Not Again? || l.s

t w e n t y - f i v e

twenty-five | let me in

well i can't make you love me, but i'll try 
until my dying breath you know i'll try 

~ 'make you love me' by troye sivan

ツ

Honestly, Harry wasn't eavesdropping. Really, he's not. He was just coming back to the room for a moment to grab a book he needed before he returned to the library, where he'd even left things on the table with the intention of returning. Only he went to push open the door without knocking —he refused to knock on the door to his own room, under any circumstance— and he heard the raised voices inside, and—

They're fighting. They're loud. He didn't have to lean his head against the door to hear the distinct words they're saying, which was why he didn't feel that bad about it. If it was a conversation they were trying to keep private, they wouldn't be arguing so loud. He still did feel guilty about it, though, but he couldn't seem to stop himself.

"—with you!"

The voice was female; it had to be Louis' girlfriend, even if he's never heard her talk in a voice that was anything but sweet and soft.

"Just tell me who the hell it is!" she yelled.

"It won't make a difference," Louis reasoned. "Telling you who it was—"

"Was," she repeated, cutting him off. "You're using past tense, Louis, but we both know it isn't. God, I can see it right now on your face. Who the hell is she? An ex-girlfriend? Is that it? You still have feelings for her, don't you?"

"It's not an ex-girlfriend," Louis said lowly, and Harry did have to lean in to hear it. But he pulled back immediately, wincing at his own actions. "I promise you—"

"Don't lie to me, Louis," she snapped. "Just be honest with me for five seconds, that's all I'm asking of you!"

"It's complicated."

"Complicated," she huffed, and Harry knew Louis was fucked up now. "People always say that, but it's not! Cheating isn't complicated, Louis! It's not something that just happens. It's not an accident, it's a bad choice. A mistake. A huge mistake, but it's not a fucking accident. It's not something uncontrollable. It's not that complicated to keep your body parts to yourself!"

"I know that," Louis insisted. "That's why I told you. You deserved to know."

"What I deserve is a boyfriend that doesn't cheat on me, actually," she spat.

Harry heard footsteps heading for the door, and he jumped back, eyes wide. Shit. He pulled the hood of his sweater over his head and started walking in the opposite direction, head ducked just in case.

"And stay away from me!" he heard her voice behind him, just before a door slammed.

Harry slowly walked down the hall. He could hear her going in the opposite direction, but when the footsteps were distant and no longer within hearing distance, he stopped. Should he give Louis some space? Or should he go get his stuff? 

He really needed that book, he thought, and maybe a part of him wanted to make sure Louis was okay. Even if he's still pissed at Louis about yesterday. Even if he's done his best to avoid looking Louis in the eyes since all of that went down.

Harry turned on the spot and headed back to the room. He pushed inside, only to find Louis sitting on his bed, head in his hands. He looked up when Harry shut the door softly behind himself, and his eyes were wet and red-rimmed.