when we were eighteen - book one ✔️

Chapter Eight

HARRY // NOVEMBER 2016

Harry was pissed and hurt and hormonal. He managed to fell asleep after their fight. Winnie curled into him, helping find a zen. But his dreams were never a zen-like place.

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Harry was running.

He couldn't breathe, fear owning his body. He tried to run from the bedroom to the exit of the flat, but he couldn't. He saw Louis at the doorway, door open. Harry reached out for him. He screamed out for him. Louis rose his hand slowly and Harry's fingertips brushed his. But, he couldn't reach him. He was almost there, but didn't make it.

Kyle grabbed him, his fist locking into Harry's curls. Yanking him back and pounding his face into the drywall next to the door. Gasping and feeling the warmth of blood trickle down the side of his face, he surrendered.

"Louis," Harry mumbled out, weakly reaching out to him. Kyle's grip tightened on him, making the curly haired boy to whimper in pain.

"You're mine now, HarBear," he growled, angrily into his ear.

Louis's face was filled with anger as he growled out, "This is fucking ridiculous. I'm not dealing with his hormonal bullshit anymore. In the morning, I'm going to Niall and Jade's. Like I planned."

Those were the last words Louis said before Kyle slammed the bedroom door, leaving Harry alone with him in his personal hell. All Harry could do was scream.

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"Harry! Harry," Louis said, as he caught the screaming boy in his arms. Harry thrashed against Louis, mad that he left him with Kyle.

"How could you do that? Why? Why?!" Harry cried into Louis's chest as he weakly beat his fists into him.

"Shh, love, shh. It was only a dream. Come back to me, leave your dream. You're safe," Louis murmured to Harry in the softest, cajoling tone he had ever heard.

Harry drew in deep breaths. The fogginess around his mind begun to lift. He begun to realize that he wasn't dreaming anymore. He was in reality, with Louis. He was in his home, not Kyle's flat in London. He was gone from that horrible place.

"L-Louis," Harry choked out, a cry of relief that he was safe. "Do-Don't leave me."

Harry couldn't see Louis's face, but he felt his lips press into his forehead. Louis whispered, "Okay. I won't leave. I need you to calm down. Don't cause the baby any stress."

Baby. The baby. He had to keep his girl safe and healthy. So, Harry breathed threw his nose and out of his mouth. A few minutes later, his sobbing ceased.

"Let's lay back down, love. I'll turn on the cartoons, Winnie is ready to cuddle," Louis spoke softly. He knew the drill. Cartoons and cat after a nightmare. But this nightmare was the worse one yet.

Harry laid back down onto his pillows and Winnie burrowed her head into his neck, trying to comfort her owner. Harry pet the silky fur and watched the TV come to life. Louis turned on Bob's Burgers, Harry's favorite. It was the episode where Tina and Louise went to the Boyz For Now concert. The best episode.

"Louis," Harry said, timidly. Louis was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching the TV silently. He looked over his shoulder and his expression softened. Harry whispered out his question, "Can you lay with me?"