Pretty in Plastic (l.s)

xxiv

"Mate, I don't know what's going on with Liam," Niall says as he sits in the break room with Harry, "but he's sad and temperamental. I think Louis rejected him."

"Rejected him?" Harry asks, and looks up from his phone. It's been two days since Louis's been gone, and Harry can officially say life sucks without the ball of sunshine cuddling him, waking him up, eating with him, and giving him karaoke concerts. It's dull in his apartment, and he misses the doll so much.

"Liam asked him out the other night. Lou said he would get back to him, but he's heard nothing since. I guess Lou's a ghoster."

Harry chuckles, and shakes his head. "I told him Louis didn't like him that way. He needs to learn what's flirting, and what's friendship."

"Did Lou ever flirt with you?" Niall pops a grape into his mouth. Harry stops laughing, and his smile falls. He hasn't thought about that, really. He knows he flirted with Louis, naturally since he adored the doll so much, but did Louis ever flirt back?

Well, there was that night. Harry leans forward, and Niall just watches him. "Clearly you don't know. Is he that messed up with mixed signals?"

"It's not that." Harry defends. "He's not used to relationships, and that kind of stuff. He's like... a thirteen year old virgin. He has no idea what the line between flirting, and being friendly is."

"Does he like you, then?" Harry blushes hard, and sulks in his seat. "I take that as a yes. I can tell you like him."

"I— I, uhm." Harry stammers, and huffs. "It's too late to say anything now."

"Why's that?"

"He's gone... home." Harry clears his throat. "He left while I was sleeping. We got in a fight, and I told him to go. I guess he actually listened."

"Why would you tell him that?" Niall punches his shoulder, and stands. "Mate, you probably broke his heart. He adores you, he'd die for you."

Harry groans, and lays his head on the table. Guilt floods him all over again, and Niall rolls his eyes. Harry rubs his eyes when he feels tears form, and turns to look at Niall. "He was causing arguments between me and Kala."

"Oh really?" Niall says sarcastically. "Harry, you two have been fighting way before Louis. She's been degrading, humiliating, isolating, and picking fights with you since... well, since you met her. Her temper, her manipulation, and your toxic relationship was not Louis' doing. You know that."

Harry blinks, and scratches the back of his neck. "I know."

"So what made you believe he was?"

"Kala." Niall hits his arm again. "Ouch!"

"You trust her opinion too much, that's your problem. You believe everything she says, and she's able to drive you crazy that way." Niall cleans up his wrappers, and throws them out.

"Liam says I don't deserve Louis."

"You don't." Harry clenches his jaw. "That doesn't mean you deserve the treatment Kala gives you, though. Nobody who is so low in confidence, and self love deserves a guy like Lou. You'll drag him down."

Niall sighs, and ruffles his curls. "Stand on your own two feet, regrow your balls, and figure out what and who you want to be. Then you'll be ready, and well deserving of Louis."

"Thanks, Ni." He mumbles.

"Also," the Irish man twists his ear quickly and harshly, "get rid of the wicked witch of west. She's a drag on everyone, mate."

—————

Harry gets out of the car, and walks with his sister towards the large building. He follows her inside, and the large tiles beneath his feet are all too familiar. They're a pale blue, matching the off white walls, and the sound of shoes scampering around is clear. Voices echo from the tall ceiling, and the sun shines through the glass roof. Bright signs are one right after the other, and people are exiting and entering shops with goodies and carts.

"I haven't been here in awhile." Gemma says as they walk. Harry stuffs his hands in his pockets, and takes in the smell of mall food, new clothes, store perfumes, and the hint of body odor as they pass people.

"Same here." He whispers, and looks around. "What do you need?"

"I told you," Gemma mumbles, "grandmom is having a family feast tonight for Christmas. We need gifts, and something formal."

"Why?"

Gemma gives him an unimpressed look. "We may have been lower middle-class, but mom had some rich relatives. We have to make a good impression for her. You know she'd want us to dress nice."

"That's true." He sighs. "So you take me to the mall to find a nice outfit? Hardly."

"I came for a dress. You're here to help me pick. The suit is your problem, little brother." Gemma giggles, and heads off towards the large department store in the back of the building. Harry rolls his eyes, and follows.

He helps her sort through racks upon racks, and waits patiently as she tries on dress after dress. "Gems, why don't we go further into the city? I bet you'd find something there."

"Yeah, and it'll cost an arm and a leg to get it." She says, and Harry rolls his eyes. "So, are you taking Louis or Kala to the dinner?"

"Uh," Harry raises an eyebrow, "neither. Why?"

"Kala's your girlfriend," she says as she opens the door and walks out, "but you act like Lou's boyfriend."

"Do I, now?" Harry shakes his head when she motions for his opinion on whether she should get it. "He's left, you know."

"Did he?" Her shoulders sag. "What'd you do? Every time I like somebody you're seeing, you drive them away."

"I wasn't seeing him."

"And his ass wasn't fat, Mr. Ass Man." Harry blushes, and looks away with wide eyes. "You could've had the best thing ever! I told you he loved you!"

"It's complicated. I already got this speech from Niall so I'd like to skip it, please." Harry closes his eyes, and he hears his sister sigh.

"You're a doofus," she playfully slaps his head, "but you're my little doofus. You have to get him back, Harry."

"Why? I'm perfectly content with Kala."

"Content." She purses her lips. "You should never be content with that bratty, selfish, manipulative behavior. You are so much better than her, and you deserve the love and kindness Louis was giving you."

"Funny, Niall said different." Harry chuckles. "He said I'm too much of a downer. I lack self love, and confidence."

"In my opinion, you're the type of person who needs it most. Listen, Harry, you were only ever comfortable in your skin once." She holds up her index finger. "It wasn't when you met Kala, went and dropped out of college, or when you came back from losing the X Factor."

"Gee, thanks for reminding me of all that."

"You were comfortable with that doll mom got you." Harry tenses. "You would come home, have the worst day, but that little doll would make things so much brighter for you. You loved putting on mom's clothes or my old ones, and modeling them in front of that toy like it was actually paying attention. You..."

She takes a deep breath. "I haven't seen you like that in so long, Haz. Mom was so worried every time she saw how Kala treated you."

"She was?" Harry's heart sinks when Gemma nods.

"Then— Then you met Louis, and it changed." She wipes her eyes. "You painted your nails, had a sheer shirt Louis told me about, and you were just so— happy. I'm telling you, you may be down right now, but Louis really did lift you up for a moment. Don't fall back down now that he's gone. Keep climbing because I miss you. The real you."