How to Save a Diamond

Chapter 2; Perfect

Louis sucked in a deep breath as he sat in the chair to get a tattoo, holding his mum’s hand with his free hand.

“Thank you so much Mum, really, this means a lot.” Louis whispered as the tattoo gun started.

“No problem Bug, just try to get better for me, okay?” She whispered, rubbing circles on the back of his hand with her thumb.

Louis nodded quickly as the tattooing began, and it didn’t hurt that much, but then again maybe it was because he was constantly being hurt either by others or himself. He swallowed and looked at Jay.

“Hey mum?” He whispered quietly, hardly audible.

“Yes Bug?” Jay asked, raising her eyebrows.

“I love you. You’re the best Mummy in all of England.” He said, smiling at her.

Jay laughed and kissed his hair. “You’re the best son ever. Are you sure you’re okay with my friend coming over tomorrow?” She asked, squeezing his hand.

Louis nodded and grinned. “Yeah, I like seeing you happy.” He whispered, relaxing as he glanced over at his tattoo, smiling and starting a conversation with the tattoo guy.

Jay watched him fondly, slowly letting his hand go as Louis began to gesture with his hand as he talked. She really was happy for her son. Sure he had been going through a lot and she cared about him, but she knew it had to be his choice to stop throwing is food up and to stop hurting himself. She’d be there with him every step of the way. He was her son, and she loved him dearly, just like she loved Lottie, Fizzy, Daisy, and Phoebe dearly, certainly more than Mark.  She looked at Louis, eyes traveling over his body, seeing bruises spread out across his body and she wondered if he had done them, but she doubted it. If it was from when Louis was getting picked on, she’d need to step in.

“Mum?” Louis said, breaking her out of her train of thought.

“Sorry, spaced out for a moment. What’s up Louis?” She asked, smiling at him.

“Can we go to the mall after this? I wanted to buy a few new shirts and stuff…” He trailed off, mumbling.

“Of course Louis,” She giggled and smiled, “we’ll even get some ice cream and catch a film, yeah? Just have a Mum and Bug afternoon.”

 To which Louis agreed to quickly, thanking him, as the man finished his tattoo up, explaining the care instructions as he wrapped it up. Louis thanked and paid the man before heading out to the car with Jay, going to the mall, singing along to the radio with her. These were Louis’ favorite moments. Just him and his mum, it made him happy and feels kind of okay, like he mattered. Sure he loved his sisters, but sometimes he wondered what his life would be like if they were never born, and Mark wasn’t in the picture. Granted they’d be poor, struggling for money, but Louis wouldn’t mind if Mark wasn’t there. He’d rather have to work to support him mum and the girls than get abused. He sighed quietly as he looked out the window, thinking back to the times when it was just him and his mum.  They were poor and hardly got by, but Jay spent quality time with him, and it made him smile thinking about it.

“Louis?” Jay asked, gently touching his shoulder, causing Louis to flinch.

“Sorry, let’s go.”  He breathed, blushing as he got out of the car, and walked to his favorite store with his mum.

After their movie, shopping, and ice cream Louis felt the happiest he’s been in a while. He flopped on his bed, checking the time before deciding it’d be okay to play a bit of FIFA before dinner. Louis exhaled as he felt a bit sick from all the food he’s eaten today but none the less sat up and played the video game before Lottie knocked and bothered him for help with her math homework. As they sat on Louis’ bed, Lottie looked up at him.

“Lou, can I tell you something and you won’t tell mum?” She asked hesitantly.

Louis looked up at her, eyebrow quirked as he asked, “What is it Lots?”

“Dad is cheating on Mum.” She mumbled eyes cast downward towards the bed.

“What?” He whispered, squinting at her as he bit his lip.

“Yeah, on his phone, he asked me to bring it to him, and there was a message on there from a woman name Jessica and it said ‘can’t wait for another fun night out, can’t wait to see what else you can do in bed’ with a winky face, and like it’s not the first time I’ve seen flirty texts from her.” She said in one breath, keeping quiet.

Louis looked at her skeptically, biting his lip before looking down and thinking.

“Don’t tell mum until we’re sure.” He mumbled, looking up at her through his lashes, catching her quick nod.

“Dinner!” Jay called up the stairs causing them to go downstairs lazily.

Jay gave a smile, sitting down after making sure everyone had what they wanted. Louis frowned and ate slowly, already incredibly full from earlier, picking at his food.

“Everything okay Bug?” She asked and Louis nodded quickly.

“Just still full.” He explained softly, sighing under his breath.

Louis watched as the girls talked about their days and smiled because they still had that childish innocent that he hoped they’d keep for a long time. He still felt happy and content because he had such a good day, for the first time in forever, and Mark wasn’t around, he was gone for the weekend on a business trip. Louis giggled and Fizzy’s joke and excused himself, heading back upstairs to go to bed, and he fell asleep with a smile on his face.

The next was spent cleaning the house and his room so his mum wouldn’t have to worry after she got off work. She always worked so hard and she deserved a break, besides her guests were coming over tonight. Louis wondered just who they were. All he knew is that she had two children; one being a son Louis’ age, and that excited him. Maybe if this boy didn’t think he was a faggot, he’d have a friend, and that would mean the world to Louis. A friend, a friend who would help him discover his diamond potential.