SNITCH

Nine

The next morning Louis wakes with a fever and runny nose, he sleeps well past noon and skips breakfast and lunch. The boys check on him every now and then and Louis doesn't even stir.

He ventures downstairs at 6pm, he's had a shower and changed into comfy navy sweats and a white tee. His side still hurts and there's a huge purple bruise on his torso that was quite scary to look at in the mirror.

He reaches the kitchen and sees the boys all standing around, a drink each in their hands and their girlfriends laughing and joking around. Jax is there too and they are all eating some chips a dip, gossiping. The boys all look truly happy and in love. Even Harry has a smile on his face and as much as it pains Louis, he's happy They are all so happy.

"Kiddo, we were just coming to get you" Edward smiles and Louis smiles back at his excitement.

The boys introduce Louis to the girls and Louis absolutely loves them instantly. Jax shakes his hand intimidatingly and harshly but Louis just smiles at him, they are never going to be friends and Harry will just have to deal with that.

"You're a bit warm Lou, are you feeling okay?" Sammy asks after she hugs Louis in greeting.

"Oh I'm fine, just a bit of a cold I think" Louis says

"Lou, we should get you some medicine, you look awful" Harry says concerned

"I'm sure he's fine Harry" Jax says rolling his eyes

"Yeah Harry I'm fine, don't worry about me" Louis says. He then goes to the fridge to grab out a water.

"The pizza should be here in about 10 mins Lou we were going to put in a movie" Drew says

"Sure, sounds good" Louis half smiles.

"So Louis, hows the knee?" Amy asks.

"Yeah, it's much better thanks" Louis smiles

"Well just be careful when you play now, you have a higher chance of dislocating you're knee again" Sammy says.

"We didn't know that, should he still be playing?" Edward asks concerned.

"Yeah he just needs to be careful, a knee guard might help" Sammy says.

"That's a good idea, we will go get you one before next weeks game" Drew says

Louis doesn't have time to answer before Jax is speaking up

"So Louis, you play football?" Jax asks

Louis looks to Harry who's looking back at him fondly before looking at Jax and responding

"Yeah, just for school" Louis says

"What grade are you in?" Jax asks

"I'm a senior, finish this year" Louis says

"And what do you plan to do then? Or are you not planning to work knowing you don't have to" Jax asks with a hint of venom.

Vanessa coughs uncomfortably and the room seems to silence at Jax's comment

"Louis actually has a football scholarship waiting for him at London university" Harry says defensively.

"Ohh so you're that good then" Jax says

Louis shrugs

"So modest kiddo, we would love to come and watch you play one weekend" Vanessa speaks up.

"That's a great idea" Sammy says

"Yeah, we would love to" Amy adds smiling

"Well that's settled then we can arrange a time, wait until you see him on the field" Edward says proudly

Louis blushes and the doorbell rings

"That's the pizza, why don't you all go sit in the lounge and I'll bring it in" Scott says.

Everyone grabs their drinks and heads to the lounge,

"I'll be right in okay" Harry turns to say to Jax

Jax looks at Louis who's still in the kitchen then back at Harry

"Don't take too long, I'm cold without you" Jax says

Harry smiles and Jax wonders into the lounge eyeing Louis as he goes

Harry then turns to Louis

"I don't think he likes me very much" Louis says

"Oh I wouldn't worry about him" Harry says

Louis is confused by that, he thinks Harry doesn't care that his boyfriend hates him.

"You do look sick Lou, can you take something for me" Harry asks as he grabs some cold and flu tablets down from the cupboard.

"I'm fine" Louis tries to protest.

"Please, for me" Harry says smirking slightly

Louis rolls his eyes and takes the tablets

"Want to come snuggle" Harry asks, Louis and Harry always snuggle when they watch a movie all together.

Louis looks behind Harry to see Jax staring at him evilly

"I think your boyfriend will have a problem with that Harry" Louis says as he goes to walk past Harry

Harry wants to desperately say that Jax isn't his boyfriend, he wants to tell Louis the truth but he can't so he just nods slightly.

Scott then walks back in with the pizzas and they all head to the lounge.
A movie is put on and Louis finds himself between Harry and Scott on the couch. Jax leaning on Harry and Sammy on Scott snuggling.

Louis sighs as he sits alone between them feeling so out of place. He doesn't eat much and he ends up falling asleep on Scott half way through the movie. Harry so desperately wanting him to have fallen asleep against him.

"He's adorable Scotty" Sammy says when the movie is finished and they are all getting ready to leave, Louis is out to the world.

"He's the light of our life, honestly he means everything to all of us" Scott says.

"You know, it's nice to know the real you, not what the tabloids say, if they could see you guys now" Amy says smiling.

The boys chuckle.

"Well we are only nice to the people we are close too so don't go running to the tabloids to tell them" Drew laughs

The girls chuckle and they all decide to call it a night and to say their good nights, Jax though is causing Harry grief

"Why can't I stay over Harry" Jax says as they have a quiet argument so no one else can hear.

"I don't know how many times we need to go over this Jax, we don't have that type of relationship and you're being really disrespectful right now" Harry says voice full of authority.

"It's because of him isn't it" Jax says referring to Louis

"His name is Louis and yes, we don't allow partners to stay over because of Louis, now I suggest you drop the attitude because you're going the right way for a punishment" Harry says

"This is all his fault, it's so unfair" Jax says and he storms off and out of the apartment

Harry though, is relieved and doesn't seem to care. He ends up carrying Louis up into bed and trying to resist the urge to cuddle him all night.