MUTE

7. Friends?

'I'm pretty sure Louis is sick or something,' that's what Harry's been thinking about since the lunch incident the other day and it's kinda worrying him, 'What if he's anorexic or something?' Harry asks himself.
"Is it just me, or does Louis look thinner?" Liam questions bringing Harry back to reality and making him look at the entrance of the school where Louis just walked through. "He kinda does," Zayn agrees, "I've never seen him eat, like ever," he adds and then all shut up once Louis is in earshot. "Hey, lads... What were you mumbling about?" He greets, "We were discussing the script and who will draw the storyboard," Liam says when no one else dares to speak.
Louis looks a little suspicious at first but then he drops it and asks about who will do the drawings and Zayn raises his hand.
"I think we should go to class now," Harry informs closing his locker.
"We'll see you guys at lunch," Niall informs before walking to class with Louis.

"You weren't talking about the script were you?" Louis says out of nowhere making Niall almost choke on his own saliva.
He doesn't know if he should lie again or just tell him the truth, "Come on Nialler tell me, what were you really talking about?" Louis pushes, "Was it about me?" He adds and Niall gives him a look that says everything.
"What did you guys say?" Louis questions and the emotion on his face is hard to pinpoint. Is it anger? Sadness or just sheer disappointment?
"It's just... You kinda look thinner and we were worrying, that's all," Niall explains looking down slightly "Me? Thinner... You guys must be hallucinating," Louis chuckles and the blonde boy looks at him like he's crazy.
"We are not hallucinating Lou, you are getting thinner," Niall says, "Dude, you met me like three days ago... you don't know anything about me," Louis half-yells, anger slightly audible in his voice, before walking off.
"Lou -" Niall calls, but to no avail, because his friend is long gone.
____

"Guys, I found a place where we can shoot a couple scenes," Liam says as he plops down on the chair beside Niall "Awesome...I got the camera in my locker," Harry informs "I'm going to drive the equipment and the costumes over *looks at Zayn* could you take the lads?" Liam informs "Sure," Zayn says before eating his pasta, "Can you drive me home afterward?" Louis questions looking at the tan boy in front of him and Zayn shrugs, because his mouth is still full.
After telling each other where they'll meet after school, Liam decides to introduce some of his female friends to Niall. He wants to see if Niall likes one of them as in 'She's so hot, I want to shag her,' but to be honest Liam doesn't want him to like any of them; Niall doesn't know anything, though.

"So...Niall, this is my non-related sister Danni *motions to brunette girl* and those are her friends Perrie *motions to blonde girl* and Jess *motions to tan girl*" Liam introduces and Niall shyly says 'Hi' before both of them sit down to chat.
"How did you two meet?" Niall questions motioning between Danni and Liam, "We met on our first day of High School and hit it off immediately... after a while I fell head over heels for him and when I found out that he likes boys I was like 'How could you do this to me?'" Danni explains and Liam could have sworn he saw Niall's lip twitch upwards slightly at the mention of him being gay.
Danni knows about his crush on the Irish lad and she's willing to help him get his crush.

"It was nice meeting you girls," Niall says before him and Liam make their way back to the boys...well, more like Zayn and from the corner of his eye, Liam can see Danni wishing him luck.

____

"I'm gonna put the camera in my car, I'll wait for you guys outside," Liam says putting his hand out so Harry can give him the camera, "Don't drop it," he warns before giving Liam the camera and closing his locker.
"Where'd Louis go?" Zayn questions looking around to see if he spots the feathery-haired boy anywhere. "I don't know... he's either in the bathroom or outside," Harry says leaning against his locker.
Niall's phone starts to vibrate and he reads the Text

From: Liam

To: Nialler
Message: What are you guys waiting for?
Me and Louis are freezing our asses off out here

"It looks like he's outside," Niall says while pocketing his phone, "Let's go then," Harry says and the three of them walk out of the building and towards the parking lot. "Let's do this," Liam chimes hopping into his car, while the other four get into Zayn's car; Harry and Louis sit in the backseat while Niall claims the passenger seat.
Zayn follows Liam's car while the two boys on the back talk nonsense the entire way to the venue.
"This place is massive Liam...it's awesome," Zayn says as they walk around their set of the day.

____

"I can't wait to see how the project will turn out, it was so much fun," Niall says as they make their way back to the cars "It's going to look awesome, I can tell you that...we got some perfect shots today," Liam says handing Harry the camera back.
They all hop into the cars after saying their goodbyes and go their separate ways.

"Thanks for driving me home Zayn," Louis says before exiting the car "Hey, Louis," Zayn calls making Louis turn on his heels "Can I maybe come in?" Louis shoots him a look because the last time they were together Zayn kissed him.
"I know what you're thinking, but I just want to hang out and catch up...I kinda miss being your friend, you know," Zayn explains and Louis doesn't say anything, he just motions for the older lad to get inside "Thanks, Lou," Zayn says hopping out of the car and entering the house.

"You wanna watch a movie or something?" Louis questions "Choose whatever you want," he adds before disappearing into the kitchen.
Zayn walks to the movie stand beside the TV and looks through the multiple DVD's in there and he picks out his favorite which just so happens to be Louis' favorite too, "Good choice," Louis calls out, coming back from the kitchen with a tray filled with two cups of tea and a plate of Oreo's. He lays it down on the coffee table before plopping on the couch, Zayn copies his movements after putting the movie in the DVD player.

"I'm really sorry that I stopped talking to you after you went mute," Zayn says out of nowhere and Louis sighs a little before turning to the other boy. "It's not your fault, I was the one who stopped talking to you," he says and his friend asks the question he's been dreading "Why did you go mute in the first place?"

Louis decides that he has had enough from keeping this secret...if he doesn't tell someone, it's probably going to kill him in the end. "I was raped," he blurts out without second thoughts and Zayn almost chokes on his tea, "Was is Andrew?" he questions, anger audible in his voice and Louis nods his head, "When did he - Why didn't you tell me?" Zayn questions still angry at what he just heard. How could someone do such a thing to such an innocent kid?
"I didn't tell anyone...I couldn't and I didn't tell the police because Andy threatened to do the same thing to my sisters," Louis responds, tears threatening to roll down his cheeks.

Zayn shakes his head at the thought of Louis' boyfriend raping the poor kid, before wrapping his arms around the younger boy as tight as he can.
Louis accepts the embrace and hugs back just as tight "You're okay now," Zayn informs kissing the top of the boys head..

____

"I think you should tell Harry, I mean he's your best friend...He also has a big crush on you, so, you should talk about that too," Zayn says as he walks out of the house, "Really?" Louis asks surprised earning a nod from the older boy, "See you tomorrow Lou," Zayn says before disappearing inside his car and driving off.
Louis walks back inside the house with a big smile on his face, because one, he has his long time best friend back and two, his crush has a crush on him.

This should be fun.