Oblivion [H.S.]

S i x t e e n

The fork clinged in the plate as Harry grabbed a piece of steak with it, and the knife made a screech as it cut through the meat and hit the plate. Harry's ears hurt from the sound, but the silence that surrounded him was even worse. His mother didn't know what to say. Neither did he. It wasn't easy. Because what could you say, when somebody got kicked out of the school of their dreams? Nothing. At least nothing that would make them feel better. It was like a coal black cloud was hanging above him, and there was no sun in the world that could make it go away. No word, no quote, no pat on the back, no look, no melody, no nothing. But they tried nevertheless.

Claire, Harry's mother, picked at her food and looked down. Her eyes went to Louis, who was looking out in the air, his hand supporting his head, like he was barely holding up. "I'm sure you can get into other schools, love! I mean, there's plenty of schools to choose from. Especially with your grades!" She said cheery, with a forced smile on her face, trying her best to lighten the mood. "Right?"

Harry snuck his eyes up at Louis carefully, poking the inside of his chin with his tongue skeptically. Louis' eyes were looking rather droopy and drowsy. Red. Drunk. Sad. Horrible. At one point Harry thought he was still drunk, how he almost slurred when he spoke, and how he looked so long into the nothing as if it was the most interesting thing he had ever encountered.

"No," Louis uttered. "I mean yeah, but no. It was the school for me. Everything was so perfect. And I was doing good, I-" He took a break and swallowed. His eyes looked more hurt than ever. "I can't go to another school. I can't. Even if they would take me in, I couldn't," he said and sat up properly, looking down on his plate. "I don't deserve it." His hand fisted, and he closed his eyes. Harry looked at him with sympathy in his eyes.

"Louis," he sighed. "Everybody makes mistakes. Just because you had a bit too much fun doesn't mean you don't deserve a second chance. Everyone at college does things like this."

"One simple prank," Louis yelped, and tugged at his hair with both of his hands in frustration. "I've gotten into fights, I've cheated on tests, I've drunk texted the principal for God's sake, and this, this stupid, little joke on a godforsaken student was all it took. I can't believe this."

Harry and Claire went quiet, just throwing glances at each other. They were worried. Very worried. They had never seen Louis so devastated. What if he just gave up? There would be nothing they could do. They knew that for sure, because Louis was stubborn like a child. As Louis unwillingly shoved a fork with meat into his mouth, Harry got an idea.

"You gould always come work at the bakery," Harry suggested. "I-I mean, I know it's not much, and it's not exactly Oxford, but it is something, right? At least while you're waiting to get into other schools, of course. We could actually really use the extra help. It was crazy there today. Ever since that other bakery not far from us shut down it's been like this. With only me, Joanna, Lindsey and Barbara there it's not really working. So .."

Claire looked excitedly at Louis to see his reaction, because she really thought it was a great idea. He shrugged. "I guess so. But if I'm gonna apply to a school, it would have to be somewhere far from here. And I don't know if I wanna move."

Harry furrowed his eyebrows looking at Louis, and then looked down in deep reconsideration of the whole situation. He didn't want Louis to move. He couldn't have Louis moving. Louis was like medicine to Harry, he needed him there. Especially when Sophia couldn't be the support she had been before the accident.

"Well, you could just stay here and work at the bakery?" Harry suggested with a hopeful grin. Claire looked at him with furrowed eyebrows.

"Harry, surely you don't want that for Louis?" She stated and put her hand on his as he looked down sadly. "I know he's your best friend and you want him to stay. But this is very important for his future."

"I know."

Louis smiled fondly and put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "I can always come visit in the weekends, you know. Won't be a problem. And if it's an emergency you could always come visit me? Right?"

Harry nodded and smiled sadly at Louis. Putting away his selfish thoughts, he lay down his fork on the table, and caredully patted his best friend on the back, letting his hand linger there for a minute to show that he truly meant what he was going to say. "You'll be fine, Louis. Really. I have loads of faith in you."

"And so do I!" Claire chimed in, pouring more tea in Louis' cup. It was her special tea for emergencies like when Harry or Lana were sick, or when Louis had terrible hangovers (Harry never had hangovers, so whenever Louis came over when he was in that awful state, she would make it for him). It was made of herbs and some spices and all that was delicious. Louis smiled at her.

"Well, maybe I should start applying to schools, then. Need to check out some of them first, though," he said and turned to Harry. "Will you go with me?"

Harry winked at him with a friendly smile. "Course." He picked up some vegetables on his fork, placing them into his mouth.

"You know what I think?" Claire said, and the boys across her shook their heads. "I think the two of you should go into the city, go to a café or go to the park and feed the birds or whatever and just take it easy. I know you love the park, Harry."

Harry smiled with warmth, his mouth stuffed with food. "That's a great idea, mum. I think it'd do us both some good."

Claire smiled proudly, but Louis on the other hand wasn't happy at all. He frowned at the both of them, moving his head furiously from left to right.

"What rubbish!" He uttered, scowling at them. "I can't go the city now? Honestly your timing couldn't've been worse. I need to start looking at schools, I don't have much time. Harry and I need to-"

"Louis!" Harry sighed in frustration. "Take it easy, we've got loads of time. Besides, it's 5 pm, we won't be able to look at schools now anyway."

"But, Harry-"

"We'll do it tomorrow, Lou, don't worry." Harry  stood up, ruffled Louis' hair as he sighed, and carried his plate to the sink. "The food was lovely, mum. Thanks."

"Yes, it really was," Louis commented along and tried to be happy, smiling weakly at her. "Thank you. And thank you for the tea as well, the headache is all gone now."

Claire smiled happily at them, and after they had done the dishes, she practically shoved them out of the house, and they were off to the beautiful London.