Pretty in Plastic (l.s)

xii

It's been about a month.

Kala's been more frequent around the apartment, much to Louis' dismay, because she insisted on supporting Harry during the holiday season. Harry didn't argue with her, obviously, and Louis has been suffering since. Kala makes him work like a maid, tells him that if he doesn't work hard then Harry will throw him out, and makes petty jabs at the doll when Harry isn't around. It's been torture, but Louis has said nothing about it because Harry seems okay with Kala around and he doesn't want to be selfish.

Harry's been a problem himself, if Louis' being honest. While the doll will do anything for his friend to make him happy, it seems he's always ignored unless wanted. Unlike before, where Harry constantly spent time with Louis, the doll finds himself alone most of the time unless Harry is sad or angry. This was how Harry acted in the past, right before he told Anne that he didn't need Louis anymore.

Louis's human now, though. Why is he still being treated like a doll on a shelf, then?

Harry now spends the time he used to make for Louis on Kala, or work.  Louis is currently a throw away, call-him-when-you-need-him guy, and it hurts. Yet again, though, Louis expresses none of his feelings. Harry was becoming himself again, Louis guesses, and to try to tell Harry to be different would be wrong.

"Louis," Harry calls into the house as he walks in from work, "Liam, and Niall are here!"

That's another thing. Louis has become extremely close to Liam, and Niall. He loves when they come around because Louis no longer feels used. The two men spend time with Louis not because they need him for something, but because they like him. Louis doesn't know if he can say the same for Harry anymore.

"Liam, Niall!" Louis screams, and jumps into Liam's arms. Liam catches him with certainty, and laughs. Niall just ruffles his hair, and they go to the living area. Harry watches, and neither of the three notice his slightly irritated look. After all, Louis used to greet him that way.

"What'd you do today, Lou?" Liam asks, and Louis starts rambling about it all: the cleaning, the cooking, cat videos, the lion cubs he always watches at 12, and his nap. Liam, and Niall listen closely, laughing when Louis cracks a wise joke, and nodding when he explains something in detail. They are very much attentive, Louis notices, and he likes it because that's how he treats people as well.

"You're always cleaning the house, mate." Niall mumbles. "Doesn't Harry help?"

"He never asks for it. I've offered a few times, but he just says no." Harry's quick to defend, and Liam raises an eyebrow. "I've also never asked him to do all the chores around here."

"So?" Liam mumbles. "He still does it. You have days off, do something to help him. At least pay the guy."

"He lives here, too. Not everything is my mess. In fact, most of it is his." Harry hangs their coats, and Louis fails to mention that most messes are actually Kala's. "He isn't a child."

"Fair enough. Louis," Louis looks at Liam, "from now on, clean only your messes. Okay?"

Louis nods, and relaxes when Liam and Niall smile. Is the tension over now? Hardly, but nobody wants to upset anyone further so the topic is dropped.

"So, what made you guys stop by?" Louis asks, desperately wanting to derail the frustration he's sensing. Liam smiles, and leans back into his seat. He puts an arm around Louis, and the doll instinctively curls into him. He hasn't been held in a while.

"Well, we wanted to see you." Liam answers, and Niall nods in agreement. Louis blushes at that. "You're fun to around, Lou."

"Thank you." Louis nods, and his feeling of not being appreciated starts to drift.

"We were wondering if you wanted to go out tonight." Niall asks. "There's a new bar."

"A bar?" Louis asks, and Harry comes from the kitchen with a bottle of soda. He sits in the lounge chair, being there's no room on the couch for him, and watches Louis look at him.

"A place to drink alcohol." He mumbles bluntly, grabbing the remote and turning the tv on. He reminds Louis of a child right now, like when Louis was a doll and Gemma gave him extra attention one day. Harry pouted, fussed, and even snatched Louis away from Gemma. Anne called it being jealous. Is Harry jealous again?

"Oh," Louis looks at Liam and Niall, "I like drinking."

Niall laughs, and nods. "I do too! That's why you should come with us. It'll be fun!"

"Harry said he isn't going." Liam eyes Harry, but Harry stays connected to the tv. It's not even interesting, the show's about cars and Harry always found that stuff boring, but the doll doesn't mention it. He obviously focuses too much on Harry so maybe he should take a night for himself. Besides, he always wants Harry to have time for other people so shouldn't he do the same? Liam, and Niall are his friends after all. He should make time for them while Harry makes time for Kala.

The doll shrugs. "Okay. I'll go."

—————

Later that night, Louis did go out. Harrys stays home even though Louis invited him multiple times, and he allows the silence to swallow him as he does his own personal drinking. He lays on his bed, staring at the ceiling with his limbs splaying across the mattress. His head sinks into the pillows, and the light from the lamp creates a circle of light on the ceiling. He stares at the shadows scattering the room, and he blinks a few times.

His heart feels heavy, his stomach is churning, and his hands are balled up in agitation. He feels jealous. He doesn't know who or what is making him feel this way, but he can't stop thinking about Louis. He thinks how Liam is getting awfully close to him, how Niall is always asking to see him, how Gemma is always asking to come over for him. Louis is becoming popular, and good for him, but Harry has a feeling of possession: Louis is his, Louis belongs to him, and he doesn't want to share Louis.

Louis has made him so happy. He makes Harry laugh, smile, relax, and enjoy life again. He makes Harry feel alive, and Harry doesn't want to share his ray of sunshine.

Harry wipes away the tears forming, and huffs. He's so pathetic. He sits up, and looks around again. His eyes land on the open closet, and the lamp light shines on a center piece. It's the shirt Louis pressured him into getting, and Harry realizes he never wore it. Louis loved it on him, said Harry looked amazing, and Harry is in just enough of a jealous state of mind to show it off.