Magic || larry

34

"Why would you even want to do this? Doesn't this seem awful?" Niall asks, waving his hands at the books and notes that line the table. Harry shrugs, picking at the muffin in his hand and eating small pieces.

"Seems kinda fun. I haven't been to school in ages so it's different," Harry answers him.

Niall, Sophia and Harry are all sitting in a small cafe on the school campus. Louis and Liam are still in class so the group is just waiting for them. Niall huffs as he shoves his notes away from him and lays his head on the table.

"You'll hate it. I hate it. I wish I was rich and famous," he complains.

"Keep studying, honey, because that's not happening," Sophia pipes up, smirking at him over her textbook.

"I could be famous! I have the looks," Niall grins, wiggling his brows. Harry looks over to Sophia and when their eyes meet they both burst into giggles.

"Assholes. I expected this from her, but you, Harry? Never from you," Niall sighs, placing his head back down and making a weird whining noise that makes the other two laugh louder.

"Did you break him?" Liam's voice snaps them from their laughter and Niall lifts his head and pouts up at Liam.

"Only my heart. Do you think I'm handsome, Liam?" Niall continues to pout and Liam pats his head, taking the seat between him and Sophia.

"'Course, buddy. Super handsome," Liam agrees and Niall smiles, sticking his tongue out at the other two.

"Did you see Louis anywhere?" Harry asks. He likes being at the school with everyone but he's tired today and just wants to go home and cuddle in their bed.

"I didn't... Harry, can I ask you something?" Liam wonders, his voice dropping low. Harry frowns but nods his head. The group never seems serious and the idea of them being serious with him makes his stomach knot.

"Uh, about your old boyfriend..." Liam starts and Harry jerks back from the table. Sophia reaches out to steady him while Niall smacks Liam in the head.

"Shut up," he hisses but Liam seems determined to finish.

"Are you ever going to press charges? There's a woman that comes over and she has a child and I just don't think that's safe," Liam rushes out and it's like the world freezes and then starts to spin at an extreme rate.

Harry knows Sarah has a child. Harry also knows Ricky's anger holds no favourites. It explodes upon anyone that dare go near him and leaves them scorched and broken. No one - not even Sarah - deserves to be his punching bag. A child especially deserves to have some cover from the harsh realities that live within that house. That live within Ricky.

"We talked about not talking about this," Sophia tells Liam angrily but the man's eyes stay on Harry.

"Something has to be done," Liam says.

"Hey, guys! What's... with the mood. Did someone die?" Louis' voice brings Harry back up from where his mind is drowning. He looks up at the man and feels air start to fall back into his lungs and feeling return to his toes.

"Nope. Liam's just an ass," Niall explains. Louis' eyes are locked on Harry, taking in his posture and expression.

"You ready to go home?" Louis' voice drops to his worried one, his eyes never leaving Harry's. It's a comfort to have someone so easily tuned into you. Louis can sense his every need and feeling, clinging onto them and helping him get through them.

"Yeah," Harry breathes, his voice sounding like it came from someone else's body. The other three are watching him closely too and it feels like his body fills with tar. Louis just gently reaches out and his fingers wrap around his upper arm, holding him down like an anchor so he doesn't drift away.