Youtubers [larry au] (boyxboy)

Chapter 10

"Louis, what actually happened to your face? Did you hurt yourself last night?"

"Yeah. I did, Li. Can you believe it? I fell down the stairs. I fucking fell down."

When Louis told him about the stairs in the library being the reason for the bruises on his face, Liam didn't look so convinced. It was obvious by how he was just nodding to every sentence Louis said, not even adding comments or asking worried questions.

Louis tried to act like he didn't notice it though, and continued talking about how he hated libraries.

"Why do they always have so many floors... I don't get it. Stupid stairs," Louis grumbled as he tried to write down his notes from his English class on the computer. "Liam, we're never going to study at a library again."

His friend was sitting next to him on his bed, now staring at him with sympathy in his eyes instead of just a blank expression. Well, it was better than nothing. Still, Louis had a feeling Liam wasn't looking at him that way because of his tragic fake fall down some stairs.

"It doesn't hurt anymore though, so don't worry."

After a moment of silence, Liam just sighed, and glanced down at his open text book. "You're sure?"

"Now you talk!" Louis exclaimed, clapping him on the shoulder. "Yes, I'm sure," he responded, rolling his eyes to cover up the lie even more.

"So, what you told me was actually what happened?"

"Um... yeah?"

He was such a bad liar, and that was one of the biggest things he hated about himself. Still, he played on like nothing was wrong. Liam didn't need to worry about him, especially when he was new and needed to concentrate on his degree without him ruining everything with his sad problems.

"Louis," Liam said, shaking his head sadly, "I'm trying to believe you, but something tells me I shouldn't."

"Well, don't listen to that 'something' then!" Louis groaned.

"That 'something' is always right. Spit it out, chestnut. I want to help you, and I know you're lying," Liam told him sternly, his facial expression becoming soft when he saw Louis' invisible strong walls crumbling dowm.

"Chestnut?" Louis whispered, looking up at him with a small smile.

"It fits you. Don't ask me why."

Louis chuckled quietly, his shoulders slowly sinking down. The tension in his body was slipping away, and he could feel himself relax for the first time in a while. As tears were about to leave his eyes, he looked up to Liam again with a sad smile this time.

"I was attacked," he began, and before Liam could interrupt he continued, "I was fucking attacked, and it wasn't the first time either. The difference is that this attack hurt me more."

He sighed sadly, standing up from his bed with a strong urge to kick something... to feel pain.

"Usually it's only maybe a kick in the stomach or a push that makes me fall down, but today they kept hitting and shouting slurs. I was powerless."

"Oh no," Liam whispered, his voice a bit shaky. He stood up as well, and began rubbing his friend's back in hope to comfort him. The frown on his face made Louis even more sad.

"Happy now? I told you the whole story now, Aren't you believing-"

"Of course I am. It's just too disgusting and I'm horrified right now," Liam assured, frowning deeply. "Are you okay? Do you need anything? Does it hurt to move? Don't be too shy to ask. I care about you, Lou. I bet it still hurts, yeah? I should talk to the-"