who's gonna save us tonight (l.s.)

vii

A/N: Hey everyone! So, I'm really sorry to say that this is going to be the last chapter of this book :( Hopefully there are some of you who are still around to read this book to the end; I wouldn't blame you if any of you had forgotten about this, though, because it's practically been forever since I last udpated. Full author's note is at the end of the chapter xxx
(Listen to "My Love" by Sia on the right, not because it has to do with this story, but just because it's beautiful and heartbreaking and I love it so, so much)

****

"Hey David. Can -- can we meet up later tonight, maybe?"

There's a moment of silence on the line, before Louis hears David clear his throat. "Yeah, sure. D'you want me to come over?"

"Yeah, please. In like, half an hour or so?"

"Yeah, that works for me. I'll see you then, Louis." 

"Bye."

Louis stares at the black screen of his phone after David hangs up, sighing. He doesn't want to do this, but. It has to be done. 

He exhales loudly. Harry only just left his house ten minutes ago, having come inside after their bike ride. Louis, at first, had smiled like a lunatic after he'd gone, because today actually happened, all of this was real. He had covered his smile with his hand -- which was wrapped inside of his light red sweater; sweater paws are his favorite thing -- even though there was no one else in the room to see it. 

But it hadn't taken even two minutes of Louis sitting there by himself to realize the magnitude of what he'd actually done. He'd essentially agreed to date Harry behind David's back -- and that's really fucking messed up, even if he's not completely sure about what his and David's relationship status is supposed to be. This is David, the sweetest person Louis has ever met, the one person who is the most undeserving of this kind of treatment. David.

Louis couldn't even bear thinking about it at that point. He knew he had to end that, he knew he had to tell David the truth, about everything. It was the only way the guilt would go away, the only way he would be comfortable being in a relationship with Harry in the future.

So he called him, asked him to come over. And now he's blankly staring at his phone, and the realization is finally sinking in that he's got to somehow tell this incredible person that he was unknowingly using him because of his own selfish needs.

Fuck.

****

The doorbell rings loudly. "I'll get it!" Louis shouts up the stairs, and he bounds toward the door.

He takes a deep breath before opening it. David is standing there with a sheepish smile on his face and his hands stuffed in his pockets. 

"Hey," Louis says quietly, gesturing for David to come in. David walks in slowly, meandering in the vague direction of the couch. Louis quickly shuts the door and scurries over to him, sitting down on the couch and motioning for David to do the same. 

"So, what's up?" David asks hesitantly, and Louis bites his lip. 

He takes a long pause before starting. 

"So, um." He clears his throat. "I don't really know how to start, I'm sorry," he says with a nervous laugh. "Um."

David just smiles at him, and scratches the back of his neck. "It's Harry, isn't it?"

Louis blanches, mouth falling open the slightest bit. "W-wha -- "

"No, it's okay," David says with a short laugh. He pats Louis' knee. "You guys didn't really do a good job of being subtle."