reading between the lines

4

Mattys POV

I'd just got comfy on the sofa when I heard the door knock and all 4 boys look my way.
"I'll get that then shall I" I say as I make my way to the door and open it. Alfie. "Can I help you?"
"Matty please can we just talk, I want to sort this out" Alfie pleaded and honestly, I want my best mate back so I let him in and we both made our way up to my room. I genuinely love Alfie, he's been my best friend for as long as I can remember and now here we are, both sat on my bed in silence until we both just look at each other and burst into laughter. I don't know why we're laughing but we are and it feels good, it's like our way of saying sorry to each other and soon after we calmed down we have a good bro hug and make our way downstairs and sit on the sofa ready to annoy the others. I should have known something bad was going to come out of Alfie's mouth when he flashed me a quick cheeky smile before casually saying "so Matty, you still after Amy?"
I swear I nearly died as all the lads directed their eyes towards me and I gave Alfie a look to say "seriously bro?'
"Gone a bit red there Matty" Louis smirked as I just looked away with my arms folded , wishing the ground would swallow me up.
"Ah come on bro you don't need to hide it, you might actually get somewhere if you admit it. You have a good chance with her lad, I've seen the way she looks at you" Alfie continued "I mean your good looking, she's good looking, you'd be like a power couple"
Ok Alfie I've heard enough now, is what I think as I look at him "you not got anything planned for Sophie tonight?" I ask knowing Sophie is his soft spot and he would drop everything to go see his beloved girlfriend.
"Oh yeh I'd better go see her, cya matty" and with that Alfie was gone and I was safe from further humiliation. I was quite naive and thought the lads would just forget about what Alfie said but then I looked at louis' smug smile.
"Louis please don't say anything to Amy, please" impractically beg him, my hands together at my chest.
"I won't but I can still take the piss out of you, I agree with Alfie tho, you have a shot with her, you always seem to be texting her anyway" I can't help smiling at the fact people think I have a shot with her, she's the person I imagine myself growing up with. I've had previous girlfriends but this feels different, when I think about Amy it's as if I'm thinking about my future.

A few hours later I'm laying comfortably in bed and still thinking about Amy, she really has got my head spinning

Louis' POV

I woke up the next morning at about half 5 and I heard noises coming from Matty's room that sounded as if he was in pain so quietly, in a quest not to wake Harry asleep next to me, I made my way out of bed and onto the landing and quietly knocked on Matty's door before poking my head in.
"Bro you alright?" I whisper quietly, recieving a painful grunt from Matty so I go over and sit on the edge of his bed and feel his forehead "lad your boiling, you're not going school today, you're not well" I saw him smile a little at that, he hates school, and he really doesn't look well so I guess it's time for a day off, only... Liam and Niall are going out for a meeting and me and Harry have to go work at school, Niall and Liam can't cancel so I guess I'll have to ring in sick and I'll look after Matty. Harry won't mind, he's so understanding about this type of stuff.
"I'll leave you to sleep Matty" I say quietly as I make my way back into my own room where Harry is now sat up, eyes wide open, obviously waiting for me to return and expecting an explanation for my disappearance. I get in bed next to him and wrap my arms around his torso "sorry H, I was just checking on Matty. And erm speaking of Matty, he's not well so I'm gonna stay off to take care of him today. You'll be alright without me won't you"
"Yeh Lou I'll be fine" Harry whispers tiredly and he cuddles into my arms and falls back asleep for around 5 minutes before the sound of his alarm echoes around our room and I smirk as he groans and slaps it to turn it off. Harry goes for a shower whilst I change into some comfy joggers and a long sleeve t-shirt, I make my way downstairs and make myself and Harry egg on toast and a nice cup of tea each and place them on the table, waiting for Harry to join me.
Soon after we've eaten Harry goes off to work, shortly after which Liam and Niall make their way out to their meeting. Feeling a sense of boredom I decide to go and see how Matty's feeling and as I poke my head round his door, his eyes flicker open and he rolls to face me, giving me permission to venture further into his room. I place myself on his desk chair next to his bed "how you feeling now?" I ask hoping he's feeling a little better cos I feel lonely already.
"Like death but a little better I guess" he croaked, his voice was almost completely gone which sounded quite funny causing a grin to spread across my face.
"Louuuuiiiiss it's not funnnyyy" Matty slapped my arm but he was smiling himself the cheeky git, I never gave him the permission to touch me. Only Harry has that permission, I drifted into daydream thinking about Harry until I re-entered reality to the sound of Matty's voice "why aren't you in school?"
"Cos you're ill, liam and Niall are busy so I've been left in charge of you. I'm nurse Tommo today, anything you need shall be with you in a matter of minutes" why did I say that, I saw Matty's eyes light up as he grinned at me.
"Well nurse Tommo, my stomach ache is ever so painful, I'd very much benefit from a nice hot water bottle" Matty pulled a pained face as he spoke, the little shit overexagerating his current condition, I bet you anything his stomach doesn't even hurt. But I'd said I'd get him anything he needs so I will, I stand up and go to find a hot water bottle, fill it up and bring it back to Matty. I watch him slide down into bed as he places it gently on his stomach, looking a little uncomfortable, maybe he really does have tummy pain.
"You alright?" I ask, genuinely worried as I realize how pale and clammy he actually is.
"Yeh, just need sleep" his voice is quieter and bearly audible, I don't want to leave him incase something happens so I sit gently combing my fingers through his curls as he drifts off to sleep. His curls are different to Harry's, they're sort of wavy on top but then all tight and compact past his ears. Once I'm sure he's asleep I stop combing and decide to just sit there on my phone, I'm too scared to leave him incase he starts having a fit or something. He looks really unwell and I know, I know I'm probably overreacting but I can't help it, I always overthink things, it's part of who I am and I wish it wasn't because it caused me so much pain in my youth, but then I met Harry and it seemed to calm down. But recently, it's all coming rushing back and honestly I don't know what to do. It wrecks my brain day after day, it affects my sleep, my concentration, even my sex life. But I can't tell Harry because he doesn't deserve to have to deal with my issues. I can deal with them myself. Me, myself and I.