Never Knew I Needed - Larry Stylinson AU

Chapter 23

[A/N]: Hiii! Guess who doesn't have play practice much this week! This girl! SO hopefully I have time to bond with this story. Because I'm starting to hate it. Yes. So... back to Louis' P.O.V I think. Yes. Onward.

[Louis' P.O.V]

I was failing miserably at keeping Harry's few chips away from Niall, and after I'd given in to his persistence due to a persuasive kick to my shin, I crossed my arms and watched the Irish boy happily scarf down his food. I figured that after Harry returned from the bathroom, and we paid, I'd ask Harry if he wanted to drive the car around while I looked for a job. As I pondered over how the rest of they day could go, a scream from the opposite side of the restaurant made Niall and I look at one another in shock while the rest of the restaurant grew silent. The scream lasted a few more seconds, allowing fear to creep into my throat. Harry was on that side of the restaurant, and either I was paranoid, or the scream sounded a lot like the curly boy's yelp he generally gave when Zayn or someone startled him. I remained seated a few seconds after the scream abruptly stopped, and the restaurant gradually filled with people talking again.

And then I was leaping from the booth and speed walking towards the bathroom. Niall had to have been thinking the same thing, because he was right on my heels. The Harry sounding scream had me worried and terrified for the boy's safety. Upon reaching the bathroom, I shoved the door open, scanning the room for any danger. Niall was pressed against my back trying to peer into the room as well. As soon as I locked my eyes on the curly boy, who was standing in the middle of the restroom with water still dripping from his hands, I strode towards him, assaulting him with questions without really allowing him to answer.

"Harry! Who was screaming? Was that you? Are you alright? Are you hurt?" I flung my arms around him, relieved that he was safe.

But much to my dismay, the curly boy was trembling violently. Some waiter that I'd somehow over looked, who I figured was trying to figure out who was screaming, flung his hands up and left the restroom. Niall slipped silently in, and Harry's hands came up to clench into the material of my shirt on my back.

"He saw me," the boy wheezed. "Oh God, Louis, he saw me, he knows I'm not dead."

Harry's terrified tone sent shivers down my spine, "Who, Harry? Who saw you?"

"Are you talking about the waiter?" Niall asked gently, stepping hesitantly closer.

"No!" Harry wailed, but he was suddenly pulling back and looking at Niall and I. "Oh no! We have to get you guys out of here! He probably already knows, and h-he'll know that it was you guys that saved me he'll know and-"

Saved him, I thought, as in... when Dean tried to kill him? I sucked in a deep breath and pressed a finger to his quivering lips, "Hazza! Who saw you? You still haven't explained!"

Harry simply crumpled forward. I caught him so I could pull him to my chest before he could slide to the floor, and all the while he was sobbing, "Please, Boobear... we need to leave."

I slowly sank to the floor with him, whispering gently to him, "Once you tell me what's going on... you're worrying me, Hazza."

"Do you remember, when I kind of mentioned that D-Dean wasn't one of the only ones who tried drowning me? Well Dean's friends practically kiss the ground he walks on. They'll do anything to help him out, even though he's horrible," Harry whimpered.

"No, no," I heard Niall say from behind me, trying to keep someone from entering the bathroom. "It's toxic in here, don't come in. I ate too much chicken."

Whoever it was left, and I nodded to Harry so he'd continue. Harry's hands slipped to his ribs absentmindedly, to the place where bruises were just starting to fade, "I just ran into one of the men who were there when Dean... one of the guys Dean said could do what they wanted with me before he killed me."