That Boy is Mute | Clem x Louis Fanfic [Highschool AU]

14 - Father & Son

Clementine

Noticing Louis's lack of appearance at school, Clem had formulated the plan of asking his best friend about it in English. After all, Marlon and Clem are near each other in English class.
Fortunately, the teacher had stepped outside for a few minutes and left everyone to their own devices.

"Oi, mullet boy." She whisper yelled.

Confused, the blonde boy turned around to scan the room for the culprit. A waving Clem caught his attention. "What?" He replied, sounding bored.

"Where's Louis? I haven't seen him all day. He hasn't text either." Clem explained, growing concerned while checking her phone.

"He's got a throat infection so decided to make the most it, and skip too." He half joked.
Thinking to herself, Clem wondered if the recent mouth action was the cause of his illness. If it did, she would feel beyond guilty.

"Can kissing give someone an infection?" She asked, not realising she gave herself away too.

Marlon raised a brow, "So that's what you guys have been doing during your library dates?" He said with a smirk.

She slapped his arm, hard. Hissing, Clem responded "Shut up. And no, we haven't. It was never once in a library."

"Ohhh, I see. It's been more than once?" He teased, and the feisty girl raised a threatening fist at him.

"Okay, I'm sorry. And no, the throat infection isn't related to your tonsil tennis." He pleaded in return, not wanting a punch. That slap was hard enough.

Thinking back to the photo in his bedroom, Clem wanted to know more about the mysterious older boy. She wasn't sure who to ask, incase it was a sensitive topic. Playing safe, Clem interviewed mullet boy.

"Who's the other boy in the photo next to his bed?" She randomly started talking. "Louis said it was an older brother but never said anything else. Besides, I've seen his sister."

Marlon pouted, trying to think of a suitable answer. It was a raw subject for his friend, but he decided she deserved to know about it sooner rather than later.

"You can't tell him I told you this." He warned. Clem hastily nodded in reply.

Marlon huffed, resting an elbow on his desk before speaking. "Danny was his older brother. He, uh-" pausing to think of the word, the blonde boy continued with "He died in the same accident that caused Louis to become mute. It was all in the same day."

Clem was silenced into shock. She had no idea what to say. It was a tragic story that she had not intended on hearing.

"Louis's dad left the family not longer after. Lou hadn't even left hospital yet when he walked out. He just had a daughter born a few weeks before too. His dad is a piece of shit, that's a fact." Marlon explained, with an obvious bitterness in his tone.

There was one looming question in the back of the girls mind. "How long ago was all that?"

"Well, Louis is turning 18, and the accident was 4 years ago." He confirmed.

"All that happened when he was still a kid? That's fucked up." Clem said, starting to feel sad.

"Yep." The blonde boy said in reply, not knowing what else to say.