H & Lou » larry

Chapter 8

Harry walked out of their apartment in joggers and a tank top, his back pack was slung over his shoulder. He pulled the door shut behind him and twisted the key to lock the door. He jumped at the large crash behind him and he turned to look.

There was a very skinny girl banging on the door. Her keys had crashed to the ground and Harry could tell she was high. He'd had those days himself once.

He waited for a moment, shifting his weight from foot to foot. The girl was wearing shorts and a crop top, with her hair down. It had looked like she hadn't brushed it in a couple of days. Her skin was a pale white and smudged with dirt. "Hey?" Harry spoke up. "Hey. Uhm- my name's Harry. I don't think he's in." Harry motioned to the door once she had looked at him.

She only nodded, tucking her hair back. Harry had noticed the track marks on her arms and Harry bit his lip. Louis wouldn't want him to leave her. "You can wait in mine, if you want." Harry motioned to the door as she sighed.

"I'm not a whore."

"Didn't say you were."

"Don't you want...." she glanced at his apartment door.

"No, I'm very much gay and am very happily married." Harry explained as he pushed his key back into the slot. He opened their apartment door, texting Louis that he'd be a bit late to his appointment and to have whoever was behind him to go ahead and he'd just swap to their time.

Louis had texted him back that things didn't work like that and he'd needed to get in so they could just give him his flu shot and get on with his checkup. "Well... my name's Rita." She mumbles as she stepped inside the apartment behind Harry. She had noticed that the apartment was not completely put together. "You must be the new neighbours Ben was telling me about."

"Ben.. that's who you're waiting on?" Harry asked as he sat his backpack down and made them both a cup of tea. He left his door open so he could see if Ben had arrived. She watched as Harry's back was turned and stuffed a watch, from the bowl on their kitchen table, into her shorts.

"Yeah. S'his name." She nods and takes the tea, whispering a small thank you. Harry nodded as he sat across from her. "Who is that?" She pointed at Louis' med school graduation photo next to his law graduation photo.

"That's my husband, Louis. He's a doctor. Specializes in Pediatric medicine."

"So he's a kids doctor?"

"He's a family doctor, he just works with kids and expectant mothers and fathers more. He gives me my checkups and shots and stuff."

"Saves money that way?"

"I suppose. We pay the office fee when I go in, but still."

"That's really nice, Harry." She watched the door for Ben.

Harry was uncomfortable, he had watched her eye him down and glance around his kitchen. Harry sat across from Rita at the kitchen table. "So how old are you, Rita?"

"Twenty-seven." She said quietly as a man let himself into the apartment across he hall. "I should be going." She mumbled as she stood up, "thank you for being so friendly." She said quietly as she rushed out of the room. Harry cleaned up the dishes, grabbed his bag, and left the apartment. He decided against telling Louis about him letting her into their home. He may flip his shit.

-

Harry had gotten to his appointment fifteen minutes late and he'd checked in with Gina as quickly as he could. Louis was talking with another doctor there and he caught Harry's eye, nodding as he excused himself from the conversation.