who's gonna save us tonight (l.s.)

v

A/N: NO, THIS IS NOT THE END. IT'S NOT OVER. It almost is, but not quite yet. MORE IS COMING.
I hope you like this! The idea hit me last night thanks to my wonderful friend Maddy, who said something that made me think of what eventually became this chapter, so you can thank her for this one :)  
As usual, thank you all so much for reading, you're all amazing. Comment your thoughts! x

****

Harry and Nick's fighting continues for months.

It gets so bad at one point that they don't speak to each other for an entire week, before they finally fix whatever issue they had and become all "deep in love" again. 

Harry talks to Louis about Nick nonstop though, claiming that he's going to break up with Nick, but then a week later deciding that he wants to stay with him, etc. The cycle is endless, and to be honest, Louis is really sick and tired of it.

There's not much he can do about it, though. He just talks to Harry about it, like a good friend would, and waits.

****

David is waiting outside of Louis' classroom one Monday before lunch. 

"Oh, hey!" Louis says in surprise as soon as he walks out. "What's up?..."

David shrugs. "Just wanted to see you, maybe go grab some food or something. I have a pass, so we can drive wherever we want."

"Oh," Louis says, feeling uncomfortable. "Well, like. Okay. That sounds cool and all."

David pouts. "Do you not want to go?"

"No, I didn't say that! It's just, like -- "

"You don't want to go."

Louis can't find the energy to pretend to protest, so he just shrugs. "I'm sorry. Do you want to just have lunch with me here instead?"

David smiles as they begin to walk side by side. "Yeah, sounds cool."

The two make light conversation as they make their way over to an empty lunch table, David laughing at all of Louis' jokes. Louis tries really hard to focus on David, to give him the attention he deserves. 

But all Louis can do is glance around for Harry.

He can't do this anymore. He's got to end this, whatever it is. 

"You okay?" David asks as he slides into the seat across from Louis, and Louis forces a smile. "Of course! Why wouldn't I be?"

David smiles wide. "Good, good."

Louis resists the urge to roll his eyes. 

He only just begins picking at his sandwich, listening to David vent about the bad grade he got on his "impossible biology test," when a tray of pizza lands on the table next to Louis' elbow with a loud bang. 

Louis jumps in his seat and chokes on his sandwich. 

"Hey guys!" a rough voice says in a tone that sounds enthusiastic, but has an undertone of bitterness.

Harry shoulders off his backpack and drops it on the floor carelessly, dropping onto the bench. He is sitting alarmingly close to Louis, and Louis doesn't know if he loves it or hates it.  

"Um, hi?" David says, looking confused. 

Harry just gives him a close-lipped smile, eyes glimmering with something foreign. 

"I don't think you guys have met before," Louis says quietly. "David, this is Harry, my best friend. Harry, David."

Harry's eyes twinkle with some sort of dark amusement. "Hi David," he says in the most fake tone Louis has ever heard him speak. David somehow doesn't pick up on it, and just grins at Harry. "Hey," he says, and Louis' heart breaks because this boy is kind and clueless and everything is so, so awful.