Boxer (Larry)

25

A few months later

Harry has a match today. It's Monday, so I have class, but I promised him I would be there. So, Zayn picks me up right after I get out. Liam is planning on meeting us there, and I guess he has a couple of his and Zayn's mutual friends with him. I don't know them, but I don't really go to these things to talk to the people that are there. I go solely for Harry.

When we arrive at the arena a few hours later, I tell Harry I'm here. He meets me outside, since it's fairly warm and he needs fresh air. He's freaking out. I've never seen him this anxious about anything, especially not a match.

"Calm down, Harry. It's going to be okay." I attempt to comfort him. It doesn't work.

"He's so good, Louis. Like, amazing. He's lost less matches than I have. I'm not prepared or anything. I haven't spent much time working on this." He stresses.

"You're amazing, Harry. It's going to be okay. Even if you don't win, everything will be fine." I say.

"Louis, you don't understand! I'm not ready for this! I can't do this." He snaps. I flinch and take a step back, but keep my voice calm.

"Harry-"

"No, Louis. Don't. I'm going to lose, and it's going to be pretty bad. If I were you, I'd leave right now." He laughs once, a bitter, sarcastic laugh.

"Don't look at it like that. You can't go up there with no confidence and then win. That's not how it works!" I exclaim. He rolls his eyes.

"You don't know this guy, Lou. If you did, you'd be saying the same thing. I'm not fucking prepared!" he spits. I sigh, doing my best to not let my anger and irritation show in my voice, because that's the last thing he needs right now.

"Harry, stop. Have some confidence. You can do this." I say.

"Louis, just stop." He growls.

"No. You need to know that you at least stand a chance! This dude might be good, but so are you. I'm sorry for trying to fucking help you." I finally snap. He rolls his green eyes and sighs.

"I get that you're trying to help. But you need to fucking realize what's going on, Louis. I'm screwed. I'll do better with preparations next time, but for now just leave me the fuck alone!" He exclaims.

I sigh, but don't say anything else. We only have a few minutes until he has to be inside, anyway.

"I'm sorry." I finally mumble. He groans.

"It's whatever."

I frown, but stay quiet. I don't want to piss him off even more. And, why not admit it? I'm a little hurt.

"Good luck. I'm going to find Zayn." I say before going inside. It doesn't take long to find the group I'm sitting with; they're in the front as usual. I take my seat by Zayn and say nothing. All of them are laughing about something. Probably something stupid, but I really don't care. I stay silent as I try to block out all of the annoying chatter and laughs around me.

Unfortunately, Zayn knows me pretty well. After "sneaking" several glances at me, he leans closer to me. Liam and the other boys lose themselves in a conversation that I don't care to pay any attention to.

"What's wrong?" Zayn questions. I shake my head; I don't have any desire to talk about it.

"Don't, Louis. What happened?" He presses.

I sigh.

"Harry and I got into a stupid argument because he doesn't think he stands a chance against the dude he's fighting." I answer.

Zayn ponders this for a moment before nodding.

"Why would you argue about that?" He asks.

"Because I was trying to help him get some fucking confidence, but he just wants to fucking think that this is hopeless. He got all snappy and everything. He told me to leave him alone." I explain, thinking back to his venom filled words that hurt my chest just a little.

"I'm sorry, Louis. I'm sure he didn't mean it. Just nerves, probably. Everything's going to be okay. Don't be angry with him." He says.

"I'm not angry with him." I respond. "Just a little hurt."

Zayn nods, because I think he understands. After all, him and Liam were having this very problem just days ago. That gives me a little hope, because they fixed things and are perfectly good now. If anything, their argument made their relationship stronger. Still, my heart stings more as I keep thinking about what could happen.

I don't want to lose Harry.