I waited {L.S}

1.7

Fizzy managed to calm me down before a real freak-out happened. But after she left the room, I moved behind my bed, where they couldn't see me. I just wanted to be alone without actually being alone and freaking them out even more.

I wished I was normal. I wish he never touched me or hurt me or made me like this. I wish I didn't get overwhelmed by the smallest thing.

"Louis?" I sat up and wiped my face, looking at the door. My mom had a small smile on her face. "Harry stopped by. You don't have to come down but-"

I will I signed, standing up. I walked over to her and she smiled, kissing the side of my head.

My stomach was twisting the whole way down the stairs. I was nearly convinced that I should just run back upstairs, then  I heard him laugh. Lottie was talking about something, and his laugh sounded so happy and sincere.

I followed my mom into the room, my lip trapped between my teeth. Harry looked over as soon as she entered, and then his gaze fell to me and he smiled.

His eyes were bright, bright green. He had dimples on his cheeks that made his smile look even better and seemed fitting for him. "Hey, there." He seemed familiar, but I shook it off. My sisters said they met him after I was taken, there was no possible way I've met him before.

I waved, then looked away from him, my lip still between my teeth. Harry's smile never dropped from what I could tell, because I looked at him a few seconds later and it was still there.

My mom motioned for me to sit on the couch, so I walked over there,  sitting down. I moved my eyes to Harry's arms, seeing the tattoos that my mom and Lottie had mentioned. He did have a lot of them on his arms alone.

"So, I'm Harry," Harry greeted, making me look back at his face.

I'm Louis. It was weird to sign sometimes since I liked my hands covered by the sleeves of my hoodie. Like now, I had to stop myself from pulling them back down so I wouldn't have to pull them up again in a minute.

"It's nice to meet you." He signed while he spoke, and I copied it, mostly to myself. "How well has Lottie been teaching you?"

"Just fine, thank you!" She laughed and hit his arm lightly. "We haven't gone over a lot yet, but that's why we're bringing you in."

Harry grinned again. "Well, of course you are." I smile a little and looked down. I liked his smile.

"Harry really is fucking magic," fizzy said. "He got Lou to smile."

I almost signed shut up but stopped myself. I just shrugged instead.

"No, like that took forever with us," Lottie explained while laughing. "You are such a people person."

It was Harry's turn to shrug then. "Not a big deal. But whenever you want to work on it," Harry said toward me, "we can. I do online school, so I'm pretty much free whenever."

I nodded my head. I liked how he didn't want it to be a big deal. I didn't want it to be a big deal. I wanted to be normal again. Being normal meant not worrying about me all the time. Letting me freak out sometimes.

"Hey, dinner's done," mom told us. Harry and the girls stood up, so I followed, Lottie giving me the please eat look.

We sat down. I got some of the chicken and when I looked up, Lottie stopped signing to Harry. I looked back and forth between them for a second, then looked back at the chicken.

I picked at it. I could hear their forks hitting plates. I never brought my fork to my mouth.

"Lo-"

"So what's everyone's plans for the weekend?" Harry asked over Lottie.

Just eat. It's okay. It's okay. Just a few bites.

I took a small bite and chewed it for a long time, and kept doing it while they all talked and no one focused on me. Harry kept talking, keeping attention off of me.

I ate almost all of it, then set my fork down. I played with my sleeves, glancing up at Harry every few seconds.

"Are we going for ice cream?" Daisy asked excitedly, looking to Fizzy. "You promised."

"And I'm guessing you were going to ask me for a ride?" Harry asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Like you ever tell them no." Fizzy smiled at him and Harry rolled his eyes.

"You mean you. But yes, I'll take you."

"Only if Louis goes," my mom threw in. I snapped my head up, then shook it. "You need to go out."

No! I'm not ready!

"Louis-"

"That's not fair to the twins," Lottie defended. "You can't punish them for Louis not wanting to do something."

I'll go.

Lottie looked confused for a second, then shook her head. "Not like that. It's just not fair they won't get to go. Not a real punish-

I'll go, I signed again, standing up.

"This isn't my business," Harry started, making me pause, "but I'm saying it anyway. You can't keep doing what you're doing with him, because it's the exact same thing he's used to. He's not doing it to get better, he's doing it to keep someone happy, to keep others safe."

"Harry-"

"It's the only way I got over it. You can't force it." He looked back at me.

What? I asked.

Can we talk? Just us? Harry stood and faced me. Please?

I looked at Lottie, then my mom before nodding slowly. Harry started walking towards me and Lottie stepped forward. "Harry, he doesn't-"

"He needs to," Harry said calmly. "He needs to know."

I followed him to my room and closed the door. "You don't remember me?" He asked after a few seconds.

I slowly shook my head and his dropped for a few seconds. Why?

"I told you I'd protect you," Harry sang quietly, making my eyes widen. "I'll do anything to keep you safe."

How? I signed. I...

"You didn't make it up, Louis. I did. I sang that to you all the time."

We didn't meet. I was trying to figure out how to say it all.

"It wasn't for long, maybe four months, but I did anything to keep him from hurting you. I know what he did."

I shook my head and shut my eyes. We didn't know each other. He was lying. Why was he lying?

"Louis, stop, it's okay. Stop," Harry called, holding me to his chest. I felt tears running down my face and I was fighting him, thrashing around. "He's gone, he's gone. It's me, it's only me. He's gone."

I slowly stopped fighting, still pushing on him. "You promise?" I didn't realize I said it, but Harry just nodded.

"He's gone. Go to sleep. It's okay."

"Don't leave," I whispered, holding onto him.

"I'm not leaving, Louis."