Or Forever Hold Your Peace - l.s.

Chapter 15

Louis and Harry returned back to the castle after breakfast.

"Where were you? You were gone all night. I thought you died. You didn't even leave a note!" The moment Louis stepped into his room, he was chided by a screeched voice.

"Larry, you can't even read notes." Louis pointed out.

"'Larry, you can't even read notes.'" Larry mocked Louis' words.

"I was just at Harry's aunt's house. It was getting late so Harry and I slept over. No big deal." Louis said.

"He brought you to see his extended family? I think I hear wedding bells." Larry gushed.

"Maybe that's because I'm getting married in a couple days. Have you thought about that?" Louis sassed.

"Why do you have to be such a party pooper?" Larry whined.

"If stating facts makes me a party pooper and lying makes me a sinner, what would I do?" Louis asked.

"Oh please, you're not even religious." Larry taunted.

"Why do I have to be religious to think lying is bad?" Louis questioned.

"We're straying from the conversation." Larry said monotonously. "Did Harry have a good time?"

"Besides the fact that he almost changed and that we had to squeeze into one bed, I think he was quite happy." Louis said.

"You slept with him?" Larry exclaimed.

"I did not 'sleep with him' sleep with him. I slept in a place that just happened to be in the same bed as him." Louis tried to explain.

"If you could sign on a place that just happens to be on the same marriage certificate as him, that would be wonderful." Larry joked.

"Too bad. I'm already getting married to Danielle." Louis stated firmly. "I'm getting fitted for my suit today."

"Can I hang out with Harry today?" Larry requested.

"Yes but I think he has work. Don't get him in trouble." Louis said.

"Yay!" Larry cried in excitement. Before Louis could help her out, she was already pawing for the door to be opened. Louis followed behind as Larry scampered down the hall.

Larry clawed at the kitchen door. The door was pulled inwards.

Harry poked his head out the door to see who it was. Harry heard a small meow.

"Hi there!" Harry greeted Larry as she began to snuggle up at his ankles. "Does Louis know you're here?" Harry picked the cat up after removing his gloves.

"Hi," Louis said as he entered the kitchen. "I'm a little busy today. Thought you might want to spend some time with the girl. You don't mind kitty-sitting for the day, do you?"

"Not at all." Harry remarked, already distracted by the cat. He cradled Larry in his arms, cooing as he rocked her back and forth like a baby. "Thanks for joining me yesterday. Elaine was really happy to have someone else to play with."

"You're welcome." Louis responded.

"What are you doing today?" Harry asked curiously.

"Going to get my suit for the wedding." Louis stated.

"Nice." Harry commented. "Congrats, by the way."

"What?"

"I realised that I haven't congratulated you on your engagement." Harry stuck his hand out awkwardly. "Congratulations."

"Thank you." Louis took Harry's hand in his own and shook it. "Um, Harry?"

"Yes?"

"I think Larry has gotten into the flour." Louis pointed out. A cloud of flour puffed out of the bag and into the air as the cat slumped herself down. Larry rolled in the fine powder. Her black fur was covered with white patches.

"Larry!" Harry chided. He shook his head in dismay. Larry poked her head out of the bag. Her pink nose had a tiny mountain of flour on it. She stared at it, crossing her eyes cutely. The powder made her sneeze softly.

"Maybe, I should take her back to my room." Louis pulled Larry out of the flour.

"No , it's alright, really." Harry took Larry from Louis. "It's just that this bag of flour is rendered useless now. That's all."

"You won't mind Larry here?" Louis asked. Harry nodded. Louis added, "Okay but if she's being a nuisance, feel free to leave her in my room."

"Be a good girl." Louis muttered to Larry before leaving.

The door closed after Louis exited. Harry stroked Larry. He sighed deeply. The smile on his face fell. In its place, a frown has formed. Larry stared at Harry concerned. "Oh, don't judge me like that." Harry said to Larry. "I'm already doing that to myself."

.

"He likes you." Larry said to Louis. Louis was to be in the dining room in half an hour for dinner. He decided to return to his room before that.

"Who?" Louis asked and guessed, "Harry?"

"No, William Shakespeare." Larry responded with sarcasm. "Of course, I mean Harry!"

"What makes you think that Harry likes me?"

"He told me." Larry said.

"He told you?"

"Yes." Larry confirmed. A bright pink colour coated Louis' skin. "Ha, you're blushing." Larry cooed.

"Am not!" Louis denied.

"Are too!" Larry shot back. It did not help Louis' case that his face turned redder and redder.

"Do you like him back?" Larry tried to get a confession out of Louis.

"No." Louis answered immediately.

Larry decided, either Louis was as stiff as metal pole or he truly did not like Harry. She believed the former more than the latter.

"Why not?" Larry probed.

"His monster? The fact that I'm getting married to someone else? The radical idea that I am not obligated to like someone because my cat thinks we look cute together?" Louis threw out. "There are many reasons."

"Didn't I tell you to stop calling me your cat?" Larry emphasised the 'your'. "It's creepy and weird."

"But you pressuring me to be with Harry is neither creepy nor weird at all." Louis retaliated.

"I'm glad we can agree on this." Larry smiled.

"What else did Harry say about me?" Louis inquired.

"Only that he woke up to you cuddling him." Larry said.

"I- what?" Louis' cheeks burned and he squirmed in embarrassment.

"You know what you did." Larry taunted. "So, that's what you were out all night doing: getting with Harry."

"I was not!"

"Yes, you were!"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Louis stated.

"Admit it. You love Harry!" Larry yelled.

"As much as you like baths." Louis retaliated.

"In other words, you won't say you like him but deep down, you know you need him." Larry said.

.

.

.

Between Emilia and Larry(the cat), who do you like more?