Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
• ◦ _ ◦ •
Louis doesn't see Harry for a whole two weeks. fourteen days without his angel, visiting the café every day silently praying that he'd come each time to be disappointed. He felt guilty for not having gone after him rather than shouting unnecessarily at the snarky women who didn't seem to care at all about the poor embarrassed boy.
He asked about with all his usual customers if any of them knew where Harry lived but no one did, only familiar with the bubbly lad coming to the café every day. He also made a point to look out for Harry's friend, Eleanor, but so far no luck.
"Here's not here Louis." Zayn sighed, a sympathetic glance at his worried best friend. "Face it mate, he's not coming back."
"Why didn't I go after him?" Louis grumbled concern edged on his face. "What if he's not okay? He always comes here every day, even if he's not well or sad or angry-"
"But now he's gone." Zayn cut him off placing a hand on his shoulder. "Look, I think it's better if you go back h-"
Louis didn't let him finish his sentence as he heard the slight ding of the bell as the café door opened, letting in the curly-haired lad through the door.
Except that, he didn't look his usual bubbly self at all. Instead the Harry that walked in through the door was quite the opposite, flinching when people bumped into him and refused to make eye contact with anyone. He looked tired and paler than usual, hair pulled back completely under his beanie refusing to let any of his curls out open. Dull green eyes trained down at the floor and visibly sad, it made his heart break at the sight.
He watched him make his way to the counter biting at his lips anxiously and barely giving him a glance as he stood right in front of him. He could hear Zayn move away swiftly, leaving them alone to talk it out.
"One plain coffee, please," Harry ordered, voice so hoarse and scratchy that it made him wince slightly. No fiddling with his pastel-colored sweaters or shy glances. He'd worn a plain white shirt and black jeans, and his nails remained their natural pink color.
"Harry?" Louis called out quietly, concerned when he didn't react to it at all simply standing and waiting for him to bring his coffee. He sighed at the lack of response, watching his sad gloomy expression and couldn't take it anymore.
So he did what he did best, quickly making his way around the counter and pulling the poor boy into a well-needed hug.
He breathed in the faint vanilla scent of his shirt that surrounded him, blushing slightly when Harry slowly lowered his head to his neck and hugged him back, burying his head into his shoulder. He felt him sniffle softly against his shoulder and gently rubbed his back basking in the sense of comfort he felt when he covered him entirely in his embrace.
Louis pulled back slowly looking up at his pale face with concern, arms still around his waist. Harry simply sniffled again making no move to get away from him silently pleading for Louis to stay.
"It's alright Hazza," Louis whispered rubbing soft circles repeatedly. "I'm so sorry darling, it wasn't your fault I swear, its just that nosy woman, she couldn't have just been a bit more fucking patient! Gave her a good word or two I promise nothing's ever going to happen again, alright? I'll make sure that no one touches my princess or else they'll be hearing from m-"
Louis cut himself off of his rant shocked at the soft giggle he heard from the lanky lad bursting into the goofiest grin, the butterflies in his tummy go crazy when he nuzzled his face against his neck. He couldn't help but chuckle himself relieved at seeing him smile so big because of him.
"Thank you." Harry smiled, eyes glistening with tears. "I-I've never really been comfortable with attention and my first instinct was to just get away. It wasn't just the, um incident, lots been going on you know? Uni isn't all that great and I've been so stressed about everything the past few weeks...thank you for c-comforting me."
"I barely did anything though." Louis smiled shaking his head. "But I'm glad you feel better, hmm?"
"Feel great now." Harry grinned reluctantly letting go of him. "The café's the one highlight of my day and well- now it feels great to be back."
"Is it because of me?" Louis questioned him, smirking wide at the bewildered look on his face.
"I-I what are you talking about! N-no-?" Harry stuttered, back to the jittery mess he always was in front of him.
Louis laughed out loud, simply shaking his head and ruffling the baby curls that fell astray. "You've got to work on that."
