Eccedentesiast || Larry

26. Okay

L

Louis doesn't really know what he's doing. He never expected to feel this way about somebody, somebody who is so innocent and naive and just so damn young, that is. And like, yeah, he should probably talk to someone about this, but he doesn't. He just doesn't want to talk about it.

The television is playing in the background so he doesn't feel completely alone, now that Zayn isn't home and Louis is bored out of his mind. He almost calls the source of his problems, but decides against it. After all, running from his problems is what he does best.

Harry went to that stupid party last night, and Louis hasn't heard anything from him since he last texted him. Which is fine. This makes things easier.

But when Harry calls him an hour later, at around 12:30, Louis picks up the phone immediately despite himself. "Hello? Harry?"

"Hi," Harry squeaks, voice high and precious.

Louis walks into his room as if to give himself some privacy that he already had, but sometimes he feels like a pap could burst through his front door at any moment. So he locks himself in his room and sits on his bed.

"Hey," Louis says. "How was the party?"

Harry ignores his question. "Can you come over? Like, now, please."

Louis is confused once again because Harry's voice sounds so desperate and Louis is so scared. He agrees nonetheless, shoving his shoes on and grabbing his keys as he ends the call.

The drive there is spent tapping his fingers on the steering wheel of his car, avoiding busy roads where he could be spotted—which was nearly impossible. Empty streets in Hollywood don't exist.

Harry pulls the door open before Louis can even knock. It's weird seeing him now, when just a few nights ago he was- well, you know. But it's natural and it feels right, so he brings Harry into his arms just in case he needed that today. His hair is damp from presumably a shower.

Louis loosens his grip when a soft wince escapes Harry's lips. And as he's pulling away, blue and black and purple flash by his eyes.

"What's this?" Louis cautiously asks, running his fingers along Harry's neck where bruises line it and they... they look like hickeys.

"Please, not here," Harry whispers, nervously peeking into the living room. Anne and Robin are sat on the couch and a comedy is playing on the television.

Louis lets Harry lead him into his room. The walk there feels like an eternity, with Harry's bare feet padding across the hardwood floor and Louis' heavy footsteps following after him. What Louis doesn't expect is that Harry breaks down into tears as soon as the door is shut and locked.

Harry falls into his arms in an instant, pressing his face into Louis' neck as he lets the tears fall onto Louis' shoulder.

"What-"

"I'm sorry. Oh gosh, I'm so sorry. I didn't know! I really didn't even know she- she-" Before Harry can finish his sentence, he's breaking off into another fit of sobs, removing himself from Louis' warm embrace and sitting down on the bed. Louis turns around slowly to face him.

"It's okay. Shh, it's okay, what are you on about?" Louis asks, coming up to Harry and standing between his shaking legs. He threads his fingers through the younger boys hair, letting himself feel how Harry leans into the touch and practically purrs.

Harry replies with another question. "Do you remember seeing a girl at Au bon pain?"

Louis thinks back to that day, wonders why Harry is crying over something that has to do with that, but he remembers her. The girl that was sending daggers at them. "Yes."

"Annie. She goes to my school and she was at the party last night."

Louis furrows his eyebrows together. Is that where those hickeys are from? He doesn't move from where he's standing. Jumping to conclusions is not going to get him anywhere.

"She... well, I... no, the drink she... fuck," Harry mumbles, struggling to get much of anything out.

"Spit it out, darling." Louis keeps his voice steady and smooth for Harry. For Harry. These days, it seems like everything he does is for Harry. Louis doesn't like it.

"She almost raped me."

Louis' fingers freeze in Harry's hair until he removes them completely, moving backwards so that Harry is looking up at him with glossy eyes and red cheeks.

"You lied to me," is the first thing Louis says.

Harry's face transforms into one of confusion. He reaches for Louis, but he jerks away, taking another backwards step toward the door.

"What?" Harry asks, standing up now and following Louis.

"You said you'd be fine. You lied."

Louis knows he's being irrational, knows he should be comforting Harry and telling him that everything's alright, he's here, but he doesn't do that. He can't.

"I didn't know anything bad was going to happen," Harry protests.

Louis is visibly shaking now. As much as Harry is, probably.

"Then don't make promises you can't keep!"

Harry looks like he's just been slapped across the face. He practically has been. Louis' harsh words make no amount of sense right now, especially if the topic is what it is. Harry wants to yell, to shout at Louis for once, and Louis sees this.

And so he leaves. He leaves without another word and doesn't come back.

-

(what even oh my god. i know what's going to happen and i am not ready jfc help.

I'm only updating on a Monday because we reached 13k reads!!! ((when i say we i mean me and the readers. thank you!!!))

i think think one or two chapters ago i said i'd be starting another fic once this is done. here's a hint: have any of you seen The Amazing Spider-Man...?)