Stand By Me ~Zouis Family

Twenty-Three

 Harry was due to go back to school. Not the same school, even though Mr. Campbell was completely and utterly out of the way, neither Louis or Zayn really wanted him to go back there.

Harry was nervous, he hated the idea of starting yet another new school, but he knew he had to, it was virtually impossible to get any sort of well paying job without any qualifications. The new school had a uniform, ugly black dress pants, a white polo shirt with the school’s logo on it and a black, with a grey V-neck collar knitted jumper.

The events of the past few months had changed Harry in a way that he was unsure if he liked. He felt a lot more mature than he used to, he had this new outlook on life, yet he was still understandably weary and jumpy around unfamiliar people -men more than women- and he felt stronger mentally.

He made his way downstairs and was met with utter chaos. Zayn was unable to get the morning off work to support Harry on his first day at school, so not only was he in a slightly bad mood, he was also rushing around trying to get ready for work. Liam had been up most of the night throwing up, having caught some stomach bug; he was hanging onto Louis and whining because, tummy hurts daddy, it feels bad. Louis was stressing about everything a lot more than what was actually necessary, because Liam had, had a stomach bug before, and Harry had started at new school before. And poor Niall was just trying to stay out of the way for the most part.

“Daddy, gonna’ blugh.” Liam mumbled against Louis’ chest gripping his tummy.

“I’ve got him.” Harry replied before Louis could react, taking Liam from Louis’ arms and speed walking to the nearest toilet. Setting Liam down on the ground in from of the toilet and bending him over it just in time as the water Liam had previously drank came up.

Liam, luckily, wasn’t one of those kids who cried after being sick, he just turned around to face his oldest brother who promptly wiped his face with a damp flannel and picked him up, cradling the young child in his arms.

“You’re such a brave boy.” Harry whispered to him. Liam didn’t respond, only pressed his small body closer against Harry’s.

Harry made his way back out to the kitchen where Louis was frantically trying to get Niall and Harry’s lunches packed and Zayn was pulling his shoes on, scarfing down the piece of toast Louis had made for him.

Harry was practically ready for school so he sat down at the kitchen table and turned Liam around so that he could see what everyone was doing without being bounced around too much and being sick again.

Niall appeared in the kitchen a few minutes later, his uniform on and his school bag in his hand, dumping it in the doorway and climbing onto one of the bar stools set in front of the kitchen counter. “Dad can you help me do-”

“I’m a little busy right now Muffin, can you ask Papa?” Louis interrupted, packing the sandwiches he’d just made into zip lock bags.

Niall sighed and slid off his seat to find Zayn. He didn’t have to look very far as Zayn came back into the kitchen announcing that he was now leaving for work, kissing Louis good-bye and ruffling Niall’s hair as he headed towards the door.

Niall sighed but let the matter go, deciding his Maths problems could wait until after school.

“Niall, can you please find an empty ice-cream container for me?” Louis called out, sliding both of his eldest son’s lunch boxes across the bench as he headed up the stairs to dress himself.

Upon Louis’ departure Liam began to grow irritable, wanting comfort but only from his father, not Harry or Niall.

“Hey it’s okay.” Harry cooed turning Liam around on his lap to face him, “You’re alright.”