He's Not Afraid || L.S AU

Chapter 23

A/N 

I just want to thank ALL of you for 1K reads. I'd never thought I could make a thousand let alone a hundred. So my dedication to this chapter is YOU. Thank you so so much. This book isn't too far from the end now.

~*~

I spent the whole day avoiding Zayn though it wasn't very hard as he used his free time to be accompanied by his girlfriend. Every time I would see Louis, he would look away from another direction, speed walking to his destination until he vanishes out of my sight. Sighing to myself, I step inside my last class: Science, ready to welcome the scolding of my teacher, standing stiffly in front of the white board.

"Harry, you're 15 minutes late." He shakes his head disappointingly but points to my seat he put me in for the rest of the year. Next to Louis. 

I tried to skip this lesson but not much luck was provided on my side as a maths teacher caught me, threatening me with detentions all week if I didn't return to my class, so here I am. Unfortunately.

I walk towards the back of the classroom where Louis sits, reading a bulky textbook on the desk, his head bowed low and his glasses slipping slightly from the bridge of his nose. 

Ignoring the stares I get, I place myself down on the stool.

Louis' head shoots up from the textbook to my face. His mouth starts to open, his lips parting when he suddenly shuts his mouth tightly, probably not knowing what to say. 

I turn my eyes away from him to the front of the room, trying not to show any emotion as he scoots further away from me throughout the whole period, nearly falling off his own stool when the bell rings. Just as I'm about to encourage myself to say something to him, he scatters away, the textbook comfortably hugged against his chest and bag swinging from his left shoulder as he disappears into the halls and outside the room before the teacher could say a farewell. 

~*~

I pay no attention to what Zayn babbles on about in out car ride home, hoping and thinking I could somehow, possibly make things right between me and the blue eyed boy. 

"Mate," Zayn snaps out of my clouded thoughts, "are you even listening?" 

I lift my head to face him, seeing him look concerned but irritated at the same time from my lack of answers.

"Sorry," I mutter out, "what were you saying?"

"Harry, what's bothering you?" Zayn asks me, "is it got to do with Louis?" 

He turns his attention back to the road while I face the window again, cars zooming past us, trees and houses passing by through the clear glass.

"A bit." I say, "Do you think he hates me?" 

"No." Comes Zayn's reply. "I just think the pair of you are just..."

"Just?"

"Finding your way."

I don't talk to Zayn until he parks outside my home.

~*~

"Mum! Lucy!" I call from the doorway, slipping my shoes off then toeing them by the door. 

"Harry!" Lucy exclaims, running towards me until I pick her up once she lifts her arms above her head. 

"Hello, cheeky monkey." I smile at her, resting her on my hips as walk us both to the living room, spotting mum on the couch watching TV. 

"Harry, early from school. How was your day been?" Mum asks from the couch, her eyes focused on the bright screen. 

"Fine." I reply, putting Lucy down on the floor where her stuffed toys lay.