Frame of Hearts - l.s.

Chapter Thirty

Harry sighs before he walks down the hall to see his mum in the kitchen. His hair is combed back nicely and he's putting on the saddest of puppy eyes. Hopefully it'll work, and hopefully she'll see that her son really does need Louis in his life.

So he stands beside the counter, ready to take breakfast from her and ask her. When she hears a clearing of a throat, Anne turns and smiles telling Harry breakfast will be out in a few. He hangs around and waits until the two pieces of toast pop out and Anne settles them on a plate next to some baked beans and bacon. She hands them to Harry, and Harry hurriedly rushes out:

"Mum, can I see Louis this afternoon?"

Anne doesn't look at him. Instead, she heads to one of the counters with her back facing Harry. She starts to wipe at the oily spot and continues to ignore Harry as if the question hasn't been asked. Harry frowns.

"Mum, can I see Louis--"

"You have football training, Harry," she reminds sternly. Harry shakes his head and puts his plate on the bench, stepping forward to talk to his mother directly.

"I know that, mum," he says softly. "I-I mean like... afterwards. I wanted to take him into town again and--"

"What do you think the answer is going to be?" she spins around and eyes him sharply. Harry narrows his eyes and furrows his brows. His mum doesn't seem to be budging her answer to anything Harry wants to hear. "I told you no."

Harry forgets about breakfast, storming away and walking down the trail where Louis drives. Louis picks him up and drives themselves to school.

******

Once they're out of the corridors, Louis pulls him over to the side and tugs at Harry's long sleeves. Harry fears Louis is going to reveal his cuts - which there are indeed more - but Louis looks up to him with the most feared eyes. Harry becomes worried.

"C-Can we sit by ourselves for lunch today?"

Harry stares at him baffled, but he understands, kind of. "Is there something up with Zayn and Liam--"

"No, I just... I want to sit with you today, that's all."

Harry sighs and nods, guiding Louis with a hand flat on the small of his back. They sit by the fence of the school, where the dead leaves have collected with the darkest trees above them. Louis likes this spot and would probably sit here all the time if he wasn't with Harry. Both sit in front of one another and Harry takes out his lunch. Louis doesn't bring anything out.

Harry glowers. He's hoping Louis packed something. "Lou, did you bring anything--"

"I'm fine," he tells bluntly. Harry shakes his head and looks down to his box of food, taking out a sandwich and unwrapping it, giving a half to Louis who refuses to take it. "Harry, I said I'm fine--"

"You're not fine, Louis. You haven't eaten anything."

"I-I ate in art."

"Lou."

Louis gulps and stares at the sandwich. He knows he'll probably gain at least a pound by the end of the week if he keeps eating at lunch. He's seriously not hungry, well, he keeps telling himself that. His stomach is growling and he's sure Harry can hear it. Louis doesn't want to eat. He knows he'll fail trying to lose the tummy of his if he keeps eating unnecessarily.

But Louis takes it to make him happy, and he eats in small bites and chews too many times on one little piece. He's hoping it'll disintegrate in his stomach and not do anything to his fat cells. It's all he's hoping.

Harry crawls next to him after he finishes an apple, his half of his sandwich and some other drink Louis claims untitled. Harry takes his hand secretly and holds it in the gap between their legs. Harry kisses his shoulder and watches while Louis eats. He's only finished half, and it's been over twenty minutes. Harry grimaces. He hates to see Louis like this. He should be eating normally like their old selves.