The Boy in the Bookstore | l.s ✔

Six

It had been three days since Harry met Louis and he had come out to his mum. The two boys had been getting to know each other, and Harry was feeling happy almost all the time. He hadn't experienced this happiness since he was a little boy, since his mental disorders were found. What Harry loved the most was the fact that people around him noticed he was doing better. His good mood brought everyone around him up, and he was becoming less anxious. There was still the broken boy inside of him, but he was finding it easier to hide that shy, anxious, sensitive kid and beginning to pick up all of his broken pieces.

Harry hadn't opened up to Louis about anything yet, but he didn't feel like he had to. Louis was so easy to talk to, so genuine. Harry felt almost like he was as safe with him as he felt with Zayn, LIam or Niall, and he'd only known him for three days. Of course Harry had tolds the other three boys, he couldn't deal with keeping secrets. He saw it as pointless. When he tools them all the next day, he could hardly keep a straight face - which was ironic, as the conversation was talking about the first boy he had ever properly had a crush on. They were desperate to meet the mystery boy Harry wouldn't stop talking about, so Harry decided to ask Louis if he wanted to go to Starbucks for a drink one night before he started work. Of course, he replied instantly, agreeing that date. Harry mainly organised it because he wanted to get to know Louis better, and he knew he needed to get comfortable with him face to face. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't anxious, but he knew this was for the best.

On the day of the date, Harry was sat in the school canteen with Liam, Zayn and Niall. Harry hated the noisy environment, but it was better than being outside. He also hated eating in front of his friends, he was always scared that they thought what he was eating was too fatty, or had too many calories, even though what he had was a sandwich and some grapes. He ate it, but the anxious knot in his stomach was tight and he felt like he was going to throw up. He barely said a word, despite the other three boys asking him countless questions, like what he was going to wear, or what he would order. As if he hadn't over-analysed everything in his head the night before, and was currently trying to concentrate on anything but the date so he would stop overthinking. He would be looking forward to the date if he wasn't Harry, but unfortunately he was, so he was stuck with a racing mind and a pit in his stomach.

Fourth period rolled around, and he had double science. He was awful at the subject, he hated how all the equations blurred together into a mess of units and maths he would never need to know. Luckily, he was with his friends and he only had to be there for an hour due to an appointment with his counsellor at school. He didn't dislike therapy, he just felt like it would never work for him, due to him being so shy and like a locked box. Making their way upstairs, they encountered a group of boys who had bullied Harry for nearly two years. Niall and Liam looked over at each other, ready to protect the sensitive boy with the curly hair. Zayn stood beside Harry, he would always stay near to him in case he got upset when he got called names and slurs.

'Protecting the freak, are you?' a tall boy called Stan with spiky hair taunted.

'Yeah, we are.' said Niall, trying his best to sound intimidating. It obviously didn't work, as Ollie - a shorter boy with ginger hair - let out a laugh.

'We can do this the easy way, or we can do it the hard way-' Liam started, trying to be diplomatic.

'What's the easy way? If it ends up with the pathetic, blubbering freak beaten up then it's perfect!' Stan laughed. He was cut off by Liam slamming his first into Stan's jaw. Stan stumbled back. Before punching Liam in the nose - hard. Harry immediately remembered Marcus beating him the other day, and began to panic. Zayn - being a good friend - took Harry out of the situation and helped him to calm down. Two teachers came and separated Liam and Stan and Niall was sent to class. Liam's nose was bleeding a lot, his eyes bruised hugely. He could barely talk, Stan had definitely broken his nose. Stan's jaw was a dark shade of purple.