bravery.

Chapter 8

-Louis POV-

I duck away from the multitude "cool" teenagers crowding the house as the music pounds in my ears. I hope Harry will come back soon so I don't feel like I know no one here. I look towards the door he went through and a moment later I see him walk out and look around for me. Thank god. I wave at him and he flashes me a quick smile before cutting through all the people over to me. Zayn isn't with him, thank god.

"Hi baby. Want a drink?"

"Sure. As long as it's not alcohol."

"Of course not." Harry smiles and leads me over to the drink table. "Punch?" he asks, and I nod. He spoons some into a red cup and hands it to me.

"Thanks Harry." I smile and bring the cup up to my lips. I'm so glad that we're out together and he's being so sweet.

-Harry's POV-

"Thanks, Harry." Says Louis, and flashes me a sweet smile and brings the cup up to his lips. Damn it. I'm a horrible boyfriend. I make a big point about the fact that he can trust me, then he tells me he doesn't want alcohol and I give him spiked punch. Which is extremely effective if you're looking to get drunk, if you make it the way Zayn does. Zayn always brings the punch to these parties.

"Wait, babe-" I start to say, but he takes a sip.

"This is delicious!" He beams. I feel horrible. I wince as he gulps down the cup quickly and goes to refill it.

"Wait-" I say again, but he cuts me off.

"Harry," he says as he turns away from the punch bowl and looks at me. "I'm so happy. It's been a while since I've been happy. Thank you." He takes my one of my hands in one of his. "I love you." Oh, god. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal, and I wouldn't feel so bad, and I'm not even sure why it is, or why I do. But it is. And I do.

"I love you too." I say back and swallow, forcing a smile. I see his eyes narrow at my use of the word too. I've never said 'too' after 'i love you' before, even when he said it first. He replaces the previous look with a smile and let's go of my hand, drinking some more of the punch. I bite my lip. I should tell him now, but he's so happy. I'm not going to get away from this no matter what I do, so I decide to just let him have fun tonight. I'll deal with it later.

A 3OH!3 songs that I can't remember the name of booms over the speakers and Louis' eyes light up. He swallows the rest of his drink quickly then pulls me over to a group of people chatting and moving to the song.

She wants to touch me woah, she wants love me woah, she'll never leave me woah. Louis mouths the words and throws his arms over my shoulders. I instinctively place my hands on his hips and automatically notice people staring at us. I look over his shoulder and see Zayn staring at us. He gives me a 'what the hell?' look but I return my attention to the hot boy dancing in front of me. Shush girl, shut your lips, do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips. Louis continues to mouth the words as he gets more into the music. I move with him slightly and he pulls me closer, then presses his lips to mine. Crap. I know I'm going to get an interrogation from Zayn, but I can't help but kiss him back. His lips move in sync with mine and I feel him smile against me. He pulls back after about 20 seconds of the best kiss I've ever had. My eyes stay shut, searching for his lips for a moment before I notice that he's pulled away. I peck his lips one more time and when I pull back his beautiful blue eyes and lit up. After another moment of dancing the song ends. "I'm going to get some more punch." He smiles and I try to stop him, but he pulls away from me. Zayn pushes his way over to me and I groan. Here it comes.

"What the hell just happened?" he asks, and I roll my eyes.

"What did it look like, sherlock? We kissed. We kiss all the time. Does that concern you? No."

"Why would you kiss him? You hate him. And since when do you kiss guys?"

"Zayn, I have always kissed guys but I just haven't told you because I know you would be weirded out by it. And also, I do not hate him. I lo- like him." I correct myself before I say the word love to Zayn. I don't quite know why but I don't want him to know I have emotion.

"Who are you, Harry?"

"You just answered your own question, dumb ass." I snap.

"What-?" His expression is utterly confused and I roll my eyes. "how did I answer my own-"

"You said my name in the question, you idiot!" I shout. "Do I have to explain everything to you?"

He mouths the word 'ohhhh' as it clicks. "Hey, do not call me an idiot." He says after a moment. "I'm your ride." He's getting the angry look he gets before he punches someone, but he should know better than to punch me.

"We'll call a cab, thanks though." I fake smile and turn away, walking towards Louis, who's sitting at the punch bowl, refilling his cup over and over again. Once I reach him, I feel a hand on my arm, and as soon as I turn around, Zayn's fist hits my face. I wince in pain and take a step back. I see Louis step forward and his face transforms into a scowl and he stares at Zayn.

-Louis' POV-

My eyes widen and I whip around when I hear several gasps and the sound of someone being punched. My jaw drops when I see Harry backing away from Zayn, his nose bloody just like Zayn's fist. I clench my teeth and step closer to Zayn.

"Don't you dare hit him."

"What're you gonna do, little gay boy?"

I feel adrenaline rush in my veins and my head feels foggy. All at once I tackle Zayn and knock him to the ground. I can't control my actions but I hear myself screaming and feel myself slamming my fist into his face over and over again. A couple seconds later I feel someone pull my off and I thrash my arms around, fighting against their strength.

"Baby, stop." I hear in my ear, and realise its Harry. I spin around and look at him.

"He hit you." I hiss.

"Yeah, I know, but I think you've done your job." I turn away from him and look at Zayn, sitting on the ground, holding his jaw in his hand. My eyes roam to my bloody, swollen knuckles. Why did I do that? What made me do that? All of a sudden I realise that I can't breathe and I feel for my cannula, which isn't there.

"Harry-" I wheeze. "My cannula."

"Your what-?" he says, looking confused and I point at my nose. "Oh no. Sit down." He says and I lower myself onto a couch. "Where is it?" He asks, and I try to catch my breath.

"Took- it- off-" I point to where we came in and left the oxygen tank. I didn't think id need it, but how could I predict id be punching Zayn Malik tonight. Harry stands up and runs over to the door. What feels like an eternity later, but is probably 10 seconds later, he runs back and hands it to me. I quickly put it on and take a deep breath. After I've caught my breath I look up and realise that everyone is staring at me. Well, guess I have a new reputation. The kid who punched Zayn Malik then almost died at a party where no one likes him. Perfect.