✔️STRONG [L.S]

[40]

{LOUIS' POV}

   *April 24th, 2015*

   I woke up a few hour's later with something cool being pressed against my forehead. I groaned quietly as I blinked my eye's open slowly, only to be face to face with Harry. I jumped a little- surprised- but slowly relaxed back into the mattress. He gave me a weak smile, shifting the wet flannel on my forehead.

   "I got the water and electricity turned back on." He said, nodding toward's the rag.

   "Thanks." I said, wincing at how hoarse and scratchy my voice was. Silence towered over us, the only sound being the little bit of wind blowing in through the window.

   "I'm sorry..." He finally whispered. I sat quickly, wincing at the pounding in my head, but swinging my leg's over the edge anyway.

   "Harry no."

   "I tried pushing you too soon. I should've known from last night."

   "Listen." He lifted his gaze slowly, meeting mine. "I'm never going to get better, and we're not going to get better, if I don't push myself a little bit."

   "I don't underst-" Harry began, but I cut him off.

   "So is that date still up for grab's?" I smiled as his dimple's began to show on his cheek's, and he jumped to his feet.

   "Really?" I nodded, "Just be patient with me."

   He went in for a hug, but paused, silently asking for permission. Heart swelling, I practically threw myself into his chest. He seemed surprised, slowly lowering his arm's around me. He nosed through my hair, arm's tightening. I closed my eye's as I leaned against him, just breathing him in. The only thought in my mind being how much I missed this.

***

   I was currently in the bedroom, standing in front of the mirror as I fessed over my hair. It needed to be perfect. Not taking my eye's off of my reflection, I slowly leaned down for the can of hairspray, spraying it all over my head.

   *Knock, Knock, Knock.*

   I sighed. Who could that be? Harry and I had to leave for our date soon.

   "Coming!" I called as I trudged to the front door. I didn't even bother to see who it was before swinging it open.

   "Harry w-wha-"

   "For you." Harry said, holding a rose out toward's me. I gently took the flower between my finger's, staring at it, before beginning to laugh. Harry seemed taken aback as I giggled, his eyebrow's furrowing.

   "You're so cliche." I finally said, trying to contain my laughter. He seemed offended, shoulder's drooping.

   "It's cute." His face softened at that, and he smiled.

   "Let me put this in a vase, and get my shoe's." I said, walking to the kitchen. I filled a small vase with water, and put the rose inside carefully before setting it on the windowsill. Walking back out into the living room, I put my shoe's on, and Harry offered me his arm. Then, we were walking out into the night.

***

   "This is so good." I moaned, gesturing to the pasta in front of me with my fork. Harry smiled at me over his wine glass, taking a sip before setting it down.

   "It's always been your favorite here." He said, taking a bite of his salmon. This was a pretty high end restaurant that Harry and I used to come to all the time. The food was amazing, the service was amazing, and the gay side of me said the decor was fabulous.

   "It's been so long since I've had it." I said, practically shoveling it into my mouth. Harry looked at me endearingly, reaching across the table to lay his hand on top of mine.

   "I'm glad we're doing this." He whispered, rubbing his thumb over my knuckle's. My heart fluttered in my chest.

   "Yea. Me too." I smiled at him.

   "My angel..." He breathed, eye's shining as he stared at me with a warm smile. My heart raced. I was beginning to love how the word angel formed on his lip's, knowing it was only for me. There was quiet chatter of people around us, but it felt like we were in our own world, away from everyone and everything else.

***

   Hand in hand, Harry and I walked out the front door's of the restaurant, only to be met with the blinding flashes of camera's.

   "Shit..." Harry cursed under his breath.

   "LOUIS!!! LOUIS!!! IS IT TRUE THAT HARRY ABUSED YOU?!!!" One pap yelled over the loud shouting of the other's. Harry must have heard it too, because he tucked me tightly into his side, one arm wrapped around my back, and other hand gently cupping my head, keeping it pressed to his chest. He tried to push us forward through the small crowd, but couldn't seem to find an opening. My heart sped up, and not in a good way. I felt trapped inside a bubble of my past as question's relating the last year were shouted at us. I looked up at Harry frantically, my chest tightening.

   "IS IT TRUE YOU WERE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY HARRY AS WELL?!!!" I tensed up immediately, Harry tightened his grip and stroked my hair as he tried to reassure me. I ripped myself from his grasp, tear's filling my eye's and threatening to spill. How did they find out?

   "GET A PROPER JOB YOU FOOKIN' DICK'S!!!" I shouted, a single tear slipping down my cheek as I roughly shoved my way through the crowd. I fell to the ground as I finally broke through the wall of people, scrambling to my feet.

   "LOUIS!!!" Harry shouted after me as I ran down the street, leaving him and the pap's behind. I ducked inside a nearby alleyway, leaning heavily against the wall and released a breath I didn't realize I was holding. I slowly sunk down to my knee's, pressing my forehead against against the unforgiving touch of brick's. That's when the tear's began to fall.

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