Your Eyes Will Lead Me Home {L.S}

five

The end of the school year had come around faster than anyone could have foreseen. Harry had settled into school and the kids ended up liking him more because of who he was, rather than because he knew a senior. And Louis had finished his exams and was almost ready for University; he was going to the University of London. The two still hadn't spoken since the incident and their parents had seemingly lost hope. It had been almost a full year since their sons had spoken, or even seen each other.

Until the day Louis was leaving for Uni. Harry was lying on his bed, on his phone. It Saturday morning, the first day of the summer break. "Come in" he locked the phone and sat up as the door opened. Anne stuck her head in before entering the room. "Harry, I'm leaving for the Tomlinson's, to go say goodbye to Louis before he leaves for Uni. I'm giving you one last chance. Are you coming with me?" Her tone was soft and hopeful as she sat down on the edge of her sons bed.

"I don't know mum, probably not" Harry shrugged sadly. His mother and he had debated this all week. Anne sighed and shook her head. "He may not be back for a long time Harry, and you may very well regret it if you don't say goodbye" Her eyes were disappointed and were searching Harry's face for answers, but alas, Harry just stared at his fumbling fingers. That was all Anne needed as the last sign. Harry and Louis were never going to be the same. And it was time to accept that.

She grabbed her handbag and walked out the door, she knew her son would hate himself for this later, she just knew it. She started the ignition and put the car in reverse. Just as she was about to take her foot off the break, the passenger door opened and in hopped a panting Harry. "My god Harry, you scared the living daylights out of me!" She held her chest and breathed heavily. "Sorry mum, I thought about what you said, and I think you're right. I'd regret it if he left without me saying goodbye." Harry smiled slightly and Anne knew this was a big thing for him, so she was proud of him.

"I'm proud of you Harry" She stroked his cheek with a loving smile and then continued to reverse.

**

They rehashed the 'incident' on the way over and went over the reasons why it was time for Harry to forgive Louis. Now to Anne, the reasons all made perfect sense, but she was still unaware that Harry actually did love Louis. And that's still the reason he was still so unsure of what he should do. But he ran out to the car, his heart took control of his legs and he ran, he ran because the idea of not seeing Louis for years and never having said goodbye was something he couldn't live with.

So here they were, entering Louis' street, Harry' stomach full of butterflies. His subconscious reassuring him that he needed to do this, when his whole body screamed 'turn around now!' They pulled into the driveway, and Anne pulled out the keys and unbuckled her seatbelt, and when Harry wasn't following, she turned and gave him a puzzled look. "You coming, love?" She asked and Harry breath hitched at the choice of nickname. "Yeah, I just need a minute" He nodded. Anne smiled sympathetically, "You're doing the right thing, darling" She gave his arm an encouraging rub.

Harry watched his mother walk inside and he took a deep breath. "You can do this Harry." He reminded himself, and with that he got out of the car and headed for the door. He opened and closed it behind him and Jay was walking past. She had to do a double take when she saw him and stopped in her tracks. "Harry!? You're here!" She smiled excitedly and gave him a tight hug. "Yeah, it's been a while" He smiled small as they let go. "Well it means a lot, sweetie. He's just in the lounge room." Harry thanked her and then headed for the lounge room. He could hear other voices there, and so he slowed down and listened to what they were saying.

"You're going to be missed, Tommo." Harry recognised the voice that belonged to Stan, Louis' best friend. "Yeah, well I'll miss you too... Not for long though, I'll be too busy banging chicks to remember you." Louis replied in a tone Harry didn't recognised. He bit down on the inside of his cheek to keep himself from dry-heaving. That wasn't the Louis he knew. Surly he hadn't changed that much within ten months. The rest of his mates cheered and Harry rolled his eyes. Louis mates were losers, they were disrespectful and rude and they only cared about football. Harry didn't understand what Louis saw in them.

Just as Harry was about to push all his thoughts aside and go do what he came here to do, they began talking again. "So what about your little friend; Henry? Was it? Has he come to say goodbye?" another friend asked and Harry was about to burst in and set him straight, until Louis replied instead. "No, and who cares?! He doesn't like me anymore, and quite frankly; I'm relieved. Now I don't have to let him down easy" He chuckled along with his mates and Harry felt tears burn in his eyes. "You don't need him anyway, Lou. He was just holding you back" Another added. "You're right." Louis replied.

Harry stormed away before he could hear anymore. He bit his lip and forced his tears away. He wouldn't give anyone the satisfaction of knowing Louis still had a hold of him. He was furious, not only at Louis, but more so at himself. He knew what Louis was like now and he ignored his gut feeling and came anyway. He should have known nothing had changed.

So he told his mother he would be waiting in the car and asked if they could leave as soon as possible. Anne nodded sadly as Harry stomped out the front door. She and Jay looked at one another. "And we were so close..." Anne sighed and rubbed her temples. Jay simply held her head in her hands, wondering what her son had said this time. Since she had seen that look on Harry's face once before, and she knew exactly what caused it.

**

Anne came out to the car only a few minutes after, and she didn't say a word to Harry the entire ride home. Harry stared out the window and dug his nails into his palm through clenched fists to stop himself from crying. He doesn't know why he was upset; he should have known that Louis hadn't changed, and he stopped being Harry' friend a long time ago. Harry wasn't important to him anymore. And that was evidently and painfully clear to him now. He and Louis Tomlinson would never be friends again.