Forbidden {L.S.}

Thirty-Four

I went back to my house the next day, Louis dropping me off about a block away like normal. I kissed him before climbing out and walking up the block. I waved at Louis as he drove past, a small smile on my face. My wrist was wrapped in gauze and I had a backpack full of presents that Louis had gotten me.
   
I was spoiled. I low-key loved it.
   
Walking inside my house, I put the bag in my room and went to the surprisingly quiet living room. My dad sat on the couch and my mom was in a chair, each of them doing their own thing. “I'm back.”
   
My mom looked up then smiled. “Happy birthday, baby.”
   
“Thanks,” I replied, then waited for either of them to say or do anything else. When they didn't I rolled my eyes and went back to my room, sitting on the bed. I put away all of the stuff Louis got me, smiling to myself as I did.
   
I decided to call Niall when I was done. He answered on the first ring, which was unusual, normally he’s playing video games and doesn’t want to answer until like the last ring. “And I'm alive again in your world. What's up?”
   
I groaned and threw my arm over my face. “I told you to slap me when I'm ignoring you.”
   
“It's hard to slap you when you're nowhere in sight. Do we need to talk about abusive partners and shit? Please don't make me have this talk,” Niall said in a joking tone, but I knew he was semi-serious at the same time.
   
“It's not abusive,” I said, looking at my wrist with a smile. “It's complicated, Niall. But not abusive.”
   
“Everyone in abusive relationships says that. Now if I ask to come over, you're going to hesitate because-”
   
“Yes, actually,” I cut him off, looking at my ceiling. “Please come rescue me from my boredom. My parents wanted me here for literally no reason,” I complained dramatically, falling back onto my bed.
   
“Yay, abusive lover talk,” he cheered. “I'll be there in like fifteen. With food,” he added as an afterthought.
   

Niall sat on my bed, eating a hamburger. “So, who are you dating? It's been what, five, six month now?” He asked between a bite.
   
“I can't tell you. I want to, trust me, but I literally haven't told anyone.” I stuffed some fries in my mouth to keep myself from talking anymore.
   
Niall raised an eyebrow. “What, have a sugar momma or something?”
   
I almost choked, shaking my head. When I finished chewing I started speaking again. “No! Just… it's kinda like that, only they're not like ancient, they aren't the richest-”
   
“But they're older than you?” Niall asked. When I didn't respond he sighed. “H, I'm your best friend. Talk. To. Me.”
   
“If I tell you, you have to swear you won't say a word,” I said seriously. Niall tried laughing but I shook my head.
   
“Okay, okay. Shit, you are being so serious. I will not repeat this to anyone unless I think that you are in harm. Not even think.” He backtracked, shaking his head. “Unless I have proof, I will not tell anyone.”
   
Would my relationship with Louis sound harmful? If he let me explain, it wouldn't, but…
   
“Its technically illegal,” I said, looking up at him from my bed. I chewed on my lip nervously. I should talk to Louis first, let him know I was doing this. But I couldn't stop now, then Niall would really question what was going on.
   
He shrugged. “Okay and? I do stupid, technically illegal things all the time.”
   
I closed my eyes. “I'm dating Tomlinson.” I braced for his reaction.
  
“No shit?” Niall asked. I opened my eyes to see him leaning forward. After a few seconds he nodded and shrugged. “I ship it.”
   
“Wait, that's it? No lecture on how he's our teacher, or how-” I started to ask, but Niall shook his head.
   
“It's not my place, H. That's you and him. Is it kinda weird?” He shrugged. “But it doesn't change us, obviously it's not changing school too much. I mean, actually you're doing better than the beginning of the year.”
   
I nodded my head, looking down and playing with my fingers. “He didn't even really do anything but let me stay after school. Just with them fighting,” I said, motioning to the doorway, “I couldn't focus or anything. He just let me work.”
   
“So you're not blowing him for a better grade?” I snapped my head up and glared at him which made him raise his hands. “That's why you get so pissy when anyone makes those jokes now!” Niall exclaimed, his eyes getting wider as the situation dawned on him. “Does anyone else know?”
   
“Actually, his family knows. His whole family,” I said, looking down and smiling. “They love me."
   
"How did that happen?" Niall asked, causing me to look back up.
   
"I went to meet them over Christmas break. Before that we Skyped and stuff," I explained while grabbing a few more fries.
   
"Were they worried or anything?" Niall asked.
   
I nodded. "His mom was for a while. She didn't was Louis to ruin his life, which is something I'm hyper aware of, but then she realized that we're both extremely happy with each other." I shrugged. "His family is huge, too. It scared the shit out of me, plus I found out flying is not my strong suit."
   
“What happened to your wrist?” he asked. I looked down and saw the gauze was sticking out.
   
“I got a tattoo yesterday,” I said. “Louis paid for it as part of my birthday.”
   
“Shit, you normally call him by his first name, don't you?” I nodded, picking at the gauze. "Is school weird then?"
   
"A bit. I mean, if you think about it, I've called him Tomlinson at school since the beginning. He became Louis in October. And we do pretty well of keeping the relationship out of school." I took a bite of my food. "Except tutoring when no one else is there."
   
Niall laughed and shrugged. "No one's found out so far, so I mean, you're doing something right."
   
I paused, then looked up at him. "You're not gonna tell anyone, right? This can get him in a lot of trouble and I'm already scared with no one knowing."
   
"Harry, is your grade in jeopardy with this relationship? Are you threatening to ruin his life? Is one of you miserable while the other is enjoying it? If any of those are a yes, then I'll be worried about it. But I can tell that they're all no. I won't say a word, and now you have someone to talk to that will always be on your side in an argument." He looked completely serious, which was the only reason I relaxed at all.
   
"Who is gonna be the person to totally flip out?" I asked with a chuckle. "Actually I don't want to know. "
   
"So, now that we're back on a no secret plane with you, I found out something about Malik." He wiggled his eyebrows as he took a drink. "He's dating a guy named Liam."
   
Again, I almost choked on my food. "Wait, wait," I took a drink and shook my head. "Any other details?"
   
"I'm guessing this isn't good.” Niall thought for a second looking down to the bed before looking back up at me. “Um, brown hair and eyes, kinda buff?"
   
"Fuck, fuck, fuck," I said, pulling out my phone.”How the hell do you know this?” I asked while I dialled Louis' number.