Gone - Larry/Nouis short story [on hold]

Part II

Authors Note:

Sorry if this part is shorter than the last. I really wasn't quite sure what to write. This is sort of a filler in the story, so bare with me. Next part will be longer, I promise.

"Louis! Louis, wake up!"

Louis groaned, reluctantly opening his eyes and catching sight of a worried looking Niall.

"What is it, Ni?" Louis asked as he rubbed tiredly at his eyes, pushing himself up into a sitting position.

Niall sighed, "You were crying and whining in your sleep, Lou. You were repeatedly calling out for Harry. I was worried..."

Louis' eyebrows furrowed together. He didn't quite remember dreaming about Harry that night, but he didn't remember otherwise either. Although, that week, Liam and Zayn had also heard Louis' cries at night, so likely it was true that was what Louis was doing.

Niall stepped forwards, sat on the edge of the bed, and wrapped Louis in his arms, embracing him tightly.

"It's alright, Louis. I miss Harry too. Everyone does."

All Louis could manage to do was scoff, "Yeah, well you don't miss him the way I do. You didn't love him like I did!"

"Lou, I was close with Harry too." Niall tried to reason with Louis, tried to calm him down a little.

Louis tugged at his chestnut coloured hair, tears rushing down his face as he gave a little exhale of frustration, "No, Niall! I wasn't just 'close' with Harry, okay?! I was fucking in love with him! You'll never ever know what it feels like to love someone as much as I loved and still love Harry. I love him so much, Ni... but now he's gone. That kills me. That he's gone and I'll never be able to see him again or tell him that I love him. I'll never have a future with him! All I have is a past!" Louis gritted his teeth, biting back any more potential tears.

Niall let Louis slip out of his embrace as Niall's jaw went slack. Niall was absolutely dumbfounded. He had no idea that Louis felt that way about Harry.

"I-I'm sorry, Louis." Niall stuttered as he slowly rose from the bed and stood, pivoting on his heels and walking out the door, the sound of Louis' crying playing him out.

Niall shut the door to Harry's bedroom behind him and walked down the hall to the bathroom. He shut and locked the door, gripping the speckled granite countertop tightly. Niall shakily exhaled. Sure, he felt bad for Louis, but when Louis said that no one could possibly have a love for someone as strong as Louis' love for Harry, well that... that made Niall think.

You see, no one knew this, but Niall had been gunning for Louis for a while now. Niall had always assumed he was straight. Well, he was straight until he met Louis. Just the way Louis' big sapphire blue eys sparkled when he laughed, or the way they lit up when he smiled. Louis could sing with the best of them and could hit any falsetto note. Louis was just perfect. Niall tried to subtly let Louis know of how he felt for him without being too obvious. Whether it was a simple pat on the shoulder, or putting his arm around Louis' waist, Niall hoped those feelings would translate how he felt for Louis. But that was too no avail. Niall's efforts got lost in translation. Niall was going to ask Louis to talk with him so he could tell Louis how he felt. But that night, Harry died.

Niall considered sitting Louis down and telling him multiple other times, but Louis seemed to be taking Harry's death especially hard. Niall didn't want to make Louis' life any more difficult than it already was.

And plus, what if Louis didn't like Niall back. That would embarrass Niall and it would probably be awkward between the two boys.

Niall stood in the bathroom, staring at his reflection in the mirror for an easy twenty minutes debating whether or not to tell Louis.

Niall decided against it and then broke down, wondering why he could ever be bold enough to say how he really felt.

***

The next day, Niall, Zayn, and Liam were in the kitchen making lunch. Niall opened the fridge, pulling out leftover chicken and pasta.

Niall turned away from the fridge, "Zayn?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you go find Louis and ask if he wants something to eat? He hasn't eaten all day."

Zayn nodded and muttered out a 'sure' as he made his way up the staircase.

"Louis?" Zayn called.

Zayn heard a muffled noise from Harry's room and walked to the door. Zayn tried opening the door, but it was locked, the knob wouldn't budge. He knocked twice, "Louis? Can I come in?"

First, all Zayn heard was silence, but then he heard the sharp click of the door unlocking and slowly pushed the door open. Zayn caught sight of Louis and had to stop himself from gasping. Louis had dark circles under his eyes and just looked sad. His mouth was turned down at the edges in a semi-permanent frown. Zayn couldn't recall the last time he saw Louis smile since Harry's death.

"Do you want something to eat, Louis?" Zayn said softly as he stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe awkwardly.

Louis sat down on the bed, the mattress sinking slightly under his weight, "No, Zayn. I'm fine."

"Are you sure? 'Cause Niall s-"

"Just leave me alone."

Zayn sighed, "Louis..."

Louis lay down and turned to face away from Zayn, facing the blank white wall instead, "Just leave me alone." he repeated, his voice barely audible.

Zayn's mouth opened and closed repeatedly as he pondered whether to just leave or to try to talk to Louis. Zayn ended up closing the door behind him and returning to the kitchen.

Niall and Liam looked at Zayn as they heard his footsteps approaching.

"He's getting bad, guys." Zayn said as he sat down on a stool, resting his elbows on the counter and perching his chin in his hands.

"What do you mean by 'bad'?" Questioned Liam who turned to face Zayn.

Niall and Liam both wore concerned expressions on their faces.

Zayn ran his hand through his dark hair, "By 'bad' I mean he looks as if he hasn't eaten or slept in days. He's super pale and he just looks..." Zayn trailed off, searching for the right word.

"Dead?" Asked Liam.

Zayn gulped, "Exactly. And I tried to reason with him and talk to him. But he's just not in a right state right now. Since Harry died, Louis just hasn't been the same. He's been distant."

"Tell me about it." Niall said just over a whisper.

"I want to help him, but I don't know how to." Zayn bit his lip hard.

Liam thought for a moment, "I don't think we can exactly 'help' him, Zayn. But we can support him. That's really all we can do. We can't instantly make him get over Harry, but we can be there for him and let him know he's not alone. He's still got three friends that love him very much and hate seeing him suffer like this."

Niall and Zayn exchanged affirming nods of approval.

At that moment, Niall, Zayn, and Liam made it their mission to help Louis through the overbearing grief of losing his best friend. Because that;s what friends are for after all.

And Louis needed them now more than ever.