, hipster store - called Vibes. It looked like this place was made for Harry: fedoras, blazers, and skinny jeans. Louis made a beeline for the racks of shoes, concentrating like a hawk looking for prey.

I followed him meekly, and my phone bleeped. He didn't even look up, and I slipped it out of my pocket. A text from Harry.

Hey, beautiful, I miss you. Want to come over? x