Frame of Hearts - l.s.

Chapter Thirty Six

It's a week later Harry notices Louis is starting to keep to himself.

He doesn't speak anymore, and when he does it's as silent as the hot breeze sweeping through the town. Harry always sits alone with him; it's the only time he talks. Zayn and Liam have been ignored and despite knowing what was going on, they were baffled by the quick change of behaviour.

It's a Thursday, a very hot Thursday, and Harry holds Louis hand when they're both in the music room. They're alone, of course, sitting on the same piano stool and Harry hitting the keys every now and again to break the silence. Louis sits and does nothing. He doesn't eat, he refuses to. As much as Harry tries to make him without the harsh pressure, he can never get him to open his mouth for even the smallest of bites.

Harry doesn't know if he's been eating. Harry hasn't asked him about it. He doesn't feel comfortable asking it, knowing that Louis would just shut him down with silence. It's worse than getting Louis fighting you back. Silence is excruciating. Harry hates this.

Patting Louis' thigh, his other hand occupied by half a sandwich, Louis looks up to him and licks over his bottom lip with his tongue. Harry gives a small smile, leaning forward and kissing him softly. His head immediately drops to look to his legs after Harry drew back, and Harry feeds himself some more.

Zayn ends up walking into the room with a book in his hand. It must be the homework he needed to copy down. He puts the book forward for Harry to grab, but his hands are full with his sandwich in one and Louis now in the other. He rests it in the middle of Harry's lap, stepping back then giving a smile to Louis.

"Hey, Lou," he waves, hoping there's something that will light up in his eyes and he'll say hello back, but he doesn't. Zayn glowers. "I... um, I think you got some questions wrong, Haz. So I redid some of them for you."

"Thanks," Harry says. Of course some of his answers would be wrong. He'd be sure that he put I love Louis in some of his comprehension sentences.

His hand tightens around Harry's and... Jesus, it's really tight. Harry eyes him and notices Louis is still staring down at his legs and not attempting to look at anything but his view of his jeans and Zayn's feet. Oh. Shit.

"I'll see you in English," Harry says with a nod. Zayn waves goodbye, another soft directed bye to Louis who doesn't respond. The moment the door slams shut and Zayn's out, Louis' hand loosens around his. Harry has pins and needles in his fingers.

It's odd for Louis to be nervous around Zayn, and sure, he might have a little bit of anxiety around people but it shouldn't have come so quick. Especially if he's been around Harry's friends for six months now. He shouldn't feel paranoid to be around Zayn, because... he's Zayn. No one is afraid of Zayn.

Well, no one but Louis, now.

Harry removes his hand in Louis' and wraps an arm around his back instead, pushing him in closer and letting their thighs press together. He dips his head on Louis' shoulder, continuing to chew on his sandwich. Both relax in peace, until the bell splits them apart.

He tells Louis to wait for him after school, but that order is only thrown away. Harry waited for twenty minutes after school with Zayn, and messages Louis who only texts him back sorry i forgot with no x, no sad face. Just plain old sorry I forgot. Harry and Zayn head into town that afternoon.

Zayn notices that Harry's starting to become much shier than he usually is. He doesn't know whether it be because he's so invested with the world around him now because he spends so little time with Louis, or if it's because he's been too upset to even give a shit about anything in his life but Louis. Zayn really doesn't know, but he knows that his time can't be wasted on Harry. He has too much to worry about with Liam.