Over Again (Larry Stylinson)

chapter seven

🙈🙉🙊 yo putains 🙈🙉🙊

On Monday, Harry was going back to school. He'd told Niall he would, and his mum kind of expected him to. He wasn't in too much pain, especially since he took painkillers. It was more of a general uncomfortableness. He was worried, about Zayn. But Niall wouldn't leave him.

His mum offered to drive him to school and Harry accepted the offer. He could do without bumping into Zayn on the road. They collected Niall at the bottom of the street, who exclaimed "Jesus Christ! What happened?!" when he saw Harry's face. "Long story." Harry said from the passenger seat. "Tell you later."

School went by completely fine that Monday. Niall kept his word and protected him. Harry stuck with Niall all day, and hung out with him and Liam, who was really nice, and some girls at lunch. He was never in a position where Zayn could target him. Liam was in the Upper Sixth so he didn't have classes with Harry or Niall, but he was walking in the same direction as Harry when he was going to English in the afternoon. Zayn spotted the two of them together and glared evilly at Harry. Harry supposed Zayn was angry because he was Liam's friend first, but Liam was the one distancing himself from Zayn.

Tuesday was fine too. As was Wednesday, and Thursday. The worst thing that happened all week was during PE, where Harry knew nobody. Zayn tripped him up on the basketball court, and hissed "Stay away from Liam." at him in a creepy way. But in front of a teacher and an entire class there wasn't much more he could do to him. Anne dropped Niall and Harry to school and they got a bus home, completely avoiding Zayn as much as possible.

At home, Anne was being really cautious around Harry. Since the incident on Saturday she had been acting the way she used to when he was at his lowest. She was coming home from work earlier, so that Harry was never in the house on his own, and when he went to his room, she checked up on him more often. It was as if since she found out about Zayn's bullying she somehow thought Harry was more likely to go over the edge. She didn't understand that the bullying had nothing to do with that. It wasn't bullying that made him harm himself. It was just the way he was.

He'd tried to be less aloof towards her, but he just wasn't in the mood for being friendly these days. His antidepressants were definitely not working like before. He wanted his mum too get off his back a little, for her own sake. He knew seeing him like this made her feel bad too. He'd tried smiling at her and engaging in small talk but she saw right through it, she was his mum after all. He just couldn't help but feel like shit. The morning after Zayn had beat him up, he'd just felt so worthless.

Then Louis had come over, and he did feel better temporarily. They didn't really talk, and Harry had laid in his arms like a useless slug but Louis didn't even care. He stayed for ages, just sitting there, until his sisters came home and he had to go make them dinner. Louis was the only person who made Harry feel in anyway OK. But Louis was just a friend. He seemed popular. Harry hadn't seen his friends or anything but Louis was always going out to the gym or into town at night. He did ask Harry to come with him, but Harry always said no, because Louis was obviously only asking him because he felt sorry for him. Louis clearly had his own life.

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They had a study period for R.E that Friday and Niall and Harry escaped to a corner of the library to avoid Zayn.

"Thanks for not going to the cinema on Saturday Harry!" Niall said. He was smiling. "I totally scored mate. I may have a girlfriend."

"Good for you, Zara seems lovely."

"Yeah, she's gorgeous." Niall said. "A complete ride."

"Charming, Niall. H-hope she hears you say that." Harry said.