Finally Wanted

Chapter Two

It was someone continuously poking his cheek that roused Corbin. He slowly peeled open his eyes and squinted up at his younger brother, who grinned down at him.

"What the fruck Mitch, it's way too early."

Mitch's grin got bigger and he said, "Mrs. Lou wants to see us."

Corbin raised himself onto his elbows and asked, "Did she say both of us?"

Mitch nodded and climbed off his brother's hip, where he had been sitting. "Come on, let's go."

Corbin carefully got out of bed, his ribs aching from the beating the older boys in the children's home had 'graciously granted' (their words, not his) the previous night.

"You slept in your clothes?" Mitch said, wrinkling his nose.

Corbin swatted his head and said, "I didn't feel bothered to change."

Shrugging, Mitch grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the room, missing Corbin's hiss of pain. When they finally reached Lou's office, they could hear a different voice in with hers, a male voice. Corbin immediately tensed." Whose in there with her?" He hissed to Mitch, who shrugged before pushing the door open and stepping inside.
They saw Lou sitting behind her desk and opposite her a young man - no older than twenty-five - was laughing at something she had said.

"Boys, come in, I have good news for you."

Mitch let go of Corbin's hand and leant forward onto the desk eagerly, his blue eyes shining. "Did you find us a home?"

"Mitch." Corbin hissed, glaring at the back of his brothers head. Mitch didn't acknowledge his presence and continued staring at Lou.

"Yes, I found you guys a place, but it is temporary." She said.

Corbin rolled his eyes at the word and said, "Temporary is better than nothing Lou, who we going with this time?" His voice sounded scratchy and tired.

"Actually, you're going with Mr. Styles." Lou said.

Mitch spun to face him. "Really? Are we going with you? Are you married? Or do you live alone? Do you have pets?" He asked in a rush, eyes wide.

Harry let out a laugh and responded, "Yes, you guys are coming with me," he started, "no, I'm not married, I have no pets, and I live with my friends." His voice was deep and husky. Immediately, he noticed that Corbin stiffened.

"Friends? How many? Boy or girl?" Mitch questioned.

"Uh... Four guys."

"Anyways boys," Lou interrupted, "Harry's agreed to take you in for two weeks, which gives me plenty of time to find a permanent place."

"And what if you can't?" Corb muttered.

"Then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Lou gently responded. "So, why don't you guys head up to your room and get your stuff together?"

They nodded and left, Mitch quite excitedly dragging his brother from the room.

"There are a few things that you and the boys will have to know about," Lou said, grabbing a file and handing it to Harry, "I've typed everything out."

Harry nodded as he accepted the file. "Okay, is there anything I should know about off the bat?"

Lou nodded, her face serious. "Yes, sometimes Corbin can have panic attacks when he's in a car, we don't know why, we only know that he gets them, so be careful." She tapped her chin with her index finger. "uh, oh yes, he also gets nervous and defensive in a new home environment especially when there are a lot of men, so just take him with a pinch of salt."

Harry nodded, "Okay, me and the boys will read this over tonight." He waved the file. They stood up.

"Thanks a lot Harry," Lou said, "I really appreciate this, I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't stepped up."

He smiled as they stepped out of the office. "No worries."

They chatted for a bit until the boys reappeared. Each had a backpack and, while Mitch was still smiling brightly and rocking onto his toes in anticipation, Corbin's face was neutral and he stood slouched with his arms folded across his chest.

" Well, have a safe drive guys, and I will see you at the end of the week." Lou hugged each of the boys and told them to behave.

Corbin raised his eyebrows in mock surprise, "Come on Lou," he teased, "when have I ever misbehaved?"

"Ha ha," She said, her face deadpan, "you don't want to start off on a bad foot young man."

Harry smiled, "see ya Lou."

She waved as they left the building. When they got into the car, Corbin instantly rolled down his window and stuck his head as close to it as possible, eyes closed as he slowly regulated his breath, forbidding bad memories to surface. Mitch sat in the back and asked quickfire questions to Harry, who tried hard to answer them.

When they got to the house, Mitch practically flew out of the car and bounced on his toes in anticipation, waiting for the other two to get out.

"Well, this is your new home." Harry announced as he opened the door. "New temporary home." he heard Corbin mutter.

They could all hear voices coming from the kitchen, and so, full of excitement, Mitch threw down his backpack and sprinted into the kitchen. "Mr. Tomlinson!" They heard him yell.
Reluctantly, Corbin followed Harry into the kitchen where Mitch had launched himself into Louis' arms.