MUTE

21. I made a promise to your brother

"You guys did what?" Frank exclaims as he hears about what happened yesterday at Harry's. "You heard me," Louis informs shooting him a look "Are you sure this was a good idea?" the shorter if the two questions. "No, I don't think it was...it just sorta happened," the feathery-haired boy explains and Frank raises his eyebrows.

"What's all that commotion about?" Mikey questions as he walks down the stairs rubbing his eyes.

The boys turn to look at him, "It's nothing you should worry about Mikes, it's my problem...no offense" Louis informs. "None taken," Mikey says as he sits down on the table to eat breakfast.

"Are you exited to go to college?" Frank asks as he puts a pancake on Mikey's plate. "Yeah...hanging around twenty-year olds will be so much fun," Mikey says and the sarcasm is clear in his voice. "You do know, you'll be with us," Louis half-questions sitting down as well.

"And you'll be hanging out with your friend and they're all in their twenties," Mikey points out, "Niall isn't," Louis points out and Mikey laughs a fake laugh, still not happy about having to hang out with older guys.

"Why do I have to go there anyway?" Mikey questions "Because I don't want you to be alone at home all the time and you're gonna have to meet new people if you don't want to get stuck with us," Frank explains. "I don't want to go," Mikey whines.

"I know you have social anxiety...I had it too, that's why you and Gee where my only real friends," Frank says before looking down a little.

Mikey asks him what's wrong and he looks back up with a sigh.

"I never told you this, but...I made a promise to your brother that I would take care of you...but I left you back in New Jersey and came to London when you needed me the most and I'm sorry about that. I should have been there," Frank explains and his eyes tear up. "You don't have to apologize...what matters is that you came back for me....well brought me to you...you always took care of me and I get why you left, I don't blame you...I would've left too if I were you," Mikey says "But..." "No need to explain Frank... you helped me get out of there and I thank you for that," Mikey interrupts and Frank looks at him.

"Gee would've been proud of you," Mikey adds with a smile and Frank stands up, before wrapping his arms around the younger boy.

They both stay there, hugging each other for a while in complete silence.

"Guys...I hate to ruin your moment but we have to go in like five minutes," Louis says after a while, making the two boys let go of each other.

"You're right...eat up Mikes," Frank says patting the boy's shoulder as he wipes his eyes.

"Frank, who is your friend over there," Niall questions and Frank looks at him with furrowed eyebrows, before turning around to see whom Niall is talking about, "Oh, that's Mikey," Frank responds turning back to Niall.

"That explains his accent," Niall says and Frank chuckles, making Niall furrow his eyebrows, "What?" the Irish boy questions. "Nothing...you're just. Hilarious," Frank says, smile still intact.

"He is isn't he?" Liam says as he appears behind Niall, making him jump a little.

"You're Mikey, right?" Liam questions as Louis and Mikey approach them "Yes I am," Mikey responds. "I'm Liam, Niall's boyfriend," Liam introduces.

"Nice to meet you," Mikey smiles.

"I told you it wouldn't be so bad," Frank half-whispers and Mikey hits his arm playfully "Shut up," he says and Frank chuckles.

"How long will you stay in London?" Liam questions as they make their way to the cafeteria. "I'm not sure, but I'm living at Frank's for the time being," Mikey responds. "Are you going to college here?" Niall questions. "Nope...I'm actually a junior in High School, but I'm only starting next week," Mikey explains "Frank didn't want me to stay alone at home all the time so he practically dragged me over here," he adds and it's Frank's turn to hit his arm playfully. "You make it sound like I forced you to come," Frank whines. "Well, you kinda did," Mikey says and Frank rolls his eyes while the other boys chuckle.

"You're an ass," the shorter of the two says as they enter the cafeteria.

"Has anyone talked to Harry lately?" Liam asks and Frank's eyes land on Louis. "I talked to him yesterday," Louis informs, getting everyone's attention, "What did he say? Or did he ignore you like he ignored us?" Liam asks pointing to Niall and himself. "He didn't ignore me and I was able to convince him to come back to school," Louis responds. "Where is he then?" Niall asks. "He said he would be back tomorrow...he's cleaning his house and sorting things out today," the feathery-haired boy says.

Frank – who is sitting beside Liam – whispers something into Liam's ear and Louis can guess what he's saying. It's kinda obvious from Liam's expression. "Lou...you guys did what?" he gasps after hearing the story from Frank.

Louis shoots his friend a look before turning to Liam "Don't be mad," the feathery-haired boy says. "I'm not mad...I can't be mad you know that...but does that mean that you guys are back together and that Zayn is forgotten?" Liam asks and Louis shakes his head. "We're not together, but we can say that Zayn is forgotten. What happened yesterday made me realize who my heart is truly beating for," Louis says, cringing a little at his wording.

"Poetic," Niall says and Liam his arm, "Ouch," Niall whines rubbing his arm and Liam kisses his cheek. "It still hurt," the Irish boy says and Liam rolls his eye.

"That's good Lou...I'm glad you sorted it out," Liam smiles, "Ne too," Louis agrees, before furrowing his eyebrows. "What is it?" Frank questions because he can sense that something is wrong.

"There's only one thing left to sort out," Louis informs getting everyone to shoot him a questioning look. "What should we do with Zayn? We can't just erase him from our lives. I mean we were all friends with him before this whole shit happened," Louis informs and he couldn't be more right about it. "Remember when I told you that it was my fault?" Louis questions looking at Liam, the older of the two nods. "I need to make this right," Louis informs, before standing up and walking out of the cafeteria – without finishing his food – to look for Zayn.

"Nice to see you again Louis...I didn't think you would turn up," Zayn says as Louis approaches him. "Oh shut up," Louis says rolling his eyes. "We need to talk," he adds. "About what?" Zayn questions and Louis shoots him a look. "You know about what," he says and Zayn shakes his head as he puts the rest of his books inside his locker. "I'm here to tell you that I've made my decision and I'm sorry because it's not you I want," Louis explains looking down a little.

"Is that all?" Zayn asks, masking his pain with a annoyed voice.

"No, it's not actually," Louis says looking back up and Zayn closes his locker to look at the other boy.

"I destroyed your friendship with the other boys...especially your friendship with Harry and I'm sorry," Louis starts and Zayn crosses his arms. "I drove you guys apart and I want to make things right again, but...I'm gonna need your help," the feathery-haired boy adds.

"They don't want to be my friends for a reason Lou...I betrayed them and they chose you," Zayn informs, "I'm the one that destroyed my friendship with them," he adds and Louis walks one-step closer to him.

"You know...Liam for example – isn't mad at you," the feathery-haired boy says "He's never mad," the older of the two points out. "Exactly, which means he still likes you and me, that's why we're still friends," Louis says and Zayn raises an eyebrow. "He still likesHe...We all think it's not fair to erase you from our lives forever, because of that one mistake – which I was part of by the way...I'm sure they'll forgive you, you just need to talk to them, like I did," Louis encourages. "I can even be by your side when you do it," the feathery-haired boy suggests before wrapping his arm around the other boy's shoulder.

"I can't," Zayn whispers trying to get away from Louis' grip. "Yes you do, because you're Zayn fucking Malik and people love you even though you can be an arrogant ass sometimes," Louis says. "Wow, that was comforting," Zayn informs with sarcasm audible in his voice and Louis rolls his eyes and chuckles as he drags the other boy towards the cafeteria, where the other boys are still eating – which isn't a surprise considering how much Niall eats.

Liam looks up as Louis and Zayn approach the table.

"We need to talk," Zayn says looking at Liam and Liam looks back.