Smoke || larry

5

Monday morning is a mess of anger and sadness. Harry doesn't want to face Niall. He spent all weekend either hungover (Saturday) or thinking about what the boy did (Sunday). How could Niall just leave him? To make matters worse Harry's parents have started to fight and he can't sleep at night without hearing their shouts.

He leaves for school early that morning, a warm cup of coffee making his car smell delicious. He pulls into the lot and scrambles from his car, the weather colder than usual for September. He pulls his sweater closer to him and sips at his coffee. His bag hangs loosely on his shoulders and when he arrives at his locker both his friends are already there.

"Hey, Harry," Liam greets. Harry gives him a tight lipped smile, but his cold eyes are trained on Niall. Niall looks down at his feet, knowing he's in trouble.

"Where did you go Friday?" Harry asks, his voice like ice. Liam is surprised by that because Harry rarely uses that tone. He's usually quiet - especially lately.

"I was at the party," Niall mumbles out, scuffing his feet.

"You left me! I stayed the night because I couldn't get home and I was scared and alone!" Harry yells. It's half true - he was scared and alone until Perrie and then Louis found him. Liam looks between the two, his eyes resting on Niall in shock.

"You're fine though. I can't just baby you all the time," Niall snaps.

"I went to the party for you, the least you could've done is stay with me," Harry snaps back. Liam is about to interject, but Niall steps forward.

"Grow up. Learn to deal with yourself because I'm not babying you and Gemma is gone," Niall seethes. Harry steps back like he's been slapped and his eyes automatically fill with tears.

"Niall!" Liam shouts angrily. Niall just shrugs his shoulders and slams his locker shut.

"Whatever. He needed to hear that," Niall tells him. "Also, I gave Louis your number. You're welcome."

Harry watches as Niall walks away with blurry eyes. He doesn't know what to feel at all. Why does everyone hate him? His parents and now Niall? He feels alone in this big world and he wants all his problems to go away.

"Harry, listen to me. He's an asshole and he's so wrong. Don't cry, H," Liam pleads. Harry turns his attention to him and Liam looks like he wants to cry too.

"I want to go home," Harry sniffles. Liam nods and wraps a protective arm around him.

"Okay. Want me to drive? I can call Anne?" Liam suggests. Harry's shaking his head quickly and buries his face in his friends chest.

"She hates me. I don't have a home because they hate me. I just want to go somewhere that feels like home," Harry is full blown sobbing and he can't stop. Liam just sighs and picks the boy up, shutting the two lockers with his hip.

"You've lost weight," he remarks as Harry continues to cry. Liam ignores all the stares they get as he leaves the school. The principle walks past them and takes one glance at Harry before nodding and letting them pass. Liam manages to open the door and walk Harry to his car. He places him on his feet gently and pulls away so he can see his face.

"I'm going to bring you to my house okay? I just need your keys," Liam explains. Harry nods and pulls his keys out of his pocket. Liam holds them, but leads Harry to his side and helps him in the car before he jogs back to the drivers side.

"Why does Niall hate me? I didn't do anything," Harry cries. Liam is backing up, but he still manages to glance over at the crying boy.

"You didn't. He's just being moody like always, but he still loves you," Liam reassures him. Harry buries his face in his hands.

"No one loves me! My mom won't even look at me," Harry admits. Liam is shocked by that and he bites his lip to hold it in. He'll just talk to him when they arrive at his house.

When they arrive Harry's calmed down and Liam doesn't even have to help him into the house. No one is home - which is great - and Liam brings Harry up to his room.

"Do you want anything?" Liam asks. Harry shakes his head and curls into a ball at the corner of his bed. Liam just sits down across from him and looks at him expectantly.

"I don't know what to say," Harry says softly. He's tired from crying and embarrassed that Liam carried him out of school.

"What's going on with you? Just tell me everything, Harry, you can't keep it bottled up," Liam tells him.

"You're right... I just don't know. My parents are so lost and I understand that, but I wish they were here for me too. I feel like no ones here," Harry says, his voice cracking and his eyes starting to tear up again.

"I'm here. I'm here right now," Liam promises him. Harry looks at his best friend. His brown eyes are filled with nothing but concern.

"I miss her..." Harry says. Liam moves towards him and hugs him again.

"I know."

"I miss her so much," Harry sobs. Liam closes his eyes and nods his head.

"I miss her too," Liam admits. Gemma was also his friend and he's been mourning her loss as well. He expects Harry to yell at him, but the boy holds him tighter.

"I think everyone misses her," Harry says softly and Liam agrees. A phone rings and they pull apart to see who's it is. It's Liam's and Sophia is calling. Harry tells him to take it and uses this as an opportunity to check his phone. He has one new message from an unknown number.

From unknown: if you ever want to forget again give me a call.

Harry bites his lip and saves the number quickly. He needs to call him soon. Liam comes back in the room, an apologetic smile on his face.

"Sophia is worried about you and she's coming over with ice cream," Liam tells him. Harry just smiles softly.

When she arrives they all eat and try their best to make Harry smile. It helps and he's happy he has them as friends, but he needs something more.

He doesn't remember much from the party, but he does remember Louis. They boy was intoxicating just on his own, with his loud voice and out there personality. He was someone you craved to be around and Harry can remember that. He thinks about Louis' text and eventually pulls out his phone.

To Louis: what are you doing tonight?

He goes back to his friends and waits for his phone to vibrate. He can't believe his two friends both skipped school to look after him. It makes his crying about being alone this morning seem stupid and childish.

"Thank you guys for this. I really appreciate it," Harry mumbles. Sophia gives him a side hug, her hair smelling like coconut.

"Don't thank us. We'll always be here for you," she promises. His phone beeps and she let's go of him, knowing he needs to answer whatever it is. He reaches for it and swipes his finger across the screen.

From Louis: getting drunk. Care to join?

Harry bites his lip and looks at the message. It's Monday and he probably should figure out if he has homework and go home. He doesn't want to see his family though. He doesn't want to be alone with his thoughts and his sad heart. It'd be so much better if he went to get drunk off the sweet taste of coolers and Louis' presence - even if it is only Monday night.

To Louis: when should can I come?